English in Japan
teaching non-native English Performers
Real World Skills
/ Flourish Real World / By Linden Thorp
Real World Skills: what’s my perspective?
I have been a teacher for most of my life, so I’ve had a ring seat to view the sea changes that have occurred. My teaching has always involved communication. First, as a classical musician and a little later as an English as a Foreign/Second Language and Real World Skills teacher.
Musical language and human language are very different but they both concern communication. The first uses mostly sound which is concrete; The second uses language which comprises multiple facets, e.g. non-verbal language (eye contact, gestures, voice level, etc.), vocabulary, grammar, and behind those sounds, intention, culture, etc.
After teaching people to play musical instruments and sing to express their feelings and emotions, I became fascinated by human-to-human expression. My main interest has always been non-native performers of English. By the way, in case you were wondering, British English is my native language. You can view my resumé here.
