better, and for most people they are, then continue using Effortless
English™. If you still feel that grammar translation is better for you, you
can always return to the method.
The Hidden Curriculum Can Be Hard to Break
When I was teaching English in San Francisco, I had two Korean students
named Jinny and Jacky (their American nicknames). Each of these students
was struggling with her speaking and each wanted to attend an American
university. In order to be accepted into a university, the students had to pass
the new TOEFL test, which included listening and speaking sections.
Jinny and Jacky had spent years studying English grammar in Korea. As a
result, their speech was slow, unnatural, and hesitant. They felt nervous when
speaking, constantly worried about making a mistake.
As students in my class, I taught each of them Rule Two. I told them to
stop studying grammar. I told them to get rid of their grammar books and
their TOEFL books. I told them to do their best to stop even thinking about
grammar.
At first, both students were skeptical because this advice went against
everything they had ever learned in school. Jinny eventually decided to
accept my advice, while Jacky did not. Over the next several months, Jinny
completely avoided grammar study. Jacky, unfortunately, continued. I would
often see Jacky studying grammar and TOEFL books in a cafe after class.
Gradually, Jinny began to feel more relaxed about English. Her speaking
became more natural and fluent. She was thrilled with the improvement!
Jacky did not improve. She came to me and again asked for advice. She had
once again failed to achieve the required TOEFL score.
Again I gave Jacky the same advice, stop studying grammar. Yet, despite
her continued failure, she just couldn’t believe me. The beliefs of the hidden
curriculum were so strong in her that she simply couldn’t accept another
way. So she continued to focus on grammar books and TOEFL books.
