3688. The Teacher as a Learning Facilitator

 Who is the protagonist in class, in the classroom I mean? Obviously both the teacher and the students. 

That person is developing his or her job, hopefully with professionalism. And their students … also are developing their job or profession now, for their job is learning and studying, if they are kids. 

Today I wanted to pinpoint that in a second or foreign language lesson the teacher must speak a lot, thus showing a model to his or her students. 

I’ve taken that idea from Spanish teacher, pedagogue, and philosopher Gregorio Luri, although anyone could think that way too: the teacher has to show – and teach – the language to those kids, or adults. Only in that way will he be able to attain his students will learn and acquire English, or French, or any other language. 

As well that teacher should show a lot of written language to those learners – and as you may know, I’ve insisted on the fact that you may learn and acquire English through massive and intensive reading books or articles. 

And in case the teacher is not a native speaker? Well, then you ought to have a textbook with plenty of audios and videos. Anyway, also then that teacher has to speak a lot in class, and thus he will have to also learn and acquire English. 

So essential is to know that both teacher and students are the protagonists of the classroom. 

Of course I also mean that that teacher must provide a lot of chances to his students to participate and contribute to the lesson. That teacher is not teaching History – I love it – but is teaching a language, and necessarily his students have to partake abundantly. Constantly. You do not teach an English class, let’s say, but you hold a class where both the teacher and his students speak for a lot, for much indeed. 

And that teacher will have to care about improving his speaking style, and enhancing it and including some interesting grammar patterns, for a communicative approach may be held in class, but grammar? Just essential too! 

And as well that teacher will try and use vocabulary he’s learning and acquiring, maybe from reading books in the target language on his own. 

Even more, the teacher has to set an example: he’s also learning, working hard, studying, planning the lessons, trying to be a thorough professional … His students, you know, have open eyes, wide open eyes to what that professional does and says. Have a nice day.

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