When using an authentic audio or video it is important to use only ‘native speakers’.
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.
First of all, I agree with everything said so far on this topic. I do not want to repeat with the others but want to add something I have noticed during my teaching career.
I do not agree that it is important our students to listen to only 'native speakers'.
When students listen to non-natives they immediatelly notice the different accent and pronunciation and they feel motivated and encouraged. Why? Because they recognize themselves in those voices... they don't have to sound perfect... they are encouraged to speak more confidently because there are other people there, who also don't sound that much English, whose accent is also not perfect as theirs.
The non-native talks act so motivating on them and that is very important, too.
That's an interesting point Renata. My students always liked watching videos of people like them speaking English because if they say how they were able to communicate, they'd think "great, I can do that too."
ReplyDeleteTrue Katherine Bilsborough.
ReplyDeleteI did a little research and found out that they feel at ease and not stressed to speak the language and make mistakes if they see others like them.
I totally agree, Renata. Similarly, Ss feel much less intimidated when they talk to another non-native speaker of English. The affective filter is much lower.
ReplyDeleteVery true Margarita, yes!
ReplyDeleteYes! Nice addition to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteI've also had students tell me how much they respected some of their Japanese teachers who they saw speaking and joking with me in English one lunchtime. They also said it made them realise that they might be able to do that someday, too, especially as one of the teachers had never lived abroad, which they sometimes felt was a prerequisite.
A motivation plus for them to learn the language and use it. They then realize that do not have to sound as natives Phil.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point! One of my assistants was really uncomfortable speaking English in class when she first came and was being trained. She would whisper, and she would want to know what I'd ask her to say beforehand. But I told her every day: you're the model. You're bilingual. You're what the students need to become. You don't have to be perfect. Just communicate. Now she does. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job Anne! We all perform better when motivated!
ReplyDeleteAnne Hendler Aye - I team-taught with 11 Japanese teachers every 1-2 weeks in a kindy for 3.5 years. Some home-room teachers had almost zero English so were very nervous at first as to whether or not they would be able to 'assist' but to be honest, I don't know what I would have done without them! Mostly, they just needed reassurance but I did have one teacher who I would visit for 5 minutes before class and that really helped, too. There's a lot to learn and also be gained with team-teaching - I'm still quite a novice there, to be honest :-)
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