Hello,
I hope that this message finds everyone well and in good spirits. I have been absent for a while, but I will try to give a brief update on my most recent assignments.
B Systems –
I worked with the usual group, a large group of approximately 11-15 people, depending on the day. Although they are enthusiastic about learning English, due to scheduling and failure to practice English outside of class, the improvement has been very slow. Lessons include mostly the same exercises from week to week, focusing on spelling, and listening. Also, creating conversation scenarios set in a restaurant has proven popular. The participants have fun with it, and occasionally throw in a bit of humor.
I also was able to work with a small group, about 5 people, all fairly advanced. They showed interest in learning how to learn and practice English outside of class, especially once the program is over. This, of course, is music to any English instructor’s ears. We had a very good class, with plenty of conversation, some dictation and also detailed interviews including wishes for the future.
Jena-
Ralf, I apologize for the delay in my response to your email. I have several excuses, but I will merely say that your rapier wit punctured my ego, and I needed some rest and preparation to have a proper response ready for you.
The class really enjoyed our exercise in Negotiations and Mediations. While at college I took a couple seminars on the subjects, and the basic premise underneath both arts is finding the source of the conflict. Many times people are so entrenched in their positions, that they lose the ability to actually achieve a goal that may be optimal for everyone. Although, due to an interruption, I was unable to really delve into this concept, I plan to do so in earnest when I am with the group again tomorrow. To sum up the idea, “Everything’s a situation”, there is always a back story, and when dealing with anyone, it is always helpful to try and understand just what that story may be.
Last class, we spent a lot of time talking, there are a couple of people who have spent a significant time living in the U.S. This gives them a great perspective of the culture to share with the rest of the class, and a high level of confidence in their speaking, but they do tend to dominate the conversations. The entire class is able to understand and keep up, but they are not always able to squeeze in a word… I find it challenging to do so myself. We watched an episode of the TV show “ The King of Queens”, to further a discussion on the differences of life between Germany and the U.S, the former GDR and the U.S, and the Former GDR and Former Western Germany. At the end of class, I was asked that next meeting we do more mock interviews, and role playing activities.
S group-
This group has been a small group, about 9-11 people. The group is most concerned with English vocabulary that is practical and directly related to their work on building Rotor Blades. We went through an extensive list of very particular terms as related to constructing and building, as well as listening and simple sentence building exercises.
With all my groups I have taken to playing the name game. It is simple and fair. Participants merely go around the room naming English words they know. Usually I start with a couple rounds of words that begin with the first letter of the participant’s first name. After this, I will switch it up and have people name a word that begins with the last letter of the word said previously. (Yesterday, yawn, near, race, end, dance, evening, grass, sound….) I then sometimes have people spell the words they say, or make simple sentences. This game, hangman, and twenty questions, serve as entertainment throughout the day.
OK, that is the synopsis of my activities. Again, I will promise to be more frequent and brief with my entries, I may even follow through one day.
Ciao