5) Classes operate more successfully by encouraging intrinsic motivation.
I think teenagers (which is the age I teach) feel that knowing English is going to be useful for their future. They are learning because they know that knowing a second language is an important tool. I think that when they are intrinsically motivated they have a better attitude towards learning the language. As a teacher we should motivate our students to feel interested on the knew knowledge they will acquire.
6) With new language learners, teachers need to be gentle and empathetic.
I consider the teacher´s personality a key factor when being in contact with students. In my experience, last year I had an awful experience becuase I didn´t know how to set a limit between them and me. Being gentle and empathetic doesn´t mean that you don´t have to be demanding or strict. Teenagers know that there ´re certain teachers that are more relaxed or less demanding, and they know they can do whatever they want with them. A good teacher, in my opinion, is the one that is gentle, nice, patient, but also that teaches respect and makes students give their best.
8) The language classroom should have plenty of meaningful learning.
Meaningful learning is the one that is going to last for life. If they give a meaning to language, or what students learn makes sense, that information will stay forever with them, and they will know how to apply it in daily experiences.
13) A communicative class should give special attention to fluency / accuracy.
I think this is the neverending debate. My classes are more focused on fluency. I don´t overcorrect studetns when they are talking as that can be tedious and even humiliating for them. But when they are answering a grammar test, of course I focus on accuracy as that what is being evaluated. Sometimes students don´t focus on grammar skills, so their message is affected.
Bernardita I couldn't agree more with you in number 6. The teacher's personality is a major factor when it comes to learning. However, it is not easy to get that balance of beign nice and strict at the same time. I believe that for some people it is more natural than to others and probably that is something that has not been dealt with in the past, as it should, given its implications in the classroom. In fact, classroom managment issues are always seen as taboos or incompetence on the teacher' side and from my point of view, in some cases, it is just inexperience or lack of knowledge. I do not think universities deal with classroom managment as much as it should be. After all, the way teachers approach and behave in the classroom is key on the amount of learning our students learn.
ResponderEliminarI agree with both! I believe that the experience shows you the best way to manage a class, but on the other hand each class is very different. So, it is very challenging for us to come up with the right strategy, there isn´t a recept. Sometimes teachers and students loose motivation because of the relationship that exist in the class.
ResponderEliminarI also agree with your comment on point number 6. I think that teachers must be gentle and empathetic in order to get to each one of the students. Being gentle and empathetic does not mean not asking our students to reach higher objectives every day. On the contrary, we have to be demanding but in a gentle and empathetic way. In my opinion that is what a good and caring teacher should be like.
ResponderEliminarLots of good discussion here! I agree with your point of Teacher's personality and Leyla's comment regarding Classroom Management & your experience (Nº6). The Art of teaching has two strong lines, subject knowledge and techniques for teaching. Good teachers need both. You can be the most knowledgeable person in the word regarding your subject but if you don't connect with your students and provide a way for ALL of them to benefit from your knowledge then you aren't fulfilling your duties as a teacher.
ResponderEliminarI think your students know that English is a tool because they have been motivated to think that through funny and interesting classes. But I have the same doubt again When do you teach them what's correct? I agree that correcting when they are trying to express isn't a good idea, but what do we do to make them be aware of their mistakes in order to correct themselves and avoid the same mistake again?
ResponderEliminar