Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g21Hruu22298; Fri, 1 Mar 2002 12:53:56 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2002 12:53:56 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <sc7f5a7e.022@epcc.edu> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Andres Muro" <AndresM.RGCAMPUS.EPCCRG@epcc.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:7355] RE: Promoting English use outside class X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 5.5.4 Status: O Content-Length: 3880 Lines: 62 Cindy, GKocis (??), Mary Ann: This is an interesting question with an answer that is usually not satisfactory to the students. Often times, students attend classes thinking that they will acquire the ability to converse fluently in English. After a while, students begin to feel frustrated because they feel that they are unable to communicate in English. >From my own experience, I don't think that people feel completely confident in a language until they begin to think in that language. I realized that English was native to me when I started to dream in English. However, that level of confidence takes years to master, and people can still communicate very well before this. While people may have an 'unconscious' ability to communicate well, they may 'consciously' think that they do not yet possess the skills to use the language. In essence, what they lack is confidence which comes out of practice. Practice comes out of need. Your students don't need to speak English in the community, as a result, they may have limited opportunities to practice what they have learned. I usually tell our teachers and students that students will not leave the class speaking English but they will have the knowledge to do this when the situation emerges. We have anecdotes from students who had to talk to their children's teachers, to their doctors, supervisors, co-workers, etc who were monolingual English speakers and, much to their surprise, they were able to communicate w/o problems. In summary, tell students that they are acquiring the ability to use English even thought they may not feel this way. Their ability will emerge when the need arises. Andres >>> GKocsis@santa-fe.cc.nm.us 02/28/02 06:04PM >>> I encounter this problem very often. I just continue to teach as much conversation in class as possible and when they (the students) feel confident enough and advanced enough, they will start using more English outside the class. I have also given them assignments outside of class that required the students to use English and to interact with strangers using English. I know that this is very frustrating to you but persevere. This is the nature of second language acquisition. I have seen it with many immigrants. Keep on encouraging them to use English outside the class. -----Original Message----- From: MaryAnn Florez [mailto:maryann@cal.org] Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 9:45 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:7292] Promoting English use outside class The following is a posting from Cynthia Shermeyer. She's had some problems recently posting to the list, so I'm sending this on her behalf. Thanks! MaryAnn NIFL-ESL Moderator -------------------------original message------------------- Background: I teach at a workplace ESL program at Embassy Suites Hotel in Newark Delaware, housekeeping - Mexican ladies. It is brand new. It is a contract with the school district I work with. There is another such program by a different district , but they are unwilling to share info and resources. Conflict of interest- competition you know. Heaven forbid we should cooperate and help the students! (sorry, I regress). Cycle 1 class has ended - 40 hours. Housekeeping supervisor is frustrated - doesn't hear much more English. (2 of their supervisors speak English and Spanish). Class is multileveled, using REEP stuff and own ideas. Question -Any ideas how to promote speaking more English other than in class. They can, but choose not to. What about fossilization? Is there a point when you know for sure this has happened and then do you just throw up your hands and say "I'm done"? I am using realia, created a class newsletter, worked on scenarios, role play in rooms what words of wisdom do you have for me? I know there is lots of wisdom. I learn so much from everyone! Thank you so very much! Cindy Shermeyer
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