Philosophical basement of teaching a language

(Partially inspired on the ideas of Víctor García Hoz)


1. Learning a language should be a profoundly human action.
2. It serves to communicate among persons.
3. Explain to our students the theory of communication: Emissor-message-receiver. Examples.
4. Learning is not only something technical, but human.
5. Communication offers a message which can enrich me.
6. Communication creates a convival as well. We have to learn to live with others, to get to know the others.
7. In the classroom there should be communication. It enriches us as human beings.
8. Debates as well are interesting: the students give their opinions and learn to listen to others.
9. Learning grammar and vocabulary are instruments for communication. Drill-activities teach us the tools for communication.
10. Games create communication.
11. Also help them learn how to work well and neat.
12. Make them engage their minds, solve problems, think, in a word. Include texts with substance, either historic, biographic, ethics, philosophy, thought, science and technology…

Keys for success at teaching English!

Very briefly: (think over them). They summarize the findings of my Doctorate.

1. Communication in the class in L2, all the time.
2. Learning strategies that the students propose and the teacher suggests. (HD Brown, Rebecca Oxford, Wenden)
3. Reflexive learning.
4. Motivation.
5. Effort.
6. Personalization by the teacher.
7. Massive input, also vocabulary.
8. Massive output.
9. Imitate real life.
10. Practice the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing.
11. Discipline in the class.
12. Learn and practice verbal tenses. (Mary Jane Amaya)
13. Varied and fun activities.
14. Visual aids. (Mary Jane Amaya)
15. Good teacher-learners relationship, rapport.
16. Materialization of the stuff the teacher wants to teach.
17. The teacher’s creativity facing up emerging problems.


Some specifications:

1. Conversation. Imitate real life. Communication.
2. Attitude. Eagerness for learning. The students should imply themselves. It is them who want to learn. Autonomous learning. Problem solving. What can I do to learn. Each class, each time of study are important, one step forward. What can I learn with this activity. What can I teach with this class. Not to wait for an ideal future: each class, each unit are important.

Oncoming soon!

My name is Fernando Díez, I live in fantastic Granada, south of Spain. I'm an English teacher, I used to manage English courses for all kinds of students, and as well I am a teacher trainer, and Doctorandus in tefl. I intend on this blog to tell you my findings as well as others' in regard to teaching English, which could be applied to many other languages. Something I tell you right now is that I'm enamored of my profession. I've got a lot to tell you. Soon I'll start to publish the stuff right here. I'm convinced I can help you with your teaching, either if you are a prospective teacher, or just to get a hint about new things to do in your classes, in case you're a veteran... And, remember, I'm very optimistic! All of us need tricks or rather principles (as HD Brown says) for our teaching.