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Hello teachers,I have written a manuscript for beginner students, though that's not the point. Many of them do the exercises in the manuscript, before we actually explain them in class, with very few mistakes. The ones that don't do that in advance are complaining about the ones that do it. I don't really think there's a downside if they have the time to do it in advance. Could you tell me the pros and the cons in doing it in advance, pedagogically speaking?Thanks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Tenacious LearnerI don't really think there's a downside if they have the time to do it in advance.

Neither do I. End of discussion.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Tenacious LearnerMany of them do the exercises in the manuscript, before we actually explain them in class, with very few mistakes.

Then they need to be in a more challenging class.
It is difficult to teach a class when the students are all at different levels.

If all of them could do the exercise perfectly, you need to make a more difficult exercise for them. They should be encouraged to make mistakes and learn from them.

That's my 2¢ worth!

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Mister MicawberNeither do I. End of discussion.

Hello MM,
Thanks for you opinion.

TL

Tenacious Learner · Answer

AlpheccaStarsIf all of them could do the exercise perfectly, you need a more difficult exercise for them.

Hi A-

s,
Thanks for your opinion too.
I never said perfectly. They make a few or very few mistakes. All of them are beginners, they've never done English before.
In this particular group, they're 40-50 years old and they make a big effort in coming to class. They say at home they have more time to think. That's why almost all of them prefer to do it in advance.

TL

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Tenacious Learner They say at home they have more time to think. That's why almost all of them prefer to do it in advance.

I would encourage students to do as much independent work as possible. It is difficult to learn a language for older adults. They need more practice and time than younger ones.
Why not give them "optional" exercises or study materials in addition to the required ones?

Tenacious Learner · Answer

AlpheccaStarsThey need more practice and time than younger ones.

Don't they?

AlpheccaStarsWhy not give them "optional" exercises or study materials in addition to the required ones?

I also do that, lots of them. They work really hard.

Thanks a lot for your advice and comments.

TL

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Tenacious LearnerAlpheccaStarsThey need more practice and time than younger ones.Don't they?

When I was learning to be an ESL teacher, the course indicated that language learning got more difficult with age. Now I am reading that this is a myth, and that (except for vocalizations) adults can learn just as readily as teenagers and younger children.

Myth-busting is a good thing!

Grammarfreak · Answer

AlpheccaStars Tenacious LearnerAlpheccaStarsThey need more practice and time than younger ones.Don't they?When I was learning to be an ESL teacher, the course indicated that language learning got more difficult with age. Now I am reading that this is a myth, and that (except for vocalizations) adults can learn just as readily as teenagers and younger children.Myth-busting is a good thing!

Well, speaking from personal experience, that is not a myth. With age, learning a language or any skill that requires memorization indeed becomes more challenging. Older learners may be able to manage learning conversation English by minicking speech from other people, which is ok as far as getting the daily basic things done is concerned in a new environment, but getting beyond the basics to really learn the fundamental of English, or any language, the ability to absord and retain information does decline with age. Majority of the learners beyond 20 with no prior exposure to English find learning English extremely difficult, especially Asians. Learning and apply correct grammar is nearly " Mission Impossilbe". I may be one exception out of many hundred of thousand who started to learn the language after 16 years old actually suceeded. Perhaps I was actually fascinated by English and actually genuenly spent many years stuyding the finer points of the language.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi A-

s, and grammarfreak,
Thanks a lot for you commentaries. I'll keep them in my mind for teaching.

TL

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