Job Discussion Forums

Martin · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 3 Location: Dublin

Hello there,

I would appreciate some advice on a possible career move that I'm thinking of making. The job is with a language school in Rome called ALS, a UK based company. Their approach to teaching is rather different to my own experience. Teachers are expected to adopt the school's methodology.
From what I understand this is largely based around the teacher introducing new vocabulary to the students by repetition and the students duly reproduce the language. Students are not allowed to ask questions during the learning process. It all seems a little mechanical to me. What I find a little unusual is that no TEFL qualification is deemed necessary as teachers are given training by the company before entering the classroom. Has anyone heard of this company and/or their approach? Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Martin

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

Prepare to become head robot at a robot factory... you don't need a TEFL because this is teaching in the loosest sense of the word... If you can bear the thought of being 'one up from a tape recorder' then go for it.

I could be wrong though, but students 'not being able to ask questions during the learning process' seems absurd... maybe try to speak to someone who's already teaching there?

Hap Thorton · Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.S.A.

Ahhhh, Audiolingualism. I prefer suggestopedia, myself. It sounds bad. Try looking around more in the area. Get a feel for other places and their methods.

Corey · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 112 Location: Canada

Sounds a bit constraining. How long have they been in business??

Cobra · Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Posts: 436

Is it anything like lamaz method?

Capergirl · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:13 am Post subject:

Mechanical is exactly what the audiolingual method is. Unfortunately, it is a method that is wildly popular in places like Korea and Taiwan. I don't personally believe that students learn much via this method.

Here's pretty much how it goes:

Teacher: "It...is...a...ball."
Students: "It...is...a...ball."
T: "It is a ball."
Ss: "It is a ball."
T: "It is a ball."
Ss: "It is a ball."
T: "Jessie"
Jessie: "It is a ball."
T: "Amanda"
Amanda: "It is a ball."
T: "Jeff"
Jeff: "It is a ball."
T (loudly): "It is a ball."
Ss: "It is a ball."

....ad nauseum.

What do they learn from this? I figure by this point in the "lesson" they are free-floating over their bodies. Laughing

It is extremely robotic and the students do not retain a lot of the information later (based on my own experiences). One major problem I've encountered with students who have been taught using this method is this:

Teacher: How are you?
Student: I'm fine, thank you. And you? (standard response)

Teacher: How old are you?
Student: I'm fine, thank you. And you?

See the problem? Rolling Eyes

gecko · Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Posts: 42

I once got offered a job in Bangkok working for the 'Callan Method' that seemed to run along similar lines. I refused the job, it just didn't feel like teaching. Very little interaction with the students and I failed to see how the students could learn anything. You say something and then they repeat, they don't understand what you are saying so what are they learning.

I'm a teacher, not a robot.

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

Sounds a bit like the Direct Method - which (if I'm not mistaken), has been around for a very long time indeed.

So you guys are averse to drilling?

I admit it's not the trendiest, funkiest thing around - but a few substitution drills now and then brighten up my day. And when touchy-feely communicative stuff is falling down the drain, there's nothing like a bit of choral drilling to cheer me up...

T: (Using pictures)
T: I'm on the bus
SS: I'm on the bus
T: You
SS: You're on the bus
T: Train
SS: You're on the train
T: He
SS: He's on the train
T: Not
SS: He's not on the train
T: Plane
SS: He's not on the plane

And such...

A whole lesson of it would be a bit dull though, and a whole curriculum devastatingly so.

Corey · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 112 Location: Canada

senor boogie woogie · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 2:13 am Post subject:

Hola!

I would love, love, love, love to teach this method. No student interaction, sit with a tape recorder and have the students repeat everything over and over. Wonderful! (No joke, I feel this way.) No need to bust my brain thinking of lesson plans, no need to be entertaining and engaging. I just suit up and show up.

Are there any language schools in China who use this?

SENOR

gecko · Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Posts: 42

Snoopy · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 185

Do I detect echoes of Berlitz?

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

The thing about drilling is...it actually works a little.

When people learn a new word, they tend to repeat to themselves a few times don't they? It gets the muscles trained, you see. Much of language is about reaction, like catching a ball, and not about thinking at all.

That said, the job sounds crap.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

The thing about drilling is...it actually works a little.

When people learn a new word, they tend to repeat to themselves a few times don't they? It gets the muscles trained, you see. Much of language is about reaction, like catching a ball, and not about thinking at all.

That said, the job sounds crap.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

The thing about drilling is...it actually works a little.

When people learn a new word, they tend to repeat to themselves a few times don't they? It gets the muscles trained, you see. Much of language is about reaction, like catching a ball, and not about thinking at all.

That said, the job sounds crap.