English as a second language- swear words

[Piginapokiee]

I teach English as a second language (third in some cases). My students like to swear. Sometimes they get it wrong.

I have a class of school leavers. They will all be 16 this calendar year.

I have been thinking of doing one lesson all about how to use swear words correctly.

As a parent, would you object to this?

Absolutely do not do this. They are 15/16 year old children and you are their teacher. You will put yourself in a vulnerable position by stepping outside of appropriate language and behaviour.

Some teenagers would hate this. This is just the sort of thing that dd1 used to really hate. Teachers trying to be cool, and play to the "bad boy" element used to leave her totally cold and feeling uncomfortable. The assumption that "all the youth will love it" used to grate on her, but she'd feel unable to say something because the vocal, (possibly minority) would have kicked back at her if she'd said something.

I wouldn't be too impressed, but if you do go for it, you need to make sure that they are all going to find it funny. If you have some that will be uncomfortable as dd would have been then it is unfair to put them in that situation.

This is what I think is important. I usually teach swearing at the point my students start banding around or dropping in words they have heard in films or in rap songs. Swearing is everywhere if they are watching films and listening to English language music - it's important for them to know what is and isn't acceptable in different contexts. That is what needs to be taught - they will already know the words, they need to know when it is absolutely not appropriate to use them.

I am reminded of Jurgen Klopp dropping the F-bomb on live television because he had no idea it was inappropriate.

I think this is a great idea OP. As many pp have already said, it's about knowing what is acceptable and when rather than '20 of England's rudest insults'. Swearing is part of life and 15 year olds are generally well-acquainted with profanities.

Nothing wrong with telling them they can ask you what certain words mean.

But I would not try to teach non native speakers English languge swear words. They are likely to use them at the wrong time, with the wrong accent and into ation and risk causing real offence.

I regularly hear educated Germans using the F word, or even worse, Fing, (so grammatically incorrect) at the wrong time and in the wrong context and it is just so cringeworthy.

My asterisks were deleted…

So how are the classes funded if not by the parents?

I can't see the point really, it's something they'll pick up from friends, social media etc.

id have no problem with you correcting them & giving an example of how to improve, but I don't think they need a full lesson on it.

its not the actual swearing that bothers me though, just the pointlessness of it, same as if you wanted to dedicate one who lesson to crochet or football terms.

🤣🤣🤣. Oops 🤣🤣🤣

its not the actual swearing that bothers me though, just the pointlessness of it, same as if you wanted to dedicate one who lesson to crochet or football terms.

Why is thst pointless? Swearing is language they're likely to come across in many informal contexts, including films and TV. Someone into football would probably like to talk about it. I've done lessons in various languages on sports and crafts and hobbies once I've got past complete beginner level. In most cases, I don't need to know more than, "I'm not interested in football," but it's hardly a problem knowing words like goal, stadium, player - nor words like needle, pattern, scissors, wool. Beyond that, if it's a subject I am not personally interested in, there's a chance I might not know the words in English, let alone another language, but if a student wanted to know, because it's their thing, I'd help them work out when they want to talk about double crochet or treble stitch or something.

It's very usual to talk about these things when learning languages - it means lots of useful phrases about "I like," "I am not interested in," and time phrases about when you do things or used to do things. Talking about what people do in their free time often makes them engage with the lesson- and knowing how to recognise swearing and when not to use it is also important.

I used to teach languages. Swearing is part of any language, of course you should teach it. Ignore the pearl clutchers.