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March 11, 2005
Workplace Issues - Can You Say Hola?
Or perhaps the better question is: Should you?
Hello again,
Recently, I was in one of my beginner classes—where I make it habit never to speak anything but English—and one of my students was having a difficult time understanding a particular point. Every single fiber of my being wanted to shout out the sentence in Spanish to make it easier for him. But I didn’t. You know why?
I have a theory. If my students knew that I spoke Spanish, I believe that their expectations of me would change immediately. No one wants to struggle to get a point—people naturally want do things the easy way—but that’s not necessarily best when it comes to learning a new language. And so if they knew that I spoke Spanish, they would expect me to use it in the classroom.
And so I fake it. I pretend that . . .
. . . I don’t understand anything they say to me in their mother tongue, and I make them work for every noun, verb and adjective that they acquire.
Is that just mean?
Perhaps, but they do pay me to learn English, and they seem to learn faster using this method. What do you think? Do you only speak English in your classroom, or do you sometimes use the student’s language?
People often ask me if it’s necessary to speak the language of the country where they’ll be teaching, and my answer is usually two-part. No for the classroom, but in order to enjoy a quality personal life…it definitely helps.
For example, I can’t imagine not being able to communicate with people in order to do my daily tasks. Being able to understand and get across my needs simply makes my life easier. In addition, it allows me to meet friends and have true friendships with the people in my city. But the problem with many ESL teachers is that they simply don’t have the time to learn the local language.
To be honest, it took me about a year to learn Spanish because, with my teaching schedule, I simply didn’t have the time for classes. And even though my first year in Mexico was full of rich experiences that I’m sure I’ll always think warmly of, quite frankly, it could have been a whole lot easier!
And so my advice to anyone considering taking off for another country to teach English? Don’t, under any circumstances, use the local language in the classroom (because once you do, you can’t undo it!), and above all, at least learn how to ask where the restroom is in the local language before you arrive!
One final note. Have you signed up for our new ESL Teacher’s Newsletter yet? It’s due out next week, and will be full of valuable information just for teachers!
Until next time,
Michelle
Posted by msimmons at March 11, 2005 12:19 AM
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Comments
If you are talking about teaching a group of students from different languages, I might go along with you. However, if all of the students are of the same language, which you imply in your post, I must say that you are doing them a disservice. It is a simple statement of fact that the learning process would go along a lot quicker if OCCASIONALLY and JUDICIOUSLY the native language is used.
Not using the native language at all seems to be a nice academic ideal, but what is the point? Of course, I am not advocating a translation method of teaching, and as soon as they know that you know the native language, they may press you for help that is "unnecessary". But the rare use of the native language for clearing up confusion (especially for grammar explanations/examples) is a real help.
I recall a particular class of Mexican immigrants that I taught in the Palm Springs area. The majority of them were having trouble understanding the concept of "was going to". Sure, I could have spend a lot more classtime giving examples and explanations in English, but as soon as I told them I was talking about "iba", we could move on AND they were happy about it.
In short, sorry, I have to disagree. If you care to, feel free to email me for any additional thoughts on the matter.
--Martin (long-time ESL teacher)
Posted by: Martin at May 25, 2005 09:31 AM
Dear Michelle,
I agree with you. You're right on the ball, when you talk about teaching in only English. I've been faking my ability to speak the local language for years, after teaching in eight different countries. Some of the students and directors of schools don't like it, but they should trust that you know what you are doing, which you do. I've failed job interviews by saying this too, so we should follow the strength of our convictions and get into trouble, rather than do what they think we should do. Before I go I should tell you that I started my teaching experience in 1986 in Mexico, after an interview with the director of the school, a blue nun, in her seventies (who was probably the most intelligent director I have ever worked for or against) asked me if I spoke Spanish. When I told her that I didn't, I expected to be rejected. Instead she said, "Ah good, we need someone who DOESN'T speak Spanish". That woman was one of a kind- the kind we don't see very much of at all any more.
Schools place FAR TOO MUCH importance in methodology. Forget methodology- if you don't understand the fundamentals of education you might as well take up another profession. Remember that underneath their phoney exterior it's all about making them money and treating you as an ignorant methodology technician whose job it is to stifle any individual talent you may have, but we know better, don't we?
Best regards
Stuart
Posted by: stuart britton at May 25, 2005 11:15 AM
Hi there Michelle!
I agree with you 100%. You are not mean. You are just teaching them the fastest way to learn a second language. Believe it or not, I am doing the same in the school where I teach in Zagreb,Croatia. I am teaching English to preschoolers. And you could just imagine how it is more difficult for me since the kids in the beginning of the school year know 0 English. But because of the same reason, I stood my ground by refusing to speak Hrvatski ( their native language, Southern Slavic by nature.) And true enough, they are now speaking English more than the other kids. And I am very proud of them. They can even speak better than their parents. The thing is, they even copied my expression like "Oh man! or Oh my goodness". It's really funny but it worked. One piece of advice also for those who are into teaching ESL to kids, do a lot of Total Physical Response. I do a lot of gesturing and acting especially when I am talking about verbs. And yes, I also pretend that I don't understand their language. So, they tried very hard in expressing themselves. My only regret is that they learn more English than I do with their language. But who cares? At least I achieved my goal. And incidentally, before I came to Croatia, I enrolled in a German class in Manila where I am originally from. And for 3 months of intensive studying, I never learned anything much in German. Why? well it was because the German instructor spoke more English than German.
Posted by: curica at May 25, 2005 05:50 PM
I have been teaching for about 5 yrs now and I have used both approaches. It helps a lot more if you don't use the local language. Yet there are times that I felt there was no other way to get across the most accurate meaning of a word or sentence. These were the times when I allowed myself to use my students' language. But I let them believe that I read up and searched for how to explain that word or sentence to them. My students realsied that I worked with them and for them. They did not just sit back and expect me to learn their language.On the other hand they tired harder. They read more, searched more and it helped all of us. It's not just about what you do or don't, it's also about what they believe you are or are not doing.
All the best!!!
Posted by: Erika at May 25, 2005 08:00 PM
