Tricks for sticking to speaking English

[Mister Dean]

Hello to all,

First of all, just like to say that I have spent 6 or 7 minutes looking at the forum and have already picked up half a dozen useful ideas I can use immediately so I just had to sign up. Thankyou!!!

Second, my little question I wanted to discuss was, at the moment I have half a dozen different groups of 6, 7, and 8 years. Their mother tongue is Spanish and with the good groups I come out feeling brilliant and that we made some real progress and that I have been speaking English and that they have been using the English language in their own way too, yet with the groups where behaviour is a problem- I find myself slipping back into Spanish and it is so frustrating. I come out of those classes beating up on myself big time and feeling just like I deserve to be given the sack.

Do you have any SOS back up strategies for sticking to English in those critical moments where you are nearly literally "pulling your hair out"?

Best regards,
Dean

[Senorita Daniels]

I start using English gradually with my students. As soon as they know some phrases like "Good job" or "Terrific", I use them as much as possible to help enforce English. But, my situation is different, and I'm the only one in my part of the district who knows Spanish, so it isn't always easy to stop using Spanish. Perhaps you could give extra credit points to the last student who starts speaking Spanish in class.

[Mister Dean]

Hello,

thanks for the speedy reply. I try to put up stars for kids motivation and that does seem to help a lot and your idea of giving an extra credit for kids speaking last in Spanish is also brilliant.

I guess I must just take it easy and have patience- I find that speaking all the time English with the help of sign language does improve the general oral production of the class. Although I am working with kids who have practically never spoken English in their lives so I can't expect miracles.

Thanks a lot,
Dean

[EH]

You want your classes to be fun/motivating, right? So don't stress over which language you use. Try to use English whenever you can, but during "pull your hair out" moments just use whatever language gets your point across best.

Sometimes it's actually better to use both languages, especially when the goals are 1) instant and totally-comprehended communication [i.e., during emergencies or preventing emergencies], and 2) facilitating explanation of difficult English concepts.

Even in ESL classes, it doesn't have to be all English to be educationally valid.

Good luck,
-EH

[Mister Dean]

Hello,

I do want my classes to be fun and motivating. I am based in Spain and there is this kind of idea that the way to do it is by speaking English and the management of my school think that using the maternal tongue is not the way you do it.

I have to admit that I am speaking tons of English in my classes this year and the kids, small kids do tend to imitate pretty good as they all do.

On the other hand, as you say, in emergency situations you need to get to be understood fast- so it is better.

Demanding that the kids in class speak English "or else" in my school is pretty much the equiivalent of making everybody go quiet- i dish out my fair share of chocolate bars to motivate them and use little crowns for the child who spoke in English the most.

But I am beginning to wonder if I will ever have a class situation where English is actually used functionally. I find also that you use a lot of sign language and I know or feel when the kids are not understanding a word of what I am saying so I use a different approach.
Thanks very much for your comments.
Dean