Job Discussion Forums

[tatterdemalion]

Okay, so I just signed to go over and teach Oral English at a technical college in Eastern China. Wheeeee! I'm going to start in a couple of weeks.

I have a degree in Creative Writing -- and a lot of familiarity and comfort with English as a whole, British and American both -- and a wee itty bit of teaching experience -- but no TEFL-specific experience.

So I'm wondering -- what curriculum books do you recommend I brush up on for this type of a posting?

I'd especially like recommendations from people who've taught this type of class at this type of school (or know about what I'm getting into from the general grapevine.)

I'm hoping to tutor written English in my off-hours, also. How would I go about letting students know that I'm available for this sort of thing?

[naturegirl321]

There's lots of people who can help you on the China forums.

But, really quickly. Look for Jeremy Harmer or Penny Ur books at the library. Or just search for TEFL books.

In China, they prefer the older methods. Like Translating a text from Chinese to English. Or choral drills (I say, you repeat)

People, even those on the street or in the bank, everywhere, will approach you to ask for private classes. Don't worry about getting privates.

[Shimmeringstar]

I'm teaching oral communication and conversational English at a college in Japan. The level of your students will help determine what sort of materials you want to be looking at and preparing for. Do you know what sort of texts they are using at the school? I have found the English Firsthand books by Longman to be pretty good. Also, there's a lot of things you'll probably want to do with the students that does not involve a textbook. After all, if it's a communication class, they shouldn't be doing a lot of bookwork. However, if the text is something like Longman's, there are plenty of oral activities in the book. Let me know if you need any activity ideas, etc. Good luck!

[tatterdemalion]

Thanks very much.

I tried to find out more about the curriculum from the person in charge of hiring me, but the answer was confusing, and I didn't want to sound terribly demanding before I even met her; so I'm figuring there will be some curriculum I'm expected to adhere to, but also that I should come well stocked with backup methods.

*writes down suggestions*

I'm not nearly as worried about how to go about tutoring written English as I am about how I will teach the conversation classes -- I've given a fair amount of writing help in my life, to people at levels ranging from "cognitively troubled preteen" to "semi-pro science fiction writer," though I'm sure my basic strategies will need cultural adjustment.