Reexamining English only in the ESL classroom

"The more students exposed to the language the more quickly they will learn" I believe in the previous statement, but I am not against bilingualism in the classroom. Since the purpose for the students to study in the ESL institution is to learn English a better way, I strongly recommend using English alone in the classroom unless the students could not understand the lesson without understand some words in their L1. When I was in England last year, the principle strongly believed that the only mean to learn English was through speaking it all the time. He used to be angry when he noticed some Spanish spoke in their L1. I told myself that I will use this way when I came back to my country. I encouraged my students to speak English if they are in the classroom and nothing more than English. I succeeded but the problem was some students tried not to participate because talking in English all the time in class limited their ability to speak. I found that some students had something in their mind but they could not say it in English. Finally, I told them that I would speak in English all the time unless you did understand and you had the chance to speak in English unless you had something difficult to say and you would like me and the students to help.

From the Periphery to the center: one teacher's journey. George Braine.

I think nonnative English students are fortunate because of the hi-tech that is around them. They can also take some courses with a native speaker in some private institutions. Before ten years ago, I wish I had a chance to have a chat with a native speaker. I bought a radio to listen to the BBC, but the wave was not good all the time. Then I used my uncle’s videotapes with activity book to do some exercises. Unfortunately, I noticed that the teachers who were in the videotapes were not native speakers. I used to go to Riyadh, which is 360 km to my town, to visit a native speaker. He was African American. After that the revolution of the satellite appeared followed by the revolution of the internet. That means the students, nowadays, have a better chance to speak and listen to the native speakers whenever they want.

From the reading I guess the author is right about the native speaker and how much they cost compared to the nonnative speaker. In my country, those who have the authority to import teachers from the world prefer the native speaker of English than the nonnative speaker even if the native speaker does not have the qualification as the nonnative speaker has. I assure that the proficiency is the value that we are looking for not the fluency. So what is wrong with a Saudi teacher who is competent in his field of study or any other nationality? The concept of the ‘native and nonnative speaker of English does not mean that one is better than the other.

Teaching Methods

My comment will not be about the native and non-native issue, but it would be about how non-native, like me, absorbs the American way of teaching. In my country, the only mean to pass the course is to memorize what the teacher is saying to get A. I had two things which was frightened me when I was a student, the test and my behavior toward my teacher. Where is the role of the student? And where is the role of the textbook? As I learn and understand is that we have a triangle of learning process.

The role of the students is just to listen and memorize what they have learned. I was not satisfied with that since I came here. The student is everything. We have to think about the best way of teaching, like showing them some documentary movies or visiting some producing companies and so on. In Saudi Arabia, learning is like a heavy duty for most of the students, while in many countries it is a lot of fun. I am not talking about how to deal with the student, but how to facilitate and bring something new for them. The more efforts that the teacher does for his students the more appreciation will get from them.

I assure that the students’ questions are beneficial. So that, teacher should keep in mind that having time to answer the students question is the most important part of the learning process. If the teacher talks all the time, how can students get their chance for questions. Some teachers avoid having time for questions because they feel embarrassed if they could not answer them. As a result of this, most of the students find it difficult to ask some questions and they think the teacher is something holly and sacred.