A LETTER TO THE TEACHERS OF ENGLISH: 16Classroom language is a rich source of learning [Archives:2003/626/Education]

Dr..M.N.K.Bose ([email protected])
Associate Professor of English,
Faculty of Arts, Ibb.
Dear Fellow teachers,
In one of my earlier letters, I suggested that you use Arabic in English classes. I made this suggestion in order to make you feel that use of Arabic in the English classes is not a sin. I have also warned you to be careful and judicious in your use of Arabic, not to turn the English classes into Arabic classes. Use of Arabic whenever necessary is a strategy to motivate the learners, but use of more and more English in the classes provides a rich source for them to learn English.
You use English in the English classes not only to explain the lesson but also to get things done by the learners. For example, Clean the board, Bring me a piece of chalk, Where is the duster?, Why is Abdo absent today? Who came to the class first this morning? Open your books at page 28 are some of the expressions you have to make in the classes. I have seen teachers making these expressions always in Arabic. In the beginning classes, when the learners' English is not very strong, you can use Arabic; even then, as I have suggested, mix Arabic and English; for example, Where is the dabashir? Bring some dabashir, Abdo. Close the bab, Basheer. But soon and gradually you can switch over to English and use these expressions in English. If you want to use a new expression, use Arabic words wherever possible in English sentence or the vice versa. I am more than convinced that using bilingual expressions is not harmful to the learners, for this is the natural way in which educated bilingual Arabic speakers communicate with each other. Moreover, it is more useful to use English with Arabic rather than translating each word into Arabic in the English classes.
The classroom language refers to the language you use for getting things done, giving instructions, shouting at or praising the learners and not to the language you reproduce from the textbook or the sentences you write on the board for the learners to copy. Researches have undoubtedly proved that this classroom language is the rich source for the learners to 'pick up' English., because it is 'similar to the language the mother and the others use when the child learns its mother tongue'. So the more English your classroom language has, the better for your learners. In addition, this improves your English too. Yes, the more English you use in the classes, the better your English becomes, for language learning improves through practice, practice which is meaningful and need-based. Increase the use of English in your classes and improve your and your learners' English. Good luck.
Yours fraternally

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