Some Points to Ponder
#1. We all learned to speak one language very well as babies. If we offer students respect--instead of dictionaries--they can learn to speak another language very well.
#2. To discover the meaning of words is a remarkable experience. Give students that experience instead of translations.
#3. There is a difference between "language" and "vocabulary": Language contains all the everyday words speakers know and use; vocabulary are all the hard words students memorize and can't use. Students should always be related to the language, not to vocabulary.
#4. Students also should be related directly to the language, not to the teacher. (Gattegno's subordinating teaching to learning.)
#5. Students have to do most of the talking if they are going to learn to speak well. For this to happen, teachers and speakers need to be silent, more and more.
#6. Review all of the above...often.
Text by Jim Green
Alliance Project for Tribal Colleges
Box 340
Wilmot, SD 57279
Send EMAIL to: jim@dailypost.com
Copyright 1996 Native Language Systems