Job Discussion Forums

the_otter · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 134

Hi all,

I currently have a nice but very quiet student. He's in his thirties and has a rather technical job.

Because he'll soon need to use English much more, he's shelled out for a load of lessons, and I'd like it if he came away from them feeling more confident and fluent. I'm not sure how possible that is, since I think he's by nature quiet and more inclined to listen than to chat.

He's quite comfortable doing Controlled Prac, especially things like gapfills. However, it can be hard to prompt him into stringing more than a few sentences together at any one time, and unlike a lot of the students I've worked with, he rarely seems to get at all intellectually or emotionally involved in his subject.

As a consequence, I'm talking too much and he's not talking enough. I think the one real success I had came when I asked him for details about something he has to do in his job, at which point he became almost animated, and started speaking with more expression and asking for vocabulary.

It seems to me that he's happiest talking about factual or technical subjects, and uncomfortable with stuff that's subjective and with expressing opinions.

He's pre-intermediate level. Any kind of suggestions about how to handle him would be welcome.

Hope this is the right forum...

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Exactly why will he need to learn more English? You might simply have to direct lesson planning around that goal.

Presentations?
Dealing with customers?
Email correspondence?
Marketing work?
Informal conversations?
Company tours?

I'd say definitely give him vocabulary to study at home before every lesson, and then get him to use it with you. Don't let him plan any speeches beforehand, because that will not be natural (exception is when he must make a presentation, perhaps), but forewarn him how he will be expected to use the vocab. Maybe make a list of questions he should be able to answer.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:14 am Post subject:

Is he an individual student or in a group? What is his nationality?

In any case, very generally, I think you are right that maybe your own talking time needs to be reduced. There's nothing wrong with waiting for a little spell until a learner volunteers something. Use of gesture to indicate that you need an answer is usually effective.

Also, question type is something to be considered. Open as opposed to closed, and well graded, as I'm sure you already know.

Thinking-time is another factor. Letting a learner have a few seconds to, say, read over a list of questions and think before they formulate their ideas in English usually produces much more extended answers, especially at lower levels like his.

I also find that using the photo material from KET and PET speaking exams and a timer can be an effective spur also. Set the clock for 1 or 2 mins and instruct the learner that he has to speak and describe the pictures in that time. Puts a little pressure on learners, true, but makes it clear to them that the onus has now been transferred to them.

Ultimately however, he is who he is, and if he really doesn't like expressing opinions or subjective stuff, then steer away from that as much as you can. You may want him to come away from lessons feeling more confident and to be more fluent, which is laudable, but they are his lessons, so what he wants is really what counts in the end.

I don't envy you, but best of luck!

the_otter · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 134

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:10 pm Post subject:

You are very welcome and all the best to you. But you are putting words into Glenski's mouth there : )

the_otter · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 134

Oops! I copied and pasted the code and forgot to change the name. *facepalm*

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You still have not said why he is studying, or what his nationality is.

Also, you may want to work into describing pictures slowly. Have the picture and wait, of course, but in addition to questions on paper, maybe even have the start of the answer in front of him. Later, take those away.

Don't worry too much about his work-specific vocabulary overwhelming you. Of course, it is your responsibility to know some of it, mostly the stuff people use in everyday conversations (not just tech terms, either, but words like analyze, calculate, input, etc.).