Refraining your students from speaking in their native language
It is always hard to refrain your students from speaking in their native language.
Usually, when students cannot find the right word(s) to express themselves while conversing, they tend to speak Spanish instead of English. For example, one student wanted to use the English word “beanie” but couldn’t remember the correct word to be used. As she got frustrated while trying to remember it, she began to speak in Spanish in order to make herself understood. Of course I don’t speak Spanish, hence it was difficult for me to comprehend what she was trying to tell me. However, instead of simply telling her the word “beanie” I adopted another strategy. I have asked the student to describe the word she meant to use by using simple words that she was already familiar with. I have found this exercise helpful because it enables. It is always hard to refrain your students from speaking in their native language.
Usually, when students cannot find the right word(s) to express themselves while conversing, they tend to speak Spanish instead of English. For example, one student wanted to use the English word “beanie” but couldn’t remember the correct word to be used. As she got frustrated while trying to remember it, she began to speak in Spanish in order to make herself understood. Of course I don’t speak Spanish, hence it was difficult for me to comprehend what she was trying to tell me. However, instead of simply telling her the word “beanie” I adopted another strategy. I have asked the student to describe the word she meant to use by using simple words that she was already familiar with. I have found this exercise helpful because it enables the student to develop more English speaking skills while building up her confidence.
Another way of helping students to build up their vocabulary without using their native language is to adopt the drawing technique, as I would like to call it.
The drawing technique consists in representing the word one wants to use or say by drawing it on a piece of paper. I find this exercise to be very helpful to students because they are able to easily memorize the new vocabulary. This is accomplished by remembering the connection between the drawing and its corresponding word.
I have used the drawing technique before with some of my students. I have found this technique to be very useful especially when teaching low level classes. In this last case, it is easy for me to communicate with students without speaking Spanish.
I believe I will continue to use the drawing technique in the future as I find it to be very effective. the student to develop more English speaking skills while building up her confidence.
Another way of helping students to build up their vocabulary without using their native language is to adopt the drawing technique, as I would like to call it.
The drawing technique consists in representing the word one wants to use or say by drawing it on a piece of paper. I find this exercise to be very helpful to students because they are able to easily memorize the new vocabulary. This is accomplished by remembering the connection between the drawing and its corresponding word.
I have used the drawing technique before with some of my students. I have found this technique to be very useful especially when teaching low level classes. In this last case, it is easy for me to communicate with students without speaking Spanish.
I believe I will continue to use the drawing technique in the future as I find it to be very effective.