Experiences of a teacher of English

In October I shall start classes with my adult learners. It’s a nice labor.  Some of them will tell me they’ve forgotten all during the summer.  Nevertheless I will tell them that the gears of the engine of the motor will work good after they have listened to me for a while, and they have tried again for example to describe a picture. / Photo from: english_courses_for_adults sudan britishcouncil org

I have seen you planning classes, and excited about your students, because you were going to give what each student needed, albeit you have a good number of students, maybe too many in your opinion.  I see the affection you invest in each task that has to do with school, and more when preparing things for your students.  Also I saw you when you offered yourself to grade and mark and correct those many tests of that other teacher.  Persevere with that mood, which doesn’t mean you feel excitement every single day. / Photo from: boyiceskating pretendyouaregoodatit com. The photo is just an illustration for the post

I have just sent an email to a friend of mine – he’s a professor at college – that is in need of learning and acquiring English.  I advised him to enroll an academy or center for learning languages.  I told him, just before typing this post, he could suggest to have encounters with a male teacher. Why? Because there’s confidence from the first minute, and he’s married. Just simple common sense plus experiences. / Photo from: guitar-teacher-and-student www guitarnoise com. the picture above is an illustration merely

We teachers will be prone to help and assist and aid any student who could need us.  We have to detect any problem amid our students, though we can have many. We ought to have a rather small number of students per class, but this isn’t possible sometimes.  Anyway our teaching will address each one of the students. We can look in their eyes. Eye contact is pretty important.  Remember please that a number of kids or adults has been entrusted to us!  We should guess our students’ needs. We work with people, but individual people never a mass. I know that you know how to assist your students and you’re trying to improve this service, and planning classes with real students in mind.  One day I will tell you - this is extreme – how a teacher saved a kid that had swallowed the cap of his pen... / Photo from: www hccs edu

Today is Sunday, so we tentatively have more time for God, our family, mending the roof…  Also we, on this day, can get some time for reading books about education, methodology of teaching, etc., or we can view some web site, like TeacherLingo.  We as teachers have to recycle, because the challenge is high: make some students get engaged on a process of learning and acquiring English.  And as well because we can count on means that previously we didn’t have: iPads, smartboards… So, enjoy Sunday with your family! / Photo from: outdoor-family-barbecue www suggestkeyword com

I like the following definition. What is assessment, and evaluation?  To value and measure teaching and learning in order to improve and better a system that can guarantee the appropriate development and implementations in accordance to already-thought aims and goals.  That is taken from Spanish José Bernardo Carrasco. I think it fits in a correct definition of such exercises at schools. / Photo from: archive news-leader com

The way we conduct in classes as a teacher of languages influences a lot on our students and their working.  Think of a nice, attentive, serious, with discipline but nice, fair and just teacher. He may always have to manage the class, but in the end his students accept him and take some affection to him.  It’s a climax or atmosphere of cooperation.  Oh, and that teacher plans every class, although he, willing so, leaves some class without planning; this latter class can be successful with regard to the students’ process of learning and acquiring English. Nevertheless it’s sound to plan classes, with some goal and activities. / Photo from: showjumping www canon-fodder-forums com

On the last post I wrote about an enthused teacher.  I know several teachers that have passed on their attitude to learning and acquiring English.  An enthused teacher can do a lot, he can drag and pull their students into a hard study, learning and acquiring.  If each one of us does so, we’ll have students prone to learn and acquire.  I can tell that by recalling about some of my teachers, most of my teachers, primary education through college and the doctorate. A teacher in some way or another can get enthused himself every day. / Photo from: no-one-forgets-a-good-teacher guybririan wordpress com

Students at school acquire either a positive attitude or a negative one to the prompts by their teacher, say, an exercise, a question, a role play, etc. This has been described by Escámez.  The students are aware of those attitudes. Anyway those attitudes can change with time passing and according to the students' personal circumstances.  What the teacher can do is presenting things positively, enthused if possible, nice, and favorable for learning and acquiring English. If the teacher usually tends to work hard, in favor of his students, these latter ones will likely respond positively.  He has planned the class, planned the activities, some aim, thought of his students while planning the class… all this tentatively will direct and focus their students’ attention toward those planned activities, or others he thinks are better at that moment, according also to the circumstances. / Photo from: horse pionersettler com. The photo is just an illustration

He, the student should realize – with our help as teachers and tutors – that he is before God, ultimately, and we will say this to him as soon as possible, for him to learn it.  This post is from an inspiration from philosopher Carlos Cardona.  He, the student, is loved by Him, and so he has to love Him, he has to correspond.  In that case he is a unique person. He realizes that he is someone.  Thus he can be educated, in freedom.  This is the essence of education. Here we have the aim of education.  And this is teaching for us teachers, ultimately too. I say all this because Carlos Cardona, as we saw on post # 2523, said there were too many school subjects, as hermetic compartments. / Photo from: cyclist blog kannadegotttila com. The illustration is just for illustration sake

The communicative methodology or approach is the one that many English language teachers utilize.  Coming down, the goal for learning and acquiring a language we need at least two people.  As well that former methodology is combined with notional and notional-functional: we learn and acquire a communicative competence about a topic and in order to solve some task. I assume things are going that way.  However it’s common in many schools that teachers haven’t realized of these points and they assign too much translation, drills, etc., yet. / Photo from: vk com

As scholar Susana Pastor puts, among the psychological points about learning English is to have and feel the capability of learning that language plus the self-awareness of that aptitude.  It also has to do with possible anxiety with regard to using and learning the language.  This anxiety could block the process of learning and acquiring English. How are our students in the classes? Is there any anxiety we hadn’t noticed in some of the students? My experience is that they felt somewhat comfortable and the atmosphere was one of cooperation between the teacher and the students, roughly speaking.  They participated in the classes and even some were eager to participate.  I tried to create a nice atmosphere, but did I achieve it? I think to remember my boys were rather easy-going. / Photo from: benefits-of-playing-basketball www kualalumpurpost net

Spanish Carlos Cardona states that students have many school subjects that are like watertight or waterproof or hermetic compartments.  Education shouldn’t be additive: not a stack or pile of subjects and that’s it.  I remember, otherwise, that in my former school every term or more frequently we teachers of different subjects stopped and joined together to talk about each kid, and to assess and evaluate him.  I think this is more in favor of what Carlos Cardona said: all teachers get focused on a short series of points for each kid. / Photo from: Craig jumping www surfcyprus com. the picture is an illustration

The important stuff for a marriage is communication. All the talks I’ve listened to came to this point ultimately.  Spouses have to listen, listen, listen. Also they have to learn to ask for forgiveness and expect it. It was my fault. That point is always or closely true.  The wife does need to be listened to by her husband. But also the other way ‘round.  They should fall in love every day with each other. I do not necessarily mean that we will feel much of exciting, but love, true love, leans upon little details too.  Have you ever gotten a small bunch of flowers to your wife, today for example? Wait and expect she will forgive you. You wife, because with time passing you should keep on to appear attractive (not provocative), have you made your “façade” more attractive? Also remember that you will also win your husband by the stomach, I can assure you. / Photo from: husband-giving-flowers-to-wife nianio com pl

We teachers influence on students. The way we conduct also influences on them. In the meanwhile we try to educate them for life, for being thorough adults.  We expect from them that they will become adults, capable to engage their place in our society.  Who said, I'm wandering, that if you want to influence in a country, start with education of youngsters?  The way you carry out classes will powerfully influence in their way of working and studying. What teachers do you remember best? Do you have anything to learn from them? I do. / Photo from: house-wallpaper-designs-1 www hdwallpack com 

What’s the ideal class you think? I would say one where there’s positive motivation, doing your best, positive teaching based on stimuli and boosters, encouragement, and one which fosters good attitudes.  You achieve that by means of that positive motivation, the teacher’s attitude, cooperation by and from the students, etc.  These ideas are mostly taken from Julio Gallego Codes. / Photo from: o-HAPPY-TEACHER-facebook www huffingtonpost com

It depends on the country but we can say we’re about to begin a new academic year.  First that you plan the course, dream high of your students, but realistically as well. Fill yourself of optimism. What’s the base of such optimism? Well, it’s adequate of human beings, and also we can build upon the basement that is God.  Think of the activities you’re going to do with your students, think and dream about their process of learning and acquiring English or another language.  We need an injection of optimism. Don’t think too much now about things that might be bad. A bit about that bad we may think, but slightly: we can achieve a lot. / Photo from: davidlaroche fr

When teaching private classes we could have our student get the school subject of English off the ground.  With regard to exercises from his textbook, urge him to face up the instructions and the possible example. Make him think.  Tell him he will need B2 level of English onward (within the Common European Framework). Be demanding with him. If you have agreed about the end of the class, have him sitting down next to you until the final minute.  If you write with your right hand, sit down at his left hand, so as for him to see what you’re writing. Sorry for these trifles but I guess they’re somehow interesting!  Assign him, through negotiation, if he should revise something or do an exercise at home for such and such minutes. Give life to the examples you write to him: things connected with him and with his world.  With your sincere concern, you can pass him on the like and interest for English... hopefully! / Photo from: Private_Lesso...

Teaching English is not just teaching in the classroom and correcting and grading or marking tests, and a bit else.  Working transcends all this. For example we owe our private student or our class-group members love of benevolence.  This means we don’t confine to those indispensable tasks.  I know we’re busy.  This job transcends and goes beyond and farther away. It means we plan each class, with the student or students in mind. What does he need?  Why is this happening lately?  Why does he fail tests?  What can I tell him or them in order to improve?  Or what about that other thing yonder?  We get concerned and worried about the student or students. We get preoccupied; better yet, we get occupied and engaged in teaching him or them.  I do know most of you do things somehow similar. Bravo! / Photo from: www eslclassesboston com

At least in Spain many, many people say that they should learn English once and for all.  My experience tells me that definitely they should register in an academy or school of languages. You can start, and even do many things, but in the end you give up since such is life.  They will turn to learning English sometime else.  My experience shows that you need a person and maybe a group that will make you learn little by little but at a definite way. Studying on your own can take more or less a long time, but you leave it because you don’t have the NEED to learn and acquire English or another modern language.  Besides language is something of several people, or a pair at least, because it’s communication. / Photo from: www cityschooloflanguages co uk

According to Krashen we have a natural capability for learning grammar rules.  As well he said that conversations must be massive, as input, and this makes acquisition possible. That input has to correspond to the learners’ level, even a bit higher than that level.  Also he said something about the affective filter, which leans upon self-esteem, motivation…  So let’s remember: the learner must be exposed to massive English messages, both written and oral. / Photo from: mickjdavis wordpress com. cricket is similar in some way to baseball. The photo is for illustration sake

As we are stating the goal of the process of learning and acquiring English or another language is real communication.  As if some native people were communicating amidst themselves.  Also take into account that listening and speaking could be the most difficult of skills in a language.  We can so train our students to have realistic conversations that could be held in real life, short they can be though.  Many people write in their resume (or Curriculum Vitae) that they have an intermediate level of English. Most of people have that intermediate level! What would happen if the job interview went on by speaking in English…? / Photo from: job_interview www snagajob com

Students should first learn the words that are more commonly used. For example firstly it’s better to learn “disease” than the various diseases: flu, diabetes, diarrhea, etc.  Abridged readers and books can have a certain number of new key words, obviously increasing according the level goes up and gets more demanding.  Try your student read readers and books a bit above their level, and so they’ll actually be able to learn more interesting and commonly-used words. / Photo from: man-reading www richymiddleclass com

The main goal in my opinion about teaching a language and helping learning and acquiring it should be communication, passing on messages.  One version of writing at schools is practicing for learning some grammar point.  However students should get and accomplish a communication aim, and beside it they will learn and acquire English or another different language and its grammar and vocabulary. / Photo from:  writer www studentarchiverement org

Let us teachers of English not fall into the pitch of teaching facts of English: vocabulary, some curiosities of English, dry grammar, drills and drills…  We have to take our students toward communication in English.  Okay, those things – vocabulary, grammar, etc. – are necessary for learning and acquiring the second or foreign language, but just as the basis or like the instruments for communication.  Thus English classes shall be in English, and we’re interested in our students’ communicative competence! / Photo from: talking-to-kids www pbs org

According to great Krashen and Spanish scholar Susana Pastor learning a language doesn’t lead to acquisition.  They are different: learning and acquiring.  Learning takes you to plan learning and gives you varied and useful points for communication, but it tends to be more theoretical than practical, whilst acquisition leads you to a communicative competence.  Adults in general – not infants = people who cannot speak yet – CAN also acquire English or another language, albeit it’s harder and tough as old as the learner is. But DO NOT lose hope. / Photo from: red-man-speaking www clumbiawestcollege edu

Linguistic aural or oral competence.  It happens when the learner of a language, like English, tries to communicate with somebody else.  When he doesn’t know a word he explains the meaning, or gives synonyms, or asks for the other’s help. They’re learning and performing strategies. Sometimes they’re verbal, other times non-verbal though. Paraphrasing, gestures… also pertain in here. / Photo from: germanoltwelers co

It is a grand but made of little things for us teachers to attend classes at school every single day.  And to strive for teaching properly, for being honest and upright.  The people that attend their posts every single day and try to be honest and normal at their job do something so good that influences in their work place, and society, and the whole world.  It is worth to keep on being like that. The same happens regarding our students. / Photo from: pipers www lehighvalleylive com. The picture is an illustration, only that

I also have found the next idea, by the same authors of post # 2506.  Teachers will not confine their work to provide learning strategies but they should help their students become good learners.  Think of it. / Photo from: Roofing-09 www derandereweg com

I’ve just found the following, among my documents, which can be of any possible aid. Pay attention to every word, “Learners are actively and deliberately involved in their language learning process. In other words, they bring to the task of language learning a varied repertoire of learning skills.” (xvii, Wenden and Rubin). / Photo from: Female-student-studying www toppr com

It’s at home where our children learn good manners and so we create a nice and polite atmosphere.  Our children at lunch or at dinner, if the family is joined and it’s possible (!), learn to ask for things with a “please”, and they give thanks for passing something from one sibling to another or to Dad.  It’s a nice and friendly atmosphere!  It’s the place, at home, where we can have different trash containers for organic things, paper, etc.  It’s the place where we all learn to take care of our world, and of our house.  It’s the ambience where maybe the first prayers are learned, and tales and fantastic stories are told to the younger brother at night to get him asleep. I could go on but I think this is enough for my purpose of showing a nice house. This is partially inspired by the last encyclical of Pope Francis. / Photo from: family-thanksgiving moviespix com

I guess I have many theories and practical experience on teaching...  However some time ago a colleague of mine, so another teacher but not of English, in Spanish told me sort of “Those brothers? They have just to study harder!”  I also guess I was thinking from my stuff, and that good friend told me something in a realistic and plain way. I will bear this lesson in mind! / Photo from: college-student-from-dollar georgetownheckler com. Evidently the person on the picture has nothing to do with the post.