Job Discussion Forums

[pattyflipper no more]

Hey everyone, I need some help. I have been in Fuzhou now teaching for 24 days. So far I love it, except this jackass in the computer next to me who keeps blowing his smoke in my face. Anyways, I have been teaching 18-30 year olds, all levels for 45 minute periods.

The lessons have been getting better and better as i find out what works for them, but I want to get your opinions on varying lessons. I have been doing short conversations, funny stories, using new words in sentences, playing games, and some grammer points. I don't have access to a photo-copier so large scale printing is out of the question.

So I am wondering how all of you experienced teachers keep your lessons fresh so your students do not get bored. I appreciate the help,
Cody

[Anne-Marie Gregory]

try www.iteslj.org/Lessons/ for plenty of games ideas spread over 4 sections.....it gets even better once you know your students.

[Steiner]

There's actually no www. in that address.

http://iteslj.org/Lessons/

[Bertrand]

How do you like Fuzhou? It's a cool place, right? Get to WuiWu square at around 5 or 6am to see the old women do their stuff with their swords; it's fantastic. We used to go right after the night club....

I like the restaurant on the top floor of the trade tower; they do a good silver service lunch for around 50 Yuan. I spent 2 months in Fuzhou back in 2001 and liked it a lot.

Lessons? Try taking them to that mountain; I did and they loved it as there is a great vege restaurant run by monks at the top. Try:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/flash/jack_s.swf

http://www.girltech.com/Invention/IN_kooky.html

http://totallyabsurd.com/nosewipe.htm

http://totallyabsurd.com/ultimateumbrella.htm

http://www.englishbanana.com/downloads.html

http://www.eslflow.com/Adjectiveslessonplans.html

http://home.no.net/bomotor/ESL.html

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listeslsu.html#cat2

http://esl.about.com/bllessonplans.htm?PM=ss12_esl

http://www.lingref.com/lwpd/

[arioch36]

First I make them talk, which is the hardest work. When they start being good about trying hard to talk, I do some other things...teach a song or two for a couple of weeks that they can sing. I uausally already have them asigned to groups. If your classes are a semester long, about 2/3 of the way I have a group of five give a short play...that they have to write and memorize and perform. Sometimes a modern adaptation of a Chinese proverb, whatever. I tell them i am grading it...a fib, but even if I don't, most of them work hard at it, and enjoy it.
]

Chris in Henan

Chinese person or foreigner with the smoke?. I just ask them (both ) to put it out, but you can always get a small fan and wave it in his face if normal politeness doesn't work

[pattyflipper no more]

I want to thank you guys for your help. Its been a while since I wrote the post, so sorry for the delay.

Fuzhou is a great town, not to big or polluted. I have not seen the old ladies with the swords, but I have seen the creep mass dancing that goes on at nights. That gives me the creeps.

I have been able to varry my lessons in different ways in the last few weeks, which is great. My major problem now is getting them to talk in the topic talks. We have them once a week in the school, and I hate trying to think of interesting topics for the students. Any tips would be great.
Cody

by the way, it was a chinese and I did not feel like playing sharades with him until he figured out that I wanted the damn thing put out.

[Bertrand]