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Volume 5, Issue 1 [May, 2009]
Teaching Adults English Using Picture Books
Emi Itoi
In this issue of the LLL newsletter, I will introduce an English class that I have been teaching for one year. Please look at the picture and guess where these students are studying. In fact, they are studying in a room in an apartment. This space is called "Neco" and is run by a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ichikawa, who use it as a means to connect people in their community. It is easy to feel at home in this space, even when studying English.
Last April, I started teaching English to adults in this space using picture books. When I started, there were 10 learners, although four of them had to withdraw from the class due to their own or family health problems. The remaining six class members have become very close and enjoy studying together. After the 90-minute lesson, we usually spend more than 30 minutes chatting about the latest gossip or family problems over a cup of coffee. In fact, members have grown so close that they plan to take a trip together to British Hills (an English training resort center) in Fukushima in March.
The learners have told me that they chose my class because they wanted to be able to read attractive picture books. I believe picture books are not only interesting for children. Many picture books contain deep themes that are of interest to people of all ages. If you are careful in your selection, picture books make wonderful teaching materials. One reason for this is that words and phrases are often repeated, allowing learners to remember them easily. The first book we read in this class was "Love You Forever" by Robert Munch. It is hard to read this book without tears. You cannot imagine how many times I have cried over this book. I am sure that those who have experienced parenting will be very moved by this story.
As well as picture books, this class often uses "Jazz Chants," written by Carolyn Graham. Graham has published many books of jazz chants, and some are ideal for adult learners. For example, in our last lesson, I chose a chant called "Banker's Wife's Blues." It is about a wife who complains that her husband loves his work at a bank more than life with her. This theme amuses many adult learners, and the chant allows them to practice English rhythm and intonation. Even those who are not good at singing can participate in class because jazz chants do not have a melody that must be sung.
In the next issue of the LLL newsletter, I will report on interviews with my students and introduce more concrete lesson procedures for using picture books and chants. Until then, let's enjoy working with adult learners!
絵本で学ぶ大人の英語
今回紹介するのは、まだ生まれて1年も経たない教室です。
写真からどこでみんなが学んでいるか分かりますか？ ここは、地域のコミュニティースペースとして利用できるマンションの一室です。スペースの名前は、neco。
http://jimotononeco.com/
普通の家の居間にいる感覚で学べる良さがここにはあります。
私がここで英語絵本を教材に教室を始めたのが今年の4月です。当初は10名ほどの参加者がいましたが、ご自身の体調を崩されたり、ご家族の介護などが始まったりで、少しずつ参加者が減り、現在は6名と少し寂しい状態です。最初は見ず知らずに人たちが集まって、なんとなくよそよそしい雰囲気だったのが、少しずつ仲良くなり、笑いが溢れるクラスになりました。90分のクラスが終わると、その後は日本語でのおしゃべりタイム。それが楽しみで来ている人もいるようです。3月には福島県のイギリス村へみんなで行く相談がまとまりました。私は残念ながら仕事で行けませんが。
絵本を使うことに魅力を感じてこの教室を選んでくれた人たちが殆どです。教材に絵本を使う理由はいくつかあります。絵本は子ども向けのものばかりではなく、深く重いテーマを持った物語がたくさんあります。ですから、選書さえ間違わなければ、大人の人たちが充分に内容を楽しめるのです。また、言葉やフレーズの繰り返しがある絵本は、何度も読むことで新しい表現にを自然に覚えることもできます。4月から読み続けている絵本は、ロバート・マンチの'Love You Forever'。これは涙なくしては読めない絵本。私も何度読んでも泣いてしまう心打つ絵本です。特に子育てを経験した方は共感されることでしょう。
絵本の他に使っている教材は、Carolyn GrahamのJazz Chantsです。この有名な教材は子ども向けのものから大人向けのものまで多くの種類が出版されています。今日のチャンツはBanker's wife's Bluesというもので、生活よりも妻よりも銀行で働くことを優先する夫のことを嘆く妻の歌です。チャンツを使うと、楽しく英語のリズムを覚えることができます。メロディーがないので、音痴の人も心配ないのがいいところですね。
次回は、生徒さんへのインタビューや絵本やチャンツを使った授業をもっと具体的にご紹介します。