Re: your mail

[Jim Bell <jimb@unbc.edu>]

Re: ESL Head Nodding

The classic story in South East Asia was if you ask "Is that the way to 
Penang?" and point, the person will nod. So put your hands in your 
pockets and ask, "Which way to Penang?" The same applies to tutoring ESL 
students in the Writing Center.

Jim Bell
Coordinator
Learning Skills Centre
University of Northern British Columbia
3333 University Way
Prince George, BC
Canada  V2N 4Z9
Ph. (604) 960-6365
Fax (604) 960-6330
email jimb@unbc.edu


On Wed, 7 Dec 1994, syntax factory wrote:

> a quick story and question --
> 
> i have developed a cool story to use with esl students to avoid the pattern of
> "agreeing with anything the native speaker says, even if i don't understand."
> 
> after about four "uh-huhs" from the student, i ask, boldly, if they are just
> agreeing to keep me quiet. 
> 
> i pause momentarily, and tell stories about sitting around the table at
> thanksgiving with my family, and i'm talking and talking, and they are nodding
> and nodding uh-huh uh-huh, and when i'm done, they ask me to pass the chicken. 
> 
> i tell the student that i don't want him or her to agree just so that i stop
> talking, so that i will pass the gravy.
> 
> it's a cool technique, i think, because it almost always draws laughs -- a good
> break, especially in a grammar-heavy session.
> 
> anyone else have IDEAS about how to deal with this tendency?
> 
> david Beard
> ott memorial writing center
> marquette university
> 
> 
> 
>