Job Discussion Forums

[kev40]

Hello all,
Iam Kevin.I have recently recived a posting in China to teach oral and listening english to 12-15yo stufents.
I have little teaching experience and i have to structure and prepare the lessons and provide materials!.
I have some idea of how to go about this,but i would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions on this subject form someone with some experience.
I had a look around the forum and could not see a similar post,so apologies if there already has been.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer,it would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin.

[kev7161]

[tofit]

well 12-15yr old students.....
I must note that i don't have any experience in teaching, but I'm hanging around daves' to learn from other teachers. I would first design a test to find out their english level, understanding of grammar, and then review anything that needs to be reviewed. Which may be everything...

I would have a daily vocabulary with words to study for homework.
.....................


I've learned that alot of the experienced teachers hate newbies like us. But if there is anyone out there that teaches this grade level and wants to share some of their experience, it would be helpful to newbies like us.

How did you start off your class?

What level of english did you find the majority of your class to be at?

What do you spend most of the class time doing? (activities, speeches, vocabulary, grammar, ..ect)

[7969]

you're mistaken if you think people hate newbies. what doesnt go down well is people asking questions or requesting help for things that can easily be answered by doing your own homework. look in the archives here, scroll through a few dozen pages, and read. also, there is more to this website (and others) than just this forum. further, go to google and type in "esl beginner english lesson" and you'd be amazed at what comes up. THEN if you have any questions, or want to know how this or that worked according to someone else's experience, feel free to ask.

7969

[tw]

Personally, I don't hate newbies. After all, I think it is safe to say that many if not most Davesters were newbies, i.e. without any experience in teaching when they set foot in China for their first teaching job. However, what I do have a problem with is people asking for help without trying first. I would love to help if the teacher is at wit's end (and we have a few people in that situation in the last few months). For a lack of better term, this would be passing the buck.

[Steppenwolf]

Listenbing and Speaking classes with primary school kids are such a pain in the ass...your classes will be way too large, their attention span too limited and the text books so ridiculous as to render them a waste of resources.

Try to focus on something you can teach that Chinese cannot teach: either it's pronunciation and intonation, fluidity of speech, or listening skill. All of those are badly amiss. Make them speak singly instead of in chorus and have the rest of the class pay attention.

It helps enormously if you can use the symbols of IPT! Have them refine their enunciation when long and short syllables are involved, diphtongs and monophtongs, etc.

[WordUp]

First time in the classroom give them a sheet of paper.. Have write down their english name.. Chinese name and student number.. Have them answer the following, then collect the papers at the end of class.. Its alot of paper but usually worth it.. PLus its a good buffer to get a measure of their proficiency and to know something more about your students..

Ask them the following questions (write on the board)

You may have to explain each, do not assume they will understand what you are asking..

1. What do they feel is the most difficult part about english learning..
2. What do they want to get out of the class?
3. ASk them about their interests.. (YOu usually get a generic response, Shopping, TV, Games.. etc.. But its worthwhile to ask cause you may get enough random interest to develop a mean understanding of what your students like to do..


Use this information as a foundation for planning your courses..

The key to success with working with kids of that age is to get them to like you, or at least enjoy the first few classes before the hard stuff comes.. Generally, middle school and high school oral english courses have no weight towards whether or not they are accepted into college, so you need to capture their interest and get them invested in your class.
Otherwise apathy and indifference may pose a problem later..

Other advise, focus on accent reduction and enhancing their vocabulary.. Once they have a few interesting words under their belt apply contextual dialogue.. If they are of the older side of the age spectrum, try to polarize the class on issues they posed in their writing assignment.. Give them an assignment the night before and follow up in the next class. For example: Measure how many of your students play computer games, have them choose sides in a debate about if they should be banned or not.. It takes a little effort and some skill, and you will have to spend a little time explaining the goals of this type of lesson, but most times its a pretty big hit.. Get them to role play.. Have them chose their roles, for example, you can have fun pairing boy and a girl to play the role of parents.. They'll hollar at the pairing and once you get through the noise its back off to business.. By the time you get your roles installed.. The class has laughed, they will eager to go home and do their homework for the class debate..

Don't leave everything up to them and expect that its going to go off without a hitch, you'll have to moderate the time and be proactive towards guiding the class through this excercise, it will be fun and rewarding.

Good luck and cheers.. Remember, make the learning environment fun but sincere and you'll win every time.


Cheers

[Francois]

12 - 15 yo are hardly primary kids Stepinrog. My answer is to the OP is simple - Google.

[Craig!]

kev40 and tofit;
Wordup and Steppenwolf have some real good pointers (above).

I teach oral English to 12- to 15-year olds. I could add a lot more, but I'll just say 2 things.
1. be prepared and organized. I've written all my lesson plans on my one-page form, which I boiled down from TEFL lesson planning guides.
Materials (textbook, unit, pages, handouts, etc.):___. Goal:___. Review (of last lesson):___. Q&A during warmup to elicit from the what they know/don't know about the topic. Grammar Structure Chart/Dialogue:___. Presentation of the target language, and how/when to get a (repeated) response:___. 2 or 3 Practice Activities:____. Monitering/correction:___. Your Evaluation:____.
Organization like this should help you to ''keep on track'' and deliver the goods effectively - no matter what detours pop up in class.

2. 'Got textbook? Try to Limit somewhat your vocabulary to that; i.e., don't overload 'em with too many new words and phrases. Baby steps.

if you'll PM/e-mail me on the weekend, I'll have time to talk about your specific questions and concerns.

[Lobster]

Here's my suggestion to get you started.

Take roll call by using a new word, phrase or idiom instead of having students say "present".

1. Ask students to partner
2. Students need to provide the following information about their partner
a) Chinese name
b) English name
c) Home town
d) age
e) Three adjectives to describe their partner (must be combined in one sentence)
f) Three things their partner dislikes (must be combined in one sentence)
g) Three things their partner likes (must be combined in one sentence)

After they have interviewed their partner, the pairs come to the front of the class to introduce their partner to the class.

Teacher notes students' abilities and corrects as needed.

Explain the focus of your classes, and how you'll focus on aural comprehension and oral skills.

Tell students what materials they'll need for your class. Specifically, they'll need a pen and notebook for every class, and they'll need to wear their glasses if they have them.

Don't make the standard newbie mistake of being too friendly and relaxed at the beginning. Be really serious and firm at first. Once you've got them trained you can lighten up.

Best of luck.

RED

[Bayden]

[tw]