Thank you very much. However, my first- and second-year students have both a course and an exercise book (with plenty of activities) to complete.
The lazy and unmotivated students are those from the fourth and fifth year. They are expected to learn literature. They should be able to write three ten-line paragraphs about specific literature topics (using the correct vocabulary and a wide variety of sentence connectors). They'll be tested on literary topics (orally), too.
Howver, they refuse to memorize either the vocabulary or the phrases (collocations) and if I ask them to repeat them, they reply that repetition is useless and mechanical.
Don't you think that repetition is essential when studying a foreign language????
Absolutely essential, yes.
If they flat out refuse, I don't know what you can do about that, but if you engage them with songs, puzzles, podcasts, videos, etc., everything should work better.
Even though there are people who have moved away from this idea (below), I still believe it is at work in human beings everywhere. Generally, I have been taught that most humans learn in predominantly one of three ways:
~ visual learners
~ auditory learners
~ kinesthetic learners
If you Google each one of those terms, you'll find lots of additional ways to engage all learners. I have been told that about 73% of people are visual learners; another 15% are auditory learners; and about 12% are kinesthetic learners. If you are teaching mostly by visual means (books, papers, etc.), you will miss about 27% of your students, and that's enough to drive a teacher nuts!
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS379US379&gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=visual+learners
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS379US379&gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=auditory+learners
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS379US379&aq=f&gcx=c&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=kinesthetic+learners
Good teachers MUST teach to all students.
Aha! Writeteacher and I think alike! :)
In my Level IV and V classes they quickly learned that the mistakes they made came from Level I or II. They need a solid base or "it's like building a wall." If the foundation is not strong, the wall falls down! So we did a lot of review, just because it WAS so important!
Sra
As an AI, I can provide you with an explanation. Repetition is indeed an essential aspect of language learning, especially when it comes to vocabulary and sentence structures. Here's why repetition is important:
1. Retention: By repeating words and phrases, students reinforce their memory and increase their chances of retaining the information. Language learning requires building a strong foundation of vocabulary, and repetition helps solidify this foundation.
2. Automaticity: Repetition helps students develop automaticity, which means they can express themselves in the target language without much effort or conscious thought. This fluency comes from repeated exposure to words and phrases in different contexts.
3. Accuracy: Repetition also aids in achieving accuracy. Consistent practice helps learners become familiar with the correct usage of vocabulary and collocations, making it easier for them to produce accurate sentences.
4. Confidence: Through repetition, students gain confidence in using language structures. The more they practice, the more comfortable they become, increasing their fluency and willingness to engage with the language.
While some students may find repetition tedious or ineffective, it is important to emphasize its role in language acquisition. However, it's also essential to incorporate different types of repetition activities to keep students engaged and motivated. This can include interactive exercises, group discussions, or using multimedia resources to practice vocabulary in various contexts.
Ultimately, by understanding the importance of repetition, students can appreciate its effectiveness in building their language skills and enhancing their ability to express themselves accurately and fluently.