As I work
for EF International School of
Languages in Guayaquil, I know students
who are enrolled in this system of education are professionals that work for a
company called “Cervecería Nacional”
and they have a background in
English language because of their business trips, but they still need to improve their English
in academic writing and listening skills.
I usually work with four to six students in a department given by the
company for this purpose, so our relationship is nice and comfortable.
As a supporting relia material in class, I let
them watch films and complete worksheets related to it. Then in groups, they share the information
among themselves before giving me their answers and their opinions. I usually listen to their ideas first, before
giving them any feedback. Films are a good language resource and
students love doing them.
Apart of the films, students sometimes work
with song worksheets that let them practice listening for gist, listing for
specific information and some grammar structures that are already included in their
books. They are conscious that their
work must be checked among themselves with the answer key.
For the academic writing, students are allowed
to write paragraphs and short compositions about topics that appeal their attention
and be able to express their own ideas clearly.
They know that accuracy and
appropriacy are considered to grade their papers. So students make their best effort in order
not to make mistakes and get good grades; otherwise, they pay the course
instead of the company.
Finally, it is important to do a need analysis of
the group and recognize their strengthens and weaknesses in the English
Language before introducing the new topics.
Following all of these processes, I am sure students will improve their
weaknesses and gain more confidence in the English language, that is my point of view as a teacher.
By Mónica Ontaneda
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