Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

I've always enjoyed teaching writing, especially to those students who struggle with producing even a basic three-paragraph essay. It's rewarding when they notice improvement in their writing.

Which skill do you enjoy teaching the most? Why? Also feel free to comment on the skill you least like.

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"It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time, I was too famous." ~ Robert Benchley, humorist (1889 – 1945)

[fluffyhamster]

Speaking/listening. It's where the foundation lies and is formed. And from the perspective of say Chinese or Japanese, with their PITA "ideograms" (morphosyllabograms), English reading and writing isn't such a big leap.

I don't like how listening is often done in ELT though, e.g. gist questions, followed by passive listening then comprehension questions blah blah blah. Far too passive and non-interactive, incorporate more of it into actual spoken communication for gawd's sake! It's like students have about one decent conversation and then go on to listening to stuff like the BBC news all the time while the teacher sits there looking pained and very tight-lipped prodding the remote control Play button.

[schwa]

I vote all four skills, the whole integrated package. I get my biggest kick as a teacher when my teens start to put it all together.

[johnslat]

Reading and writing - reading's the key to all the other skills while writing is usually the most difficult skill for many students to acquire.

Regards,
John

[spiral78]

I like writing, because feedback in writing on writing is one of the few and best occasions when we can really 'speak' in meaningful ways to individual students.

[esl_prof]

My favorite has changed over the years. Currently, it's grammar, that is, grammar with an eye towards using it correctly in writing. But, in and of itself, grammar can still be pretty fun--not something I ever would have said even as recently as four or five years ago though.

Pronunciation, which I've never focused on in-depth before--certainly not beyond the minimal amount that's needed to bumble one's way through some other type of course (e.g., reading, writing, multi-skills, etc.), is quickly becoming a favorite. I'm on my third consecutive semester of teaching Academic Speaking and Listening and, frankly, I'm having a real blast with the pronunciation component of the course.

[nomad soul]

[MotherF]

Speaking, But specifically pronunciation. I generally teach students who've taken as many as six years of English without ever breaking out of (or in some cases into) A2 level. I find that no one ever taught them the mechanics of English pronunciation. Which in turn improves their listening, reading and writing. Because English suddenly becomes less enigmatic. I guess it's really integrated with reading/writing/spelling. Like in six years no one ever told them that a final e is generally not pronounced. Or that there are three sort of levels of syllables in English normal, stressed, and unstressed. Spanish just has normal and stressed for the most part.

Sorry fluffy, my fingers are small, but I'm not a digital native and miss keyboards.

[fluffyhamster]