[etni] Fw: re: WHAT is our job as English teachers??
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- To: "Etni" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 07:39:13 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gunther Volk" <gunther.volk@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: WHAT is our job as English teachers??
I have just started a new teacher training course and in order to
motivate my trainees for the job they may be doing for a considerable
number of years, I have them look at the introduction to the high
school curriculum for English in the south western German state I
teach in. I have them scan the introductory pages and pick out
anything that goes beyond what one would commonly associate with the
teaching of English. And lo and behold, to the utter amazement of the
trainees, we discover that we are (have to be) a lot more than mere
language teachers. The curriculum expects EFL teachers to teach the
kids perseverance, conscientiousness, independence, concentration,
being able to think logically, social competence, finding one's
identity, being open to others, being true to oneself, tolerance,
understanding between nations, living together in Europe,
intercultural competence, different world views, empathy, aesthetic
sensitivity.
Though the goals sound rather fancy-schmanzy and / or even
unattainable, they inspire the trainees with the notion that teaching
English is a lot more than just teaching vocabulary or grammar.
Ultimately, teaching is about 'changing things' - and even we as EFL
teachers have an opportunity to leave our mark and do just that.
Gunther Volk
Judy wrote:
> I have to add to what Aviva wrote...
> I was teaching intelligent 9th graders that chapter about various
> revolutions. I mentioned "British colonies, Canada, Australia etc", and
> someone asked me "Where is Canada?" And when I said that people escaped
> persecution in Britain by fleeing to America, one girl asked me ... wait
> for
> it... "did they walk"?
> So the next lesson, I brought maps of the world, and in the guise of
> teaching English, I made them write the names of the continents, oceans,
> longest rivers, largest cities.
> The pupils really enjoyed the lesson, although it was not exactly in my
> syllabus.
> Yes, we do have to fill in where the system has failed. We are foremost
> educators, unfortunately our successes are not measured by what we teach
> but
> by what results our kids achieve in formal exams. I am not sure where my
> responsibilities lie, but I will continue to do what I think is right and
> responsible! ( sounds self-righteous, but hey, this stays in the family,
> OK?)
> >What is our job as English teachers?? THAT is a good question. Some of us
> >say it is NOT our job to teach them certain skills which they should be
> >learning from their Hebrew speaking teachers. I partially agree BUT
> >since
> >in reality we see they are NOT being taught these skills, like how to
> >read
> >high level internet texts, how to summarize, how take notes. etc.. then
> >why is it so bad that we step in a fill the void. ?? At some point in the
> >kids' English education we stop teaching the language and start using it
> >to
> >teach them other things.. THIS is the best part of teaching English.. I
> >am
> >not drilling them on grammar.. I am working with them in a second
> >language
> >, one which will be useful for life !! (whether it be to communicate with
> >others around the world , comprehend it while watching a movie or work in
> >it daily)
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