Teaching-Teacher 1 Conversation

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Teaching / Teacher 1 Conversation
AJ:
Hello.
whatcha doin’?:
what
are you doing?
Kristin:
Hey, AJ,
whatcha doin’
?
AJ:
Hey. Oh, not much, just, um, workin’ on a blog post actually. I’m gonna write
like a little blog article about our teaching method.
Kristin:
What are you writing, exactly?
to cover:
to discuss
AJ:
Um, I just kind of wanna… I don’t know. I want
to cover
a few things. I think
the, the main idea is to get a-, across the… Y’know, like, Stephen Krashen’s, um,
y’know, input
hypothesis
. His, y’know, all his research about, uh, y’know, the fact
that, y’know, that people learn languages best through input. Y’know, meaning lots
and lots of listening… Lots and lots of reading… Uh, much more effectively than
trying to make them practice speaking or practice writing.
hypothesis:
theory
Kristin:
Right.
the foundation of:
the
basis for, the core, the
root
AJ:
Y’know, and that’s, that’s kind of the biggest, I think, the biggest, uh, principle.
It’s sort of the, the,
the foundation of
, of, y’know, our, our teaching method, is that
research. Um, because, y’know, most, most schools have the opposite idea. And
most books really, even though they don’t necessarily state it, y’know, they… I think
most of them have this
assumption
that, uh, y’know, that practicing speech and
practicing writing and then correcting errors… that’s supposed to be the best way,
y’know, to teach or learn. That’s what most students think. That’s what most
teachers think. And of course it’s completely wrong. The research shows that it’s
totally wrong.
assumption:
a belief
without support or
evidence
AUA:
American
University Alumni (School
in Bangkok)
Kristin:
Right. Yeah, it was really great learning about learning, th-, y’know, this
technique in general, or methodology I guess I should say, during our masters
program. And then not only learning about it but getting to experience it when we
were living in Bangkok and going to
AUA
. Y’know, their whole listen first approach…
AJ:
Yeah right, which, y’know, and of course, y’know the, uh, uh, Dr. Brown, uh,
started that program because of Krashen’s research. And, uh, it was really
interesting, y’know. I, I agree just, y’know… That idea of just listening for a whole
year [laugh] without real, attempting to speak at all… And they’re really
hardcore
,
y’know, they’re...
hardcore:
very strict,
very serious (about
something)
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© Copyright 2008: Learn Real English, LLC
Teaching / Teacher 1 Conversation
Kristin:
[laugh] yeah...
AJ:
...they’re like, y’know, no speaking [laugh] for one year.
Kristin:
Yep.
TPRS:
Teaching
Proficiency through
Reading and Storytelling
AJ:
Um, y’know, like other people like, uh, y’know, like the
TPRS
, the TPR
storytelling. Y’know, they’re not so tough about, y’know, no speaking. But they still
emphasize listening and, and, and input, of course.
all over the place:
unorganized, almost
random
Kristin:
Um-hm. Yeah, you know in all honesty, when I had been, been teaching
before starting the masters program, I just felt like my methods were
all over the
place
. So it was, I don’t know, it was like, um, it was like a breath of fresh air to, to
start the masters and be able to start
piecing together
methodologies and
techniques that really seem
to click with
me. And, I thought, it, it would just, it just
made sense, just...
piecing together:
putting
together; creating
to click with:
to fit with,
to be appropriate for
AJ:
Oh yeah, I was the same before, before, uh, y’know, learning about this
research. Before doing the masters program, y’know, my methods were totally like
scattershot
. I would just “Oh, pick something from this book, pick something from
this book. Oh the school says to use this textbook. Okay.” Y’know, but, but not really
with any research or any reason… Just, it’s just, and that’s what most teachers do, I
think, most...
scattershot:
unorganized, almost
random
Kristin:
Right.
throw together:
put
together in a random
way, create in a random
way
AJ:
...schools, most textbooks, they just
throw together
a bunch of stuff...
Kristin:
Yeah.
AJ:
...and, “this looks good,” y’know. But there, there’s no… they don’t know if, any
research, whether it actually works or not...
Kristin:
Um-hm.
AJ:
...and I know I’m embarrassed. I think back about my classes in the past and I
realize, man, the students didn’t learn very much, y’know. I, I was giving ‘em all that
grammar and the grammar rules and the vocabulary list. Just all the typical stuff…
And, oh, I feel terrible because now I realize they, they didn’t learn very much. And I
knew at the time even, I knew then that. Wow, this just isn’t working very well.
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© Copyright 2008: Learn Real English, LLC
Teaching / Teacher 1 Conversation
They’re learning so slowly.
Kristin:
Yep. I know, I, I totally agree. And that’s why, too, um, y’know, Joe and I
now doing our lessons, why we’re taking a listen approach, fir-, listen first approach,
um, by, by these conversations.
AJ:
Yeah, yeah. And then using, y’know, using the, the listen and answer storytelling
method which is so powerful. I mean when I started using that, and, and some of the
other methods, y’know that, that we use that go with, go along with this research… I
mean just to see the results with so many of the students and how much faster they
learn. How much more fun they have. How their speaking...
Kristin:
Um-hm.
AJ:
...improves. It was like, wow. It was just amazing. It was so motivating for me
as a teacher. I’m sure for you, too.
Kristin:
Yes.
AJ:
Because it’s like, oh my god, something, it, uh, actually works.
Kristin:
Yep.
AJ:
This is great.
a no-brainer:
an obvious
truth, an obvious idea
Kristin:
Yeah, and obviously it’s kind of a
no-brainer
to continue on that path.
crap:
shit, something
worthless or bad
AJ:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. It makes me wonder, too, why, yeah, other teachers
in schools just keep doing the same
crap
[laugh], y’know.
Kristin:
I know.
AJ:
Ever-, at every school I’ve ever taught at, every one I’ve ever seen, every
textbook I’ve ever looked at… same crap.
Kristin:
Yep.
AJ:
It’s just amazing. It’s kind of sad actually. But, hey, we got something better so
that’s good.
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© Copyright 2008: Learn Real English, LLC
Teaching / Teacher 1 Conversation
I gotta get going:
I have
to leave, I need to go
Kristin:
Right. Well, hey, um,
I gotta get going
here. I just wanted to call and see
what you were up to
.
what you were up to:
what you were doing
AJ:
Sure.
Kristin:
You want me to give you a call back in just a few minutes, or....
AJ:
Yeah, yeah, sure go ahead, yeah I’ve got time...
Kristin:
Okay.
AJ:
...I’m free...
Kristin:
Alright...bye.
AJ:
...talk to you soon...bye.
Kristin:
...okay, bye.
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© Copyright 2008: Learn Real English, LLC
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