Job Discussion Forums

[velmeran]

So I got my teaching schedule today, 10 hours of classes M-Th, all first or second year college students. They still don't have the text books from the publisher so I get to make up my own lessons it seems. I decided that since it was my first class and I would be doing some introductions all week I might as well just base the lesson off that. The classes are all reading speed/comprehension based so not an oral lecture class.

Considering I have no idea how different the skill levels are going to be between the first and second years either, I just made the lesson to have some easy points and some harder points grammatically and hopefully it will point out where I need to work with the two different groups. I just hope one group is way above it and the other way below since that would sink the lesson pretty fast.

Overall I have been doing some research into teaching the reading course and found alot of helpful exercises; reading backwards, flashing sentences that are missing words or colored words to focus attention on the important words. If I could find a cheap projector for my laptop it would be really awesome since then flash cards in class would and such could be done in power point, but I doubt I will have the money for one of those for a bit.

Considering I have no text book to work from I will be making alot of copies, lets hope the college doesn't get pissed about that since there's not much I can do about their inability to get me a book. I am just hoping what ever text book they do drop in my lap isn't filled with chinglish to the point of being useless.

So how have your first classes been for you guys and gals? Anything constructive get done or was it mostly just intro and question awnsering for two hours?

[velmeran]

shoot, I thought I had moved over to the Off-topic forum, could a mod please move this thread?

[tw]

My first classes are usually pretty relaxing. I answer stupid questions, show calendars and postcards that I've brought from Canada, then play a word guessing game (for first and second-year students). Next, I'll have a little discussion on a topic that's not too boring, e.g. whether boys or girls are more important and better, and finally I do some pronunciation drills (maybe with some new tongue twisters) to wrap things up.

[smalls]

I always make the first day or at least the majority of it 'getting to know each other' with different exercises/games/activities and questions and answers.
I'd always start with a one to two minute introduction of myself - with questions following it up - What was my name? What are my favorite sports/hobbies? (pretty simple stuff, would rather give them confidence/face than start off too challenging.)
After, depending on the size of the class (best with a smaller class) walking around with a roll of toilet paper, I tell each student to take some - they keep asking why, I just tell them to take some. After they have each torn off a piece, I tell them for every square they have, they must say one thing about themselves. They seem to like it, loosen-up and quickly get to know a little bit about one another.
Another game I always play is 'The Description Game' - sorry, couldn't think of a clever name - basically, I slowly describe a student in class - He is tall. He has long hair. He is sitting quietly. Students listen and guess (good for any size class) and if the students are doing well, I let one or two stand-up and describe a classmate (got to be careful, make sure nothing mean is said). Or another variation, each student writes five sentences describing themselves, the teacher collects them and then reads them out and students must guess who the student is.
I often close the class with free question - students can ask any question they want of the teacher (if they aren't asking, I use a ball or a wadded up ball of paper and toss it to students, who it hits must ask)
Good luck - I think the first day is one of the most important, your first opportunity to make a connection with your students.

[dajiang]

First classes are usually pretty good to do. the ss pay attention at least for the first hour, and the only things you should focus on is to assess their level, find out some interests, and maybe some names.

Theres good stuff on the british council website, and some of that ive copied on my humble weblog at http://eslmaniac.web-log.nl/
just click 'first classes' on the right.

i usually draw a circle and write down some numbers and words that are important in my life and have the students guess what they mean (make the questions to the answers). If they can make questions thats already pretty good. You can try to see if they know past tenses with 'dead person-X' game at the end. Just fill in the rest with pictures from home, stories from your experiences during travel and work, and questions from you to the students.

Good luck.
Dajiang