Comments on: are you a native speaker? http://www.she-teaches.com/2009/11/04/are-you-a-native-speaker/ a Day in the Life of a Teacher Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:57:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Myla http://www.she-teaches.com/2009/11/04/are-you-a-native-speaker/comment-page-1/#comment-769 Myla Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:29:05 +0000 http://www.she-teaches.com/?p=162#comment-769 @ sterndal, ruthi, geeky I could only agree! @geeky, where are you in europe? @ sterndal, ruthi, geeky

I could only agree!

@geeky, where are you in europe?

]]> By: Geeky Geekerson http://www.she-teaches.com/2009/11/04/are-you-a-native-speaker/comment-page-1/#comment-592 Geeky Geekerson Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:07:05 +0000 http://www.she-teaches.com/?p=162#comment-592 English is not my native language either. Most of what you wrote about learning textbook language applies to where I live, as well. In working with adults I find it challenging to make them open up to a language in more non-traditional ways. I live in a European country (and, by extension, learning culture) in which students are not encouraged to ask questions, in which using your intuition and creativity is quite often frowned upon and the educational system is, by and large, teacher-centered. The kids who are a product of this system grow into the adults who become frustrated when they realize that they cannot carry a conversation in the real world. Unfortunately, they are the same adults who come to an English class, take a seat at their desks and expect to be delivered content. It took me almost a month, out of the 4 month course, to make them comfortable to a system in which their needs are considered and the teacher becomes a facilitator, rather than the guiding authority. Some of them never do, and these are the ones who simply quit, because putting in time and effort into learning a language was unimaginable to them. If only there were language pills. English is not my native language either. Most of what you wrote about learning textbook language applies to where I live, as well. In working with adults I find it challenging to make them open up to a language in more non-traditional ways.

I live in a European country (and, by extension, learning culture) in which students are not encouraged to ask questions, in which using your intuition and creativity is quite often frowned upon and the educational system is, by and large, teacher-centered. The kids who are a product of this system grow into the adults who become frustrated when they realize that they cannot carry a conversation in the real world. Unfortunately, they are the same adults who come to an English class, take a seat at their desks and expect to be delivered content. It took me almost a month, out of the 4 month course, to make them comfortable to a system in which their needs are considered and the teacher becomes a facilitator, rather than the guiding authority. Some of them never do, and these are the ones who simply quit, because putting in time and effort into learning a language was unimaginable to them. If only there were language pills.

]]> By: ruthi http://www.she-teaches.com/2009/11/04/are-you-a-native-speaker/comment-page-1/#comment-560 ruthi Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:11:31 +0000 http://www.she-teaches.com/?p=162#comment-560 Very true. And based on my personal experiece... even if I can speak the language... the problem lies on the diction and pronunciation. Here in the US, I am still struggling with day to day conversation and has to repeat myself everytime I am speaking simply because they can't understand what I am saying because I am saying the words differently due to my foreign accent. Very true. And based on my personal experiece… even if I can speak the language… the problem lies on the diction and pronunciation. Here in the US, I am still struggling with day to day conversation and has to repeat myself everytime I am speaking simply because they can’t understand what I am saying because I am saying the words differently due to my foreign accent.

]]> By: sterndal http://www.she-teaches.com/2009/11/04/are-you-a-native-speaker/comment-page-1/#comment-559 sterndal Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:44 +0000 http://www.she-teaches.com/?p=162#comment-559 hi teacher! another reason, i think, is that most filipinos are too conscious about grammar. attempting to converse in english (especially in formal places such as office/school premises) means being ready for criticisms. based on my personal observation, if you can't converse in perfect english, you'd better speak in tagalog or else people will call you "trying hard" :) hi teacher!

another reason, i think, is that most filipinos are too conscious about grammar.

attempting to converse in english (especially in formal places such as office/school premises) means being ready for criticisms.

based on my personal observation, if you can’t converse in perfect english, you’d better speak in tagalog or else people will call you “trying hard”

:)

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