I have two teachers right now while I am studying Chinese. They are like fire and ice. One comes in and seems to consume everything in her path, blazing along at an unstoppable pace. The other moves like a glacier, slow and steady. So slow, in fact, that you might not notice any movement at all, but the effects left in the wake of this slow movement can be world-changing.
Which teaching style is better for language studies? I’ve decided that it depends on 2 things — the size of the class and the level of study. If the class is large, the fiery approach is better, as it keeps the students’ attention. It moves quickly, and keeps things interesting, not allowing the students to feel distracted when they are not the center of attention at any given time. It is also very good for new learners of a language. When you first begin learning, you like to move quickly and find that you can communicate things on a day in day out basis.
For small classes — and particularly for individual study — the glacial pace is more suitable. In a small setting, the student is always put on the spot, having to answer every question and speak up almost constantly. The slower pace allows the student to really think, and to shift gears when a change of topic comes about. Also, for higher levels of language study, the slower pace is much more suitable. When one has reached a certain level of expressing oneself in a language, long lists of vocabulary just become too confusing. The new words are more nuanced than what you learn in lower levels, and need more time for “experimentation,” so that the student can learn to use the words in the proper context. Grammar, also, is more complicated and needs more time to digest.
Each method of teaching has its strengths, and when used appropriately, can really help the student. If used at the wrong time in a student’s development, it is easy for the method of instruction to put a bit of a damper on the student’s interest.
