Submitted by shwetaj11 on 19 October, 2008 - 12:16
Hello everyone!
I have been teaching students the aspects of English as second language.I have tried many techniques but haven't found success.What can be the best approach so that students can become fluent in less time.
Teaching English in India as a second language... are you teaching in a rural area? Do your students watch TV?
There is no way students can become fluent faster unless they are exposed to the language they are to learn. And of course, the more they are exposed, the less time it takes. Most people say that being exposed 24-7, that is living in the country of their new language, made them communicate within six months.
If your students are exposed to English only temporarily, that is, their families aren't English speakers, then you would have to find ways of exposing them to English through radio, films and music.
I'm interested to know more. I lived in India from 1984 to 1995.
Thanks for your interest.I belong to sub-urban town.Yes I believe what you are saying is true,the learners complain many a times that they don't get to speak in English outside the class.Perhaps this is the plight of all such small towns where Hindi is the main language of conversation.
When it comes to exposure through radio,movies etc. they really can't understand the foreign accent.Thats why it becomes such a daunting task.Can you suggest in what other ways can I help them so that they can use the language outside the class also?
You said you have lived in India for 9 years,so how was your experience?What work were you engaged in?
I am an HR professional.I have recently taken up a training profile in my organization. The very first task assigned to me is improving the skills of our resources in verbal and written english. I would really appreciate if you can help me in segregating the training groups. What i need to understand is whether a group should consist of similar skilled (in english) students or is it better to have a group where you have students with different english speaking calibre.
I am an English language trainer in Bangalore. I have students from various parts of India and abroad. Some are students and some professionals from various fields and position. Of course the groups consist of various degrees. Some may be good and others not so good. When you have such assorted groups your task can really become enjoyable and easy. I will tell you how. All students are eager to learn and practice verbal and written skill. Hence if often happens that the good become better by trying to help their lesser skilled friends. There is more interactiveness. Often my job is to show the way , scaffolding. The rest comes from them. I am there to guide and correct wherever necessary.
Hence from my practical experience,I would suggest do not segregate the training groups.
Drawing from my experience of over 8 years across varied age groups, let me tell you that getting fluent is a long process. It takes lot of dedication and a burning desire to achieve this objective.
Down here I find students educated in a reputed convent school also gradually doing away with the English Language, once they pass out of school. It is also critical to understand that most of the learning happens at the school level, from where it has to be carried further. College education is looked upon as a means of enjoying oneself since they are experiencing a totally different scenario where the discipline is not there and they are free birds. It is only in select colleges that students continue honing their skills but here again the slang language replaces proper English and the vocabulary level remains the same. There is also a feeling of superiority which creeps in wherein students feel that are masters of the English Language.
Initially you can make your participants come out and speak whatever they can irrespective of the grammatical errors. Of course the level of students is going to be different and hence your feedback needs to be worked out in that context.
Ultimately your focus should be to enhance their vocabulary and gradually make corrections in a subtle way without shattering their confidence in cases where the fluency is lacking. You need to take them at the right speed by educating them on the basics of a sentence structure as in Subject + Verb + Object , covering critical areas like tenses, non finites and articles. Also play them recorded talk shows or stories, so that they get a feel of the importance of the rate of speech, pause, stress and emphasis.
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Irme
Hey Shweta,
Teaching English in India as a second language... are you teaching in a rural area? Do your students watch TV?
There is no way students can become fluent faster unless they are exposed to the language they are to learn. And of course, the more they are exposed, the less time it takes. Most people say that being exposed 24-7, that is living in the country of their new language, made them communicate within six months.
If your students are exposed to English only temporarily, that is, their families aren't English speakers, then you would have to find ways of exposing them to English through radio, films and music.
I'm interested to know more. I lived in India from 1984 to 1995.
Best wishes,
Irma
shweta jhamnani
Hello Irma!
Thanks for your interest.I belong to sub-urban town.Yes I believe what you are saying is true,the learners complain many a times that they don't get to speak in English outside the class.Perhaps this is the plight of all such small towns where Hindi is the main language of conversation.
When it comes to exposure through radio,movies etc. they really can't understand the foreign accent.Thats why it becomes such a daunting task.Can you suggest in what other ways can I help them so that they can use the language outside the class also?
You said you have lived in India for 9 years,so how was your experience?What work were you engaged in?
Shweta
parul.gupta
Hello Irma,
I am an HR professional.I have recently taken up a training profile in my organization. The very first task assigned to me is improving the skills of our resources in verbal and written english. I would really appreciate if you can help me in segregating the training groups. What i need to understand is whether a group should consist of similar skilled (in english) students or is it better to have a group where you have students with different english speaking calibre.
Kindly comment...
Thanks and Regards,
Parul
prabhavelu
prabha muthukrishnan
Hi Parul
I am an English language trainer in Bangalore. I have students from various parts of India and abroad. Some are students and some professionals from various fields and position. Of course the groups consist of various degrees. Some may be good and others not so good. When you have such assorted groups your task can really become enjoyable and easy. I will tell you how. All students are eager to learn and practice verbal and written skill. Hence if often happens that the good become better by trying to help their lesser skilled friends. There is more interactiveness. Often my job is to show the way , scaffolding. The rest comes from them. I am there to guide and correct wherever necessary.
Hence from my practical experience,I would suggest do not segregate the training groups.
Happy Teaching.
Prabha Muthukrishnan
girishseshamani
Drawing from my experience of over 8 years across varied age groups, let me tell you that getting fluent is a long process. It takes lot of dedication and a burning desire to achieve this objective.
Down here I find students educated in a reputed convent school also gradually doing away with the English Language, once they pass out of school. It is also critical to understand that most of the learning happens at the school level, from where it has to be carried further. College education is looked upon as a means of enjoying oneself since they are experiencing a totally different scenario where the discipline is not there and they are free birds. It is only in select colleges that students continue honing their skills but here again the slang language replaces proper English and the vocabulary level remains the same. There is also a feeling of superiority which creeps in wherein students feel that are masters of the English Language.
Initially you can make your participants come out and speak whatever they can irrespective of the grammatical errors. Of course the level of students is going to be different and hence your feedback needs to be worked out in that context.
Ultimately your focus should be to enhance their vocabulary and gradually make corrections in a subtle way without shattering their confidence in cases where the fluency is lacking. You need to take them at the right speed by educating them on the basics of a sentence structure as in Subject + Verb + Object , covering critical areas like tenses, non finites and articles. Also play them recorded talk shows or stories, so that they get a feel of the importance of the rate of speech, pause, stress and emphasis.