Understanding how language works is an important part of becoming an English teacher, writes John Hughes
Mention the term “verb” and most people can give a definition or an example. Say “preposition” and anyone who studied English before the 60s or who learnt a language at school still knows what you’re talking about. However, once you enter the realms of “tenses” or “articles”, many speakers start asking interrogatives.
It might seem ironic that those of us who grow up speaking English are often far less equipped to talk about the language itself compared with anyone who has learnt English as second or foreign language. However, for many people poor knowledge of grammatical terms probably isn’t of great concern. After all, there are only a few jobs which require a high standard of language awareness: teaching English as a foreign language is one such job.
Understanding grammar – or lack of understanding – causes most budding EFL teachers most concern. When applying for training courses such as the Celta or a certificate in Tesol, many applicants say that this is their biggest worry. New teachers go through sleepless nights, wondering: “What happens when a student asks me a question about grammar and I can’t answer it?”
Inevitably this situation will arise – many times. But what happens is that you go and find out and let the student know at the next lesson. So the student gets the answer and you will never forget that language point ever again.
Read the rest of this article at EducationGuardian.co.uk.
Mention the term “verb” and most people can give a definition or an example. Say “preposition” and anyone who studied English before the 60s or who learnt a language at school still knows what you’re talking about. However, once you enter the realms of “tenses” or “articles”, many speakers start asking interrogatives.
It might seem ironic that those of us who grow up speaking English are often far less equipped to talk about the language itself compared with anyone who has learnt English as second or foreign language. However, for many people poor knowledge of grammatical terms probably isn’t of great concern. After all, there are only a few jobs which require a high standard of language awareness: teaching English as a foreign language is one such job.
Understanding grammar – or lack of understanding – causes most budding EFL teachers most concern. When applying for training courses such as the Celta or a certificate in Tesol, many applicants say that this is their biggest worry. New teachers go through sleepless nights, wondering: “What happens when a student asks me a question about grammar and I can’t answer it?”
Inevitably this situation will arise – many times. But what happens is that you go and find out and let the student know at the next lesson. So the student gets the answer and you will never forget that language point ever again.
Read the rest of this article at EducationGuardian.co.uk.
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