Getting started
My aim is to complete the course in three months so it works out roughly 14 hours a week. I started the course on 24th November, but have taken a couple of weeks off over Christmas as I went to the UK and a good friend came to visit for the New Year.
This is of course all subject to change, as we know what they say about the best laid plans eh? But you’ve gotta have a goal, right?
‘Language Teaching, Language Learning’ kicks off the first module and the material is an easy read. Outlining the teaching methods and approaches that have developed over time, I get the occasional flash back to GCSE French and Spanish:
- the verb tables;
- having to memorize those long lists of vocabulary;
- weekly spelling tests;
- and learning essays by heart.
There was definitely an element of fear involved, especially with French. At that time of course, I arrogantly thought that I would never really need French, excect on holidays perhaps (Où est la banque? Not that I would undertsand the reply).
I never considered myself to be particularly strong at languages and stupidly did not see the importance of them. I thought Spanish would be useful so I had decided to follow that up at some point. It’s still on my ever expanding to-do list, as is my trip to South America.
Well of course, things never really work out how you think they will, because after graduation I lived in France for two years. My hazy GCSE level was revived by evening classes that were entirely in French. Even in those five years I’m pleased to see that language teaching has moved on. Thank God.
Having been the language learner on more than one occasion, I have a good idea of the motivations, challenges, and rewards facing students. All I gotta figure out now is how actually teach - ahhhhhh!
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