Topic 2.1 how to work miracles in education class 1

1. Work in pairs. Study the expressions in the box. Can we use them when talking about (1) foreign language teachers, (2) famous people, or (3) students of English? Think of several convincing examples to prove your choice and share them with your group mates.

beyond comparison of the first water

make the most of second to none

make noise in the world lead the way

be worth one’s salt not to be overlooked

be at the top of the scale never to be forgotten

leave one’s mark on do a world of good to

hand one’s name down to posterity the ‘bubble reputation’

turn over a new leaf pay regard to

know no bounds sing praises to

view in a new light be in the front rank

2. In small groups, recollect your experiences of being a student of English. Was it easy or difficult for you to find the “right” language with your teacher?

3. Read the poem written by Eve Merriam and say what it has to do with an EFL teacher's professional competence.

TIDDLE-TADDLE

Riddle me no, riddle me yes,

what is the secret of sweet success?

Said the razor, "Be keen."

"String along," said the bean.

"Push," said the door.

"Be polished," said the floor.

Said the piano, "Stand upright and grand."

"Be on the watch," said the second hand.

"Cool," said the ice tube.

"Bright," said the TV tube.

"Bounce back," said the yo-yo.

"Be well bred," said the dough.

"Plug," said the stopper.

"Shine", said the copper.

"Be game," said the quail.

"Make your point", said the nail.

"Have patience," said the M.D.

"Look spruce", said the tree.

"Press on", said the stamp.

"Shed some light," said the lamp.

"Oh, just have a good head," the cabbage said.

4. Work in pairs. Choose three pieces of advice from the above poem that are your favorite. Explain your choice to your partner.

5. Work in small groups. Read a student response to the above poem. Do you accept all the ideas put forward in the mini-essay? Find weighty arguments to support your judgment.

Student response

I want to say that this poem is very good and very pleasant for reading. The author shows us an ordinary teacher, his behavior and his attitude to pupils. Through different things he shows us a typical teacher, his own qualities. This poem teaches us to be a real teacher. It should be understood that qualities and competencies in teaching are related to performance and productivity. The qualities and competencies that a professional teacher should have are those that promote effective teaching and learning.

Teachers should be dependable, honest, and authentic in working with others. A good teacher works with them in an open, honest and forthright manner. Also he should be organized, compassionate, creative, patient and should have a sense of humor. They should be able to help each child reach the highest possible degree of personal development. Teachers need to be learners for the same reason that the students of those teachers need, in turn to be learners. They have both the right and the responsibility to develop a climate in the classroom which supports effective learning.

Teaching is an art in the sense that teachers like painters, composers, actresses, and dancers, make judgments based largely on qualities that unfold during the course of action. Qualitative forms of intelligence are used to select, control, and organize classroom qualities, such as tempo, tone, climate, pace of discussion and forward movement.

6. Work in small groups. Decide what the greatest difficulties of university-level teaching might be. Share your ideas with your teacher.

7. Watch the episode from the romantic comedy The Five-Year Engagement. The moment is not comic at all – it’s a lecture in psychology. But you might want to tell your partners why what you’ve watched can be called effective teaching. Which means does the lecturer employ to gain his students’ attention?

P.S. Do you approve of slight pedagogical theatricality in the episode? Why (not)?

8. Read a scientific article dealing with facilitating EFL teaching process and say whoever might be its potential readership. Have you come up with only one choice?