"Janet is a great instructor. She puts people at ease in a way that some other language teachers do not, which I believe is very important when learning a language."(Winter 2008)
This comment identifies one of my key aims as an instructor, to foster a relationship of trust in the classroom.
This essential component enables students to take risks and actually speak in front and with other learners.
This essential component enables students to take risks and actually speak in front and with other learners.
Students often commented on my passion and enthusiasm for German, which stems from pleasure I take from
reading and interpreting all kinds of texts, but also from language's musicality.
Students sometimes felt uncomfortable with my approach to grammar that intended to guide students toward
pattern recognition instead of strictly relying on explicit explanations. Part of this discomfort lay in my
predominant use of German in the classroom as the next quote illustrates.
reading and interpreting all kinds of texts, but also from language's musicality.
Students sometimes felt uncomfortable with my approach to grammar that intended to guide students toward
pattern recognition instead of strictly relying on explicit explanations. Part of this discomfort lay in my
predominant use of German in the classroom as the next quote illustrates.
"My only wish was that some of the grammar concepts that were harder to understand could have been explained in English. I understand the idea of immersion but German grammar is somewhat complex and I think I would have a much more solid understanding of it had it been explained in English. It seemed to be one area that deserved that attention." (Winter 2010)
A few students expressed either discomfort or preferred that grammar be taught in English. I believe that this
discomfort is a natural reaction to immersion in German at the beginner level. Speaking predominantly
German in the classroom is based on the assumption that maximum exposure to German will optimally
increase learner proficiency.
discomfort is a natural reaction to immersion in German at the beginner level. Speaking predominantly
German in the classroom is based on the assumption that maximum exposure to German will optimally
increase learner proficiency.
"This instructor, Janet Janzen, is MORE than an excellent teacher! I would spend time looking for a far superior synonym for excellent, but I don't have the time...so I'll just do what the Germans do, but in English: Janet's the "am excellentsten" teacher!" (Winter 2009)