Thursday 10 May 2007

Quality teachers

In my own classes the explicit teaching of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary are quite important. On the one hand, I mostly base my classes on vocabulary and sometimes I have to show the phonetic symbols so that my students understand where they are making the mistakes. On the other hand, grammar is also very important but I try to make my students notice 'grammar' and then to practice it. That is to say, I explain grammar and everything, but I do not like having a grammar-based approach. The bottom line is that I believe I have to strike a balance as regards grammar and meaning.

I firmly believe that a teacher should have a good sense of humour so that your classes are fun and students enjoy themselves and you, as teacher, too.
We must be self-confident, if not we cannot teach. Someone once told me that teachers have to think they know something and feel confident on that knowledge so we can help our student's process of learning.
Another good quality is to be sensitive to our learners. We cannot expect our students to learn if we do not create a bond between them and us. Besides, they are human beings who are in constant need, and we should help them.
As regards methodology, it is good to know that we need to adapt to our learners. We need to have a bunch of new activities, old ones and things to do with particular students. We have to be flexible so everyone has the chance to learn.

3 comments:

Gladys Baya said...

Do you only explicitly teach pronunciation, Lorena, after your students make mistakes? Or do you regularly create moments in your lessons so that your students notice lexis and phonology in the same way you say you go about grammar?

Just wondering...

Gladys

Maria Lorena Recio said...

I first teach phonetics and I create moments in my lessosn so that students notice lexis and phonology in the same way I go about grammar.

Gladys Baya said...

Thanks for clarifying this to me!
Gladys