TEFL Pine Prairie Louisiana

In Honduras there are many challenges that esl students face. There is a large population of people that are interested in learning english but the motivation and money does not always seem to be there. There is also a difference in the young learners and adults in this culture. Hondurans seem fascinated with the english language and culture of the united states. Many people have family there and idealize the life and opportunities in the united states. The challenges for these learners who are learning in their native country are grave mostly due to a failing economic system that does not hold education very highly. In Honduras english in not taught at the public schools. However, there are tons of bilingual private schools. Unfortunately, not all of these schools have native english speaking teachers. Therefore, Honduran teachers with some knowledge of english are teacher esl classes. I have met with some students that attend a private bilingual school. These students lived in the united states for a number of years and they actually correct the teacher's grammar and spelling because she is not fully literate in english. This is unfortunate because learners are not getting a true representation of the english language and having a teacher who does not know the material is cheating the students. Another struggle for the students here is a lack of practice. Many of these schools only teach english an hour or two a week. With few english speakers living in Honduras coupled with the short class time the learners are not exposed to the language very much and have little chance to practice. Adults learning english are often working full time jobs, supporting a family, as well as attending school and have limited time to practice and focus on the language. As a third world country that is highly corrupted Honduras does not give much financial assistance to its education system. The lack of funds means fewer resources. Most schools in Honduras are equipped with a board for the teacher to write on but this is about it. A lot of the private schools have a course book to be used and the students have to purchase it. There are very few resources for the teachers. This can lead to boring repetitive lessons that fail to engage and motivate learners. The average school in Honduras does not have new wave technology. Televisions, computers, over head projectors, tape recorders even copiers are luxuries that most schools in Honduras cannot afford. This puts more pressure on the teacher to be creative and experimental. Technology is not necessary to learning english but its serves as a great tool to enhance the learning process. The lack of funds in the education system in Honduras leads to less resources to assist in learning. Learners in Honduras also face the everyday difficulty of their life and culture. Many people and families are struggling financially and this burden can make learners distracted. There will always be at home distractions in all cultures and countries. In Honduras home life can be very stressful for learners of all ages. There is also a high rate of child abuse and domestic violence, which also affects a learner's progress in the classroom. Overall, there are many challenges for people in Honduras that want to or are learning english as a second language. I have a lot of family here that I am working with to assist in their learning process of the english language. Those who are highly motivated have success despite the hurdles.