0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Detailed questions on reported speech?
Hi. I was googling for some information for English education in Korea and came up with this article by Yoon Won-sup, staff reporter, of THE KOREA TIMES under the title of "Secrets of European Teaching Method," and I am going to ask some questions on part of the article.
Part of the article:
Teaching English in English
Most northern European countries teach English in English from the first class, or introduce it in a gradual way.
Klaus Herzog, counselor in charge of science, culture and education at the German Embassy, said that he had his first English class at the age of 10 in the 1960s and the teacher just began teaching English in English without saying a single German word.
Of course, teachers used German to explain the grammar but the use of German was exceptional, Herzog said. Classes taught in English are an established teaching method in Germany and now students at have their first English class at the age of eight.
``Korea seems to put strong emphasis on visual comprehension and not so much on comprehension by listening,'' Herzog said. ``Meanwhile, in Europe, listening comprehension is important. For example, I took a listening test for high school graduation in which I summarized what I heard in English.''
He further said that people learn English just as a baby learns their mother tongue by listening to his or her mother speak.
Martin Hauge Torbergsen, first secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, echoed Herzog's view but said that students learn English gradually in English. By the time students enter high school, they will attend English classes all taught in English, he added.
Torbergsen said that English tests consist of written and oral examinations. In fact, English tests in Korea are mainly written examination of reading comprehension, grammar and spelling.
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that though English is taught in English, other subjects such as Finnish and history are not.
His point reflected that the transition team dropped its original plan to teach all subjects in English.
Copying it again with some reference points marked to ask these questions:
Teaching English in English
Most northern European countries teach English in English from the first class, or introduce it in a gradual way.
Klaus Herzog, counselor in charge of science, culture and education at the German Embassy, said that 1) he had his first English class at the age of 10 in the 1960s and the teacher just began teaching English in English without saying a single German word.
Of course, 2) teachers used German to explain the grammar but the use of German was exceptional, Herzog said. Classes taught in English are an established teaching method in Germany and now students at have their first English class at the age of eight.
``Korea seems to put strong emphasis on visual comprehension and not so much on comprehension by listening,'' Herzog said. ``Meanwhile, in Europe, listening comprehension is important. For example, I took a listening test for high school graduation in which I summarized what I heard in English.''
He further said that 3) people learn English just as a baby learns their mother tongue by listening to his or her mother speak.
Martin Hauge Torbergsen, first secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, echoed Herzog's view but said that 4) students learn English gradually in English. By the time students enter high school, they will attend English classes all taught in English, he added.
Torbergsen said that 5) English tests consist of written and oral examinations. In fact, English tests in Korea are mainly written examination of reading comprehension, grammar and spelling.
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that 6) though English is taught in English, other subjects such as Finnish and history are not.
His point reflected that the transition team dropped its original plan to teach all subjects in English.
Questions: This is what I think: Nos. 4-6 need not change the tenses to the past since they are presenting what are currently true and still happening, whereas I feel no. 1 needs to shift back in time and made a past perfect tense and a past perfect continuous and no. 2 needs in the past perfect tense. What do you think?
Also, as for no. 6, do you think we need to shift back the tense to a past passive tense like this? Do words like "stressed" trigger a need to shift back the time?
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that though Englishis was taught in English, other subjects such as Finnish and history are was not.
Part of the article:
Teaching English in English
Most northern European countries teach English in English from the first class, or introduce it in a gradual way.
Klaus Herzog, counselor in charge of science, culture and education at the German Embassy, said that he had his first English class at the age of 10 in the 1960s and the teacher just began teaching English in English without saying a single German word.
Of course, teachers used German to explain the grammar but the use of German was exceptional, Herzog said. Classes taught in English are an established teaching method in Germany and now students at have their first English class at the age of eight.
``Korea seems to put strong emphasis on visual comprehension and not so much on comprehension by listening,'' Herzog said. ``Meanwhile, in Europe, listening comprehension is important. For example, I took a listening test for high school graduation in which I summarized what I heard in English.''
He further said that people learn English just as a baby learns their mother tongue by listening to his or her mother speak.
Martin Hauge Torbergsen, first secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, echoed Herzog's view but said that students learn English gradually in English. By the time students enter high school, they will attend English classes all taught in English, he added.
Torbergsen said that English tests consist of written and oral examinations. In fact, English tests in Korea are mainly written examination of reading comprehension, grammar and spelling.
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that though English is taught in English, other subjects such as Finnish and history are not.
His point reflected that the transition team dropped its original plan to teach all subjects in English.
Copying it again with some reference points marked to ask these questions:
Teaching English in English
Most northern European countries teach English in English from the first class, or introduce it in a gradual way.
Klaus Herzog, counselor in charge of science, culture and education at the German Embassy, said that 1) he had his first English class at the age of 10 in the 1960s and the teacher just began teaching English in English without saying a single German word.
Of course, 2) teachers used German to explain the grammar but the use of German was exceptional, Herzog said. Classes taught in English are an established teaching method in Germany and now students at have their first English class at the age of eight.
``Korea seems to put strong emphasis on visual comprehension and not so much on comprehension by listening,'' Herzog said. ``Meanwhile, in Europe, listening comprehension is important. For example, I took a listening test for high school graduation in which I summarized what I heard in English.''
He further said that 3) people learn English just as a baby learns their mother tongue by listening to his or her mother speak.
Martin Hauge Torbergsen, first secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, echoed Herzog's view but said that 4) students learn English gradually in English. By the time students enter high school, they will attend English classes all taught in English, he added.
Torbergsen said that 5) English tests consist of written and oral examinations. In fact, English tests in Korea are mainly written examination of reading comprehension, grammar and spelling.
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that 6) though English is taught in English, other subjects such as Finnish and history are not.
His point reflected that the transition team dropped its original plan to teach all subjects in English.
Questions: This is what I think: Nos. 4-6 need not change the tenses to the past since they are presenting what are currently true and still happening, whereas I feel no. 1 needs to shift back in time and made a past perfect tense and a past perfect continuous and no. 2 needs in the past perfect tense. What do you think?
Also, as for no. 6, do you think we need to shift back the tense to a past passive tense like this? Do words like "stressed" trigger a need to shift back the time?
Meanwhile, Riku Warjovaara, first secretary of the Finnish Embassy, stressed that though English
Top answer
Hi anon. I join in your question. John said that people are strange.
- Hi anon.
- I join in your question.
- John said that people are strange.
- " I think #'s 4 - 6 are correct, and 6 need not be shifted.
- " You didn't state your position on #3.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Hi anon. I join in your question.
John said that people are strange.
Some people seem to argue that the rule for reported speech requires, "John said that people were strange."
I think #'s 4 - 6 are correct, and 6 need not be shifted. The past tense "stressed" is no different than the past tense "said."
You didn't state your position
John said that people are strange.
Some people seem to argue that the rule for reported speech requires, "John said that people were strange."
I
You didn't state your position
00
Hi. Thank you.
You wrote this (including an instance of quoting my statement):
4, 5, & 6 all describe policies which were current at the time of the statements, but could change at any time. I think they should all be shifted. The choice of verbs (stressed) is irrelevant.
You wrote this (including an instance of quoting my statement):
4, 5, & 6 all describe policies which were current at the time of the statements, but could change at any time. I think they should all be shifted. The choice of verbs (stressed) is irrelevant.
00
Anonymous Q: If one is sure that a condition stated in reported speech holds true today, could we not shift back tenses?I think I understand your question, but I'm not sure if you understand mine. I don't know what the answer is, since some of these rules seem rather unforgiving.
In 1933, FDR said that the only thing we have to fear is fear it
00
Related Questions