I could still come up with a sentence at least. (Even if it's "Is this a house? There is a cat, a table and a chair."...)
<g> My French would be rather similar. "He is in the garden..."
Quite a few people I met there COULD speak English a little, they were just shy to try it out.
That's another problem. The students get lots and lots of practice reading, but they are rarely ever asked to say anything because they're too shy to volunteer and even if called on will just shake their heads or mumble "I don't know." Even among my English majors, when I ask for an answer, there are a lot of students who will point to what they've written down correctly on their paper, but they won't say it out loud.
Whenever I can, I try to make it clear that I expect them to say something, waiting and giving prompts if necessary. (They can't master a skill they're never asked to perform.) Most of the other teachers don't, though.
no subject
<g> My French would be rather similar. "He is in the garden..."
Quite a few people I met there COULD speak English a little, they were just shy to try it out.
That's another problem. The students get lots and lots of practice reading, but they are rarely ever asked to say anything because they're too shy to volunteer and even if called on will just shake their heads or mumble "I don't know." Even among my English majors, when I ask for an answer, there are a lot of students who will point to what they've written down correctly on their paper, but they won't say it out loud.
Whenever I can, I try to make it clear that I expect them to say something, waiting and giving prompts if necessary. (They can't master a skill they're never asked to perform.) Most of the other teachers don't, though.
I hope the class goes well for you, at least.
Thanks!