The Art--Not the Science--of ESL Teaching
Kevin Dellit Says Grand Theories Not Much Help
Kevin Dellit recently posted on the NIFL-ESL listserv
some remarks which seem to suggest that too elaborate a theory of language
may even have deleterious effects on classroom teaching. He agreed
to share his comments with the readers of ESL MiniConference
Online in this article.
"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." Emerson
But it often strikes me that much of the "latest and greatest" is nothing
more than a rehash of something we have already learned or someone else has
already discovered. And I really don't have the time to spend on that.
To me teaching is more of an art than a science. When I am confronted with
the challenge of trying to make a student understand a concept, I don't say,
"wait a minute, I've got to go see what the research says." I devise a
strategy based on my observation of the students, their learning styles, the
materials available, and my best guess as to what might make this concept
understandable. Then I try to make the concept as simple as possible for
them. Once I feel that they get a feel for what I am trying to explain, we
practice it and practice it, and look at it in as many different ways as we
can think of. And this is all done with humor, grace, empathy, and respect
for the student. That's the part that is the art. And I think good
teachers learn very quickly if they have a feel for that process or not. If
they do they live for the moments in the classroom. If they don't, they do
something else.
Maybe I'm wrong. I haven't researched it, but I don't think Monet or Picasso
learned to paint by reading manuals and studying theories on the subject. I
don't think they took the time. And I'm glad they didn't...
Comment by
Kevin Dellit
2002 ESL MiniConference Online
Perhaps it's oversimplified to say, "go with what works," but I think very
often too much is made of new theories, methodologies, and research. Some
of the driest classes I ever took were about those very things. Yes, that
knowledge is necessary and good. I'm glad I have that background and enjoy
talking with other teachers about "what works." I also stay current on the
latest theories. Thank you psychologists, researchers and theorists for
finding out why this or that works. Thank you for relating that information
to the rest of us. Your work is important.
Reading Specialist & K-12 Media Coordinator
Hayden School District, Hayden, Colorado