View Content #4667
| Contentid | 4667 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | Metaphors for Language Teaching |
| Body | A recent request on the TESL listserv for metaphors that teachers use to describe the process of teaching language received some interesting examples. Here are two of them; look for more of these in the coming weeks. ---- Depending on the day, there are different metaphors that I think of when teaching. On some days, the teacher is like a border collie. There is a lot of herding and guiding, and the occasional nipping of heels when necessary. But mostly the border collie keeps the group moving constantly in the right direction, safe from harm and secure in its direction. Then at other times it seems that the teacher is like a bird. The bird flies hither and yon to gather what the nestlings need, but checks constantly to monitor their progress. The bird is always on the look-out for problems, although every day it bursts into song as the nestlings chirp haltingly in imitation. Then at the end of the season, after the long summer of nurturance, the nestlings leave the security of the nest, well prepared to function on their own. Barr, L. Metaphors. Teachers of English to speakers of other languages electronic list. TESL-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (2 June 2006). ---- I often tell my advanced students that I am not their teacher, but their guide through the jungle that is English. As such, I can warn them about the wild animals and dangers, but it is their responsibility to stay out of the quicksand. Tierney, C. Re: Metaphors we teach by... Teachers of English to speakers of other languages electronic list. TESL-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (2 June 2006). |
| Source | TESL-L |
| Inputdate | 2006-06-08 18:15:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2006-06-08 18:15:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | 2006-06-12 00:00:00 |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
