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Students like the word BECAUSE too much
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mcl sonya



Joined: 12 Dec 2007
Posts: 179
Location: Qingdao

PostPosted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Loop wrote:

BTW, I would like to gently point out that it�s �N�ige, n�ige�� I guess it�s the equivalent to �Uh�� in English.


I'm all the more silly for knowing what it means, and finding it slightly amusing all the same..
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englishgibson



Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345

PostPosted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
"because" is a pet peeve because I teach writing class. While we may accept gramatically incorrect oral english, but "because" is a conjunction, the sentence needs the other half. I have so many students that now write as a complete sentence "because she is very beautiful" urgh!
that's exactly my thought...then, many use "because" in every other sentence and when there's no need to reason
i've had exercises with my students when i strictly disallowed them using "because"..you should've seen how much fun we had Wink

someone on this thread's pointed out that if students produce the language then we should encourage that free flow of it...agreeable to a point, but it depends on the class/academic goals we have

i prepare students for further studies abroad..my ACT program includes IELTS/TOEFL exams and my GAC assessments with oral presentations inclusive

Quote:
I see a lot of overuse of the word because. However, it's the use of etc. and and so on that actually make me want to do something evil.
don't kill'em Smile

in my professional opinion, it's our job to remind students at higher levels that they use the language incorrectly...it's our job to remind'em of a formal and informal approach to the language and if they go to exams they need to keep in mind that their quantity of words may not count in the end

i believe that this incorrect use, overuse or misuse of some words comes with their habit they've learned somewhere (previous teachers, movies, songs etc) and habits aren't easy to get rid of unless we work on it...i say it's easier to teach than unteach

cheers and beers to students who speak any english, but especially cheers and beers to students who can use the language so well that we can understand them Very Happy
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Girl Scout



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 525
Location: Inbetween worlds

PostPosted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I never said I would kill them ... just do something evil.

I also teach writing, which is why "because", "etc.", "and so on" bother me so much. I try to ban these from their assignments, but then they bring me examples from texts. Thanks to British textbook, etc/and so on are everywhere. Because is a lot easier. Yes, I know how to explain it.

Since, I only teach lower level oral I never really thought about it. However, over this weekend I spent time with some students and you are right. They do say it everywhere.

If we can correct it in their oral, don't you think it will appear less in their writing? It has been my experience that they writing the way they speak, then correct the grammar later.
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arioch36



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589

PostPosted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Girl Scout

Quote:
If we can correct it in their oral, don't you think it will appear less in their writing? It has been my experience that they writing the way they speak, then correct the grammar later
.

I think you are right. Many Chinese FAO or department leaders don't take oral English seriously. To be fair, many (not most) don't take education seriously. Even worse though, are the foreign teachers who don't take teaching seriously. The type, that teach the kids swear words, cool words, nothing but games. What they do effects everyone. I like to teach freshman now, because I now the foundations that they need. I know the importance of them speaking in complete sentences. By the time they are juniors their habits are very set, though I still try.

I have had other foreign teacherssay "oh that's not how we really speak, it's too formal". this is true. For instance, we say, "Do I halfta do this?", "whereyagoin, or others. What good does it do them to teach them bad english that will hurt them on tests and in getting jobs? They aren't learning english so when they chilling with the homeys, they can speak some cool words. They are going to speak Chinese with their friends. They need to be studying a professional style English

And how the oral english teacher emphasizes the focus of oral english classes, especially when they are freshman, and their minds are still mushy and pliable, will effect how they write.

Oral English class is actually important
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englishgibson



Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes it is..but i feel they break english into "oral", writing, reading and listening classes a way too often in china..from my experience and in my professional opinion, a student of english needs all of the above mentioned in one piece..i mean, if you want a good speaking class, you need to prompt your student(s) and that with some kinda vocab wich should come in listening, reading or even as a grammar exercise first..in china, they want those ch-english teachers do the prep work before we come on stage..that's where a part of this problem of using the language inappropriately comes from .. then, there're those lovely authorities that create the rules in education system here Smile

cheers and beers to reading, writing listening and oral english Laughing
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arioch36



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I give my oral students vocabulary tests. I say the word, they spell it, then must use it in a sentence. For freshman, I use a common extensive reading book, that each unit has a good list of 15 or 20 vocabulary words.



I think I must be the Oral Glas Soup Nazi!
They also must write their own dialogues (not every week), and each sentence must be a complete sentence using a conjunction or prepostion that gives some additional information. Underline the vocab words they use. I taught Law clas 042 and 043. They compared me to the 041 FT who gave no homework. I didn't realize how much work it really was for them, I am making the load lighter this semester. This is the beauty if you can teach the same class writing and oral, or writing and movie, or (seldom happens) you can get together with another teacher of the same class and coordinate.

I have usually taught at Tier two or lower. The students aren't all that lazy. they are taught by the system to become lazy and turn their minds off, because it is the best survival strategy
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englishgibson



Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345

PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

i've always enjoyed students sentences on words they learn...it's amazing when you understand every word but're clueless what the sentence really means Smile

cheers and beers to us as well as to our strivin students Very Happy
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