‘How do you teach the difference between “a” and “the” during conversation class?’ by Eric Roth
[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 18 | July 21, 2014 | ISSN 0975-3036]
Helping English language learners distinguish articles remains important in advanced ESL and English conversation classes
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” ―Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch painter
Does it make sense to emphasize the difference between articles (a, an, the) in a conversation class? Perhaps. Context matters.
Conversation class should encourage English students to express their ideas, practice familiar words and syntax and develop greater confidence in effectively communicating in English. In this regard, content remains king. Given how little most of our ESL students speak English outside of classes, we as teachers need to provide many speaking opportunities for them to develop greater fluency.
Sometimes there is tension between teaching grammar and encouraging students to speak. If we monitor and correct each and every grammar error, many ESL students may feel intimidated or discouraged. Some will choose to remain silent or reduce their participation. English teachers working in many Asian classrooms have often experienced students embracing this face-saving technique. Therefore, in a conversation class, I usually tilt much more toward fluency than grammatical accuracy. (more…)