Lecturer's experience at the University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus
Initial frustration despite students passing written exams
Difficulty in conversation and real-world application of English knowledge
Development of a new teaching approach
Approach Overview
Moved away from traditional grammar-focused teaching
Three-stage system: BS detector, interactive discussion, and reading/writing
Stage 1: BS Detector
Components of the BS Detector
Critical Thinking Skills
Ask specific questions to gauge speaker's knowledge and intentions:
Who? What? When? Where? How many? How often?
Speaker's comprehensiveness and burden of proof
Importance of specificity for responsibility and trustworthiness
Logical Fallacies Awareness
Common types of logical fallacies:
Non sequiturs: False cause-effect relationships
Ad hominems: Personal attacks instead of arguing
Argument from authority: Belief based on authority alone
Teaching students to identify and question fallacies
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Emphasis on higher-order thinking skills
Importance of changing opinions and being open to new ideas
Quote from George Bernard Shaw on progress and change
Stage 2: Interactive Discussion and Current Events
Utilizing TED talks, YouTube, essays, and news articles instead of textbooks
Discussing topics like Syrian refugee crisis and Puerto Rico’s economic crisis
Encouraging conversation about relevant real-world issues
Classroom rules:
No ad hominems (personal attacks)
Ideas can be criticized, not people
Example discussions:
Joseph Stiglitz’s articles on Puerto Rico’s economic situation
Peer tutoring and spontaneous learning
Stage 3: Reading and Writing
Creating a safe environment for making mistakes
Writing summary-reaction papers
Focus on content over form initially, correcting form later
Emphasis on genuine content and ideas over perfect grammar
Analogies to food and experienced writers like Stephen King
Final Thoughts
Importance of questioning and critical thinking
Encouragement to embrace curiosity like children
Quoting George Bernard Shaw on progress and change
Closing Quote
"I believe my job as an educator is to open as many doors as I can for my students while allowing them the freedom to decide if and when they want to cross the threshold of any of these doors."
Objective is to develop holistic communicative skills