Job Discussion Forums

[jaytee]

Im starting a new job next week in China teaching conversational english to large classes of students with mixed levels of english speaking ability. The students are aged 16 and 17 and I was wondering if anyone can give me some guidance (the more detailed the better) as to how to kick start the first lesson of my classes. Keeping in mind that im new to teaching esl so although i have got a picture in my head of what to expect, in reality I have no idea. This includes that first introduction, maybe some icebreaker ideas etc.
Any input would be appreciated.

[Sinobear]

My honest opinion? Wing it! You can put a thousand quotes 'neath your moniker and it doesn't mean crap. Wing it! TALK to your students. Probe...find out what they like (self-preservation) or what they're interested in (girls/guys/making money/success without effort or money).

Ya know, B.F. Skinner had a wonderful theory in the 50s that learning was above theories, and thus, whatever is shovelled down your throat at certificate schools is irrelevent.

To kickstart a lesson, find out what they want to hear and be prepared to deliver that. The first one's easier than you think...it's the second, and third, and fourth...and 32nd that will kill you!

Good luck!

[Sekhmet]

One of my teacher-friends gave me a really good idea for an ice-breaker... She asks the students to imagine they're her, and then state "facts" about her life using what they know about American culture, and what they think she might answer. I'm not sure how well it would work with 16/17 year olds, especially if they have mixed levels, but it's a fun activity, and it's a good way for the students to get to know you. it also can give you a good way of working out where their strengths and weaknesses are (grammatical structures, fluency, accuracy etc.)
Have fun!!!!

[jaytee]

Some good advice there, thanks a lot. I kind of figured Id have to wing it in the end anyway. And, suprisingly enough, im not stressing at all about it.

[Roger]

The first lesson always is the easiest one. That's when you and they can get to know each other.
It's the future that you ought to be worried about. Did I say "worried"? Make that "concerned".
Make a lesson plan for a whole month so that you know what you have covered once, and where you left off.
There are too man unknowns in your equation: number of students? Levels? Behaviour? Cooperativeness? Their own English techers' competency? Do you use materials provided by your employer?

I hope not - the latter.
If they ask you to use textbooks you will be given a student textbook (with a Chinese introoduction!), and you will have to follow the book. IT will be boring, repetitive, and meaningless. Some schools use CAMBRIDGE NEW ENGLISH LEARNER made in China, with all the errors you can hope they will put in there! But others use fairly advanced-level, interactive materials that include tapes or CDs - though you may not be allowed to use the TV...

Your students will soon display remarkable gaps in their English. Some will know words such as "LPG bus" but will not understand "ambulance"; or they may know "snow" but not the word "sandstorm".
It is therefore imperative that they not only practise spoken English but that they close gaps in their vocabularies and also improve their grammatically-challenged English. I would teach them other subjects using English as medium of instruction; for instance you can talk about other countries, where they are, what climates they have, what forms of agriculture, etc.
To do this you will have to introduce basic notions before you start in earnest. Key words - climate, weather, seasons, latitude, longitude, ... You can easily talk about these things without translation - but you must use resources, say, a globe or an atlas, climate charts, etc.
You should also enforce note-taking as part of your classes. These kids will not be used to working independently. They are inured to being spoon-fed.
But all depends on their own willingness to cooperate. That's the crux of it all - their parewnts are paying, but the kids have to spend their time listening to you - and talking in a language they don't really want to learn.
Good luck!

[carnac]

http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Houston-TeachingIdeas.html

Very useful.