I am doing a TEFL course can you help me
2007-02-19 07:42:38 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I am a TESOL/TEFL instructor. Fluency (from Latin = flowing) means to be able to speak easily but not necessarily accurately. In teaching ESL there has always been a debate between focusing on fluency or accuracy. Some learners are very focused on grammar which is very typical of Asian students. They memorize all the grammar rules but have great difficulty translating this grammar into conversation. When I taught immigrants (18yrs) many Asian students would proudly anounce that they had been studying English for 5-10 years but on assessment they were generally placed in level 1 or 2 (low beginners) because they couldn't talk their way out of a paper bag if it were on fire. However, they could recite any grammar rule but were affraid to speak out, until they thought out their sentence correctly in their head, a process which is lengthy and boring for others to listen to. Other immigrants spoke attrocious English with faulty or little grammar and yet they made themselves understood and would participate eagerly in class. So, what I used to tell them and my TESOL/TEFL students is to first of all ascertain when and how the students will be using English. If it's for academic purposes of course you have to focus more on accuracy but not neglecting fluency. If the students have to get jobs, or are moms in a community, they need to focus more on fluency but not neglecting accuracy. I tell them, imagine the language as if you have been given the car of your dreams but you are not allowed to drive it until you become a certified mechanic. Or? would you like to drive the car of your dreams and once in a while start looking under the "hood" and start learning the engine. Driving is fluency while Mechanics is accuracy. Hope this helps.
2007-02-19 17:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by Just Me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im sure its where you practise at working at your fluency in language, saying sentences flowy without stops and pauses. Its easier when you know the language better if its foreign.........
2007-02-19 15:46:51 · answer #2 · answered by ダニエル 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your teacher to provide some "drills", example
"Alan and Brenda have a new DVD, We are going to see THEM tomorrow."
Change "Alan and Brenda" and change "them" to "him" or "her".
Charles has ... (him)
Maureen has .. (her)
"The twins have ..." (them)
"My best friend has ..." (him) or (her)
These kinds of drill help you to improve your fluency.
2007-02-23 09:18:29 · answer #3 · answered by halifaxed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋