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jpvanderwerf2001
Joined: 02 Oct 2003
Posts: 1117
Location: New York
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 Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:36 am Post subject: Advice: Proficiency-level Individual Student |
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Hi all.
I've been teaching a Proficiency-level individual for about 8 months now. He's an excellent student; however, I'm running out of ideas for what to do with him.
We've been through the Cambridge Proficiency book; he reads and we speak about issues from authentic materials (such as The Economist); and he's written countless essays.
His grammar is very strong, as is his fluency. His main obstacle is coming up with the precise (often complex) word at the precise moment (his active and passive vocabulary is extensive).
Right now, we're watching a Russian movie with the English subtitles. He sits facing away from the TV and interprets to me as the movie goes; I tell him if there're any discrepancies. We're also reading The Da Vinci Code--he has the Russian book and translates aloud as I read along with an English version. These two practices have proved useful. As you can imagine though, with three classes (1hr. 20min. each) a week, it can get tiresome and boring.
I usually give him colloquial/idiomatic vocabulary and advanced grammar activities for homework.
Could you please give me some advice as to what other activities I could do with this student? Have you been in similar situations?
Thanks in advance. |
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Bayden
Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Posts: 988
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:26 am Post subject: |
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| Give him the boot. Sounds like he's gone as far as he's going. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been teaching a Proficiency-level individual |
Pardon me, but what the heck is this? High proficiency? Intermediate proficiency? I see you are using a book called Cambridge Proficiency, so perhaps it is THAT level you refer to.
Regardless, I can see by what you write that he is a high level student.
Ok, can he take a Far Side cartoon and explain its nuances?
What about watching Seinfeld or Friends or any other comedy and explain the slang?
Just what is this student's goals, anyway? To be a translator/interpreter, or to work in the U.N., etc.? If it's to work in a multinational corporation, how about hitting him up with business English (tons of slang and jargon there)?
How does he do on phrasal verbs? |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
Just what is this student's goals, anyway? To be a translator/interpreter, or to work in the U.N., etc.? If it's to work in a multinational corporation, how about hitting him up with business English (tons of slang and jargon there)?
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Good point. Sounds like he should largely control his own learning at this stage. Give him the burden of directing his own learning, in which case you'd take on the role of "language coach" instead of "teacher."  |
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jpvanderwerf2001
Joined: 02 Oct 2003
Posts: 1117
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:10 am Post subject: |
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Hi, thanks for your responses.
Regarding his level, sorry I wasn't clearer. I meant that we finished the CPE (Cambridge Proficiency Exam--he's not interested in taking the exam itself, though) book. I would say he's at high proficiency.
Good point regarding his goals. He's a succesful doctor here in Vlad, who travels extensively for conferences/holidays/etc. He doesn't have any professional goals as far as English is concerned. He basically wants to speak without ever having to search for words.
I forgot to mention in my OP that we work on pronunciation, although this isn't really a problem area for him.
He has little problem with phrasal verbs and idioms. Still, these two areas do make up most of his homework.
Giving him the boot is not an option, since he's not a private student. He's an individual student who comes to my school. I have no choice (well, not really) whether or not teach him.
I really enjoy his company and teaching him. He's a voracious student, but I'd like to vary the classes some. I appreciate your input. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Try using shorter video segments and talking about related topics to the videos. Also, assign him some writing to do that would incorporate some of the higher level grammar he is reviewing/studying. Since he doesn't want this for professional purposes, perhaps he wants it for conversation and traveling (or maybe its his hobby).
As to studying humor, good choice as it is a tough one to tackle. Idiomatic stuff is good as well, one of my students liked studying expressions as a change of pace. All kinds of comparisons to make with his native language, Russian.
Also get him to explain nuances of his language, good practice for him, free tidbits for you   ! |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:22 am Post subject: |
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Why doesn't he learn another language?
He can even do those proficiency sentence transformations? |
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