what kind of classroom culture do you prefer while teaching and learning langauge like English?
397533
I teach English part-time. It all depends on the level of my students. Adults prefer lots of role-playing, drama (speaking exercises) and learning stuff they can use at work, so the culture tends to be informal but professional. With high school students, I get them to open up and talk about stuff they're interested in and tailor-make my lessons to suit their interests. The atmosphere is casual and open where teacher and student are like friends. But with younger kids, you can't afford to give too much flexibility and freedom coz they're too young to appreciate it. I tend to be strict and to the point, get your work done or else.
226936
As one of my professors would say, "That's an empirical question!"\n\nMany people have beliefs about language learning that affect how they view their language-learning experiences.  For example, let's say that I believe that standing on one foot is the best way to learn a new language, so when I go to my German class I always make sure to stand on one foot and I also stand on one foot when I do all my homework assignments.  At the end of the class, I might say, "See, I knew that standing on one foot was the right thing to do!  It made me learn German!"\n\nThe point of that example is to show you that people's interpretations of their language-learning experiences affect what they say is successful or not successful.  For that reason, you can't trust anything completely when people say on this site that using a CD helped or didn't help them.  A scientific study would be a good way to find out about this question.  I'm not aware of any such studies off the top of my head, but you might be able to search for some.
349410
Hey, I am a student of English Language.\nI advice you to read English books, watch movies (and try to focus on language and accent more than the translation if there is translation), you can hear music and chat with friends. Also you can buy books with casattes, I guess these are better teacher than internet.\nYou can go to these websites:\nwww.wikipedia.org\nwww.gotranslators.com\nwww.eduacation-courses.ne\nwww.languagetranslator.com
1158852
If the student knows you accept them, regardless of their English fluency, they become comfortable and productive in your classroom.\n\nI work in a very economically underprivileged area (ALL students are on FREE lunch -- not reduced lunch... free), in an elementary school.\n\nMost students are from Spanish-speaking homes, and Mexican culture.\n\nBehaviors I see regularly in my classroom that I "accept" and then gently guide students away from over the school year...\n\nResource hoarding.  I have buckets of supplies, and allow students to hoard as much as they like, until they get used to the idea that they won't "run out." Taking other peoples' supplies is not allowed. The "stolen" item is openly returned by the "thief," who then is guided to practice asking for new materials from me or my EA. It does mean that at the end of the school year, when I pull apart and box things for the summer, I find little stashes of stuff all over the place, which I consolidate back in the buckets for next year....\n\nLack of eye contact with authority figures.  In the Mexican culture, it is disrespectful to look an authority figure in the eye. Once the kids are comfortable with me, we have several class discussions about this and other small differences that make a big difference in how the kids will interact with authority.\n\nAlso, I am the Gifted Enrichment teacher for my school (gifted falls under special education in my state). I work hard with the kids to understand how and why regular ed instruction is done the way it is, and how to challenge themselves and find their own depth of knowledge (while I continually try to "nudge" the regular ed teachers into curriculum compaction and allowance for independent study rather than drill).\n\nWith my Resource remediation students, certain phrases are NOT allowed.  "I can't" is replaced by "I need more time" and/or "I need more help."  Looking at someone else's work and saying "That's easy" is also not allowed... everyone has things that are easy for them and hard for someone else, and vice versa...we don't make someone else feel like they are dumb by criticizing their level of work.\n\nWe build on our strengths. I have several kids with normal or better non-verbal intelligence, who don't even talk in complete sentences because their language disability is so severe. Guess who were in charge of puppet and set design for our puppet show this year.... not as "filler" jobs but actually IN CHARGE. The set and puppets looked wonderful!
821687
this theory is a common sense approach to second language acquisition.an over-simplified explanation would be that students learn a language easier if they talk about and listen to things that interest them. i use this approach in my conversation classes. rather then role playing 'going to the bank', or ordering in a restaurant' i try to direct the students to talk about anything they are enthusiastic about, or about themes they need to become more successful.
350247
Watch English TV shows (or DVDs) and listen to English radio stations. This will help you see how English is used in everyday life instead of just the proper stuff that they teach you in school.
1129919
go to english chat rooms and talk to people.\nthey say that submerssion into a language is the best teacher.
489894
well my culture has influence the classroom setting a lot where the teacher has the say in the class\nmeaning we students arent allowed to voice out our opinions that much\nthis culture tends to be permenant in the child's faculty even when they've reached univeristy level.\nlangauge proficienncy varies\nbut mostly what there always what the teacher says is always correct\neven when its wrong\nim from malaysia and a malay
766216
Your question is a good one for sure, but probably requires much more than most of us usually do in one answer.  Here is part of it and should get you started ...\n\n"The Silent Way is the name of a method of language teaching devised by Caleb Gattegno.  The Silent Way views learning as a problem-solving, creative, discovering activity, in which the learner is a principal actor rather than a bench-bound listener.  The main features could be stated as follows:\n\n1)  Learning is facilitated if the learner discovers or creates rather than re­ members and repeats what is to be learned. \n\n2)     Learning is facilitated by accompanying (mediating) physical objects. \n\n3)    Learning is facilitated by problem solving involving the material to be learned."\n\nI like this approach to learning, and used it a great deal.  It supports the statement, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn or show me and I understand." \n\nThe Silent Way approach gets children involved in their own learning.  When children are actively involved they learn.\n\nYou might want to research Jerome Bruner for more information.  In terms of discussing application of this method in the classroom, you could easily incorporate Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences theories, which might enhance your assignment.\n\nBest of luck with your work.
772174
What is your native language and do you intend to learn English at some point?
656931
I actually teach both levels everyday. I enjoy the innocence of the younger kids...their fresh ideas...I can't stand elementary school kid parents-they need to grow up...I enjoy the wit of the high school kids, and can relate to them better. I like looking at kids and actually being able to say "What were you thinking?" I can't stand the attitude you get in middle school and 9th grade...ugh
936031
The reason is as simple as it is obvious.\nLanguage is the instrument we use to transmit culture from one to another, from parent to child, from teacher to student, from the older generation to the next one, etc.\nYou may say that this can be done by the force of example and that is partially true, but only language enables you to explain WHY.
811999
It's obviously difficult to generalize, but I can speak from personal experience. I grew up in New Hampshire and attended an excellent public school - creative, energetic teachers who encouraged a love of learning among the students. I went to college well prepared and knowledgeable about a variety of topics.\n\nI am now a teacher in Southern California and I see quite a difference. Teachers are told what to teach and how to teach it. The creativity is pretty much gone and with it, most times, the quest for knowledge and love of learning. Also, the large amount of English as a 2nd Language affects the English only learners and gives the teachers one more obstacle. Teachers are often burnt out from the many responsibilities they have.\n\nI'd go for the the smaller-town schools of the East any day.
1097729
I always hated English when I was in school and never had a grade higher than a C+.  Now people at work come to me so I can edit their work.  I think it is important to take English as well as your Math and Science classes.
639075
I would suggest eTandem! That way a learner can learn English, but also teach some of their own language(s).
444642
I'm not sure if you're asking in general terms or specific ones, but I would recommend:\n\ngeneral: getting students using free blog spaces and encouraging class members to contribute to on-going discussions\n\nspecific: many of the big publishing companies that have TEFL materials (like Macmillan, for example) have websites that offer on-line material focused on business writing techniques and strategies at all levels--so that many of the materials will be appropriate even if your intended audience is made up of native English speakers
584936
As a former teacher trainer in Asia,\n\nGotta set up a routine for you lesson. Let's say you have young ones, start with a song/chant, and then into your "grammar/language" lesson (the crappy books they give you to follow). Seatwork (appropriate for the level). Then end it off with a story. You can ask simple questions for the story, "Find something red. What page was the boy eating the ice cream?" Always good to add a few language games into your lesson. One simple game is for two students with swatters to hit the correct vocab card. Plain, but better than repeating the words. You can make up a whole bunch of language games. Try bingo, but with pics of vocab. Play Simon Says.\n\nI find when I was teachign ESL, my greatest problem and my teachers' greatest problem was the lack of resources. Here is a site: http://www.readinga-z.com/\n\nBuy a $50 yearly member ship and download the books. Get your school to pay for you. This will provide you with 100s of reading activities for ALL levels!