What English is the Original English–British or American?
Some time ago, I asked Americans why they speak English differently. None of the people who were present knew the answer. “We probably messed it up over the years.”, said one of them finally. Over all these years, one line of a famous American poem has stayed in my ears. “…, and the Americans are worst of all because they speak it wrong.” I started doing some research, and this is what I found out. When I grew up, I decided to become an English teacher. I studied at the Department of Applied Linguistics. Besides methodology, classroom management and phonology, we also got a thorough insight into American literature. We talked about American poetry. There was one poet who I particularly liked and still like—Odgen Nash. I always found the following poem very funny. England Expects by Ogden Nash Let us pause to consider the English. Who when they pause…
Why Meaningful Learning Is So Important ?
In all those years as a TEFL trainer, I experienced countless novice teachers and seasoned ones during teaching practice. When they came, they all had difficulties with the “Principle of Meaningful Context.” When they left, they had become wonderful EFL teachers with the knowledge of how to excite their students in class. Nothing can replace excellent teaching skills. And those schools that hired our graduates were able to tell the difference. Read on to learn a little bit about our work in training EFL teachers. In English language (or any foreign language) teaching, our trainees learn that meaningful learning is imperative to a top-notch EFL class. What is the difference between meaningful learning and “rote” learning? Let me explain that by looking back in history. Most of our parents learned a foreign language from a teacher who spoke the native language of the students in class. Vocabulary was taught by translating…
Germany Values Its English Teachers
In a survey published by the Huffington Post, Germany has been listed as the country in Europe in which English teachers make the highest salaries in comparison to other European countries. Is there anything Germany-bound English teachers should pay attention to? Our blog gives you some tips of how to get employed in Germany that values its English teachers “If you like teaching, Germany is a really satisfying,dynamic environment to work in,” said Dale Coulter, Chair of the English-Language Teaching Association in Berlin-Brandenburg. “You have so much control over what you teach, the hours you want to work and what materials you develop for your learners.” “There is a big difference to teaching in a state school where you have lots of syllabi to deliver. There’s so much more freedom and dynamism in this industry.” Deborah C., an American ex-pat, who has been teaching English in Berlin since 1992 and…
