Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

The most important thing for anyone contemplating EFLing is that they themselves should learn a foreign language. I do not mean necessarily the language spoken by their future students. I mean just a foreign language, whether Sanskrit, Navaho or French.

I am appalled as I look around the ranks of EFLers and see so many who have never acquired even the basics of a a foreign tongue. I am surrounded by MONOGLOTS !

[doner]

But far worse are the occasional Gulf TEFLers you meet who go native and learn a bit of Arabic and then God help their colleagues. With their pontificating and identifying with the locals.

[scot47]

Subhanillah, maashalla and alhamdulilah to you too !

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,

Good heavens, man - you've "gone native."

تمنيات
John

[spiral78]

Nyaaah. I agree. Without the experience of getting beyond 'a few phrases' in some other language, it's not possible to be among the most effective teachers.

There. I'm really going out on this limb - because I really think it's true.

Raht-on, Scott47.

[Justin Trullinger]

I've studied several languages- one (Spanish) to a very high level, which is to be expected with so many years of immersion.

Several others to basic "self defense" levels.

I feel that going through this learning process, and developing all the things that go with it, has made me a better teacher.

On the other hand, I've worked with good teachers who moved around too much- spoke a few phrases in a dozen languages, even intermediate proficiency in...none.

Yet, they could teach. Language learning is great, but generalizing is dangerous.


Best,
Justin

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[Sashadroogie]

Interesting discussion. My angle is that having tried and failed to learn various languages to even Int level, I have a keen sense of the difficulties faced by learners. I think even this failure helps me to be a better teacher than I would be if I hadn't tried.

True, it is great if you have learnt a foreign language yourself, if this gives you insight into the learning process. But, many teachers who are also successful language learners sometimes fall into the mental trap of believing that their way of learning is the only way for everyone. And there is also the danger of thinking that learning a language isn't so hard, so the slow learners must be particularly thick.

But perhaps I'm just making a virtue of my own pitiful acquisition attempts...

[spiral78]

No, I think these are valid points.

Every time I go out on a limb, people come up with rational arguments on the other side.

Point conceded to logic. Not entirely necessary to learn other languages to teach effectively.

[Sashadroogie]

Heh heh. And, logically, perhaps it's not entirely necessary to be taught effectively in order for foreign language learning to occur? Thank goodness for that then, for a goodly number of us TEFLers, monoglots or otherwise!

[tomstone]

[AjarnIam]

[barabbas]

The tutor on the DELTA I did, one of the most amazing teachers and writers about EFL, a guru in fact, only spoke English. So there!

[Glenski]

Guru or not, I agree that if someone has studied (not necessarily learned or mastered) a foreign language at least once, they will have a better appreciation for what their students go through.

[Justin Trullinger]

Also interesting is the fact that having learned a foreign language, even to a VERY high level, doesn't guarantee, or imo even indicate, that someone is free of misconceptions about language learning.

I've worked with a lot of teachers who, as language students, were taught through deductive explanation and rule memorization. Since they went on to learn the langauge well (because of? In spite of?), they often come out as die hard believers in grammar and rules, neglecting the role of comprehension practice or communicative practice. This tends to make them only successful with learners who, like them, get those things outside of the classroom.


Best,
Justin