The biggest problem in Chinese English language education is that very little time is provided for students to engage in meaningful English dialogue.  Of course some time is provided for this purpose, but unfortunately it usually consists of memorized dialogues, called 'Role Plays'.

 

The purpose of a Role Play is to prepare you for the real life experience, but in real life, memorized dialogues are not only impossible, but pointless.  If you already know what each person will say, then there is no point in the dialogue is there?

 

There is only one way to really learn how to communicate in English, and that is to engage in conversation in 'real time'.  This is to say, in a situation where you have to both think and speak at the same time, with no time for preparation: rather like chatting on QQ as opposed to writing an email.

 

Before we proceed to discuss language skills however, I would encourage you to go to the links provided below and read the articles there. On this site and at this time, I am going to provide only a precis of what can be found at those two links:

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 If students won't talk, the teacher has no job to do!

 

So the Foreign Teacher's Job is: To get the students to put into practice what their grammar teachers have taught them.

 

There is only one effective way that foreign teachers can do this, and that is to teach the students to have group discussions. Unfortunately, whilst all textbooks provide exercises to that end, students do not actually learn to think and use English when they do these exercises. Instead, they just memorize preplanned conversations. This does nothing for the student's ability to hold a conversation.

 

During Real Time Discussions, students often forget how to express themselves in English, and so others in the group can translate a Chinese word or phrase. At that moment, everyone can learn something.

 

It is truly amazing how much students improve once they begin to engage in Real Time Unplanned English Conversations. Students begin to believe what I keep trying to tell them, that:

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One of the biggest problems that foreign teachers face, is hearing Teachers and students always saying:

The problem is, that it is because of your Chinese culture, that you have not been able to make progress in normal, natural and effective communication. In Fact, the problem that students have, is that they don't understand English Language Culture.

 

In order to be a successful teacher, the foreign teacher must get you to 'break through' those parts of your culture which stop you from being successful in the use of natural and effective English Language conversation. It is a difficult thing to do.

 

 

This is a big problem for Chinese students, however, quite logically, it should not be a problem at all in the classroom. The classroom is a place of learning. It is expected that you will make mistakes. If you were so good that you wouldn't make a mistake, then there would be no reason to have a foreign teacher.

 

When people train to fly airplanes or train to be surgeons who operate on people, they do a lot of practice in an 'artificial environment'. By this is meant that doctors first learn to operate by operating on dead bodies. (That way if they make a mistake - no one dies!) Pilots also first learn in 'simulators' so that if they crash - no one dies. And then when they finally do have to put their skills to the real life test, there is a qualified person with them to 'fix up' anything that they do wrong.

 

This is the foreign teachers job. Your job is to do the best you can in an 'artificial environment', so that when you start speaking English in the 'real world', you have been properly trained so that you will not make any serious mistakes.

 

If you are afraid of losing face in class - then I seriously suggest that you never open your mouth in English in Public. Why do I say this? Because if you don't make your mistakes in the classroom, then you will make them in real life. And that such mistakes might offend people, make you look really foolish, lose you a business contract, or cost you your job.

 

Make your mistakes in the classroom - Not in Real Life.

 

 

The Foreign Teachers Role in Discussions

 

The teacher's role in relation to group discussion, is to teach you the skills necessary for normal communication. His/Her main role, either during or after the discussion, is to correct your use of English, and in that way, to teach you 'English language culture'.

 

It is only by using English that you learn the language culture.

 

Along the way, you will be corrected so that you can make your grammar, pronunciation and intonation, more natural.

 

The teacher will also point out your use of:

 

Every time the foreign teacher corrects one student's error, his action is meant to correct all students. He should not have to individually correct every single student in the class. That is why students are expected to pay attention to everyone who is speaking English in class.