Teacher Discussion Forums

Lots of great ideas and input. Although it is important for students to have a certain level of confidence in what they are reading, my experience has been that 90% comprehension is a bit more than is necessary. I have usually shot for 80% The key issue, however, is not coming up with a percentage, ...

You're correct in that I'm American, but I am not female, nor do I "demonize" alcohol. I simply attempt to look at a thing for what it is. In my view it doesn't matter what one's culture chooses to embrace; reality exists beyond culture. Allowing a student to look at his or her anxiety for what it i...

I must agree that alcohol is an effective way of eliminating anxieties around language use -or even talking to people socially in your own language, but only in a very limited way. Alcohol is at its best, a temporary fix and at its worst a potentially addictive and destructive crutch. This is becaus...

Are you all grading simply to have some number to report to some authority or to actually be aware of the progress of your students?

Sorry if i offended Toyboatt. It's probably not the best use of words. :roll: I'm an American myself, though, and can't help but notice how unaware of language learning issues the majority of Americans I've met are when compared to people from places like Europe, Africa, and even Asia. Especially ha...

Hello Larry: What I've been describing is a process that is a part of each of my classes. IT's probably difficult to imagine it in context and practice as it actually happens. Pounding something into their heads at all costs, however, is far from what I do. It is almost the opposite, in fact. By put...

Hello Larry: Thanks for the interesting question. I don't guide students to self correction by not bringing it to their attention when there is a difference between what they are saying and what native speakers say. What kind of guide would I be then? As a guide it is my job to let them know when th...

Strider: My comment on correction is intended to allow a different way of looking at it. In my view, your French teacher didn't correct you (there was nothing wrong with what you said, it was simply a part of the process by which you are learning French), she simply reminded you. Correction implies ...

Ive been away from a computer for while, but enjoy this thread and wonder if I can bring it back to life. Something Larry said earlier that I like is basically whether there is any value at all in teacher correction. What I have come to realize is that there is not. Simple correction gets one no whe...

This is for Larry: Are you really interested in finding answers to questions? If so, please share with me how it is that you "show your students how (you) pronounce it" and why you feel that is the best that you can do. Be specific. Then maybe we can help each other to get a better understanding how...

Hello Larry and Celeste. Thank you for your input. I agree with Larry that it is important to help students become aware that there is no one single version of English that is the correct version. Indeed language is a changing growing and dynamic -some might even suggest organic- thing in it's own r...

Hello Jo: I've been working with refugees in the USA for the last five years or so and may have some useful information. It's hard to come up with an idea of the characteristics and linguistic needs of refugees in general, but I have certainly noticed certain characteristice and needs common to part...

Hello all: Great discussion! Lots of good stuff here! I agree with Gary B. that ESL teachers have been trained to be overly "communicative" They get good atmosphere and communication, but their students seem to be making the same mistakes over and over again. Eventually they start asking themselves ...

Hello all: What information about this test do you have? Although this will not generally be the best approach for a student's true acquisition of English, by being aware of what the test is testing for you can narrow and focus the scope of what you are doing to suit that. Also, be sure to include t...

Hello Lisa and other contributors. Lots of great ideas on encouragement! I'm adding another post for you Lisa because when I read your post I got the sense that there was some underlying problem in the class that is not being mentioned which is causing discouragement. I've been in situations where s...