Job Discussion Forums

[reblair79]

I'm applying for the Celta and a question has me stumped:

You are teaching a class of adult students. They will be living in the city for 6 months. They are at beginner level. Suggest three language areas that would choose to teach them in the first week and say why this language would be useful for them.

Can anyone tell me what do they mean by 'language areas'? I know of language systems, eh phonology, Lexis, grammar, function and discourse. Is this what they mean?

Do they mean why English would be useful for them or do they mean why the three 'language areas' would be useful for them?

Thanks, any help appreciated.

[spiral78]

Food, transportation, and filling in forms;-)

[reblair79]

Thanks, so you reckon language areas simply means things like filling in forms etc and that it will be useful for job hunting, doctor visits etc? Maybe I'm over thinking it and over complicating it then by thinking they mean language systems?

[fluffytwo]

As it wouldn't be possible systems-wise to teach more than essential phonology to beginners given just a week, the question is as Spiral's intimated likely more about the sort of topics you'd find in a tourist phrasebook. Think, Survival English.

Putting that another way, if they'd meant what lexis or grammar or whatever then I guess they'd have phrased the question somewhat differently and not made a point of mentioning 'They will be living in the city for six months' and 'useful language'.

So yeah, you're overthinking it a bit. The CELTA may have some silly or unpleasant things about it but trick questions aren't really one of them LOL.

[reblair79]

Thanks Fluffy and Spiral. Very much appreciated.