Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

Awhile back we were having this discussion about different teaching methods and theories in TEFL. Someone mentioned eclectisism, I think it was shmooj. The basic idea is that a teacher can learn and use a variety of methods, picking and choosing what best suits his own personality and authentic style, as well as the needs of the students.

One of the problems of many TEFL schools is that they arrive at a method and say, "Yes, THIS is the way it should be done, it's new, it's dynamic, and it's far better than the other methods out there." Meanwhile other schools do the same and trash the competition.

I came across some material I'm reading for my education program that kind of puts this self-aggrandizing (sp?) into perspective. My prof got some sources from Ashton-Warner's "Organic Teaching", which is more or less an eclectic and genuine approach to teaching. In a paper which was recently published, my prof wrote:

[moonraven]

Good quotes.

We need to keep in mind that if teaching is not ORGANIC, is is by definition INORGANIC, which is to say LIFELESS.

[Deconstructor]

I agree. Teaching is both art and science, and great teachers are those who maintain the great balance between the two, those who feel that being in front of one's class is the only place they truly belong save next to the loved one.