Dolores Said:

Does Anyone Know of a Good Curriculum for Teaching and Learning Spanish for a Family?

We Answered:

I don't know if it will be good for the "whole family" but Rosetta Stone is definitely family friendly. It uses visual teaching methods rather than the classic audio which kids, especially, are more inspired by. Rosetta Stone also comes with audio lessons.

This means that you can each learn in your own preferred way however I doubt that you will be able to learn "together" per se. This is because teach adults and teaching kids are two different ball games, which requires two different game plans.

This means that you will unlikely be able find a single course or program (most likely a DVD) which enables you to learn Spanish sitting down as a family, which is why your best bet is probably Rosetta Stone.

Harvey Said:

What does teaching and learning mean to you?

We Answered:

Hi Natanya W,
Teaching for me is sharing information with my students and trying to inculcate a love of learning.
It also means encouraging students to research solutions, where to find answers, Internet, Library, Magazines and News media. To encourage children to take a pro-active approach to life and learning.

Learning is the accumulation of knowledge, information, solutions for problems and the skills needed to do research and sift information. It is also learning through doing - hands-on approach.

I prefer to facilitate, meaning I encourage the children to solve problems step by step. When someone becomes stuck, I don't necessarily tell them the next step; I ask appropriate questions that will lead them to the next step. I have found that sometimes they already know the next step but become fearful of making a wrong choice.

Children learn best when they have ownership of their problems or are given time to sift through possible solutions.

Teaching is about finding them doing things right and watching them blossom before my eyes.

Virgil Said:

What do initiation rites and rites of passage ceremonies have to do with teaching and learning?

We Answered:

Nothing that I've ever found, however, certain ceremonies, which coincide with rites of passage periods are linked to celebrations of certain achievement levels.
sorry, but it's the only link I can see.

hope it helps

Cory Said:

What is the value that a theory provides to teaching and learning?

We Answered:

wah!? naunahan pa ko ako sana magtatanng nyan eh....classmate kita nuh??awww

Charlie Said:

What is a good metaphor to describe the teaching/learning process?

We Answered:

studying is like student dying. teacher is the grim reaper. students are the living dead. just take that thin line of going into madness of learning. studying=student dying

Leah Said:

how will i select teaching methods, learning activities and the instructional materials to learners?

We Answered:

All these will be selected according to the grade and students level.

Enrique Said:

Whats the relationship between teaching and learning?

We Answered:

for one - you can learn without being taught or without a teacher, but you can't teach without a learner :-))
you can learn by trial & error, by observation, by experience, by own intelligence/rational thinking, from mistakes, etc. without needing to be "taught" formally. teaching is just one of the ways that can be adopted in order to learn.
teaching, however, CAN speed up learning, make it more focused & relevant.

then, in order to be able to teach, the teacher has to have learnt him/herself - either formally or informally. thus learning precedes teaching. a learner may not be a teacher but a teacher Has to be a learner.

moreover, teaching & learning is actually an on-going interaction & communication between the 2 players. there is stimulus, response, feedback, mutual learning & growth....

you could also talk about situations or people who are not ideal, or are misfits in their role of teacher/learner. eg how bad teaching can dull learning & interest while good teaching can motivate students & optimize learning, association & recall.

hope these get you started.
all the very best