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      TeachingEnglish
      Ways for brushing up the English language
      Submitted by maika-35 on 11 September, 2011 - 22:11

      Dear Teachers,

       

      I need some advice and I would be very grateful if you could help me... I obtained my proficiency certificate ten years ago and I have been teaching english for six years in english schools. The problem is that during all these years I haven't had the opportunity to practice the language with a native speaker.. As a result I am not as fluent as I shoul be in order to teach an adult for example.. All these years I have been teaching all levels from pre-junior to FCE level.. This year my ''boss'' told me to have a CPE class and I feel very nervous.. I am very responsible and I want the best for any student... My question to you is ridiculous because Iam a teacher and I am asking other teachers to help me! You see I'm an adult 35 years old and I can't imagine of ways that would help me at this age to be improved.. What should I do? Study grammar? Read books and look up the unknown words? Read texts from an exam paper? How could I have a regular chat with a native speaker?

       

      Thank you very very much in advance

      ‹ teaching academic writing Bilingual native English speakers - reading and writing ›

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      krajd's picture
      krajd
      Hi
      Submitted on 12 September, 2011 - 10:09

      I suggest you watch English movies and listen to English songs

      songfangsarah's picture
      songfangsarah
      Hi
      Submitted on 13 September, 2011 - 06:53

      I suggest you to use skype and make some foreign friends!

      pe3do_salim's picture
      pe3do_salim
      Hello
      Submitted on 13 September, 2011 - 12:43

      I think the biggest obstacle you are facing is your lack of confidence to teach. First, believe that you've got the ability to teach adult students. However, to be able to build the confidence, you'll need to improve your skills gradually. There are many ways you can do - read articles (in the internet, magazines, newspapers), watch English movies, join forums for English teachers (they share a lot there), or find English-speaking areas in your town, make lots of friends through the internet then make use of skype, msn or yahoo messenger to call them.

      Speak English everyday even though you have no speaking partners. This might sound so silly but I do it everyday and it works quite well for me although some people around me find me weird. When doing my daily activities, I imaginatively create conversations and practise them myself.