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bailemos · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Japan

Im teaching some `Communication` classes at a couple of girls` junior high schools. Many of the students are not so academic or interested/motivated to learn English, although some are.

The purpose of the classes is to develop the students` communication skills .. - Any ideas or suggestions on topics or teaching approaches would be very welcome !! Very Happy

flyingkiwi · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:05 am Post subject:

Incorporate anything to do with popular culture. Think about what they are interested in and try to put it into your english lessons.

I have to teach my high school kids out of the textbook. The current chapter is "Wheelchair travel", another chapter is "Garbage Disposal". I mean, FFS!!!

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:03 am Post subject:

Wheelchair travel? That's how they'll soon be travelling if they continue doing that futarinori thing (or whatever it's called) on their bicycles. Garbage disposal? I could say something incredibly crass, but I'll be good for once.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

An entire class of one gender, the same age? It couldn't be easier...

- Find a bunch of material about junior and senior high school girls in Western countries and make comparisons. Compare and contrast the lifestyles of Japanese school girls and school girls from English speaking countries.

- Have them present their favorite music and talk about why they like it.

- Look at anything that has to do with female pop-culture in any Western country, and have them do a comparison with Japan. You can break them into groups and assign them specific areas of interest - Music, fashion, movies, cliques, etc.

- Assign them homework to find interesting survey results online (yomiuri news, goo research, livedoor research, etc), translate the results into English, and present their findings in front of the class. Further expansion - Have them interpret the results themselves.
Here's an example of a couple that I did for fun on my own.

If you need more ideas, just make a questionnaire asking what kinds of things each person is interested in, and compile topics from that.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject:

Ask them what they think of HAADO GEI Cool

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

You have to get that guy off your mind! And you mind....

Girls are easier to teach, cosmetics, fashion, Disney, etc.. easy topics to do. I used top teach at an all girls' college, and I miss it.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Did someone say 'high school girls'? Very Happy

Oh JUNIOR high school girls.

Never mind.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

nonsmoker · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject:

Betty Lou Jones · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

wabisabi365 · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 111 Location: japan

A lesson that has been a lot of fun for the students (and me, for that matter) is talking about astrology (Western star signs/Chinese animals) as well as blood types. I write down simple adjectives that describe each Western star sign on the board (without mentioning dates or signs). The students can pair up and choose the adjectives that best describe their partner's personality. We then go over the names of the signs and the birthdays that go with each girl's birth sign. They really enjoy it.

I then turn the lesson over to them, telling them I'm unfamiliar with the Chinese zodiac (or blood types). The students then explain to me the different adjectives that go with each and we try to guess everyone's type. It's a fun lesson and has never let me down (for all ages... I've used it from age ten/eleven right up to uni students. Admittedly, it's the girls who are the most interested.

Have fun with your class!

ws365