Tennis Dictionary
ESL Teachers – How do you handle students who always doubt you?
I had a student who insisted “I like to play tennis” was wrong. It was a group class. She said it should be “I like playing tennis”. She quit my class.
I also had a student who said “quitted” was British English. I’m British. I told her it was wrong but she showed me a dictionary (on her phone) that said it was correct and it is British English. It was a group class. After I said maybe it’s old-fashioned English, I could tell she thought I was wrong. Her face said it all.
I have had may other experiences like this. Some students want to analyze every possible use of every word instead of concentrating on communicating what they want to say in a clear way. These types of students often doubt their teachers and trust their electronic dictionaries too much. Their doubtful nature makes them hard for me to teach.
What’s the best way to teach them (or deal with them)?
Tell them that language is about communication, and that while knowing the meanings of words is important, knowing how to use them effectively is even more crucial. Then, have a couple of activities in class to demonstrate your point. (Simple skit to convey a message, story-writing relay etc)
When they question you, don’t be too quick to shoot them down. You may be wrong at times too. Take the chance to check a trustworthy dictionary or reference book. You will earn their respect by being humble. In the event that you are right, and their electronic dictionary is wrong, they will learn not to treat their little gadget as the Almighty.
Last thing is, respect them first. Try to understand them and build rapport with them. They will be more receptive when they feel like you care about them and want them to do well.
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You Can Quote Me On That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights And Zingers $6.76 You Can Quote Me On That isn’t about the polite, country-club sport where players shake hands over the net and offer congratulations on a fine drop shot. It views tennis from inside, where competition is grueling, tempers flare, and egos collide. Top tennis journalist Paul Fein has compiled hundreds of the most outrageous, most significant, and most illuminating quotes on, by, and about tennis  |
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Women Tennis Stars: Biographies and Records of Champions, 1800s to Today $45.00 From forehands to fashions, this book covers the careers of 35 champions who made significant contributions to the sport both on and off the court. Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills Moody, Maureen Connolly, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Venus and Serena Williams, and others are listed chronologically. The book features photographs, statistics and records… |
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Tennis Quotations: A Collection of Appealing Pictures and the Best Tennis Quotes (Quotation Book) $8.00 Collections of wise and witty words from the famous and the infamous. These books contain the best, the most apt, the most eloquent or simply the most amusing quotations about a theme. The text is set within tinted borders and illustrated throughout with over 30 posters and fine art paintings…. |
