Encouraging language use

Throughout the 12 years teaching at IBEUV - Praia do Canto I realized that the semi or total immersion in the target language in the classroom is a highly effective way of language acquisition by students. Yes, they do know the teacher can understand them if they speak in their mother language. Yes, they're fully aware they can make themselves understood in their mother language if the teacher fails to understand what they are trying to express in their target language. Notwithstanding, the language classroom is the only place where they can communicate in the target language. EFL classrooms are the place where they can express themselves in the target language. So, why not make this a semi or total immersion classroom?

It is impressive to see how Norwegian EFL students write with eloquence and use vocabulary and structure in some instances close to those of university students of EFL in other countries. Some of these students, however, are not able to communicate verbally. They either don't feel the need to do so because they know they can get away with speaking Norwegian in the classroom or simply don't feel that the motivation is there for them to use English for communication in the language classroom. The students who do venture English language use have very good intelligible pronunciation and reasonable cadence of speech. 

I try to speak English 99% of the time. Not because of the reason people may assume: because my English is far superior to my Norwegian, but because it's a way of motivating students to use the target language: ENGLISH. My entire focus in teaching has always been language. Different from how teachers are prepared here in Norway (they are prepared to teach several subjects, which is highly commendable), I was educated for 6 years in Language and Literature teaching only. For this reason, I am exclusively engaged in these two areas and I have learned a lot from being around other teachers with a variety of other skills. Still, I maintain my premise of speaking English mostly in EFL classrooms because this is how the students will feel inclined to also speak it. I did this in Brazil, where students would have to pay good money in order to get to the level that the students here in Norway have in English, so why not in Norway?

Perhaps because translation is still a heavily used EFL teaching practice and this is how other languages are taught also. I am not here to change the system. What I am here for, however, is to bring something good to the table. I hope my contribution is positive.