Teacher Discussion Forums

In Japan if your really have a problem then you consult the student's homeroom teacher. How successful this is really depends on how good the homeroom teacher is at discipline. Schools also will have an established discipline committee to overly discuss any serious promblems. For them this usually m...

My private high school in Japan separates 1st year students into 2 levels, and 2nd and 3rd year students into three levels. The groupings are adjusted after mid-term and final tests. There are 5 total tests throughout the school year. The classes are taught the same content. With the first year clas...

Hi Glenski, If I were you I would approach it in terms of task-based learning. Have the students progress through experiments from the utterly simple toward the more complex as the course goes on. In doing so the students will be faced with more complex vocabulary and be forced to follow instruction...

This test is inappropriate for evaluation of teaching in secondary schools in Asia, and especially in Japan. weakenesses include: - class size choices - types of English curriculum - assumption is made that courses meet at least twice a week and this skews many of the answers - assumes teachers can ...

First let me apologize for the pathetic typo in my first sentence in my last post. I assure everyone it is not the result of slow cognitive development or an inference error. Second, I must say that I am extremely impressed by all the posts I have read so far. I don't frequent this forum often, beca...

You're opinion is without merit. When learning a second language it is natural to make associations rightly or wrongly with the first language. When learning a first language all associations are made with tangible objects, and experiences. When learning a first language cognitive development limits...

Hello Undeterred, Glenski did an exceptional job in answering your questions and I really have very little else to offer. My only answer which differs is to the first question. I use the dialogs that are in the students' books, so they can read along. We do another listening section later. I have no...

Hi undeterred, A functional syllabus approaches functions of communication as opposed to grammar points. It enables the students to use short speaking turns with relatively set expressions. Example topics in a funtional syllabus: Introductions Making requests - can I, could I, May I Suggestions - Yo...

Hi undeterred, In my current school I work with another foreign teacher and we designed a funtional communicative curriculum based of the textbook "Expressways." My students are all beginners in oral English, but they are of average intelligence. In my previous school, I was the only foreign teacher...

I team teach. It is the worst part of my job, though not always. In my school I teach 6 first grade oral communication classes, 7 second grade writing classes and 1 third grade writing class. The oral communication classes go remarkably well. They are my primary responsibility and the JTE is there f...

I've met Victor Borge. He was really nice and had a quick wit.