Tutor-Private Teaching and Learning

The need to individualize becomes urgent in our society in its present stage of development. One may think that study is an individual matter and the methods which suit some individual will not suit others. It`s true. Different methods are appropriate to different subjects. The best methods of learning Maths will not necessarily be the best methods of learning Chemistry.

What does success in study depend on? Study still remains an art. Although methods of learning different subjects can differ, there must be certain general principles of learning appropriate to different subjects. Both students and teachers shouldn`t forget about these principles, because they enable a person to work out his own personal methods of study more effectively with less trial and error. Every teacher knows that success in study depends not only on ability and hard work but also on effective methods of study. Some students can do more work in a given time than others and do it more easily. No doubt that this is a matter of ability. Important study skills such as note-taking, revising, making plans and time-tables have to be learned and practiced by students but as a rule very few students get systematic instruction in these matters. Most students rely on the traditional study techniques they learned at school. If a student works out his own methods of study and practice new study skills he will be able to enjoy his learning and to succeed in it. A teacher`s task is to explain his student that he can become efficient in learning through proper organization and method.

What is the most effective method of learning from textbooks? Nowadays students spend a great deal of time preparing their individual tasks. They read a lot and learn a lot from their textbooks. There is no wonder that the question of the most effective method of learning from textbooks concern all students all over the world. The method of reading and then making brief outline notes proves to be the most effective. In this situation some training in note-taking is absolutely necessary, because without practice this method may be inferior to the traditional method of reading and rereading. Whatever method a student may use he must first of all understand what he is studying. To understand doesn`t mean to remember easily, because the important thing is not what you know, but what you can do with what you know. To understand thoroughly is to be able to apply your knowledge in new situations.

Recently I have seen an advertisement in the newspaper, claiming that it is possible to learn English within 5 months. I got surprised. But since that time I see such sort of advertisements almost in all newspapers every day.

Ridiculous or dangerous? Not long ago rather famous foreign singers were telling on TV about the latest method of learning English that allows to take no effort at all in the process of studying. When I see such advertisements or hear something like this I don`t know whether to laugh or to cry. Lots of linguists all over the world have been working hard in order to create methods of teaching English that may be more efficient and more helpful, that may do the process of learning productive as well as exciting. The scientists have got lots of questions and only few answers. But the people writing such sort of advertisements in the newspapers seem to know the answers. Do they really know something special about teaching English? The universal method may have already been created by them. Did we happen to miss something? Nothing of a kind. If it were as easy to learn English as they promise in their advertisements, most of foreign language teachers would have to look for another job, because very few teachers would be needed. But it`s very dangerous that a large number of people must believe these ridiculous claims otherwise the advertisements would not appear.

What is the best way to learn a foreign language? It`s natural for students to be attracted to methods that will teach them as quickly and efficiently as possible. But it`s difficult to explain in simple language why one method is better than another. Some experts even say that there are as many good methods of teaching a foreign language as there are good teachers. And it`s true because every teacher is an individual with his own personality. No doubt that the best way to learn a foreign language is to spend a great deal of time in a country where it is spoken. It`s clear that students who go to England or the USA have a great advantage over others. But every person should remember that no one can ever learn to speak English or any other language unless he is interested in it. Language is a means of communication. What people want to say and write in another language is probably very close to what they want to say and write in their own. What people listen to and read cannot be a formula. It must be real. Every student should keep in mind that it`s impossible to learn a foreign language without working hard. And it`s no use pretending that anyone has discovered a perfect way of teaching English in every possible situation.

An oral approach has been a most popular talking point in foreign language teaching for a long time. If you ask any foreign language teacher, he will assure you that the oral approach is the greatest thing, and it is the best approach in foreign language teaching. All of us will agree. But let`s pause for thought. How is the oral approach evaluated nowadays? Is it universal indeed? Is it in the same way suitable to teaching children, teenagers and adults?
What are the criticisms of the oral approach? The oral approach to teaching English as a foreign language often seems so novel and interesting to most teachers, that a general notion of it is formed and embraced without evaluation. Misguided generalizations about principles and techniques are made and it becomes twice an unproductive as the traditional grammar-translation method. Teachers, half understanding the terminology and techniques, work without asking themselves why they do that they do. They dash off into classroom and wreak havoc among their students. They try to apply the techniques, meet resistance and problems in class and as a result may have a crisis of confidence in the approach. The teachers simply don`t know which of the techniques are achieving anything and gradually they become victims of a dangerous virus. This virus is called “Isn`t-an-oral-approach-marvellous?” This virus can produce dogma and insularity. Pedagogical practice shows that at its worst an oral approach leads to a pointless display of fireworks on the part of the teacher, and confusion and dissatisfaction on the part of students.

Over-valuing of technique. Rather often one can hear teachers say: “You know, I did a fantastic progressive substitution drill today”. This concentration on techniques goes beyond a reasonable awareness of their usefulness and becomes petty, punctilious and absolutely boring. A teacher may bring to the lesson suitcases full of flash-cards, beautiful sets of carefully-prepared visual aids and may use all these to teach expressions which are absolutely useless to students. Every teacher should remember that at its best an oral approach provides a set of techniques which can make learning more efficient and enjoyable only in appropriate circumstances.

The attitude to newspapers can be different. You may like reading them and may not. Some people cannot imagine their morning without fresh newspapers. They simply got into habit of reading them at breakfast. The question arises: can foreign language teachers use newspapers at their lessons.

Using newspapers. A new or an old strategy? Using newspapers in foreign language teaching is rather new trend in the methodology. In many countries newspapers were mostly used at the lessons of foreign languages for current events discussion. In the early 1990-s foreign language teachers from different countries raised the problem of using newspapers at the lessons of foreign language. A lot of techniques have been worked out so far.

Why should we use newspapers in foreign language teaching. There are a lot of reasons for using newspapers in foreign language teaching. It stands to reason that economic newspaper texts provide readers with the latest information about what`s happening in the world`s economy and give the opportunities for classroom discussions. Besides, while reading newspapers students can enlarge their professional vocabulary and learn speech patterns typical for different areas of professional communication. Reading and understanding a newspaper article can cause some difficulties arising from a specific area of its topic. Such difficulties are connected with the author`s writing style, lexical and grammar peculiarities. The students can analyze difficult structures and discuss complex ideas, they read about in the newspaper article. So, newspapers can be used to teach many aspects of language and communication skills. Editorials and gossip columns, serious and lighthearted newspapers can be used to teach formal and informal varieties of English. Letters to the editor can demonstrate good features of letter writing. Newspapers are easy to operate, readily available, affordable and helpful at different levels of learning English.