Teachers have opinions sometimes influenced by learning experience and results and sometimes by teaching experience and results.
I prefer teachers that are able to integrate their own learning experience and qualified teaching methodologies.
This first teacher is expressing emotion "I'm appalled that anyone would believe that giving students books would help them learn how to write an essay. Learning (and teaching) a second language is MUCH more complicated than encouraging students to read."
This second teacher is supporting his opinion with experience and methods.
I believe that nobody can improve their writing without spending most of their time reading. The challenge for the teacher is to find ways to encourage, facilitate or stimulate their students' reading. Providing advice and feedback may be necessary for a majority of students, but, in my view, reading is the most important activity. This is based on my experience as a language learner and as a language teacher.
I have learned many languages, mostly by reading and listening. I would not go to a class to learn how to write better in any language. I would read more, and I would listen more. I would choose content with the style and use of words that I want to learn from. I would notice words and phrases and save them for review. I would consult articles on the Internet, or books
which explain the style that is most appreciated for the language I am learning and the kind of writing that I need to do. These materials abound, especially for English writing. I would do it all on my own. Reading would be my most important activity and where I would spend most of my time.
When teachers learn second languages they have the opportunity to self experiment with different methods and measure the effectivness relative to their personal learning style and abilities.
It should make teachers better students and better Teachers.
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