First I ‘d like you to think about the question: Do you become a teacher by chance? That’s what happened to me! English was my favorite subject when I was a middle school student. I felt so cool when I won the first prize of NEPCS in 1997. After that everyone said to me:“Hey,Why not become an English teacher?” So I did!
Actually, I liked teaching very soon. I like teaching and learning with the children. Sometimes they are my students; sometimes they are my younger brothers or sisters. Sometimes they are even my fans because I can sing many pop songs in the class! But I have to say: to be an English teacher is not easy. Why? Teacher-centered controls, threats make no sense to students now! No one can be forced to learn without a desire to learn! I am so eager to find out a good way. But what are they? Nowadays, the use of tasks is commonplace. But I as well as other teachers is wondering: my syllabus is based on an old-fashioned textbook and is also exam-driven. How do I structure lessons by using tasks? Should I tell my students: “Today your task is to listen to me" or “Your task is to finish part a on page 5".Everything is unchanged, isn’t it?
What makes Task? A unit of grammar? No! A collection of lexical items? No! After a long time study, I begin to know that task is a means of learning the language by its real use! Now, I’d like to give an actual example for you. That is Unit 5
a letter in a bottle from
New Way Book 3
I had this lesson in the internet-equipped classroom. Each student has a computer .The target language includes shall, let’s do, writing letters.
Word competition and on-_line exercise are the pre-tasks.
Next, three during-tasks. Task 1:group-work. Discuss a plan about where to go during the national day, practise the target language: shall. Task 2. Go to a teenager website to make foreign pen friends by the e-mail. Task 3: write a letter to the students of our school to call on them to donate to Project of Hope the post task comes last, Ss read English news about Wangpeng who lost his life in a hostage crisis in Pakistan, and write to Annan the U.N head to call for peace
As you see, in this class, task-based method creates a student-centered learning environment and information technology plays an important part.
We should try to be as flexible as possible in choosing the teaching techniques.
Now, Dear friends, I would like you to think about our own task. What makes a good English teacher? Just years of little sleep, over-work? Just like the candle that burns out to help others? No! We should develop ourselves, both professionally and personally. Most importantly, we should love our students. In my heart, my students are the most powerful striving for me to work harder. I love my students! I love teaching!
Before finishing my speech, I would like to say: to be an English teacher is the best choice in my life. I shall do all I can to be a good English teacher! That’s all. Thanks for your attention!
iwms 4.6