Verbs in Russian Stage One and Two

[Jerry Ervin]

Katya writes,

"...in my mind the "first" translates
rather as "encountered first" than "first in importance."  Will students
learn them easier if we start calling them "-esh" and "-ish" verbs?  I
often do, but I doubt that it makes any difference."

My concern about "first" vs. "second" has little to do with any implied
hierarchy, and I'm sorry if I implied otherwise.  Rather, it has to do with
non-intuitive naming in general.  "First" and "second" have no more
relationship to the conjugation pattern of the verb than do "A" and "B" or
"Grape" and "Tutti-frutti."

I guess my feeling is that if an intuitive name (or at least a label that
points students in the right direction) is available or can be devised, why
not use it (in virtually any learning situation, be that biology or history
or math or whatever)?

Jerry