English for Real

The article “ИНГЛИШ в натуре” was published in the newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets.

In the pursuit of clients, many language schools often brag about having teachers that are native speakers. However, it may turn out that your teacher is really an untrained salesperson. So, how can you avoid making a mistake when choosing a language school and when may it be worth studying under the guidance of a foreign teacher?

In an interview by a reporter from MK, a professional teacher of English, and a graduate from the California University in Los Angeles stated:
By education I am a linguist. At the university I was taking Korean, Japanese, German, and Chinese. At that time I wanted to become a teacher or an interpreter and, frankly, I didn’t imagine that I would teach in Russia. The first time I came here was as a tourist. Later, I made the decision to return. My friend, who had been teaching at Moscow courses, offered me a job. So I began teaching Russian students.

Several foreign language schools offer courses with teachers who do not speak Russian at all. Is this good or not?
I offer this piece of advice. If you are a student at elementary level or below pre-intermediate, choose a Russian teacher of English. It is very difficult to explain grammar to a novice Russian student in English. Starting from intermediate level you will gain much more from a native English speaker. Even the teacher’s accent is important. Some students have acknowledged that it is more beneficial and interesting for them when they hear native foreign pronunciation and intonations.

Where should the emphasis be placed when studying English?
For many students, articles and phrasal verbs can be very confusing. This may be a result of the difference in culture, language structure and thinking that people have.

Which is more important, to try to speak the language and communicate, even with mistakes, or to memorize grammar, and strictly follow the rules?
I think that it is certainly necessary to study grammar. But you cannot spend all your time only memorizing rules and grammar. It is important to master the colloquial language. I have students who perfectly know the active and passive verb tenses, modals, and know many words. However, their speech sounds strange. It appears that everything they say is according to the rules, but native English speakers don’t speak that way. The students don’t use native terms of speech, and slang, and don’t have the feeling of the living language.
I frequently recall the words of my university teacher, “Study grammar for two years, but after that go to the country where people speak this language for a couple of years.” If you cannot leave your home country, socialize with native speakers on the Internet, attend courses, or find friends among foreigners.

Share your interesting experiences that you may tell your students about.
Some female students were offended when I said to them, “Boy! or Man!”, and then told them about some news. They didn’t understand that “Boy! or Man!” when used in this way is not an address to them, but an exclamation like “Wow! (or Gosh!–V.P.)” Students did not know that the word “super” in the United States is mostly used by girls and gays. However, boys say “superb.” (This is not true. Most everyone may use “Super”, and very rarely “Superb” is used. – V.P.)
One more story. My friend said she wanted to call her son as Maxim. It’s a good name! But later she made it more precise, “Max.” But I would never give this name to my child! In the United States Max, as well as Rex are widespread names for dogs! (That’s not true either. Max and Rex are often used as accepted names for boys, and even sometimes girls. – V.P.)

How to differentiate between a qualified teacher and just an ordinary native speaker? After all, a common native speaker can be uneducated and even illiterate.
I have met very bad teachers who had several certificates and diplomas, and I have met teaching students who were perfect teachers. As in any vocation, it is important to have the appropriate training and certainly experience. The best way to learn if the teacher is good or bad is to talk to his or her students.