Learning Languages (3)

The class took place in a hospital. Most of the students were doctors and nurses, apart from other clerical staff. On that day, we had practised on some few common phrases and expressions used in everyday living, using questions and answers, drills and role plays to end it all.

On finishing the class, I asked them if they had been happy with the class, but among themselves, I heard them murmuring “What stupid things!”

I told them that they were, indeed, rather silly things to do, but they were as important to learn as they were other items more interesting,  but those silly phrases had to be  learnt after all, if they wished to master the language.

This class has been left far behind, but it shows quite clearly a student’s attitude towards learning a foreign language or whatever one is set to learn, I’d say.

When people set themselves to learn a language, they would like to be able to speak, write and read the same way locals in a given country have been doing almost since birth, primary or secondary school immediately. Yet, they don’t seem to like having to pass through an early stage. They don’t seem to become the boy or girl who once had to learn to speak, read and write.

Is learning a language easy?

It isn’t, especially if this language is learnt far from the country where it is spoken day in and day out. It may be interesting and stimulating and the student may progress well, provided he or she puts time and effort and, of course, she or he has an inspirational and professional teacher. Yet, a good input is necessary from the students. 

Aspects to be taken into consideration

If, as I say, this language is studied far from the country where it is spoken, some time should be devoted to its practice and use, whether in a classroom or in everyday living. A student can’t expect that all lies on a teacher. I had students who would come to me apologizing for not having done their homework, As they told me that they had been rather busy over the long weekend. Merely smiling and shrugging, I used to reply them “Oh, well! It doesn’t matter so much. It’s you who want to learn the language. I know it already!”

A teacher is obliged to prepare his classes no matter how experienced they are. They are obliged to do efficient and enjoyable classes, but students, too, have their obligations as regards a class.

- Punctuality.

- They shouldn’t be absent unless there is a serious reason for it, and serious reasons don’t occur every so often.

- One won’t just learn by attending a class, but what one does out of it matters just as much as its attendance to the class.

- A good teacher will always welcome extra homework not requested. It clearly shows a good interest from the student and the teacher should consider this.

Teachers and students aren’t rivals, but they are colleagues to work together. it is only that teachers know a bit more on the subject than the students. 

If it is really offputing a teacher who doesn’t care much about the class or the students not preparing his classes well, there isn’t either something more offputing and discouraging for the teacher than students who won’t do much from their side.

There are bad teachers, but there also bad students who can take a good teacher into desperation and into thinking that they are wasting their time.  But as usual, a teacher will be always the bad guy no matter what the students are like.