Hi everyone

Hi everyone,
Although I haven't been able to participate in the sessions because I had to teach, I've enjoyed the sessions. I have a few questions:

1. Penny - you mentioned that it's a good idea to have students translate the text into their own language. I always thought that was a bad idea because then the student isn't thinking in English and is more in the "translation mode". Is there research to back this up?

2. Also I'm still thinking about the circle that you showed in your first lesson of how to use teaching time. What's your take on an English reading comprehension university level course that runs for 8 hours straight every week!! How intentional can the teaching be for so many hours?

Comments

  1. Penny UrNovember 26, 2017 at 8:45 PM

    Hi, Sara! On the use of L1 for translation, including the 'thinking in English' objection, please watch (again?) the recording of week 3 where I discussed the topic, and referenced relevant research. If after watching it you'd like to discuss further, get back to me.
    English reading comprehension for eight hours straight? Sounds like a bad idea to me, how can you concentrate for eight hours straight off ...surely you need breaks between learning periods for good learning to take place! What's your own take on this?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sara TillemanNovember 26, 2017 at 10:10 PM

    Penny Ur Thanks Penny - the truth is that I've watched all the sessions except the third so I'll watch that today (I guess the answer to my question is there). As far as these marathon English courses, just checking my sanity that they really don't contribute to much learning. I've voiced my opinion to the administration but they are more interested in convenience and having the student finish their course as quickly as possible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sara TillemanNovember 26, 2017 at 10:14 PM

    Sara Tilleman One more thing - do you by chance have a recommended resource for teaching students how to understand questions. They frequently understand the main idea of the text but have trouble understanding the questions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Penny UrNovember 27, 2017 at 1:53 AM

    No, nothing I can think of, sorry. Anyone else?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Phil BrownDecember 3, 2017 at 6:32 PM

    Sara Tilleman Can you give an illustrative example?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Scott van LeenenDecember 3, 2017 at 6:48 PM

    Is the barrier a lack of vocabulary? Lack of familiarity with question words? Their ability to express an answer?

    Is their lack of understanding of the questions the same if the questions are posed in L1?

    ReplyDelete

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