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Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Fair point Sasha. I doubt that much can help the learning process in those situations. (Except perhaps for "English through the Gulag" approach.)

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject:

The Gulag approach works! Motivation is never an issue. Discipline is exemplary. Results decided by a Central Committee five years in advance. What more could a TEFL lager instructor wish for?

Mikalina · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject:

Teaching kids beginners: climbing over and under furniture, dressing up, prancing around classroom, drawing, creating, painting, acting - L1 would take all the fun out of teaching...

Sweet thingy in gas? Gas not difficult to mime, take in sugar sweets? Also, context? Guess students had a rough idea of what subject you were teaching them?

And as for Arab students, I find once they realise it's 'My way or no way' they adapt.

No L1.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject:

Absolutely! Glad another correctly-thinking poster has joined in. Very Happy

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Please forgive me for the dark humour, but my grandfather, an 85 year old Hungarian, often reminds me that he learned to speak Russian and German fluently after spending time in a gulag Cool

So, there you go. It works.

Mikalina · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject:

Spent time in the gulag too - brainwashed to think the same!

Mikalina · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:51 pm Post subject:

Sorry sant84 - being flippant. I mesnt spent time in Moscow....

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

That's okay, I'm all for dark humour! Laughing

teacher X · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:10 pm Post subject:

I'm late to the party, but I'll throw in my opinion all the same.

I refrain from using L1, even if the students have no idea what's happening. As a teacher I should be able to communicate the concept without resulting to using their native tongue. If I can't do it, I am not doing my job properly.

You shouldn't need to be explaining complicated grammar points to a beginner anyway. Present simple and past simple are easy to explain without resulting to L1. In fact, I can confidently say that I have taught all age groups and have never 'needed' to use their mother tongue to explain a concept. You just need to find enough simple examples to help them understand the concept.

Of course, as mentioned earlier, when you've had a long day of teaching and you're just not able to easily communicate an idea, it is sooooo easy to just explain things in their language. But I feel dirty after doing such things.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Sorry Santi - no offense intended. It was only a (probably poor) joke for Sasha.

Peace!

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

It's all good! I am not offended at all. If the old man can joke about it these days, then so can everyone else Smile

Remember, Uncle Joe is long gone!