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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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 Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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And if you can find a way to explain all that to my students without them all falling asleep, we can both get rich  |
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VanKen
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
Posts: 139
Location: Calgary, AB Canada
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: Conditionals decifered |
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| lajzar wrote: |
| And if you can find a way to explain all that to my students without them all falling asleep, we can both get rich |
Hey Lajzar, my students are always able to understand it the way I explain conditionals to them (without falling asleep). You have to use humour, and simple rules, and good examples to keep the students' interest and let it sink in. Could your "that's just the way it is" attitude to explaining grammar be the source of your sleepy classroom, perhaps?
Even if the students don't fall asleep, how are we going to get rich teaching English? |
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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| You don't know my students. None of them are over 11 years old. A statistically above-average number of them have severe learning difficulties (aka retards for the non-PC). Add to that that I have a strict order that fun takes priority over learn (ie the most important thing is to not learn to hate English), and you have a recipe for avoiding anything that might be considered particularly challenging. |
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VanKen
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
Posts: 139
Location: Calgary, AB Canada
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:46 am Post subject: Condtionals for beginners |
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| lajzar wrote: |
| You don't know my students. None of them are over 11 years old. A statistically above-average number of them have severe learning difficulties (aka retards for the non-PC). Add to that that I have a strict order that fun takes priority over learn (ie the most important thing is to not learn to hate English), and you have a recipe for avoiding anything that might be considered particularly challenging. |
Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you will have to use the immersion approach. No questions asked or answered! |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Lajzar, I have to say that teaching conditionals to kids under 11 here in Japan is ambitious is it not. How many hours a week do you have the little darlings. No. Don't tell me. You would have them for less if they didn't insist on coming so much. Am I right. Or should that be "would I be right"? |
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lajzar
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Posts: 647
Location: Saitama-ken, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:06 am Post subject: |
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I have teh little darlings (read: hellions) for an hour every two weeks, plus an optional English club for the oldest kids. Frankly, the idea of trying to teach anything so grammar intensive to them is so far into the Twilight Zone that I don't even try. Don't get me wrong they're enthusiastic beyond belief, but I feel I'll destroy that if I go grammar heavy.
Bear in mind here that primary school kids in Egland aren't noted for having a solid understanding, or even regular use of, conditionals. Why should I expect these kids to learn it when
- They probably don't understand it too clearly in their own language.
- It isn't on my syllabus template (I can change this though).
- It probably is on the JHS syllabus, which I am under orders not to directly cover.
Besides, it would spoil them for when they start in chuugakkou. My 6th grade kids are already effecgtively in the first term of JHS grade 2. They'll be so bored next year.
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Mark
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 500
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:06 am Post subject: Re: Conditional sentences |
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| VanKen wrote: |
3. third conditional - for purely hypothetical/imaginary situations with hypothetical consequences. Use the past perfect to describe the hypothetical situation and the present perfect in the main clause.
Example: "If you had gone to Tokyo by train (but it's hypothetical because you are already there), I would have gone with you.
I hope that this explanation clears up the confusion. Sorry if it is so long. |
I would just disagree with this a tad. The third conditional is used to describe unreal or imaginary situations in the past. If someone goes to Tokyo and then comes back, I can still say "If you had gone to Tokyo by train, I would have gone with you."
I use the same approach as VanKen and I imagine it's the way it's explained in most grammar books. Of course, they're also mixed conditionals and real in the present conditions as well, but conditionals can get pretty complicated.
1st conditionals are real conditions and possible results in the future
2nd conditionals are unreal or imaginary in the present or future
3rd cond. are unreal in the past |
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