I couldn’t agree more. Patience and encouragement are two things I have plenty of, before working with adults, I spent years teaching children and people with disabilities. I also feel that starting from real-life situations and then moving into explanations makes much more sense. It’s far more meaningful, and I believe that’s what truly helps people learn.
Something many of us who’ve learned a second language have experienced is that we often feel we forget what we’ve learned from one lesson to the next, and it’s so hard to find time during the week to review. That’s why, in my classes, I like to revisit content in different ways, so it doesn’t get boring but still gives the brain enough time to absorb new words, grammar, and expressions.
My obsession is to recreate, as much as possible, the way a baby learns their first language, in a natural context, through repetition and real-life situations. That’s my main challenge (and also my biggest motivation!) as a teacher, helping students make learning both natural and lasting.