EVER SINCE I STARTED USING THIS MEME IN MY LECTURES STUDENTS ASK (LITERALLY) 8 TIMES AS MANY QUESTIONS
I think they relate to the poor lad.
But really; I stop every five or six slñides to ask if they have any questions, or if they need anything repeated, and normally they are just quiet and morose. This new friend gets them either thinking or feel less ashamed of asking.
I'm glad it works, not really that concerned with the "why"...
IF YOU HAVE ANY SIMILAR CONFUSED ANIMAL MEMES PLS SEND THEM MY WAY -- FOR MY STUDENTS
Deuteronomy 32;2 (NLT) -
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
like gentle showers on young plants.
Deuteronomy 32:2 (NLT) -
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
like gentle showers on young plants.
The most common problems my students experience while studying a language (English in Poland)
1. They can’t ask simple questions.
Why? Because in schools/classes, teachers usually ask students. The class changes into an interrogation, so to say. I hear a lot, “Well, I didn’t know how to ask about….” They all know “how to SAY” but not really “how to ASK.” They rarely use negative statements as well.
2. They can’t say, “I know nothing about it, so I can’t really answer.”
Why? Because students are typically required to come up with some ideas. No matter how bullshit they might be, it’s always better to say something. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you don’t know anything about the topic, then just say so. In real life, you will often find yourself in such situations, so it’s better to just be honest and avoid talking shit.
3. They forget that a successful conversation takes two.
They often want to practice conversation, but they just wait to be asked. They never return questions and aren’t “interested” in the teacher and their life. In Poland, the teacher-student relationship is very formal, and students are not supposed to ask teachers about their lives. They do forget, though, that using a foreign language somehow transfers them to a different cultural realm.
4. Real-life conversations aren’t about big issues or current affairs only.
Lots of my students are used to the fact that English is used to discuss issues such as globalization, violence, the environment, etc. However, most of the conversations in real life are about simple stuff, like shopping, TV shows, tedious day at work/school, annoying neighbors, holiday plans, day-to-day issues/problems, etc.
5. Following grammar rules is always more important.
They always think that they must strictly follow grammar rules or else the English-speaking world will collapse. “The rules for Present Simple are such… So I must follow the rules.” Again, nothing could be further from the truth. Grammar is there for you to help you express your thoughts accurately. If you feel like the event in your life is temporary, then convey that by Present Continuous. If you want to change your perspective, then use a different grammar structure. Don’t give in to thinking that certain actions can be expresses in one specific tense only.
6. They forget about filler words / phrases.
They think that they must always know what they want to say. If they don’t know what exactly they want to say, they will say nothing. They don’t really know how to let the speaker know they are searching for the right word in English, or they just simply don’t have enough vocabulary to express themselves. Some students think using filler phrases is a sign of “bad” English. No surprise here, though. In school, they always need to know what to say.
I know I have a backup of asks. Again, my apologies. We’re back to in-person teaching, and I’m doing both a historical methodology class and two Greek History intro classes. For that, I have a sort of “Choose Your Own Adventure” project, where students get to pick not only the topic, but the mode of delivery that suits them best (paper, presentation, or make something/museum-style display). But that means I meet with all of them on Zoom to brainstorm. So I’m doing the usual plus about 47 Zoom meetings. So, yeah...behind again. Ha.
Btw, I’ve decided that I really like doing Zoom meetings with students, rather than in-person. Instead of them coming to my “house” (office), I get a little peek into theirs. It’s great, in getting to know them.
