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Mon May 21, 2007 16:07 pm How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: | | Remember that there are several non-native English speakers who have become famous English authors, including Conrad, Nabokov and Ouspensky. |
Yea, but they were talented, i.e. they were exceptions from the rule. I know that when the average dude takes up writting poems or stories in any non-native language (for him), even if there is no mistakes and the grammar is impeccable, natives while reading his piece, can notice that there is something wrong, something missing... thats why almost all translators translate texts only into their native language (and not otherwise). And I strongly believe that there is some inner feeling, instinct about any language in every speaker, which you cannot be taught. _________________ Alex
How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?
(a guy from Russia) |
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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Tue May 22, 2007 10:15 am Hi! I am sunhoek .and Sam |
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Hello everyone! I've been watching you guys' debates. well as all of you know I am not native speaker. I also wasn't born in English-speaking country and I am not enough to teach English to native speaker. but It is assure that I am eager to learn English very hard so that I can teach English to people whether they are non-native speaker.I don't care about it. I know that it is very close to impossible to teach English to native speaker.If I were the one who wants to learn English as native speaker I couldn't decide to get a lesson from me. I agree with you guys' thought. even if I am not good at teaching English to people I will live with speaking English through the world. I do make my dreams come true.
Best regards!! |
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Sunhoek I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 43
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Tue May 22, 2007 10:45 am How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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Hi sunhoek,
I would feel very put off if someone told me I shouldn't even think about aiming at becoming native proficient in a foreign language. Like Professor John C. Wells says, it might not be an easy goal to reach. Being an ambitious English student is never wrong, however. I wish you, sunhoek, the best of luck with your English studies. I am convinced that you can become an excellent English teacher to students at all levels if that is your goal.
All the best
EU |
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Englishuser I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 806
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Tue May 22, 2007 11:16 am How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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The question at hand is whether or not a language can "be taught". I think you can't teach a language, you can only learn it and you need to communicate with a variety of people in order achieve a high level of success. Of course it is helpful to have access to English language professionals but in addition you need to observe and study all kinds of native speakers. Listen and absorb their language, analyze what they are saying and how they are saying it. Start imitating them. Try to detect grammar rules and language patterns. Ask questions. Record your own voice and listen to it. There are so many things you can without a "teacher", as a matter of fact, if you really want to learn English you have to do most of the work yourself anyway. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Site Admin

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 7898 Location: EU
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Tue May 22, 2007 12:30 pm Hi! Torsten! |
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| Torsten wrote: | | The question at hand is whether or not a language can "be taught". I think you can't teach a language, you can only learn it and you need to communicate with a variety of people in order achieve a high level of success. Of course it is helpful to have access to English language professionals but in addition you need to observe and study all kinds of native speakers. Listen and absorb their language, analyze what they are saying and how they are saying it. Start imitating them. Try to detect grammar rules and language patterns. Ask questions. Record your own voice and listen to it. There are so many things you can without a "teacher", as a matter of fact, if you really want to learn English you have to do most of the work yourself anyway. |
Thank you for your advice.
well.. You've said that the method to learn English efficiently.
as you wrote it. you are very right.
I want to have a conversation with native speakers fluently.
so I am excersing even now through writing.
when I follow your ideas I would get a goal!
thanks again for your good opinion. |
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Sunhoek I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 43
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Tue May 22, 2007 12:35 pm How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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Torsten, as a language teacher, I agree that we don't really teach languages. We expose students to some words, grammar explanations and to some examples of real language, and we make the students try to use that raw material, and in the process the language somehow creates itself in the students' heads. Usually the result of our teaching is much bigger than whatever it was we seeded the students' minds with.
Sunhoek, I think that if you perfect your English enough and get the right training, you will be able to teach English not only to foreigners but also to native English speakers. I have seen people achieve this goal many times, so there's no reason I can think of that you couldn't achieve it. And I'll be at the finish line cheering for you. (The only trouble is that with language they never stop moving the finish line.) |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 4407 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Tue May 22, 2007 19:42 pm How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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Hi all
And late into the debate. I think some of the arguments are fair.
A few points to consider, what is a teacher? A teacher can be a lecturer or an enabler. If the former you are simply informed of how a language works and the latter assists you in your discovery of that language: We are ignoring the fact that good trainers should be teaching students how to learn backed up with heightening awareness of the intrices of the language. The "how to learn" has been ignored in the debate here.
Also good and bad trainers can come from any background. But if a client/student wishes to have a certain kind of teacher we can not ignore the power of money or a well voiced opinion. Lets be realistic.
Last and not least if there was no need for teachers, we would have no education system. What is the role of education? And how many students have the tools at hand to teach themselves. A good trainer may be able to assist them to the point where they can do it alone. But how much time could be wasted in this process? _________________ Please meet Stewart Tunncilff |
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Stew.t. I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 514 Location: Leipzig, Germany
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Tue May 22, 2007 19:47 pm How can I do to be a English teacher in the USA |
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| In the high school where I taught overseas, my very best, most fluent, most articulate English students came from the elementary school across the street, and they were taught by a lady who was almost unable to speak English. She just taught them what she knew, but more than that, she taught them how to teach themselves and get English from authentic sources. If you heard her talk, and then heard the kids talk, you'd have been astounded at how much better the kids were than the lady who taught them. But she was a terrific facilitator. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 4407 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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| what could be a great thesis topic for English Language Teaching degree? | Pepsi vs Coca-cola |