Dear fellow teachers,
time has been flying and I think everyone just cannot believe we are already finishing our week 7 of the course. This week as well, we have learned new things. What caught my attention is definitely Padlet, which is very new to me. Having posted on it, it reminded me of flashcards we have and just stick them to the board for students to read. I think it is definitely a great tool for the teaching of English, a communication tool with our students.
Besides, the topic of learner autonomy was interesting to know for the first time or know more, and I think we all agree that the ultimate aim of our teaching English is for our students to be able to use the language on their own. So why not starting to teach them to fish from today, rather than giving them fish? This is was a productive one as well.
Jean-Baptiste
Burkina Faso.
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ReplyDeleteDear Jean -Baptiste
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Teachers of English need to teach students how to learn on their own instead of spoon feeding them. The students should know the difference between a good language learner and a good content based subject learner.
As you are aware,there is a difference between a content based subject and a skills-based subject. In a content based subject like history, it may be possible for the teacher to lecture and give students information. The students can listen to the teacher passively. In other words, content based subjects may lend themselves to teacher-dominated classrooms. However, in a skills based subject like English a teacher has to be a facilitator. The students have to get practice in using the language. The more the students use the language the more they improve their language. Therefore, students need to be taught how to read, write, listen and understand and speak. In other words the students should be encouraged to learn on their own with the help of a teacher who guides them. The classes should be learner-centered.
In many second language/foreign language contexts, the students are not aware of this difference and they expect their teachers to lecture. Therefore, in order to be able to work successfully as a facilitator and a guide, a teacher should first make the students understand this difference and prepare them for active participation in the classroom. This way we can make the students self-dependent and good language learners.
With regards
Kishore
India