Dear Alireza,

Yes, you are right. In order to speak, students need both LANGUAGE and SOMETHING TO SAY. Their lack of background knowledge is obviously and hindrance, but it is also an opportunity.

Make the cultural differences central in your lessons. Encourage students to talk about the differences between HERE (the home country) and THERE (the location of the course book.

Students need to learn English in order to talk about their own lives, their own opinions, their own culture. Here/There gives the students something to say. When talking about HERE, students will talk from their own personal experience. When talking about THERE, students will be using the course book to learn about the culture, patterns of behaviour and circumstances of the English-speaking location.

Never allow these comments about cultural differences become judgemental. THERE is not better than HERE. HERE is not better than THERE. It's just that they are different.

The danger with English language lessons is that in introducing students to the foreign language and culture, we may be thought to be taking students away from their home language and home culture. We are adding an experience and skill to the students' lives. When you learn to drive, you do not forget how to walk or ride a bicycle.

Can I change the exercises? Yes, of course you can and you should. You are not teaching the course book. You are teaching the wonderful individuals in your class, so make the exercises appropriate to your learners!

Remember that your students are explorers in a strange (and maybe dangerous) world. You are their guide, but they need to be brave and courageous. In learning English, they will be climbing mountains and crossing rivers. It will not be an easy journey.

An old song suggests "It's great to go travelling but it's much easier to stay at home." In any teaching situation, we are faced by our students' ignorance. But if our students knew everything, they would not need teachers, and we would have no work!

I hope these ideas are useful,

Nick

Hi Alireza. i have the same problem when i teach Topnotch 1A when we should talk about various styles of music. and just like yours, majority of my students don't listen to music or just our traditional singers you know. at the first session of this topic i got so bored i had nothing to say. but for next session i chose some music of different styles like jazz, blues, hip hop, and so on and brought to class. i'm not reaaly a music fan either but i did a few reaserch and gathered some information about different styles. in the class i explained every style a little and then played that music with CD. they got so excited. they didn't know any thing about those styles but now at least they know what RAP is about. i did the same thing about movies. most of them just watch our local movies and have no information about actores in other countries.

but some how i agree with you. it's too boring to talk about gadgets for 4 sessions.every session the topic is the same. i guess something should be done about this. the discussion topics have to be changed in some lessons.

when we wanted to talk about travel i did some reaserch about historical places in the world and talked a little about them. yes they haven't been there but now they can talk about them. it's like virtual tour for them.

a few days ago was christmass holidays and we discussed alot about american customs in christmass. maybe they have no background about it but they really enjoyed.