Hi again!!
In this blog, i want to focus on the specific needs students have when it comes to english learning.
One day, one of my students came up to me and told me she wanted to improve her english skills at work. This kind of request drops you of guard, as you aways prepare your classes, focusing on the main english skills: Writing, reading, listening etc. Well, we had a discussion about it and we decided to focus her english classes on HR skills.....pretty exciting as well as demanding.....But we've been doing it for a couple of weeks and it is working out pretty well. My main aim with this, is to show that you can also learn english by focusing on a specific skill. For example; in one class i prepared a list of vocabulary relating to the HR field. Then i asked her to prepare the vocabulary and to start learning them. By this i do not mean looking up the translation in spanish, but trying to explain the meaning in english. The worst thing you can do, is to translate. Next step was to practice the words within a practical scenario. Then we would do interview roleplays and debates about working life using the learnt vocabulary. What you can actually achieve with this is just amazing. Main skills learnt:
- Listening
- Reading
- Vocabuly build up
- Speaking
Also, what me and my student achieved was for her to be able to have an interview in english and be able to use the learnt vocabulary to express her ideas and experience. So for me it is a great lesson learnt as a teacher and a great achievment within my teaching experience.
This example can be used in any aspects of professional english. Could be medicine, engineering, business etc. Give it a go and see what you can actually achieve by putting just a little bit of effort and flexibility.
Till next time... ENJOY ENGLISH AND START TO LOVE IT!!! I DO!!! :)
