TOEIC 750, July 9

My TOEIC 750 is a TOEIC class that should be administrated entirely in English because we believe that this would help students achieve the score of 750 or higher by coming to an English speaking environment.  But before the class, I was told by the office that a student suggested me use some Chinese to explain simple terms rather than explaining them in English.  And this student believed this would help them get a satisfactory score on the test.  My feeling was inter-mixed.  First, I realized how close-minded the student was to a new way of learning the language s/he hadn't learned well.  If Chinese is going to help her/him learn English well, why would s/he have to come to the class?  S/he wouldn't have needed it.  Also, I realized that the student hadn't realized or seen the value of this new way, that is explaining the terms fully in English.   

In class, I took about ten minutes explaining to them why I would say the same thing in maybe five different ways.  That is first to give them an opportunity to learn different ways to express one thing.   And this would also give them opportunities to learn different expressions.  Plus, in my speech, I purpose to stay close to the style of speech the TOEIC uses.  This would increase their learning of the style and make them more familiar with the test, so when taking the test, they wouldn't feel as surprised and then get distracted by their surprises.  

In explaining this to them, I was implying that hearing same thing in different ways with different expressions is going to help them more than telling them what this thing means in Chinese.  Instead of sticking to the old way, they should be open to apply the new way.  And they should be happy about being introduced to the new way and be willing and open to learn it rather than sticking to their old and helpless way.