M. Loy

11/08/2024

,_nursing,_and_other technical_courses_teach_ES_or_General_ English_?
The answer of this question has been a concern of many teachers, especially novish or apprentice teachers.
If our education system were effective enough, higher school students shouldn't be learning at universities. Instead, they should be learning (English_for_Specific_Purposes).
For broader understing of the issuse under discussion, let's first dimistify the two terminologies:


: General English covers a broad range of language skills and is aimed at improving overall proficiency in English.
: It includes general vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Topics are varied and cover everyday situations and general communication.
: Suitable for learners at any level who want to improve their general ability to use English for everyday purposes, social interactions, travel, and basic work functions.
: To develop a well-rounded understanding and use of the English language, focusing on general communication rather than specialized language use.

(ESP)

: ESP is designed to meet the specific language needs of learners in particular fields or professions. This could include Business English, English for Tourism, Medical English, or Legal English.
: The curriculum is tailored to the specific vocabulary, functions, and communication styles relevant to a particular industry or academic discipline. It often includes skills like report writing, presentations, and technical reading.
: Typically aimed at learners who already have some proficiency in English and need to refine their language skills for specific professional or academic purposes.
: To provide students with the language tools they need to perform tasks and communicate effectively within their specific domain.
Therefore, based on the defifinitions of the two concepts above, the English taught in most universities nationwide, it is not ESP as a such but it can be considered as a since the students don't have prior knowledge of English.
In summary, while General English provides a foundation in the language, ESP builds on that foundation with specialized skills tailored to specific professional or academic needs.


Text by Kangala, in reflection...

05/08/2023

5 Maneiras de responder "thank you" em Inglês.
Example:
S: Teacher, I bought this pen for you.(Professor, comprei esta esferográfica para ti)
T: Oh! Thank you very much, my student. (Oh! Muito obrigado, meu estudante)
S: You're welcome, Teacher. (De nada, professor)

26/11/2022

26/11/2022

:_Suffixes can change syllable stress
When we change word form, the syllable stress can shift. A syllable is one vowel sound of a word. For example, cat has one syllable. Kitten has two syllables, kit-ten.
How many syllables are in the word verify?
Three! There are three syllables in the word verify. Ve-ri-fy
In English, we stress one (or more) syllables, meaning we pronounce it a little louder than the others. This helps people understand each other.
In the word verify, we stress the first syllable: verify, VE-ri-fy
But when we change verify into a noun, verification, there are now 5 syllables: verification, ver-i-fi-CA-tion.
When a word ends in –tion, the stress falls on the syllable before that ending.
1. Nation, NA-tion
2. Invitation, in-vi-TA-tion
3. Communication, com-mu-ni-CA-tion
4. Verification, ve-ri-fi-CA-tion
This is also true for words that end in –ity.
Original has four syllables (o-ri-gi-nal) and has second syllable stress (oRIginal). When we change this adjective to a noun, using –ity, we have originality.
Originality has six syllables (o-ri-gi-na-li-ty) and the fourth syllable is stressed (o-ri-gi-NAL-i-ty). The fourth syllable (-al) is right before the word ending, -ity.
Let’s look at one final example. Let’s take the word objective. How many syllables does this word have? (Three! The word objective has three syllables: ob-jec-tive)
Now, let’s change objective from an adjective to a noun. We will add the suffix, -ity. Objectivity. Objectivity. Which syllable has the stress? (ob-jec-TIV-i-ty. The third syllable is stressed)
So, word endings cannot only change a word from one part of speech to another but also can change the syllable stress of a word.

14/05/2022

Have you been integrating the teachings of culture when teaching English?
Language and culture are intertwined. That is to say that they both go together. Culture makes the language language possible. At the same time, language forms the basis for culture.
If you're teaching the learners how to address to people, you will probably highlight some aspects of the culture.
For example, in Angola it is not normal a student addressing to his/her teacher his/her name. It will sound rude. We normally do it by saying his/her name after certain collective nouns (Teacher Kangala, sir). In certain countries it would sound normal addressing to them "Mr. Kangala, etc).

03/12/2021

Traditional Role of English Teachers
Traditional classrooms are teacher-centered. A teacher directs the learning process by selecting what and how students should learn. Students are asked to memorize, repeat, and do drills.. This approach to language teaching assumes the teacher as a source of knowledge, The learners are receivers of knowledge and they do not control what they learn and how they learn it.
Focus on the Learner
Changes in teaching ideas overtime lead to changes in teaching methods and in roles of teachers and learners in the classroom. In 1960s and 1970s a number of new theories helped change how language is taught. Among these approaches are:
• Humanistic approach to language teaching. It considers learner intellectual and emotional development to be equally important • Communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. It is based on teaching real world communication skills.

19/01/2021

Teachers who have been teaching English in Angola, mainly in schools without teaching aids, but they still do it quite effectively, should be called "Champions teachers".
How should you teach a language using situational approach, TTT, TBL without authentic materials available for the classroom use?
Sometimes adaptation doesn't work out.
Some teachers who have been working in a such conditions, if they go working in different context, they will be great professionals.
Reflictive teachers are concerned with their profissional growth.

14/10/2020

Put these elements into practise and you're going start thinking in English.
1.Name all objects that surround you in English.
Example: look at every thing in your house and make sure you know them in English.
2. Use a monoligual Dictionary. (English to English Dictionary)
3. Talk to yourself in English every days. (Sometimes people might be saying you're getting mad)
4. Try to exercise thinking in English. (Your thinking time must be done in English).

17/08/2020

It's time we did something for our professional growth. Teachers should do a lot of activities namely: training (either presential or online), reading, etc.
Other teachers will return to schools as they left schools (in terms of knowledge) or either worse.
I am personally taking this opportunity to maximize my knowledge on certain issues that constitued pitfall for me.

09/07/2020

It's said that:
1. Mediocre teacher tells.
2. Good teacher explains.
3. Super teacher demonstrates.
4. Great teacher inpires.
Do a self-evaluation on what has been your performances in classroom as a teacher.
If you're seen as model by your learners, they might be learners wishing to be like you. This makes you an inspiring teacher.
If we think what has been our experience as a learner we will be able to group the different teachers we had based on these four categories.
Inspiring teachers are not forgotten in the entire life.