Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Communication strategies
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> China (Job-related Posts Only)
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
FreakingTea



Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 167
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:11 am    Post subject: Communication strategies Reply with quote
I teach uni oral English, and I allow my students to use their dictionaries. I would like, however, to reduce their reliance on complicated vocabulary that they have to look up, and would like to help them learn strategies to make the most of their competency levels as is.

As I see it, they can learn lists of vocabulary to use on exams in their own time, because they can learn that anywhere. I want to try and give them skills rather than just knowledge. How to talk around a word you can't think of, how to use tone to create meaning, how to convert parts of speech (turn a verb into an adjective, etc.), things like that. Ways to convey a wider range of thoughts with simple language if necessary.

Of course they should continue to learn more difficult words and forms, but those won't be of any use if a student can't improvise as soon as memory fails them.

Is this a good approach to take for my classes? Do you have any suggestions? What are some activities you like to use for this purpose? Keep in mind I've got the standard bolted-down rows classrooms with no multimedia facilities.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Helping fluency is a big part of our task.
Students asking and answering questions in a cocktail mingle setting is an excellent activity, but impossible in the bolted down format.
Is there an open stairwell or similar area away from other classrooms you can use?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
FreakingTea



Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 167
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Non Sequitur wrote:
Is there an open stairwell or similar area away from other classrooms you can use?


I teach in 4 different buildings, and one or two of them would not have a place like that that wouldn't disturb other classes. We'd have to go downstairs and outside. I keep hearing about how great the cocktail party activities are! Sad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rogerwilco



Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
FreakingTea wrote:

I teach in 4 different buildings, and one or two of them would not have a place like that that wouldn't disturb other classes. We'd have to go downstairs and outside. I keep hearing about how great the cocktail party activities are! Sad



I have tried it a few times. Depends upon the students. Some classes
will enthusiastically follow the plan, and some of them will just stand around and try to chat in Chinese.
You should be active and make sure that all the conversations are in English.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Harbin



Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 161
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Non Sequitur wrote:

Students asking and answering questions in a cocktail mingle setting is an excellent activity


I have about a 70% fail rate at getting students to do the cocktail mixer activities. Be warned OP!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
doogsville



Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Harbin wrote:
Non Sequitur wrote:

Students asking and answering questions in a cocktail mingle setting is an excellent activity


I have about a 70% fail rate at getting students to do the cocktail mixer activities. Be warned OP!


Good point. While I am a fan and contributor to Dave's, I think it's always worth bearing in mind that we represent a tiny minority of the teachers and experiences that are to be had in the middle kingdom. What works for one person may fail badly for you. My own experience of uni life here often seems very different from what other people post. For example only one of my classes is oral English, the rest are business English and they all require me to base my curriculum on provided textbooks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
rogerwilco wrote:
FreakingTea wrote:

I teach in 4 different buildings, and one or two of them would not have a place like that that wouldn't disturb other classes. We'd have to go downstairs and outside. I keep hearing about how great the cocktail party activities are! Sad



I have tried it a few times. Depends upon the students. Some classes
will enthusiastically follow the plan, and some of them will just stand around and try to chat in Chinese.
You should be active and make sure that all the conversations are in English.


You'll never reach all the students and you 'get' that after one semester.
Having the students accept you as their motivator and leader is essential in any activity that requires Chinese to make an effort.
Make sure the questions are relevant to the age group. Freshmen love things like 'What makes a good BF/GF?'
The question set I use is attractively presented so there is a special occasion buzz in the mix.
Always ask the FAO about taking students outside. The school honcho will then be able to claim it as his idea.
Avoid areas where students can sit as an essential aspect is students circulating asking and answering questions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
FreakingTea



Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 167
PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I could see a few of my classes getting into that kind of activity, but most of them would probably stand around and chat in Chinese. It sounds like the kind of activity that would work well for motivated students at a slightly higher level, or at least a different learning philosophy. I only have oral English classes. Some of the other FTs at my school have business English and so on. I hope I get something different next semester, but I can't hope too hard...

What are some small group or classroom activities for helping fluency that you've tried? I'm going to try and make up some of my own for next week.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 3:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
FreakingTea wrote:
I could see a few of my classes getting into that kind of activity, but most of them would probably stand around and chat in Chinese. It sounds like the kind of activity that would work well for motivated students at a slightly higher level, or at least a different learning philosophy. I only have oral English classes. Some of the other FTs at my school have business English and so on. I hope I get something different next semester, but I can't hope too hard...

What are some small group or classroom activities for helping fluency that you've tried? I'm going to try and make up some of my own for next week.


I don't know of anyone who has had success with small group activities. In my view they are a crock beloved of textbook authors.
The only reasons I have had for failed cocktail-type large group activities are choosing an area with seating, letting it go on too long without refresher questions and upsetting CTs in adjacent classrooms. CTs who seem unnerved by students spontaneously using English and enjoying it, supervised by a FT who just circulates and offers encouragement.
Back to top
View user's profile