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| Lyman McLallen |
If they love English, they will continue to study it even when they run into the inevitable difficulties that are a part of every subject. They will find ways to overcome these obstacles and in their struggles become more confident in their knowledge and ability with the language, but they won't stop there.
Because they love it, many Koreans can speak English almost as if they are native speakers, even if they have never left Korea. If they hadn't liked English, though, but were forced to learn it _ by their parents sending them to language academies or by their teachers scaring them into studying it for a grade _ they would have only learned just enough to pass a qualifying test of some sort, then would have soon forgotten it. If they didn't like it, they never would have looked into it deeply and wouldn't have become good with it either.
Students who become good with English don't think about tests. They study every detail of the language as carefully as they can. They will listen to the pronunciation of the best speakers, paying attention to how people enunciate each syllable of every word, then practice speaking the words to themselves until they can say them as clearly as an eloquent native speaker says them. They will read well written English every day, working to understand what they are reading without translating it into Korean.
They will teach themselves how to write readable and interesting sentences in English by writing and reading and rewriting what they have written, then compare it to sentences they read in newspapers and magazines to learn what they need to do to improve their writing. They will seek conversations in English in which they can take part, whether their fellow conversationalists are native speakers or students who like themselves study and practice the language with gusto.
Teachers of English as a second language come to realize _ as all good teachers do _ that two types of students populate their classrooms: the serious and the reluctant. With serious students, the teachers must do all they can to keep up with them, become a source for their curiosity about English, introduce them to great books, movies and videos, listen to them and confirm them in their efforts.
But not just by being a cheerleader. The teachers must study English _ even though it's their native language _ as much as they expect the students to study it, for this is the best way they can truly help the students to become the best they can possibly be with English.
Teaching is nothing if it is not working to transform even the most reluctant students into becoming enthusiastic learners of a subject. Even the best teachers know they're not going to get to every student but that doesn't stop them from trying. They also know there is no surefire way to help reluctant students transform themselves into enthusiastic learners except through patience, understanding and being on the watch for ways to interest these students in studying English.
Becoming fluent and literate in a foreign language is difficult. It's as difficult as learning to play the piano, violin or a horn and play it well. It takes lots of practice to maintain one's proficiency with a language, and this is why students must cultivate a love for English if they are to be good at it because there is no escape from the seemingly endless nights, weeks, months, and yes, years that it will take for them to become really good with English.
The task for teachers is to get the students to enjoy the language so they will grow to love it because they will have to love it if they are going to commit the time and effort it will take for them to become fluent and literate with English.
McLallen taught at Korea University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He is a copy editor at The Korea Times.
