睿騏英文家教
EFFT 成人英語聽說訓練
豐足英語實力,看見更佳視野
Enrich English, Enrich Your English
EET 睿騏英語 Abish 老師 2017年教學回顧
Annual Teaching Reflection 2017 by EET Instructor Abish
Bilingual (雙語對照)
To Teach Is To Learn 教學相長
A need to go an extra mile
Though having been teaching for many years, I know there is still a need to go an extra mile and to walk out of my comfort zone. There are times that it’s not easy to keep myself remain enthusiastic in doing the thing that I’m familiar with. Saving some time to reflect on this profession is like making an overall cleanup once a year to welcome the Chinese New Year. As we get down to clean, we more or less discover that certain things are or have been overlooked for a while. After the thorough cleanup, we feel refreshed and straighten up for a new start.
再突破自我的必要
雖然教學多年，我仍知多走一哩路及走出舒適圈的必要。要對熟悉的事物一直保持熱誠，有時不是件容易的事！撥出一些時間回顧教學，就好像迎接新年所做的年度大掃除。著手清理時，或多或少都會發現已經被忽視一陣子的事物。經過徹底清理後，便可煥然一新，重新振作再出發!
Teaching Online
Online teaching is not what I used to do in most cases. Inevitably, I found myself in a spin for the recording request and a series of standard procedures for each lesson. Panic, anxiety, and juggle were the words that best described how I felt in the very beginning. Troubleshooting every technical problem became very urgent for technophobia like me. Administration support was also desperately needed at the same time. Meanwhile, I hadn’t got enough time to go over and familiarize myself with about a dozen textbooks before my teaching. That made me feel insecure. This new experience was thrilling and gladly with constant administration support and communication, it has turned my stress and anxiety into calmness and ease. I pause and ponder that teaching has again become more than teaching itself to me.
在線上教英文
線上教學並非我以往主要的教學模式。一開始無可避免地手忙腳亂，因為從前置作業到課後的標準流程有十項左右，每一步驟皆不可遺漏，同時也要確保網路穩定、聲音影像的品質、排除各種外在干擾等。用驚惶失措、七手八腳來形容初期的心情非常貼切。對科技產品又愛又怕的我，最需要克服的就是電腦和網路的相關疑難雜症。同時，行政支持對我亦是迫切重要! 此外，尚未有充分時間瀏覽和熟悉全部教材之前，心裡也會有些忐忑不安。這項新經驗很新鮮刺激，幸好有行政同仁不斷支援和溝通，才將我的壓力焦慮化為平靜自在。停下沉思，教學對我來說，再次意味著不只是教學而已。
The word “teach “in Merriam-Webster dictionary is defined as the following acts:
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to cause to know something, to know how
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to accustom to some action
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to guide the studies of
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to impart the knowledge of
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to instruct by precept, example, or experience
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to make known and accepted
Teaching can happen anywhere for anything and reason. In the era of global village, foreign language is one of the must-learn things on the list. First language or mother tongue is acquired in one’s surroundings naturally while second language takes conscious and consistent efforts. Before one teaches, one must have learned. One should have gone through the process of ignorance, curiosity, search, obscurity, research, analysis, understanding, and internalization. With sufficient input of knowledge, one can then give adequate output. Teaching can be somewhat compared to parenting, in terms of purpose, process, and expectation. As we realize how children are raised, it will not be hard to figure out its lasting impact on children’s development and achievements. In other words, we may predict how learners perform and even transform from how they learn and receive instructions.
The Purpose
Generally, parents would want to see their children develop well, accomplish something, or excel at something. That is typically considered success. Despite what has just been said, some parents only want their children to be healthy and happy or of integrity.
Different purposes lead to different goals and lifestyles. For parents whose belief is about support, respect, and trust, they would not value their children’s academic achievement over anything else.
Similarly, as an instructor, my role is to find out their needs and help them hit the target. As one-on-one teaching is learner-centered, each individual’s need varies. As a result, the selection of materials and the teaching approach are determined accordingly. When speaking and listening is what a learner needs most, then the objective of all lessons will relate closely to oral communication.
The Process
The process of rearing children usually involves all of the above definitions in the dictionary. As a Chinese saying goes, a newborn to the world is like a piece of blank paper. It indicates that parents are the writers, the painters and the builders of this new life. It will become what the writers write, what the painters paint. It can be vibrant or pale, aesthetic or dull. Parents shape children's character. They play a significant role in children’s development and their influence can be lifelong.
Typically, parents help their baby to utter their first words and also some of the most important words, like papa, mama, yes, no, and bye, when they start to babble. Then when they become toddlers, they are taught how to walk safely by holding parents’ hands, how to use spoons and bowls with their tiny hands, how to go potty during the potty training period, and other basic survival skills. During the preschool age, parents have built a routine for them to follow, from meal time, nap time, bath, bedtime story, to bedtime. An established pattern of daily routine can help children feel secure. Such familiar environment facilitates their physical and emotional development. Parents may also read books to children to identify everyday things and common knowledge for them. As they attend school, parents may instruct them to complete their assignments. Parents may also teach children math, literature, geography, or any subjects that they excel at. As they get older, they learn to tell right from wrong in their daily life through parents’ values and knowledge. They are taught how to be kind and polite by following parents’ example. Apart from interpersonal skills, some parents train their children to do house chores, like ironing, doing the laundry, and doing the dishes. It is beneficial for children to assume responsibilities early by giving them opportunities to share housework. For better social-emotional development, dedicated parents also set family rules and that include the discipline of breaking rules. Hence, children would learn a lesson from the consequence of their inappropriate choice. There are a myriad of things to go on during the parenting process but that doesn’t mean parents know everything or are perfect. They give what they have and what they know.
From the aspect of teaching,
the complete or ideal process of teaching starts from a preliminary test, which evaluates learners’ language proficiency, and a questionnaire of learning preferences and reasons. Knowing learners’ needs and background can facilitate the customized design of the curriculum, the selection of materials or textbooks, and the teaching approach. Next, plan each lesson and give relevant assignments for learners to practice on their own. They need time to absorb and internalize what have been taught. Then, over a period of time, they may be evaluated again to see how much progress they have made. For instance, a beginner may be unable to introduce himself with more than three sentences for the first lesson. After a span of six months, he may make a self-introduction confidently for three minutes.
As the learning program takes place, learners would have questions and concerns, whether it is about grammar, culture, definition, or intonation. The way I learned English was not in a rigid classroom but through listening to radio, CDs, music, watching lots of movies, and conversing with native speakers. I didn’t have any experiences of overseas study but I do have a bunch of foreign friends. I used to learn American English and most of my friends are from the US. When it comes to British English and culture-related contexts, I may only know part of them instead of all of them. I know I’m also a learner, who needs to invest constant effort in seeking answers and exploring more.
In a learner-oriented setting here at EET, the teaching pace is determined by how fast a learner can absorb a lesson. No rush, no fixed amounts of each lesson. It’s truly incredible that there is such a language institution in Taiwan, where cramming or crash courses dominate the market. That is what I can’t do in other institutions, for teaching is textbook-oriented, and it’s about the whole class, not about individuals. Teacher-learner rapport is less likely to develop fully.
The Expectation
Expectation plays a significant role in spurring people to act. Parents’ expectations for their children, again, vary. For instance, with adequate and realistic expectation, children can be motivated to achieve academic success continually. It can be a straight-A student, or a full-attendance student, who enjoys learning. Without parental expectation, children’s learning attitude and motivation is likely to become less. Drop-outs may occur. Absences may increase. They need to know their parents care about them.
Likewise, learners are like children who need encouragement, company and guidance before they can be totally on their own. Instructors should help give learners the driving force to study and practice consistently. Encourage learners. Work with them. Follow up with them. Let them know they can develop their potential to meet their goals. Let them know they are not alone in this language learning journey. Their fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, and thoughts of giving up will be replaced by hope, persistence and confidence. They need to know their teachers are mindful of them. Their motivation can be transformed and then has a great impact on the outcome. From the perspective of psychology, outward motivation can go for a while, but inward motivation can last for a whole life.
Conclusion
Perfect are none of us. Perfection takes a long way to go. I appreciate the hearty teaching philosophy of EET, its efficient administration support, and helpful teaching feedback. All of these have smoothed the way for my online teaching experiences and skills. Above all, my enthusiasm for teaching is kindled again.
Merriam-Webster 字典對「教導」一詞的定義列舉如下：
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使~知道某事，知道方法
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使~習於某行動
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引導學習
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給予知識
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藉由規矩、範例或經驗指導
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使~知道和接受
教導可能隨時隨地發生，無論理由為何。在地球村的時代，外語已經是必學清單的其中一項。母語是透過周遭環境自然習得，而外語則是透過有意識地持續努力學習。一個人在教導前，必定已經學習了。他應已經歷一段無知、好奇、尋求、迷惘、研究、分析、理解和內化的過程。吸取充分的知識後，才能適切地給予。以目的、過程和期望的角度來看，教學多少可以比喻成親職養育。當我們明白小孩成長過程，就不難理解這對小孩的發展和成就有多麼長遠的影響！換句話說，我們可以從學習者的學習和受教的方式預測他們的表現和蛻變。
目的
一般而言，父母都是望子成龍，望女成鳳；能在某方面出類拔萃就是所謂的成功。話雖如此，有些父母只希望子女健康快樂、為人正派。不同的目的導向不同的目標和生活方式。對於相信支持、尊重和信任的父母，他們不會把子女的學業表現看得比其他一切重要。
同理，身為教師的職責就是發掘學習者的需要，協助他們達成目標。一對一的教學以學習者為中心，每一位的需求不盡相同。因此，教材的選擇和教學方式取決於個別的需求。當聽說能力是學習者最需要的部分時，課程目標就會與口語溝通密切相關。
過程
養育子女的過程通常涵蓋上述字典的所有定義。有句俗話說，剛出生的嬰孩如同一張白紙。父母就成了這個新生命的作者，畫家，塑造者。這張白紙會成為作家撰寫的內容，畫家描繪的畫布，可能生動活潑，或了無生氣，充滿美感或平淡乏味。父母塑造子女的人格，他們在子女的發展上扮演舉足輕重的腳色，影響終身。
通常，父母是協助子女牙牙學語時的人，也教他們說出一些最重要的字眼，比如爸爸、媽媽、對、不要、再見等等。當他們開始學走路，父母教他們牽著手，安全行走，如何用嬌小的雙手拿湯匙碗筷，如何學習上廁所，及其他基本生活技能。在學齡前階段，父母已經建立好子女的作息習慣，包含用餐、午睡、沐浴、睡前故事和睡覺時間。生活常規建立好後，有助子女獲得安全感。令人熟悉的環境有益於身體和情緒的發展。父母也可能唸書給孩子聽，幫助他們辨認日常事物及生活常識。當子女上學時，父母可以指導功課，可能指導子女自己擅長的任何科目，如數學、文學、科學地理等。當子女年齡漸長，他們也透過自身的價值觀和經驗教導子女分辨是非；以身作則教導子女要友善禮貌。除了人際關係的技巧外，有些父母會訓練子女做家事，燙衣服、洗碗掃地等。及早賦予子女責任、分擔家務對子女十分有益。為了讓子女培養更好的社交和情感的發展，有些用心良苦的父母會設立家規及沒有遵守家規的處罰。如此一來，子女會從不當選擇所造成的後果中記取教訓。父母教養過程的事項林林總總，但不表示父母是萬事通曉或十全十美。他們是依照所有和所知的一切去給予。
以教學的觀點來看，
完整或理想的教學過程是課前測驗，評估學習者的語言純熟度，以及一份了解學習喜好和原因的問卷調查。了解學習的需求和背景有助於課程的客製化設計、教材的選擇以及教學方式。接著，計畫每堂課的內容、給予相關的作業讓學員自行練習。他們需要時間吸收和內化所學的內容。經過一段時間，再次進行語言測驗，評估進步的情況。比如，一個初學者起初無法用超過三句話自我介紹，但經過六個月的時間，可以自信地用英語介紹自己長達三分鐘。
學習計畫展開後，學員會有疑問和擔憂，不管是文法、文化、定義或音調方面。我以往學習英語的方式不在制式的教室內，而是透過聽廣播、光碟、音樂、看大量電影，以及與外國人交談。我沒有喝洋墨水的經驗，不過我確實有一大票外國朋友。以往我接觸的是美式英語，我大部分的外國朋友也來自美國。接觸到英式英語及文化相關的議題時，我可能只知道部分，而非全貌。我明白，我也是個學習者，需要投注持續的努力尋求答案、探索更多知識。
睿騏英文是一間以學習者為中心的語文教育機構，教學速度皆以學習者的吸收速度為主。不趕課、沒有固定進度。台灣居然有這樣的語文機構存在，實在不可思議！有別於目前普遍快速填鴨、速戰速決的補習市場。這些都是我在外面機構不會遇到的模式，因為課本導向，班級為主，非關個人。教師和學員之間的互動很難充分發揮。
期望
要激勵人採取行動，「期望」扮演重要的腳色。父母對子女的種種期望也是因人而異。例如，在適當又實際的期望下，子女可以受到激勵，持續達成學業上的成就，可能是各科成績優等，或是全勤不缺課、喜愛學習。缺少父母的期望，子女的學習態度和動機很可能減退，可能有曠課或輟學的情況。他們需要知道父母在乎他們。
同理，學習者如子女一樣，在完全獨立之前需要鼓勵、陪伴和指引。指導者應該協助推動學習者的動力，持續學習和練習。鼓勵學員，一起合作，追蹤進度，讓他們知道他們可以發展潛能達成目標，讓他們知道他們在這條語言學習的旅程上並不孤單。他們對失敗、犯錯的恐懼、想放棄的念頭都會被希望、毅力和自信所取代。他們需要知道教導者把他們的事放在心上。他們的動力便可產生轉變的力量，對結果發揮莫大的影響。以心理學的角度來看，外在動機可以撐一段時間，但內在動機可以持續終身。
結語
誰是完美的呢？我們都不是。完美是一條長遠的路。我衷心感謝睿騏以人為本的教學理念、傑出效率的行政支援，以及令人受益良多的教學回饋。所有這些要素使我的線上教學和技巧能通暢上手！總之，我的教學熱誠再次點燃火花了！
2017 英語教學回顧 全文完
作 者： 睿騏英語 Abish 老師
日 期： 2018/1/19
留下意見：
Education is the process in which we discover that learning adds quality to our lives.
