Received: from hotmail.com ([64.4.9.80]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with ESMTP id h1QIDNP23058 for <nifl-esl@nifl.gov>; Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:13:23 -0500 (EST) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 26 Feb 2003 10:13:10 -0800 Received: from 66.55.6.166 by lw9fd.law9.hotmail.msn.com with HTTP; Wed, 26 Feb 2003 18:13:10 GMT X-Originating-IP: [66.55.6.166] From: "Susan Ryan" <susanefl@hotmail.com> To: nifl-esl@nifl.gov Subject: [NIFL-ESL:8649] Re: RE: War as a cross-cultural issue Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:13:10 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F80OkwiFBP3XqOtlPc5000122e2@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 26 Feb 2003 18:13:10.0292 (UTC) FILETIME=[B8298D40:01C2DDC2] Status: O Content-Length: 3413 Lines: 79 Thank you for your comments on content. Susan >From: "French, Allan" <afrench@sccd.ctc.edu> >Reply-To: nifl-esl@nifl.gov >To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> >Subject: [NIFL-ESL:8639] RE: War as a cross-cultural issue >Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:44:54 -0500 (EST) > >I generally teach intermediate-level students. I often have my students do >a homework assignment about the news. When they talk about these >assignments in class, it is generally the case that the other students >don't understand very well at the outset. The problem involves more than >grammar, though that is an important tool. It is also pronunciation, it is >vocabulary, it is organization of ideas so that they are clear and make >sense, it is learning to listen carefully and even take simple notes, it is >the ability and willingness to ask simple questions (especially if one >doesn't understand). I have learned that many things that happen in the >world that are of great interest to me, just are not on my students' radar >screens. They want better jobs and need to communicate better to get those >jobs. They want to be able to read with their children, and to communicate >with the teachers. So yes, communication at this level is indeed more >important than any particular conten! >t area. However, if a topic is presented carefully, gradually, and with >sufficient time and direction from me (on the language aspects of the >lesson), then comprehension (of both the topic and of their classmates)is >improved and student participation is better. Content is a vehicle for >improving communication competency. If the content proves especially >engaging, then so much the better for all involved. > >Allan French >ESL Instructor >South Seattle Community College >afrench@sccd.ctc.edu > >-----Original Message----- >From: Sylvan Rainwater [mailto:sylvan@cccchs.org] >Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 3:51 PM >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [NIFL-ESL:8638] RE: War as a cross-cultural issue > > >At 03:50 PM 02/24/2003 -0500, Susan Ryan wrote: > >Do we need to get so deep into subject matter to teach the English > >language? My students are just struggling to put the adjactive before the >noun! > >Obviously, we don't *need* to get so deep into subject matter. But >sometimes it's useful. When people get interested in something that is >meaningful to them, they quit thinking so hard about using the language and >just communicate. I teach computers 1 hour a week, and even though it's all >in English, most of them get it, and enjoy it, and forget that they are >also learning English in the process. > >If you can have a discussion of a topic that affects everyone, and if war >isn't it right now, I don't know what is, then sometimes that's fruitful to >meet more than one need, and sometimes more useful than simply to practice >a particular grammar point. > >Sure, you need both content and grammar, and how to balance them is part of >the art of teaching. > > >-------------------------------------------------------------- >Sylvan Rainwater . Family Literacy Coordinator >Clackamas County Children's Commission / Head Start >Oregon City, OR USA . mailto:sylvan@cccchs.org > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
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