Listening (for teachers of English as a foreign language)

[WitantoCom]

I really want to learn EFL T_T

[powerdriller10]

Madrid Teacher:

You really suffer teaching ESL. You are always complaining about the lack of motivation of your students. Probably, they are so because Madrid is a Castilian City, and Castilians (the unifiers of Spain) are used to think that their language must be learned by the provinces, and they do not need to learn any of the other languages of Spain; so unconciously they resist also non Iberian languages, even if the foreign language is English, the world most preponderant one.

[eduardalet]

In Colombia where I teach it is quite common to say " Mi negro, como estas" it is not offensive and as you say the culture here is different. Here the main problem is motivation and financial , most people here can't afford to pay 10 dollars an hour . I won't teach for less because I'm certified to teach TEFL with three certifications. Sometimes I'll accept two students for the price of one. I advertise in the paper every weekend , sometimes I get a client for a month , or 1 year.

[Adrilondon]

sorry. background. :o)

[Adrilondon]

NIce backgroud. cheers for your help

[jarako147]

When i watch American films i don't understand a lot because their English is so unclear, especially niggers slang.

i really like English historical films especially about aristocracy because of their perfect pronounciation.

From the other side. Brits should say more slowly when they have contact with foreigners. But they forget about about that and this is cause problem with communicate with them.

[MadridTeacher]

@jarako147 Jarako, the word "niggers" does not mean the same thing as "negro" in Spanish (or black). It has very negative connotations in English.

[jarako147]

@MadridTeacher

Now I know

[Gurrataxxx]

@MadridTeacher Well here in southamerica we have black friends, and we call them in a nice way "negro" or "negrito", "hola negrito que tal", what would be the equivalent word to "negro" or "negrito"?, 'cause I know that "nigga" is a disgusting way to refer to afroamerican people. By the way, how's my english? I'm studying and I would love your opinion, well that's all. Thanks :D

[MadridTeacher]

@Gurrataxxx Your English is fine, but I think your culture must be different regarding this issue than the general culture in the States. I think it's really risky to try to find a "friendly" translation for the word "negro" or "negrito". The best thing is to use "neutral" words like "guy", "man" such as in "Hi guy, how's it going?"

[vakendria]

@jarako147

you are an idiot, If you are watching films I doubt there would be any "nigger slang". Slang is in every language, regardless you can understand black american they same as white americans.

[eduardalet]

I like your videos they show the many challenges a teacher has, I've had many of the same experiences. I like to have the Beatles music in the background when students enter the class, it make them more relaxed. Every other day we listen and go through the lyrics picking out verbs , nouns and other structures. Most students like it , but as you say there is always someone different or complicated. Again thanks.

[ReduceYourAccentLA]

Happy New Year 2010

Excellent Video

Accent Reduction Coaching

Los Angeles

California

USA

Thanks

[pedrinag]

:) I've always tried music with my students.

This week I played "High" by James Blunt because I like it and I thought they would like the sound of it or singing along. But I know "high" has a meaning that is not so interesting to teach to students. Well, most of them are adults. Would you say the word "high" could have double meaning in that song (if you know it)?

[MadridTeacher]

Why wouldn't "high" be interesting for students? It really depends on the students' tastes, doesn't it? There are plenty of adults who are interested in that sort of "taboo" vocabulary. At least around here in Madrid. You might have to think up a couple of examples of people actually using it to mean "stoned" in serious situations.

[criticaljunkie]

Interesting... But everything seems to be geared toward "easy" or "level appropriate". Of course that's understandable, but also very limiting. for instance, maybe teaching 'hurricane' doesn't work, not because of it's "difficulty" but because it has no contextual meaning or social use for students outside the classroom. so rather than generalizing what will work, it might be better to teach to the particular interests and abilities of individual learners--- just food for thought

[MadridTeacher]

It's almost impossible not to be able to get students at the right level interested in Hurricane. There's no problem there. It's really motivational. Unfortunately, it's more difficult for me to motivate many of my in-company students with truly useful language of the kind found in textbooks, than with Bob Dylan. I had a group of Spanish teachers of English a couple of years ago that just ate this stuff up because they were burnt out on the grammar, etc.

[ndw0122]

thanks for sharing, it's quite useful for me in improving my english listening by listening a real person. Good Job.

[ndw0122]

i agree with you that listen to music is a good way to improve the english listening. but, not quite accurately caused some english music are too difficilt too understand even some of english natives can't understand as well.

[nnad]

iam not getting some words what he is saying

[manusique]

Gotta do a presentation on ESL Listening skills, your video was interesting, thank you!

[3dim4ever]

I want to know what are the books that a teacher must read

[pr0k1ll]

Thanks, it's great that you have posted this king of video, because now i am learning English and listening is the hardest part of my study, thanks a lot

[aringkingking08]

thank you very much for posting this kind of video. it helps me a lot. i am a fresh graduate and i am teaching english now here in philippines and im glad to know more by this video...hope you will continue osting videos such as this one...thanks

[yaninamuniz]

I am a teacher of english from Argentina and i wanted to thank you for giving such useful pieces of advice. They helped me a lot. Please keep doing it.

[pinkzhuttz]

i am a student and i like your video..thanks for uploading it...it is a good video for my active listening project

[garanss]

I am a Russian and listening was a hardest part of learing English during the last 10 years. You can learn to read in 3 years, you might be good at writing but still there could be problems with listening to a certain native material even after you already know the text.

There are many songs I cannot recognize get in full length, for example "The magnificient seven" (old).

OK, I give up. :) It's easier to learn another foreign language instead of learning native-like listening.

[michiganois]

Frank Sinatra songs are excellent for ESL, as his diction is flawless, his pace is slower and punctuated with emotions that one could almost comprehend without a knowledge of English. Examples: Strangers in the Night, It was a Very Good Year, That's Life, etc.

[MadridTeacher]

I agree wholeheartedly and have seen one or two songs in elementary course books.

[kovulion6780]

well done, i'm an etfl student in buenos aires argentina an i think that you're video will help me a lot, i also think that all the etfl students must watch it.

[uubeibebeibee]

It would be nice of you to list some web sites on the Internet where you can find listening comprehension exercises of different kind :) (I've been searching some exercises in YouTube and I found this video and watched it. Actually I think for me it may even be more instructive to listen a native speaker speaking REAL English instead of speaking slowly and simply and trying to pronounce all the words very carefully because that really isn't the way it's going to be like in real life.)

[lbodeman59]

This is another greaat video, full of very practical advice for new teachers. I work as a teacher educator in Brazil, and these videos will definitely be viewed and discussed in our classes. Thx!!