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How to teach children the basics... | ||
Tags: Children | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Languages & Work |  | |
| Cavesa Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic Joined 5011 days ago 3277 posts - 6779 votes  Speaks: Czech*, FrenchC2, EnglishC1 Studies: Spanish, German, Italian | Message 9 of 19 18 July 2012 at 9:08pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes, that was really stupid of her, I agree.
That is part of the trouble. Bulgaria is quite difficult, at least for someone doing such a program for children for the first time. You have been recently so excited with Swedish. Why don't you try swedish culture (with a few pieces of language)? There are few more exciting topics than vikings!
You are very wrong. Most children are NOT such dumb idiots as you see them. Yes, many play at least occasionaly on computer and most children like cartoons but it is not the only thing they like. And vast majority of children will prefer to PLAY in reality to any computer games or cartoons. Some of them become such idiots as the time goes, usually because most of the time there was noone like you to give them something else to do and they parents don't care much. Nevertheless, every activity may not suit one or two of the children, it is normal. They will usually follow as well to not spoil fun for others and they still might start to enjoy it on the go. But, if half the children are indifferent or bored, usually the adult is to blame. The same if the adult lets the first few spread the bad attitude towards whole group.
(your answer)
And know you've touched a raw nerve. It's really discriminative and unfair. ...[/quote] I fully understand you don't want to just follow the public opinion and you want to give the children something unusual (that is as well a better reason not to choose English than your lack of confidence (unnecessary :-) ). But fortunately, you have a wide selection of the cultures you are interested in so you can choose more freely. I understand you are most passionate about Bulgarian but you made it quite difficult for yourself. Perhaps the topic Bulgaria would be best to take as a part of a larger piece, such as "the Slavic languages and their cultures", where you could take a lot from comparison, show the children how similar are the languages and have a larger historical-cultural background for the games etc.
...and here is another touchy subject. As for now, my multilingual learning is an experiment. I don't know if I'll succeed - maybe people who say that we should learn only 1 or 2 languages are right and I'll beautifully fail? Besides, I don't know, if it gives precious things in other's eyes. It doesn't give me job, money, respect... In fact, because of languages (but not only them) I have wider look for all the nations, but I'm afraid it makes me even more alienated, because I can't be fooled by words like 'faith', 'traditions', 'normal', 'abnormal' etc... While the rest (well, most of them) find these values still very important. So, as for now, I'm not ready for such conversations - I even try to avoid them while conversing with my friends (although it slightly changes). Maybe when (I hope it's a matter of 'when', not 'if') I'll be able to brag about more Bs and Cs instead of so many A1 and A2, I'll be glowing with pride - when I'll be like Cristina or Iversen ;) However, I'd like to mention that today I had a very nice spontaneous small talk with one girl, who's father knows English, Norwegian and basics of Arabic. However, she's not currently interested in languages. Nothing surprising, I've also treated them only as some subjects at school until my 'around the world music fascination' and it was quite recently when I've started learning them seriously.[/quote] I don't think the children need motivational talks. But if you get them excited about learning any language and they come "hey! I want to speak another language too, it seems to be fun and great!", than it may be a good time for encouragement.
Well, In my opinion it could have been a yes if we had better multimedia. But, unfortunately, as I've previously written...[/quote] Why would the children want to know about anki and lyrics-training if they are not interested in the language learning in the first place?
Another little problem of mine - simply, I'm too shy to do such things. I try to be more open and I'm quite successful in this, but such pretending a fool is still one step too far for me.[/quote] The children are a huge challenge for someone shy but they are as well a great opportunity. You could take it as your motivation and place to learn to be a bit more fool, extrovert, making fun of yourself and anything... I understand you. I am not shy but my boyfriends always tells me I should learn to play again and not be so serious most of the time. It is not easy to be like that but it is a really great characteristics for someone working with the children. P.S. Sometimes topics considering others become thoughts about yourself...[/QUOTE] Yes. they do. Because any interaction with other people and any teaching process has two sides, you and the others. I hope we do not demotivate you from your work here on the thread, that is surely not the purpose. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| prz_ Tetraglot Senior Member Poland last.fm/user/prz_rul Joined 4861 days ago 890 posts - 1190 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, Bulgarian, Croatian Studies: Slovenian, Macedonian, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, Armenian, Kurdish | Message 10 of 19 18 July 2012 at 11:18pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No no, don't worry, you don't demotivate. Everyone here has a different point of view and it's interesting... until we don't fight ;)
Well, but in fact I don't want to be fool and making fun of myself, at least not in a way I think of. Being an extravert is another cup of tea though... :P It's also about the fact that in my opinion some people or more 'cool in fool' than others. I'm afraid that my 'coolness' wouldn't be really cool. Oh God, it's crazy. Edited by prz_ on 18 July 2012 at 11:19pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kartof Bilingual Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 5068 days ago 391 posts - 550 votes Speaks: English*, Bulgarian*, Spanish Studies: Danish | Message 11 of 19 18 July 2012 at 11:34pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Perhaps you could teach them about the proto-Bulgar warriors and horsemen; that would appeal to many of the
boys in the class at least. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| prz_ Tetraglot Senior Member Poland last.fm/user/prz_rul Joined 4861 days ago 890 posts - 1190 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, Bulgarian, Croatian Studies: Slovenian, Macedonian, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, Armenian, Kurdish | Message 12 of 19 18 July 2012 at 11:46pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Haha :D
Do you know maybe some nice sources about it? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kartof Bilingual Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 5068 days ago 391 posts - 550 votes Speaks: English*, Bulgarian*, Spanish Studies: Danish | Message 13 of 19 18 July 2012 at 11:58pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you want an adult historical rendition, I'd recommend Compton's "A Concise History of Bulgaria" in English
if you want background on it. It's a very popular topic taught in Bulgarian history, especially for children, and I have a variety of children's history books from years ago in Bulgarian that focus on the topic. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6599 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 14 of 19 19 July 2012 at 2:59am | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As for lyricstraining, many like songs in English even if they're less interested in the language. and anki is a great tool for anyone who's serious about school, language learning is far from the only use for it. mindmapping is another thing that they deserve to know about btw. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| prz_ Tetraglot Senior Member Poland last.fm/user/prz_rul Joined 4861 days ago 890 posts - 1190 votes Speaks: Polish*, English, Bulgarian, Croatian Studies: Slovenian, Macedonian, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, Armenian, Kurdish | Message 15 of 19 19 July 2012 at 4:25pm | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Okay, so - today I've prepared this charade. And... Generally it was a meaningful success. Children were working in pairs. There were 10 pairs and each pair had to present the words that they learned on the day before yesterday and others were guessing 1. what's the word 2. how to say it in English. There were so many misspellings, but most of the time they were eventually guessing them. Tomorrow I'll give the winners some small gifts - presumably sweets (I know, it's not very healthy :P ).
However, what I've observed - the children are playing fool or wayward, but in fact, they seem to be afraid of mistakes and saying/showing the things improperly. Pity, that they simply can't say it, it would be much easier... Well, there was also one girl who apparently had a bad day, so she decided to play like a bored princess, but generally it was okay - at least 4-5 people are more enthusiastic about Bulgarian, so I can follow. Now I think about teaching them "what's your name..." "my name is..." and later I'll share out pictures with figures from cartoons like Batman or Winnie The Pooh, as well as from fairytales - Cinderella and so on. It would be also an occasion to introduces them with Bulgarian names of the characters. We'll see if this also will be a good idea :) But one thing has to be written - my throat hurts! Now I know even better how my teacher have felt when people from my classes were acting so naughty. Thank God I wasn't like that for them (well, in high school I told once to my Polish teacher that she used mobbing because of asking only boys and besides I wanted to do the task at home to make it better and I disagreed with E mark she gave me because of that, but that's REALLY another cup of tea :P) Edited by prz_ on 19 July 2012 at 4:29pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cavesa Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic Joined 5011 days ago 3277 posts - 6779 votes Speaks: Czech*, FrenchC2, EnglishC1 Studies: Spanish, German, Italian | Message 16 of 19 23 July 2012 at 9:43am | IP Logged | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Great to hear you are on a good way! The children won't be as hopeless as you originally
thought :-P It probably just took a bit of time for you to get into this, that is understandable. P.S. Your throat is a hero. Give it a cup of warm tea when it's tired, it may help :-) 1 person has voted this message useful |
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