THE STORYTELLER.

In recent times, English has become the most commonly spoken language throughout the world, thus it has become necessary for us to teach this language to our childen right from their early age so that it would be convenient for them to adjust themselves globally later on in their lives. The best possible way to make your kids learn English is to have them listen to a very short, interesting  story that has a rhythm of its own.

It is a known fact that children gradually learn the story as they are told.  Soon they start repeating the story by themselves ,this unknowingly builds a confidence in them and make them happy that they too can say the story. In this way the child starts speaking small sentences in English.  We should get a picture book and start naming the pictures, and also give them a picture talk. Next, we must try and do actions for  words such like eating, clapping, jumping, laughing, etc. In order for us to teach them gradually complex sentences, story time or picture reading in simple sentences are the best way.  Here's a good example of what I mean to say:

THE RABBIT AND THE TORTOISE.

Once upon a time there lived two friends in a jungle, a tortoise and a rabbit. One day they wanted to take part in a race. They both started running together, but after a while the rabbit sat down to rest and fell asleep under a tree on the half way thinking that he was a fast runner so he could make up with the tortoise the moment he wakes up.

As the tortoise reached the midway he saw the rabbit sleeping under the tree, he halted for few seconds and then kept on going thinking that if he sat down to rest he might loose the race.  After some time the rabbit woke up and started running but when he reached the winning point he saw the tortoise had already won the race.

Show the pictures if possible so that you can draw the child's attention towards the story. If this is done regularly the results will be seen in no time, and we will notice the child may be trying to say the story along with us The next step will be to start a sentance and prompt the child to complete it. We will see the child gradually enjoying when he tries to tell you the story by themselves and thus learning the language without really noticing he is learning.  Have a try, and tell me your experience.

CONSEJOS DE INTERÉS PARA MIS ALUMNOS.

A continuación voy a ofreceros una relación de ideas que puedes adoptar a modo de consejo para sacarle el mejor partido posible al aprendizaje del inglés:

Elige un lugar en el que tengas cerca todo lo que necesite y nadie te pueda molestar. Elabora una lista antes de comenzar a estudiar en la que figure el material de estudio, los pasos de estudio correspondientes así como también las plazos de las tareas. Ten en cuenta en qué momento realizar una pausa. Confecciona fichas con el vocabulario recientemente aprendidos así como las reglas gramaticales que has estado poniendo en práctica. Así mantendrás la visión de conjunto y podras aprender de forma eficaz.  Trata de encontrar un compañero de conversación que hable el inglés como lengua materna.  

En caso de que dispongas de conexión a Internet, en determinados sitios web podrá encontrar gente que busque amigos para cartas o mails. Seguramente encontrarás gente con intereses similares con la cual establecer contacto.Trabaja con diccionarios y otras obras de referencia. Esto te permitirá un desarrollo más rápido del trabajo.  Para mejorar las habilidades lingüísticas en la vida cotidiana, deberías practicar con las conversaciones o textos de la clase fuera del aula y repertirlos varias veces. Trata de modificarlos y llegado el caso también reformularlos para construir nuevas frases a partir de ello.  Para mejorar tu comprensión lectora, deberías tener en cuenta los siguientes pasos: lee el texto detenidamente, busca los términos clave, determina las ideas principales del texto, relaciona la estructura con el contenido, y finalmente identifica personajes, situaciones, acontecimientos, relaciones, tiempo y lugar de los  acontecimientos.

ENGLISH HOMEWORK.

Éste va a ser el rincón del blog reservado exclusivamente a todos mis alumnos y alumnas, en una serie de páginas cuyos enlaces podrán encontrar ubicados en la esquina superior izquierda justo debajo del encabezamiento que da título al blog, distribuidos por grupos, y a las que tendrán que acceder de forma periódica para consultar las actividades que vaya subiendo.  

Entre todos procuraremos ir avanzando en el aprendizaje del idioma que nos ocupa y que tantas puertas puede abrir  en el futuro.  Nadie nace sabiendo y los errores que de seguro van a cometer a lo largo del camino van a ser muchos y de diversa índole, pero poco a poco irán viendo cómo su nivel de competencia lingüística irá afianzándose de forma gradual.  De igual forma, irán superando lagunas y cuando menos se lo esperen se darán cuenta de que aprender inglés no es tan difícil como se piensan.

Y este último párrafo va a dirigido a vosotros:  de vez en cuando os pediré que realicéis las  actividades que vaya subiendo al blog en vuestro ordenador portátil, y los documentos que creéis (preferentemente en formato .doc) habréis de enviarlos a la siguiente dirección:

                               aragon.morales@hotmail.com

Ahí podré comprobar cómo realmente se va desarrollando vuestro proceso de aprendizaje y el grado de aprovechamiento de las clases.  Ánimo y adelante. 

THE ROLE OF GRAMMAR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING.

During the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s, education, influenced by the social changes of the 60’s went through a period where the teaching of grammar was thought to be stifling to creativity. Often I was made to feel like a dinosaur for teaching grammar.  Oddly enough, much of the criticism came from colleagues who held master’s degrees. It was so easy for them to think like that but they already had grammar skills or they wouldn’t have been able to write a master’s thesis.  Then, why did they want to deny these same skills to present and future students?  Nobody is obviously against progress in education but, in the heat of the excitement of making changes, we must be very sure that what we consider to be progression is not regression, or even suppression, in disguise.

There came the moment when teachers were told into learning to use a computer.  As for myself, the instructor suggested that I would learn more quickly if I worked on a continuous project.  I spent every opportunity available to me in the computer room; early mornings, lunch times, after school, and in the evenings (learning to use new technologies has always been a slow time-consuming process to me). But thank goodness I managed to get used to so many new words and expressions that now it's become an integral part of my everyday's life. You cannot measure progress against your plan.

However, in this world of ‘instant everything’ the art of discipline is easily eroded.  With the flick of a switch, the push of a button, the turn of a dial, or the click of a mouse, we can be distracted immediately.  Mastering a technique is not instant.  It needs the discipline to focus, to organize, and to practise.  It also needs the encouragement of parents and teachers.  It is time to stop giving grammar a bad name and look at it for what it is: a technique.  It is a tool that can enhance creativity, not stifle it. 

Grammar is not only a valuable tool for creative writing but also a wonderful aid for teaching.  When I was guiding students in creative writing classes, it was so helpful, from a teaching point of view, to be able to say, “Here you used an adjective where you should have used an adverb” or “at this point you used a principal verb without an auxiliary verb” or “if you place the subject at the end of this sentence it will improve the flow of your story.  ”This is a much more satisfying learning situation than saying, “You have made some mistakes so I have inserted the corrections in red ink.”

There are many comprehensive grammar books available in bookstores and on the Internet.  No matter what resources you prefer to use, never underestimate the importance of grammar.  It would be wise to note that if you can’t speak well and write well – your windows of opportunity are closed.