How to take free classes effectively?

(Baonghean.vn) - 'It's free, why not try it' is what many people think. However, not everyone knows how to effectively participate in free classes.

"It's free, why not try it!" is what many people think.Photo: Internet

I have a few friends who are teachers, both local and foreign. Although they are busy with their work, they still try to spend time opening classes and volunteer clubs to teach free languages ​​to the people. Their purpose is very simple: they just want to create a healthy playground for everyone, connecting people with common interests.

But when I joined these free classes and clubs, I was shocked to realize that there were actually ridiculous and sad ways of receiving them. Many times when I joined, I heard things like: "What kind of class is this, the teacher only speaks a little bit at each table", "The teacher speaks too fast, there are too many new words, I don't understand anything", "Knowing this, I'll just go once to know, next time I'll just stay home to feel better"... There were even parents who brought their children and didn't know how many foreign languages ​​they understood, but they criticized my friend (a native teacher) for not speaking as well as Ms. A, Mr. B at this or that center.

The truth is that free classes and clubs, especially those about foreign languages, attract a huge number of participants. Sometimes the number reaches several hundred while there are only a few teachers, so they cannot cover and care for all members. However, to lead the class, teachers still have to prepare lesson plans at home in advance, time that they should have spent resting.

A free club for English lovers in Vinh City - Photo: Chu Thanh

While for those of you who come to participate, you do not have to pay any fees to the teacher, you should not or even have the right to demand the same care and attention as in a class at the center.

In these types of classes, everyone relies on themselves. If you want to talk and learn, you have to take the initiative to start a conversation not only with the teacher but also with the people around you. This is also the desire of the organizers of these classes and clubs to create an open space for everyone to talk, learn from each other, and help each other progress in learning foreign languages.

My foreign friend once confided, “I saw that the first few days, a lot of people came to participate, but then gradually less. During the classes, there were some people who listened attentively at first and then sat on their phones. If that’s the case, why don’t they stay home and come here to waste their time?” At that time, I don’t remember how I answered my friend, but this is also the common situation in many classes and clubs that are open for free.

Many people think, “It’s free, why not try it?” So when they hear the word “free”, they come without bothering to find out what it’s for, who it’s for, or what they need to prepare. Once they join with this mentality, these people quickly become snobbish compared to the rest and quickly get discouraged and give up.

Perhaps the only advice here is that even though it is free, you must learn for yourself and prepare yourself mentally to learn before participating.

Chu Thanh