Using what you have read in this introduction to TESOL and your own knowledge, what do you consider to be the blocks which may prevent language learning?
Sometimes people aren’t able to learn any language with the excuse of “it’s not for me, I don’t need it, I don’t like it, why would I need it, I was never taught in a right way”, etc. In fact, the real reason they were not able to learn the language is much deeper than it seems. It all goes to the main root of the problem – learning blocks which prevent language learning.
First of all, we are talking about psychological blocks. Student may feel uncomfortable during the lesson and it can destroy all the efforts of the teacher to give the material. Why may a student feel uncomfortable? There is a plenty of reasons. He doesn’t like the teachers’ manner of talking to him (it’s too sarcastic, too teaching, too ignoring, too obsessive, etc.), doesn’t like the studying room (too cold, too hot, yellow coloured walls, too big, too small, etc.), doesn’t’ like the atmosphere in the group. Sometimes people, working in a group, act differently, you can’t make them be nice to each other anyway. What is more, students may feel uncomfortable because something irritates them (street noises, phone calling in the next room, other students’ sneezing, teachers’ words-parasites or noises making while speaking).
How to deal with it? A good teacher would try to increase the level of comfort. An excellent teacher will find the reason of discomfort and either to eliminate it or to make fun of it.
Make students feel like comfort, but not like at home. They never study at home, by the way.
Secondly, student may feel unwelcomed. It also depends sometimes on unexpected reasons, but if it has something to do with the teacher – teacher must do everything to make student feel welcomed. Never say “I don’t have time now, come later”, never be rude or impolite. To start with, always say “good morning” or “it’s nice to meet you, have a