DER UNTERRICHT
ENGLISCH MIT CHUCK LEMONDS
Hi,I'm Chuck LeMonds ..... I'm the new Native Speaker at the Maria GrÜn elementary school.
I think it's great that English is being offered here from the 1st class on. I've seen the positive results in the following years when the kids become used to hearing the language and learn to trust themselves to speak a foreign language.
I've been living in Austria now for 15 years. In the early 1990's I began working in schools as a Native Speaker, and as a musician, where I offered a program on American music and culture ... yes that's right ... I said culture!
During my first 10 years in Austria, I worked mainly as a musician doing concerts in Austria, Germany, Slovenia and the USA with my band and solo. I've recorded 6 CD's of my music with my newest being released in June 2006. I'm a songwriter and have been for about 30 years.
In 2003, I began working more frequently in schools. At first I worked primarily in "Hauptschulen" and then eventually I came to enjoy the work with younger children in elementary schools. In most cases, the kids are eager to learn and participate.
Music is a fundamental part of my lessons and I try to bring as much playfulness into the learning process as is possible. I try to always move through different types of learning methods during the 50 minutes to keep the kids attention . . sometimes it works!!
Way back in the 1980's, I got a degree in German and a minor in Russian Studies from the University of Wisconsin. If I would have know how difficult German was to learn, I probably would have chosen another language or not begun at all.
I live near Gleisdorf in east Styria, and have a daughter, Golda, who is 6 years old. I live with my partner and her two children Miriam 13, and Stefan, 10.
If you have any questions, you can reach me at this address: office@chucklemonds.org
www.chucklemonds.org
