Thanks for your thoughts.
I forgot to say that I do teach "You're welcome." but I tell them to use one or two of the others and at least be aware that there are a few responses.
For "How are you?" I don't teach I'm fine to kids. I start them all off with "I'm good. Thank you." or "I'm great. Thank you." After a while I start asking them "How are you doing?"
For older kids I teach them, "Not bad." as a response for those students who are too cool to be "good" or "great." and "OK." for those somewhere in between.
All of the students come in someday with the "I'm fine." response and I know someone's been messing with my things. I usually tell them "I'm fine." doesn't tell me anything. Fine as compared with ... Why did I ask?
All my adult students say "I'm fine." originally. I tell them the above and they usually can break away.
I think it's a good idea to teach them the others and even better idea to get away for "How are you?" Maybe not get away, but move on to the next step.
How are you doing?
How have you been?
How's everything?
How's it going?
What's up?
That my 2 cents, again.
- Mark |