Speaking is our main way of showcasing our knowledge of the English. The opportunity to proudly reply "Yes, I do" to "Do you speak English?" is priceless. The better we speak English, the more coquettish our responses tend to be, I know a couple of professional English-Russian simultaneous interpreters, who say "Well, I can manage English conversations if need be".
Teaching conversational English is one of the most intricate and complex parts in our difficult trade. One of the reasons why I am such a strong advocate of early learning is that a three-year old child is never self-conscious. They don't go thinking "Oh, what will the teacher/cute classmate from the next row think about me if I make this horrible and embarrassing mistake", they just talk, and by the moment self-consciousness arrives at the scene they are fluent and accurate enough to keep discussing new subjects without protective giggling and blushing.
Teaching speaking to adults is a challenge beyond challenge. Unlike children and teens they know the influence of language as a tool of power, they are aware of what can be done with these funny words and sounds, so they prefer not to speak or say the bare minimum. The way I targeted this problem was by creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere. I laughed at myself, and encouraged my students to join in and then even if they made a mistake, it was no big deal. An ideal teacher is, of course, able to keep their face straight at all circumstances, but there were occasions when I could not help laughing, so we laughed together.
3 comments:
Adults are a tough bunch to work with.
I find that sometimes doing "childish things" as an ice breaker or as a break between harder activities can be helpful.
They can be billed as learning the culture, things to share with younger people, or an assist in understanding younger people.
Especially in a night class ( after a full day) movement, laughter, and lightness can add a lot to the class.
I actually enjoyed working with adults a lot. They were the most responsive and encouraging group, not to mention motivated. But I totally agree that sometimes they are so exhausted after work, that it takes a lot of effort to get them walking and talking.
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