'Secret' to learning English effectively from American teachers

(Baonghean.vn) - Heavy grammar, lack of practice and racing to meet exams are common problems in teaching and learning English today. This, in turn, is also a limitation that makes learning English ineffective and does not bring about the expected results.

Regarding this issue, we talked with Master Dustin Gerding, an English teacher from New York and currently teaching at ASEM Vietnam International English Center.

Teacher Dustin Gerding in a lesson with preschool students

Sir? As someone with many years of experience teaching English, what do you think is different about learning English in Vietnam and in other countries?

Having worked as a teacher in Vietnam and many other countries for many years, through teaching and interacting with many students, I have seen that there are many differences between teaching foreign languages ​​in Vietnam and abroad. In Vietnam, the most important thing for parents and students is grades. People pay too much attention to results and awards in exams and consider this a criterion to evaluate learning outcomes.

An English lesson at ASEM Vietnam Center

I also know that this has been “deeply rooted” for a long time and people are proud of it. But from the perspective of an English teacher, I see this as harmful to learning English. The reason is simple, because in class, students only focus on learning to get a prize in the near future and neglect speaking and communicating naturally. They also forget that the main purpose of learning English is to be able to use a second language, not to get another degree. Therefore, when applied in practice, students cannot develop the results they have learned and cannot communicate naturally.

In the US and other countries, of course, there are some parents who are highly competitive, like to show off and want their children to have high scores, awards, and medals to show off to everyone. However, that is only a small number. Most of them want their children to study with the purpose of practicing skills so that when they go to work, they will be able to use those skills naturally and proficiently.

Consulting and supporting parents and students at ASEM Center 3 in Vinh City

So, can you explain more about studying abroad so we can refer to it?

I have to admit that, because of different ideologies and learning purposes, teaching methods are also very different.

In the United States, the main method of teaching is to provide students with opportunities to practice the skills they need in real life and in a real work environment. The main purpose of learning is to practice communication skills and the ability to work with people who have different opinions. Through these activities, students practice and acquire skills naturally so that they can use and develop them in the future.

Students take the aptitude test at ASEM Vietnam Center

In Vietnam, it seems that nowadays people pay less attention to teaching basic communication skills in life and work, but focus more on teaching formulaic grammar. In addition, I have noticed that many parents and teachers are directing their children to learn English just to pass exams. Therefore, in the teaching process, teachers focus on teaching students test-taking tips, training them to memorize in a simple, mechanical way. The consequences of this teaching method will lead children to a rut, to stereotype, and kill their creativity. Later, it will be difficult to change or even difficult to change.

So do you think that learning English by practicing for exams is ineffective?

That's not what I mean. It's not that the children learn English in the way of exam preparation to take part in English exams in Vietnam is not ineffective. But its effect is immediate. That means the children will pass or get high scores in those exams and competitions. So parents and children have achieved their goals, right?

However, the point I want to make here is that studying in this way of preparing for exams will bring immediate benefits but will affect long-term benefits. Because in the learning process, teachers create for students the habit of studying according to structures, formulas, tips, and types of questions. At the same time, with the mindset of studying to pass the exam, students focus on practicing the types of questions to get the highest possible score, forgetting that the long-term goal of learning English is so that later they can use it fluently in natural communication situations.

A foreign language lesson

I have been asked by many students in Vinh how to do these tests and exams given by Vietnamese English teachers, including exams for gifted students. I have noticed that many of the tests have questions that I myself cannot answer, and some of the questions are even semantically incorrect even though they are grammatically correct. Most of these types of tests only focus on testing grammar and vocabulary, and even the sections called “Reading Comprehension” or “Writing Skills” do not test the students’ actual reading or writing ability.

There are tricky questions, asking about sentence structures or vocabulary that are rarely used in daily life. Therefore, even if students pass these exams, they may not be able to communicate fluently in real life. Some students also practice for speaking competitions and also win high prizes. But it seems that studying in this way has created a habit of speaking according to the lesson and using bookish language.

I have met some students who have won these awards and found that most of them, when meeting strangers, talk continuously, without caring about the feelings or reactions of the listener. This is not their fault. This is the fault of their parents who forced and encouraged them to learn English for exams. I believe that if these students were taught English naturally, they would communicate much better, because most of them are very intelligent and eager to learn.

ASEM Vietnam Center awarded scholarships to students of Vinh City and more than 40 other schools in the province in the 2015 - 2016 school year.

Teachers participating in teaching at ASEM Vietnam

Obviously, learning English is to use English. However, in Vietnam, English is a subject and students still have to take many English exams. So, in your opinion, how can we both learn English well and use English effectively?

In my opinion, parents, students, and teachers should combine their efforts, because I know that students must pass exams such as national excellent students, entrance exams to specialized schools and selective classes, which is a legitimate desire of parents and there are exams that cannot be skipped. Ideally, in the daily learning process, we should let students learn naturally. Only when the exam is approaching should we add a test preparation section to their study program. Thus, passing or winning prizes in competitions should only be seen as a demonstration of the results of developing English skills, not as a learning purpose.

My Ha

(Perform)