Listening

Mark, an English teacher, was worried. His students were quitting his classes faster than he expected. After two years of hard study, most of them still could not hold a simple conversation. He asked his mentor, Mrs. Allen, “Why do students fail to learn foreign languages?” Mrs. Allen explained, “Traditional methods focus on memorizing grammar rules and dialogues. But language is creative, not mechanical. If we treat language like a machine, students get frustrated and give up.” She introduced Mark to a better approach called TPR — Total Physical Response. “When children learn their first language, they listen first. They understand long before they speak. If you let students listen extensively before forcing them to talk, they will learn faster and more naturally.” Mark tried this method. For months, he spoke to his students using simple commands and stories while they only listened and responded physically. Later, they began speaking with confidence and joy.