Comments for Teach ESL http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl Enter Teacher Joe's Classroom in Beijing, China Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:06:53 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Blog Post 3: The Course and The Students by Teacher Joe http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=70&cpage=1#comment-47 Teacher Joe Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:06:53 +0000 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=70#comment-47 I'm not sure if they need a complete list. It could be an advantage or it could be a wasted effort. They have already studied the basics of English and can pronounce most sounds correctly. During the first week of classes the biggest pronunciation problem I noticed was their habit of pronouncing English sentences in "machine gun" fashion, rather than with the natural up and down rhythm of English. Of course, the first week was spent mostly on listening activities. Next week, when we do much more speaking, I'll have a better idea of students' specific needs. I’m not sure if they need a complete list. It could be an advantage or it could be a wasted effort. They have already studied the basics of English and can pronounce most sounds correctly. During the first week of classes the biggest pronunciation problem I noticed was their habit of pronouncing English sentences in “machine gun” fashion, rather than with the natural up and down rhythm of English. Of course, the first week was spent mostly on listening activities. Next week, when we do much more speaking, I’ll have a better idea of students’ specific needs.

]]> Comment on Blog Post 3: The Course and The Students by JO 753 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=70&cpage=1#comment-46 JO 753 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:52:57 +0000 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=70#comment-46 You wrote "They need to be able to produce the individual sounds of the new language. Not all sounds will be difficult for them, but I assume some will be." It will be a huge advantage if they have a clear, concise, well defined list of these sounds. It will probably surprise you to learn that most native speakers of English don't know how many sounds there are! Even linguists will incorrectly mumble 'about 40' and be unable to list the correct ones, let alone 5 beyond that. You wrote “They need to be able to produce the individual sounds of the new language. Not all sounds will be difficult for them, but I assume some will be.”

It will be a huge advantage if they have a clear, concise, well defined list of these sounds.

It will probably surprise you to learn that most native speakers of English don’t know how many sounds there are! Even linguists will incorrectly mumble ‘about 40′ and be unable to list the correct ones, let alone 5 beyond that.

]]> Comment on Blog Post 1: New Year, New Students, New Blog by JO 753 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=51&cpage=1#comment-45 JO 753 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:28:10 +0000 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=51#comment-45 This is a great idea. If your blog becomes popular, teachers and students all over the world can get a real look into your world. The advantage for you is that it's almost like publishing a book. You can potentially reach millions of people and get acknowledgement for any original ideas you come up with. This is a great idea.

If your blog becomes popular, teachers and students all over the world can get a real look into your world.

The advantage for you is that it’s almost like publishing a book. You can potentially reach millions of people and get acknowledgement for any original ideas you come up with.

]]> Comment on Error Correction, part 2 by A Teacher http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=8&cpage=1#comment-2 A Teacher Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:01:29 +0000 http://teacherjoe.us/teachesl/?p=8#comment-2 That sounds like a fun activity. I will try it in the future! That sounds like a fun activity. I will try it in the future!

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