“What I really need to learn is…”
Anibal was from Brazil. He needed to get a driver’s license. Martha was from Mexico. She needed to learn to converse with the cashier at Wal-Mart. Geraldine was from Germany. She needed to create a resume. Alaine was French. He needed to discuss manufacturing issues. Min-seok, Se-hoon, Ji-yoon, and Ga-bin are Korean. They need to pass a university entrance exam.
English has standards and absolutes. But it isn’t a one-size-fits-all subject. Your students have specific needs. They are all learning English for a particular reason. They have lives to live, and goals to obtain. You are a part of their life and education for a specific reason. Find out what that purpose is. One of the worst things we can do as teachers is stubbornly teach our students what we want them to know instead of what they need to learn.
What about you? What individual needs do your students have? Why are they learning English from you?
Go to the next:
What They’re Not Telling You (9 of 10)
