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ssjup81 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 5:09 pm Post subject: Some Suggestions

Feels weird making another new topic so soon. Well...it's better to ask for help than not to.

So, since it was all rainy yesterday afternoon, I just hung around the hotel. Watched television, did some leisurely things and took advantage of using the Internet since I'm still without back home. Anywho, I decided to start planning my lessons for the next month and there are about three students in particular that I'm having trouble with. Ironically, two are JHS students (one is a second-year and one is a third-year) and the other a high-school student.

Two of the students are sisters (they also have a younger sister in elementary school, but I have no probs with her group as to what I can do with them). These two students are also the third-year JHS student and the HS student. My problem with them is that both have pretty decent English. It's like I'm trying to find a balance with them. They have decent pronunciation, good vocabulary (imo), and I'm sure their reading skills are okay too. For students like these, what activities would you work on with them based on your experiences given their high abilities?

Now, as for the remaining student (the other JHS student), she's a bit trickier. From what I've observed of her, her pronunciation is okay (does mix up the "r" at times), but her reading could be better. She tends to mix up her letters (almost like a dyslexic would) and she does mess up her tenses at time. She's a smart girl, imo, but I'm still having trouble trying to think of any activities or tricks to use with her other than having her slow down when she reads, but not to the point where it would seem unnatural. I'm also having a bit of trouble with this setup because I'd never dealt with a student of this nature before.

So yeah, these are the "trouble students", but not in behavior or anything...in the way that they're challenging. There's one other student too, but she's and adult student who would like to speak more, but is very quiet when it comes to speaking in English, but quick to use Japanese. Anyway, no worries on the adult student.

That aside, thanks in advance to any suggestions or recommendations you can give me. I would highly appreciate the help.

ultraman111 · Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 148

Maybe you need to upskill your teaching abilities. Do a Masters degree or CELTA......perhaps.

Reading skills......focus on different text structures and there functions, main topics and sub topics within the textual structure, referents and what they are refering to, the writers opinion etc.... make some Q&A type question sheets that challenge the student.......show them how to do it....etc.

Writing skills........when the students have an acceptable level of basic communication and some higher level knowledge of the language, start writing activities......that you set as homework and go over in the class by peer reviewing, discussing as a class on errors or ways to improve etc...

hope it helps

ssjup81 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 1:16 am Post subject:

I started a CELTA but due to unavoidable circumstances, was unable to finish (a week-long ER visit). I was working on a TEFL Cert but until I have stable Internet access I can't continue with it and I really can't at work.

Anyway maybe I should try that. I did start cursive writing since the JHS sister showed an interest in it. I could try an actual assignment though to challenge them.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Do any of these students take classes with you at the same time as the others? It seems that mixed levels are the hardest people to teach.

ssjup81 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject:

Oh, the reading thing. Guess I really shouldn't assume based on the little I've seen them read. It didn't sound like rote memorization...they actually read the material which is why I said that their reading is probably okay. Now writing, I haven't tried with them much...yet. They tend to always be late because of club activities so I usually don't get the chance to do too much with them, not like my first few times with them, which was all free discussion.

As for the other student (with the reading suggestions), I actually have done that with her (cover/uncover text) to help slow her down and to try and concentrate on each word, but after my last class with her, that's when I noticed the tense thing. I think that's a very good idea, though...highlight verbs and go over them. I did do sort of a "mini" lesson on that as a reminder so that she could describe to me how her weekend was like (I do that with all the students, minus the really young ones). I guess I'm just worried that for these three in particular, it'll end up being boring for them, but oh well. Just have to overlook that. Problem areas are problem areas.

Edit: Forgot to answer your other question. The sisters are together. 7:00 - 8:00. The younger of the two comes in at 7 (sometimes she's on time) and then her sister comes in at about 7:40.

The other one is by herself (the one who I said seems to mix up her letters at times).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Highlighting text is one thing. You could also substitute present and past choices for her to stop and decide which is right. Even add past participles and future tense if you like.

I taught some HS students who were supposed to be handpicked from junior high as very capable high level students. Half were not. The other half were a mix of students who might have spent some time overseas. All were in need of just as much reading experience as any native speaker. Teaching them what they need to know to fully understand a text is good practice. They could even just get used to reading as a habit. As for writing, short essay practice (timed, of course) would help them prepare for some college entrance tests.

ssjup81 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:41 pm Post subject:

That's a really good idea, especially changing up the tenses and for her to decide which is right and which is wrong. I feel dumb for not thinking of doing an activity like that on my own...especially since I have done that before (albeit for English readers, though).

Instead of using her (private JHS student) text's stories, I'll go with something else or make up something on my own and have her read that, and go over the verbs and their tenses. It should be very good practice for her. I'm already visualizing what I want to do now with her. Thanks for the suggestions.

Still a bit uncertain with the other two. The suggestions are good ones, it's just the time thing with those two. I was informed that they're supposed to split their time (30 min each), but it's kind of difficult when both tend to be late.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If they are always late, then complain to their parents. Tell them you cannot provide quality service and would like to reschedule. Put the onus on them.

ssjup81 · Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:58 pm Post subject:

Yeah...guess I could...but given who they are, I'd feel funny doing so. They're the daughters of the school's owner. ^^;; They have so many school activities they have trouble getting here on time and Friday is like the only day they can come (this place is closed weekends).

I'm still going to try and do reading/writing activities regardless though, even if it is for a short time.

As for the other student, I'm still doing a little bit of planning for her and planning out the remaining lessons for her for the rest of the month. I'm definitely going to focus on reading and writing activities for her. I did tell her that she really needs to start bringing in her notebook and pencil when I saw her last week.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Daughters of the school owner, eh? So, that automatically makes them better than any other student? Teachers should treat them differently than other students?

C'mon. This is a no-brainer. The boss has nothing to complain about. If his own kids can't come to a class on time, what does he have to say about others? Put it to him with respect and politeness, as you would with any parent. If you want to add a little guilt factor because he is the owner, all the better, but tiptoe on that. I certainly wouldn't hold any punches if it were me.