Studying Foreign Languages--Does It Make You a Better Teacher of ESL/EFL?

This questionnaire is to help ascertain what teachers of ESL/EFL learn about teaching ESL/EFL from the foreign language courses they take.  I'll be talking about this at the CATESOL conference on March 4.  My presentation will be called "Doing unto Others as You Wish Others Had Done unto You."  I have some "wishes" in the form of suggestions from my own experience studying foreign languages, but I'd like yours.
Could you take a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire and return it to me via Dr. Womack's box?  Thanks a lot!  Tina Martin

Age---Sex---Native language---Foreign language you have most recently studied ____

Year you studied this language___The course was __intensive (more than 1 hr/day)
                                                                             __non-intensive (1 hr./day or less)

1.  Relative to what you might have done with the time, was your study of this language useful to you as a teacher of ESL/EFL?


2.  In what way did your foreign language study help you most as a teacher of ESL/EFL?

__Made me empathetic towards foreign language learners.
__Gave me a better understanding of linguistic processes
__Provided a living model of language teaching methods
__Gave me an insight into what NOT to do as an ESL/EFL teacher
__Provided a review of grammatical terminology
___Other___________________________________________________________

3.  Please describe the overall approach used in the course (audio-lingual, notional, eclectic, etc.)

4.  Describe what you liked and disliked most in the approach.  (Use back!)

5.  Please describe the classroom methods most frequently used (dialogue memorization/recitation, pattern drills, communicative drills, etc.)

6.  Describe what you liked and disliked most about these methods.

7.  If you had been the techer of the course, what wouldyou have done differently/similarly?

8.  Do you have any thoughts, in addition to the ones already expressed, that you'd like to hear expresssed at the CATESOL conference?  If so, please write

         Your name___________________________phone number___________________

I'd like to talk with you.


As I see this for the first time 36 years, quite a few things jump out at me.  Maybe I wouldn't say ascertain again.  I'm glad I used contractions.