Role of Homework

            I think homework is appropriate for a foreign language class.  The ideal situation would be to have everyone in the class have a language tutor to assist with homework and practice conversation.  However, since this is not a possibility I think that students in language classes should be assigned a language partner, a classmate in their class, in order for them to be more productive doing homework.  I can see the value in doing tedious conjugation worksheets and practicing writing new words by writing these new words in sentences, etc.  In my opinion, this kind of homework does have a place, but the best homework assignments should be done in pairs so that both students will have the opportunity to speak to each other and learn together. 

Growing up a person did not learn his/her native language on his own, it was a community-learning experience.  A child learns his native language from everyone around them, but it is hard to replicate this in a foreign language classroom where we do not have this advantage.  This is the main reason studying in a foreign country and spending time abroad is so important for someone who really wants to learn the language.  A preschooler doesn’t know that much of his native language, but can easily be instructed in English, for example, because he already has a basic subconscious understanding of how English works, English comes second nature to him.  By the time he is in preschool he should be able to understand it and speak it without difficulty.  The work comes in teaching this child how to read and write in his native language. 

From this comparison I want to point out the fact that it seems “backwards” to expect first-year language students to write and read in their new foreign language without having any real ability to understand or speak in that language.  Homework can play a role in filling this obvious gap, by making students memorize vocabulary, listen to simple conversations and practice the basic structure of that new language.  I think homework can be improperly used when it doesn’t engage the student and is only given as “busy” work, instead of the teacher having a goal in mind when assigning that homework.  I think some homework should be assigned before the lesson in order to familiarize the student with the new language concepts and that way they might be able to use these new words and language structures in class during the lesson.  The homework assigned before the class should be pretty simple and straightforward and the homework given after class should just be used to reinforce the lesson, thus forcing the student to use what they have learned.

   

            I think that the 6 tips that the video gave were valid ones that I have heard before.  Finding a dedicated place to study, clear of distractions is very important and making sure that it is well-light.  Eating snacks while studying does help me sometimes and I don’t mind having music playing in the background.  My sister always did her homework while watching TV, I could do that but not when I was working on a reading assignment.  I whole-heartedly agree with turning off the cell-phone (or at least turning the sound off) and also signing out of Facebook for example.  One girl I’m tutoring actually hides her cell-phone while she’s studying.  Taking notes while reading is a useful tip, but I like reading it through one time without stopping and then rereading if needed to take notes.  Taking notes while reading does help, but it makes reading take a lot longer which is a downside.  I try to take breaks and that way assignments don’t seem so long or time-consuming.  The video was entertaining and the study/hw tips it gave were good ones, but when it comes down to it students should do what works best for them.