SPEAKING : WHAT THE LEARNERS THINK

Look at these comments about speaking by learners.

CINZIA (Intermediate learner from Italy)

‘I quite like speaking lessons now. But I remember when I was just
starting to learn English, I hated it when the teacher asked me to speak.
I was scared I’d make too many mistakes’
Safe environments

HYUN-JOO (Upper-Intermediate learner from Korea)

‘I’m studying in Brighton-but I’m from Korea. My teacher often asks me
to talk about what I think about politics, or crime or something. I don’t
really like talking about things like that in lessons. I don’t think these are
good subjects for an English lesson’
Cultural differences I appreciate your culture , you have to appreciate my
culture, it works both ways.

ALEJANDRA (Intermediate learner from Chile)

‘I remember a teacher asked me in front of the whole class if it was a
good idea to increase taxes to pay for more doctors. I don’t know – I
didn’t know what to say – I don’t know in Spanish’
Prepare your students for the task they have to do, must be thourogh. Ss
are probably going to panic. The key for ss permormances is th
preparation you would do
Task type
Not to worry about making mistakes
Non judgmental feedback from you
We are not teachers- friends, figures of authority, psychologists
ANJA (Advanced learner from Switzerland)
‘I don’t really think I learn much from my discussion in class – I can do
that with my friends anyway and the teacher never corrects us when we
make mistakes.’
Typical swiss reaction. More productive as you start to see your ss
inhibited or uninhibited leraners and not stron and weak. Giving her a
role from time to time, give the responsibility of assessing others. Put her
in the shoes of the teacher. Advanced ss is worried about the mistakes-
pls correct me.

DANIJELA (Advanced learner from Serbia)

‘I don’t like roleplays much – I hate saying things I don’t really believe –
I prefer to talk about real things’
TO teach the group. We want to make her understand why this kind of
activity is important. Some Ss might not like this or that activity, but I
am going to utilize different techniques. Acknowledge the difference but
keep your eye on the group.
Find out as much as you can about your individual students.

ALI (Elementary learner from Libya)

‘Outside the classroom, I find it difficult to speak sometimes because I
know the English but I never know when the other people want me to
say something. I always miss my turn.’
Explicit value on social contexts. Listen Ali you are being ask to do this
activity so that you can perform in this particular context
Why: have a reason, because it s in the coursebook/((( Expalin the value
of the activity.
VERA (Intermediate learner from Russia)
‘I don’t like speaking lessons much because the other students are much
better than me and I don’t get a chance to say very much’
Pls do not develop a kind of go to ss in your answers. Evenly nominate
Ss.

With your peers discuss the things we can learn from these learners. If
one of these comments was made about you, how would you react and
what would you do ?