| Not far from where I teach is a World Heritage site - | | | | stories. |
| Stonehenge. Most people who visit us from overseas | | | | In the telling of stories, trying to unravel mystery lays |
| have heard of it, seen pictures, and are keen to visit. | | | | the root of language. The technique is as valid now for |
| Actually it's a pile of stones in the middle of a field a | | | | Teaching English as a Second Language as it has |
| few miles from Salisbury. The stones were erected a | | | | always been for teaching children their first. |
| few thousand years ago by people with no diggers, | | | | Stonehenge certainly sparks conversation, questions, |
| cranes or tractors, using stones dragged from South | | | | and the need for language, from simple questions - |
| Wales, a couple of hundred miles or more to the west. | | | | how old is it?, what is it for? Why was it built? What's |
| The thing about the pile of stones is their mystery - the | | | | the big deal? - to more advanced discussion about the |
| fact that we really don't know anything about them at | | | | sun and the moon, man's need to worship, and the |
| all. Sure, they are very old, and they are positioned in a | | | | whys and wherefores of English Heritage! As ever, |
| way that suggests our ancestors were excellent | | | | the trip outside the traditional classroom stimulates |
| astronomers, but at the end of the day they are a | | | | interest in the student, and makes for a great lesson in |
| mysterious, atmospheric, compelling pile of rocks! I like | | | | the great outdoors. Teacher - where can you take |
| to take students there (preferably walking there, even | | | | your students today? |
| though it's less than ten minutes in the car) and tell | | | | |