Bill the English Teacher

ulker January 30, 2009 9:07

Hi Bill. I live in Baku. I teach Azeri language but I must speak with my princpal in engilish. Because he speaks in english. He is from Canada. And doesn't speak in azeri. But it isn't easy for me. I have family and two sons. If I have mistakes in my sentences, you wiil write to me, please. I will very glad.
Irina Tarabrina January 30, 2009 8:22

I fully agree with you on every line. Even on the line that my English is quite beautiful. :) :)

On a serious note, the pronounciation is surely a very serious challenge for English learners worldwide.

Russian and English are so different in phonetics that it really makes it difficult for the Russian learner of English to acquire the correct articulation habits. TTT- things take time. I do my best to explain to my students how to pronounce sounds, but they like imitation drills a way more.

My own accent is not deep at all, as far as I am aware. Nonetheless I do have some "charming" Siberian accent.

I encourage my students to learn to pronounce words as distinctly as possible, so that their accent wouldn't hinder the comprehension. I teach teenagers aged from 15 through 19 and they really get nice pronounciation habits, when we sing popular songs. That's their favorite way to practice sounds.
Irina Tarabrina January 30, 2009 7:44

Dear Bill,
Thanks for the prompt comment back.

Russian and English are so different in many aspects, as you may know. The most difficult part for my students is probably grammar and polysemantic character of English vocabulary. I find it very nice that one and the same word can be used in different contexts, but my students consider it strange and it thus causes apprehension on their part.

It is also important for me to break down the intoleranece to other cultures and languages and xenophobia in some of the students.
Irina Tarabrina January 30, 2009 6:40

Greetings from Siberia, Bill,

I came across your profile as I was browsing through the comment wall of Nutt from Thailand.

I am a teacher of English as FL in Altay region, Southern Siberia Russia. I am also a project coordinator of several intercultural projects between educational institutions here in my home town and in the US (specifically in MN, SD, TE).

That is to briefly introduce myself as I would like to check out your EC page looking for interesting blogs and pics.

BTW, Fantastic landscape slide show!
nina January 29, 2009 6:25

thank you for your commpliment,how long have you been working as a teacher?is it difficult?what are the advantages and disadvantages of it?
Nafis January 28, 2009 21:48

No problem!
Jealous people is always talking about great people. Even in Canada, for a while, they did not let her sing. I do not know why but I think she is not only a great singer but also has a great personality. She has helped a lot of poor and sick children.
SaLeM January 28, 2009 16:42

Hi Teacher
I have a question about affixes. But before asking my question
I would like to give this example to explain what I need to know
about these affixes that is :the student talks to his teacher
impolitely.The word"impolitely" the prefix "im" is added to"politely".My question is can we add any prefix unlike "im"
e.g.dis,un..etc.Or there are fixed rules about this affixes,I mean that it is necessary for "politey" to take "im"and happy
to take" un"to become unhappy..etc.
nina January 28, 2009 10:41

hello,thank you for reply!i like pictures and photography but i neither paint nor take pictures well, i can only enjoy and appreciate good ones like yours!
Mark January 28, 2009 7:00

Dear Father thanks for responding, otherwise how are you Sir? my email is markbig19@yahoo.com let me hope to hear from you nice time.
nina January 28, 2009 0:30

nice pictures!!!