Remedial English

 Know the Teacher

Ø  Language Focus: Question forms, short answers

•  Adult learners can feel ‘infantilised’ when they speak a foreign language. They may have a confident and respected public identity in their first language but feel like children communicating with adults when speaking their second language, especially with their teacher, who they may respond to as a figure of authority and an imparter of knowledge.
• This power relationship is, in my opinion, rather unhealthy and unhelpful in one to one classes. As teachers, we are no more intelligent, cultured, open minded or wise than our learners. We are equals in all respects, except our ability to use the English language. Therefore, I always recommend a ‘getting to know your teacher’ activity in the first lesson. As well as giving you a good idea of your student’s strengths and weaknesses, we can also use this activity to break the ice. Start by asking your learner to write down a list of questions they would like to ask you. Give them a few ideas, themes like work, family, hobbies, and let them spend a few minutes thinking and forming questions. Let them write the questions first rather than ask them to think them up on the spot. In real life situations, we generally prepare questions before asking them (job interviews) and you will get a better idea of what they already know (e.g. their ability to use question words) and any gaps or errors in their knowledge (omission of auxiliary verbs, confusion between what and which). I recommend you look at their questions before you do the interview and make any adjustments or corrections to ensure the interview flows.