All about English


A COLUMN DEVOTED TO THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH “But what exactly is a marshmallow?” asked Ras. Thank heaven for Google Images. Questions such as are this are becoming increasingly common in my Functional Skills classes. They do not oen coe o students o ae nglis, but o the increasing number of bilingual students accessing mainstream classes. ese leanes esent entiel dieent obles to tei nglis counteats and a stuggle it eb tenses, eositions and aticles, ic aent elicitl coeed in the Functional Skills curriculum. They can also prove a callenge to elain o teaces o ae not tained Highlighting any similarities between languages can be elul o eale, oance languages, suc as talian and anis, ae an ods in coon it nglis eg inuena t is ell ot ointing tese out to build leanes confidence and coeension ut a solid undestanding o te ain dieences is iotant too oe languages, suc as ussian and aanese, o eale, dont use aticles, and leanes from these countries will routinely leave them out. Try dieentiating tets b eoing a and te and asking students to put them back in.


elstud is ital o  students, and aassing


at making sure that, from day one, our students have a realistic idea of what is possible. Not everyone is going to be a head chef in a top kitchen in London or New York.” Professional kitchens come with a reputation of being unforgiving workplaces. In terms of his approach to teaching Gary is very much a believer in supporting learners. “We are preparing people for work in professional


catering, which can be a tough environment. But we’re not trying to replicate the sort of Gordon Ramsay-style TV kitchen. “Some students need a softly, softly approach, while others will need a bit of a push. As a teacher it’s about using your professional and personal judgement. “I certainly don’t remember learning anything


from feeling bad about myself.” Many MasterChef winners and competitors


have used their success in the contest to open restaurants, something Gary had already done earlier in his career. “The whole college, from the principal down, is backing me 100 per cent and I want to make sure the college can get as much as possible out of my winning MasterChef. “I don’t think I would get that level of support in the industry.”


elie as


moment of triumph goo.gl/JPYney


Find out more about dual professionalism by downloading the Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers at goo.gl/1oBAJX


For advice about working in the further education and training secto isit te  Advice website run b te ducation and Training Foundation goo.gl/YNwh8A


More information


o eole st, te sector skills council covering catering at goo.gl/kDZIum


a store of resources on Moodle or something similar is invaluable. A feedback sheet pointing them to a particular esouce can be eall useul o te and tiesaing o you. Asking them to work on posters to drill a concept they ae stuggling it, suc as eositions, is a geat a to focus their attention. What can be a little harder to manage are the feelings o te fist language seakes o soeties becoe diseatened b te oficienc o second language speakers in the classroom. An open approach in which students are encouraged to


sae dieent cultual eeiences and in ic eeones stengts ae celebated is ital nd o couse, natie speakers can always be called upon to help explain the meaning of marshmallows.


RESOURCES • A bank of resources for second language speakers to self-study is vital in any multi-national functional skills classroom. The British Council has a range of engaging grammar and vocabulary exercises available at goo.gl/lZElLy


• Learn English by Michael Swan helpfully summarises some of the common mistakes made by bilingual students because of second language interference.


• Apps including Grammar UP and Grammar Express (both available for iPhone and Android) can help students practise these skills. Lastly, students can create stunning posters using free software such as Piktochart goo.gl/Pd5H5h


Sam Hart is a teacher educator and English lecturer at City College Brighton and Hove. She is a Member of SET.


INTUITION ISSUE 27 • SPRING 2017 25


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