Job Discussion Forums

[the_thinker]

Yeah, had a very similar experience with a class last year - students who couldn't conjugate the verb to be after six weeks of lessons. Personally one of my first steps in learning a new language would be to learn the present forms of the verb to be � I'm pretty sure you could do that in any language in a few hours sitting on your own at a desk concentrating.

I would do the class differently if I could go back in time, though. A lot of the beginner books separate all the basic grammar points up and spread them across units (e.g. present simple of the verb to be spread over about ten pages), with the thinking seeming to be that beginners are stupid and can't handle any more. What I think they actually need is the opposite � loads of input, even if that means they don't produce very much in the first month or so. If you look at something like Headway Beginner, there are probably about twenty words on each page in the first few units, with the rest taken up by pictures. It's simply not possible to learn a language with such impoverished input.

[DMcK]

[norwalkesl]

Try a different learning intelligence.

[Glenski]

Can you get those two to take a different (separate) class, where you can give them more attention (repetition)?

If not, then you're going to have to slow down, rely on other classmates to help them along (openly), and use L1 more than you'd like. Perhaps providing bilingual explanatory handouts would help, too.

If they are really serious about learning, don't let them get away with slapping themselves on the head and smiling. That's a cop-out. You're going to have to do a combination of providing more assistance and being tougher on them.

[roywebcafe]

[natsume]

[johnslat]

Dear roywebcafe,

Maybe this sites will be helpful:

http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm

http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsiframe.html

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm

Regards,
John

[DMcK]

I can't see how learning styles come into this when the problem is at such a basic level. You don't get any simpler than "I am".

I feel it's speech therapy that's required.

I think providing bilingual handouts for them might be worth a try but I'm not bilingual and I spend enough time as it is trying to do things for them.

I think I'm tired and need to sleep.

[santi84]

Why do you feel speech therapy is required?

[DMcK]

"I am" is hardly a tongue twister.

[Kootvela]

I am fortunate. I am self-employed and I just fire such academically poor students if they don't take it seriously. But hey that's just me.

The problem with them is the lack of study skills. Learning a language requires extra practice outside the classroom and hard work during the lessons, including memory and brain work. The older the student, the worse is their capacity to learn. Plus, if you're trying communicative things like 'more fun less exercises' -which I stopped doing since I started having motivated students- they may just not take it seriously.

[DMcK]

As much as I appreciate every single second people use to reply here, I am still amazed at some people's lack of reading comprehension. I am also self employed and would never dream of "sacking" any student.

"Oh yes, Mr X, your employee, Y, is pretty pish and I am informing you that I will no longer teach him because I am self employed, you know, and I don't need that shit in my life, right?"

I haven't once said they don't take it seriously or that they are negative in any way towards the lessons. I have, however, pointed out a few times how they are triers and how they want to learn.

In fact I think the problem is that I wasn't giving them enough work to do at home, allowing them to forget and have to start again each class.

[Glenski]

You've had advice now for a few weeks. Have you changed anything, and if so, what did you do, and what are the results?

[DMcK]

I've started giving them lots more homework but there's been a few holidays here and I couldn't really say for sure what the difference is, if anything.

[santi84]

I can understand that more homework is good reinforcement. I find it difficult to get studying done (L2 is French), if it isn't required, when I'm dealing with the baby, cleaning, work, life, etc. Sounds like a good plan.