Job Discussion Forums

[nathrodgers]

Hey all,

Ok, I held off coming here but after several hours googling I thought I might as well see what people here think about how I should teach this dog of a class.

Basically, I have to teach 18 students, many of whom I havent actually met yet, despite this being week 6. This is down to a number of factors, but from tomorrow I start teaching those who turn up solidly for 12 weeks.

Here's my two issues. Firstly, the book is awful. And when I say awful, MOD EDIT Spelling errors, boring tasks, impossible topics....

Secondly, my students are of much different levels. Four are near fluent, and just need practice using their english. Most of the others are basic, some more so than others...

Any ideas on how I play this one out? I thought of separating the class, but I don't think the students are keen to do this. Also, as I plan to pretty much abandon the book, is there anywhere I can go for decent (and fun) lesson plans. I'm happy to source my own content for them, but I need some guidance on what I should teach within 12 weeks. I was thinking of doing some situation practice- ie post office, airport, shopping, eating out...that sort of thing..

Thanks in advance guys...

[choudoufu]

this is just your basic oral english class? you have 12 weeks?

i suppose you could pick 12 topics, or have a contest in class to pick
12 that the students are interested in.

each week do a different topic. announce next week's topic and have them
prepare....study vocab or do some research. assign homework to
2-3 to prepare short presentations.

your homework is to find 10-15 interesting pictures related to each topic
that you can display on overhead or monitors. use these to start
discussions, or as scenes for spontaneous role-plays.

that's enough to fill up an hour of each of your 2-hour blocks.

[nathrodgers]

thanks for the reply.

I like this idea, but just need to find some materials. I think it may be the only way forward for a mixed level class....

And yes, 12 weeks of pure basic english speaking...

[choudoufu]

you don't need much in the way of materials. just be creative.

today's lesson was kinda sorta 'comparative culture.'

have your students suggest some differences in the culture and
traditions here in our china, and over there in their western countries.

as appropriate, let the student who made the suggestion pick a couple
students to role-play.

as there won't be enough suggestions, or all will be the same, you should
have a dozen or so groovy, interesting photos to start a discussion.

or bring in some props.

a clock........one student plays a furriner giving a birthday present to a chinese.

disposable chopsticks.....get someone to demonstrate how to, and how
not to, use chopsticks.

and so on.

[nathrodgers]

sounds good...but I need to teach them dialogue first before they role play. Their vocab is just too small...

[doogsville]

type out some dialogues for them to use, have them do it a few times reading from the paper, then have them try it without reading. If you can use a PPT you can put the dialogue up on the screen, then take lines away bit by bit until they have to improvise on their own. That way they can all speak at their own level.

[spiral78]

You say you've got a huge range of levels here.
What about having the higher students write out the dialogues for the lower ones? They could do this in class a lesson ahead, giving you some time to work directly with the lower group. At the end of the lesson, you could give the lower ones the dialogues and scenarios devised by the higher end students, and have them prepare in advance to deliver the things (ideally without notes) in the next class.
The higher ones will probably also need some direct attention and other tasks, but this might help bridge the gap in skill levels.