Obviously, whoever decided it would be a good idea for VEMZ employees to learn English didn't really think the process through. The whole waffling rigmarole from the beginning of the semester (where they went back and forth on whether or not they wanted classes before finally deciding that yes they did, but could only afford to pay for ten of them...) aside, it seems that the overall let's-learn-English decision making process was flawed.
The American Home gives all potential new students an extensive written and oral examination in order to place them in the appropriate level. Our curriculum is set up on a ten-level system, from level 1 (no English skills) through 10 (fluent), with each level structured to prepare students to move into the following level with success. Testing of new students serves to place them in the group best suited to their abilities. (Granted, testing is not always flawless; sometimes students cheat and score higher than their actual level; other times students are nervous and thus score lower. Because of this, we do allow students to change their course level if, after the first five classes the student and his/her teacher agree that he/she has been placed incorrectly.)
The course I taught at VEMZ last semester was Level 2. All of my students passed, and were ready to begin Level 3. As a result of the popularity of the class, there was increased interest among VEMZ employees in studying English, and a group of them took the AH placement exam. They all scored into an advanced Level 1 or a low Level 2 class. None of them were remotely close to scoring into a Level 3 class. The AH advised VEMZ of this... and yet VEMZ decided that all of their employees would study together.
This has made for a very frustrating classroom situation for both me and for all of the students. Imagine trying to discuss the difference between present perfect and simple past when half of your class doesn't know how to properly conjugate the present simple! (Not to mention that my students from last semester have a gigantic English language vocabulary in comparison to my new students.) So I end up spending half the class teaching half the students one thing and half the class teaching the other half the students something else. Initially when I learned that the VEMZ class was only going to last ten sessions, I planned to give them an intensive course of study so they could learn as much of Level 3 as possible in ten classes. Instead, I'm afraid that despite my best efforts, none of them will end up getting all that much out of our ten sessions together.
The reason why VEMZ is paying for its employees to study English is because they are expanding their motor-selling market into other countries, and they consider English the language of international trade. But is it really worth paying for your employees to study when you place them in a situation guaranteed to stunt their learning? If you can't tell, I'm feeling pretty frustrated by all of this. But, as I only have five more classes out at VEMZ, perhaps I shouldn't worry about it too much.
The American Home gives all potential new students an extensive written and oral examination in order to place them in the appropriate level. Our curriculum is set up on a ten-level system, from level 1 (no English skills) through 10 (fluent), with each level structured to prepare students to move into the following level with success. Testing of new students serves to place them in the group best suited to their abilities. (Granted, testing is not always flawless; sometimes students cheat and score higher than their actual level; other times students are nervous and thus score lower. Because of this, we do allow students to change their course level if, after the first five classes the student and his/her teacher agree that he/she has been placed incorrectly.)
The course I taught at VEMZ last semester was Level 2. All of my students passed, and were ready to begin Level 3. As a result of the popularity of the class, there was increased interest among VEMZ employees in studying English, and a group of them took the AH placement exam. They all scored into an advanced Level 1 or a low Level 2 class. None of them were remotely close to scoring into a Level 3 class. The AH advised VEMZ of this... and yet VEMZ decided that all of their employees would study together.
This has made for a very frustrating classroom situation for both me and for all of the students. Imagine trying to discuss the difference between present perfect and simple past when half of your class doesn't know how to properly conjugate the present simple! (Not to mention that my students from last semester have a gigantic English language vocabulary in comparison to my new students.) So I end up spending half the class teaching half the students one thing and half the class teaching the other half the students something else. Initially when I learned that the VEMZ class was only going to last ten sessions, I planned to give them an intensive course of study so they could learn as much of Level 3 as possible in ten classes. Instead, I'm afraid that despite my best efforts, none of them will end up getting all that much out of our ten sessions together.
The reason why VEMZ is paying for its employees to study English is because they are expanding their motor-selling market into other countries, and they consider English the language of international trade. But is it really worth paying for your employees to study when you place them in a situation guaranteed to stunt their learning? If you can't tell, I'm feeling pretty frustrated by all of this. But, as I only have five more classes out at VEMZ, perhaps I shouldn't worry about it too much.
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