Make my advantage into YOUR advantage...
Learning a new language is not easy. That's a fact. Every student I've ever had, and I've had many, has at some point thrown their hands up and said: " This is harder than I thought it would be." I am using the conventions of reported speech because that is exactly what it is. I am sure that everyone reading this piece, teachers included, can echo that. Most of us are monolingual, but in today's world being at least bilingual has become increasingly important. It places you at an advantage. And I should know.
I'm now going to tell you why. As an Irish person learning to be more or less bilingual is a requirement for us all from our first day in school. For most of us English is our first language, but we also spend up to fourteen years learning the Irish language. Many of us also learn a third language (French in my case). Familiarity with the process of learning a second language makes it easier for us to learn a third one. It also makes it easier for us to understand the difficulties students encounter when learning English. It gives us an advantage when it comes to teaching English. That is my advantage and it can be yours too.
In addition, there are certain similarities (when it comes to grammar, syntax and vocabulary) between Irish and languages such as French, Spanish and Italian (among others) that do not exist between English and those languages. Another advantage of mine that you can put to use as you seek to learn or improve your English.
I have always found that being an Irish speaker of English has made it easier for me to direct my teaching t helping you to acquire the key skills you need to communicate effectively in English because I have had personal experience of all the difficulties you face when tackling what can sometimes seem like an impossible task. That is my advantage and now it can be your advantage too. Sure we can even have a bit of fun laughing at the vagaries of the beautiful, confusing language that is English. Join me!
28 septembre 2017
