286. Communication between people: our aim as teachers


One day teacher B said to teacher A,
"So, as a summary of what I try to do in my class-periods is aiming toward communication.
Some teachers implement too much translation from English into Spanish, for example, with the text or stories that are in the students' coursebooks. Translating is ok, yet it's only one more activity, not the only one, or plus few more. On the other hand, translating is a good activity, by the way - because this process with texts entails applying diverse techniques and fields (particular expressions in L2, translation more focused on the meaning than a mere translation word by word, and so).
Some days ago we achieved authentic communication in the classroom, with the thing of the interview to the kids, you may remember. As well we do fun games, and I guess the learners see something practical in the subject of English.
Just one other thing: you must help the learners become their own volitive motors; otherwise, nothing achieved. They must become autonomous and they should wish to learn the language, on their own will - with the help of you teacher."
Picture from carpediemdeando blogspot com - Film of La vida es bella, 1997, starring Roberto Benigni, Vita è bella, I guess in the o. v.

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