Job Discussion Forums

[Capergirl]

I have to admit, I enjoy teaching grammar the most, although my students tend to find it the hardest class (especially since I give lots of homework ). My degree is in English lit., so it would stand to reason that I would enjoy the reading/writing and technical writing classes, but I find those classes long and quite draining. CALL is probably my least favourite class to teach of all, however.

[denise]

I think I enjoy just about anything other than business English, and even that can be made enjoyable under the right circumstances & with the right students.

My favorite? I've never taught a CALL class or a listening class, but I'm sure I'd enjoy them as much as the others. Right now I've got an EAP speaking class that I absolutely love--it's all public speaking and presentation skills. And an advanced-level writing class, full of mini-research papers, drafting, peer feedback, etc. I'm sure I enjoy it more than the students do, but oh well... And grammar is great, too, provided I'm not confined to a textbook that I don't like (which, sadly, is the case now, although I supplement it regularly).

d

[denise]

Addendum:

I do NOT enjoy doing a standard "conversation" class at all. There is a BIG difference between a speaking class that actually focuses on skills, has course goals, etc., and a conversation class, which according to my definition is just a native teacher chatting with the locals. If they want conversation, I'll meet them for tea; they don't need to shell out big bucks to come and sit in a classroom. Also, I need my classes to be more focused.

d

[Capergirl]

Hi Denise

I don't know what a "standard" conversation class is because I never had to teach one in Asia (oddly enough). The ones we have here at the university are "multicultural conversation classes" where the instructors act as moderators only. For two hours, our students discuss a "hot topic" which they have chosen themselves and the instructor remains quiet except to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to speak and no one disrespects anyone else's views. Kind of like the mods on this forum. The really surprising thing is that the students choose some pretty controversial topics (polygamy, abortion, capital punishment, etc.) but we haven't thus far had any problems with anyone disrespecting the views of another in these classes (knock wood). The conversations get heated, but no fighting erupts from the discourse. It is a great way for the students to use what they have learned and to practice speaking English in a correction-free zone - complete freedom of expression. It's also a nice break for them from the structure of the other classes.

So now I'm wondering what a "standard" conversation class is.

[dyak]

I enjoy teaching grammar as well, sometimes it�s wickedly enjoyable� � but when you see those lights coming on it can be the most worthwhile thing� but I have the most fun with pronunciation, it gets so overlooked, especially when you consider the ever increasing gap between written and spoken English. Plus, many of the students I teach arrive heavily influenced by American English, and it does take them a while to get used to British English (it�s almost a dialect y�know) especially the /a:/ sound in /ka:nt/ and /fa:st/ etc. then you have to break it to them that we do use the present perfect rather more� � they love that.

What�s a CALL class by the way?

[Capergirl]

CALL = Computer-Assisted Language Learning

(In a nutshell, exercises done on the computer to practice English.)

[denise]

Capergirl--

Here are a couple of examples of what I meant by "standard conversation class." In the Czech Republic, I had a lower-intermediate class that I shared with a Czech teacher. He was responsible for doing the grammar, reading, writing, etc. (basically, things I that I consider "teaching"), while I was, from what I understood, basically supposed to talk to them. I saw a post recently that used a term like "warm body"--a token native speaker. Talking and teaching are two very different things for me. In this particular case, I did still plan activities, try to have some sort of sequence in the lessons, etc., but I probably could have gotten away with just chatting for 90 minutes. (Which is not my style at all...)

In China, I was given a book (called, I believe, "The Conversation Book"--all of the copies were pirated, but that's another story...) and told to have the students just memorize and then practice the little dialogs in it. This situation was even more brainless than what I had expected, which was another "token native speaker" situation.

The class that you described sounded really interesting--sounds like the students got something meaningful out of it, and they put a lot of effort into it. Still, I don't know how satisfied I would be with something like that on a daily basis--I would feel a bit useless. (Wait, now I sound like I'm power-tripping or something... I'm not.)

Have I clarified at all? I kinda feel like I haven't.

d

[Roger]

It is a great relief to note that some people - Capergirl and dyak - enjoy teaching grammar!
I share their enthusiasm!
And, Capergirl:
How do you make your multicultural students talk in class? Do you put nationalities together? Do you require each and everyone to speak for a given period of time? HOw do you give them feedback on their performance (grammar, comprehensibility of their speech?).
Your posts are inspiring, Capergirl!

[guty]

Dyak,
there is an /a:/ sound is fast?
Its an /�/ in my perculiar version of said dialect

[dandan]

I'm with Sunaru on this (I think). This poll seems rather wierd to me, I know we sometimes have to teach these kind of disjointed elements of language in some Language Centres but I can't imagine why I'd choose to teach in that way. My favourite class would be the English class where students take part in a series of learning tasks through which they developed listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar (and indeed the other elements of language you missed off such as pronunciation, intonation etc. etc.)

I can't imagine why I would choose to teach a class which only taught one element of language in isolation, for example how would you teach grammar without students listening to, speaking reading or writing language which contained the grammar you wished to focus on? How do you have a conversation without anyone listening or speaking?

In terms of teaching strategies (CALL is the only one you mention) while I'm happy enough to use CALL if it suits what I'm teaching, I certainly wouldn't choose to restrict myself to only using that teaching strategy, my favourite class/course would allow me to choose teaching strategies which best fitted the learning task/topic/needs of students.

Of course (particularly with adults) the balance sometimes needs to be skewed a bit to meet needs/address deficiencies in learning/education system/work needs etc but basically I teach English!

[Capergirl]

[dyak]

[dandan]

Oh I see now, it's a poll of which of the courses offered at the school where you work I would like to teach if I got a job at your school. I guess I'll worry about that if I get a job at your school, sorry to have troubled you.

I currently teach EFL in a primary school, by the way, where of course I don't teach any classes similar to those in your poll.

[Capergirl]

[khmerhit]

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