Get in and Drive--the Natural Approach to Learning English
Before you learned how to drive a car, did you learn how to take it apart and put it back together? Probably not. Most who drive cars are not also mechanics. We learned to drive a car because we simply want to USE it to go from A to Z (you were expecting “B”?).
The same goes for learning a non-native language, in this case, English. If you want to know how a language is constructed in order to be a linguist or teach a language to pass tests, then sure, go ahead and learn grammar and syntax.
But if you want to learn how to USE—drive in—English to communicate (understand and be understood), then learn it through the “Natural Approach” as researched and championed by the U.S. linguist Stephen Krashen and practiced by me.
I “facilitate” (“make easy”) rather than “teach” English. It is learning a non-native language the way you learned your native language, by it being indirectly “caught” without being directly “taught”.
Extending the metaphor, the vehicle you learn to drive in English can be any subject that will contain and carry your attention because it interests and even excites you. It can be an item concerning business, career, relationships, science, politics, art…you name it...whatever you really want to learn, whatever will add value to your life. And you will find I probably know a little about whatever subject that appeals to you. I fit my name as I am a "Jack of All Trades". That is, I am a generalist who knows a little about a lot instead of a specialist who knows a lot about a little.
For example, my last lesson was with a native language Portuguese client who is the CEO of a small company. I chose to have him read out loud and discuss with me the book by DK publishing, Leadership. I chose this book to improve his work performance as well help him learn English through the Natural Approach. He read out loud and I corrected his pronunciation when necessary. We paused to discuss his comprehension of the content and build his vocabulary. He learned about leadership because it this is a useful subject for him; and he learned English without trying to.
As an aside, I love DK publishing because they make books that are visually very appealing and which express the contents in a very easy to understand manner. And by the way, you can download my materials such as this book as a free bonus.
So if the Natural Approach interests you, book a lesson with me. I leave it to the other teachers here to teach you how to be a mechanic. If you want to USE English come drive it with me.
20 ottobre 2017
