Job Discussion Forums

[smellymelly]

does anyone have any easy/interesting/fun ideas to make class more exciting. my classes are 2 periods long so i intend to teach a lesson the first half and then i want to do some fun things...but I am not creative at all!

[suanlatudousi]

Check the Dave's Links at the top of your screen - e.g. Stuff For Teachers

[roadwalker]

http://www.eslcafe.com/idea/index.cgi?Games

I agree with suanlatudousi, there are lots of good ideas in the idea cookbook. Not all will match your class, but some will. In general, not being creative myself, I let my students be creative. I write out broad situations and give them to my students, already divided into groups. They have to figure out a skit and then perform it in front of the class. Some are horrified at the prospect and others are natural hams. Be sure to have a pen and pad ready to note the worst mistakes for correction after performance.

Chinese students don't have a lot of experience in the world, so try to keep the situations within their world view and maybe just outside of it. A news broadcast is good for a class or two. Family issues, dating, cars, sports, celebrities, music, crime, all tend to make decent skits. Oh and doctor dramas.

[Hansen]

Flash cards work well in my class. One provides a problem, the other an answer. Pass them out to the class and then they must find the matching card. Can be used for vocabulary, grammar, and so forth.

[Sonnibarger]

what age are the students?... 1 thing i do for a break is.... talk about mp3, mp4... then break students into groups... have them design an MP15... have them describe function, draw a picture, price, advert, ect... simple no prep and most kids will love it... i usually design one myself..

[LongShiKong]

When it comes to problem solving, I've always thought of creativity as a thought process rather than some innate skill. If you start with the objective clearly in mind and work backwards, you'll come up with solutions more easily. I find keeping in mind students' Background, Interests, Goals (BIG) is useful when conceiving of classroom activities that'll stimulate your students--regardless of age, level or attitude.

[Babala]

What age do you teach?

[platinum peyote]

Well, these days a lot of my students are into what they call 'yellow books' and 'A pian' so maybe start off by telling them that your hobbies are reading yellow books and watching A pian, and I can almost guarantee they will be highly receptive and attentive, and might even start initiating conversations, too.

All the best, and good luck with education our future leaders!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I like to use what I call "Mix & Mingle" every now and then.

Basically, give each student a piece of paper and tell them to write down 3 things that they like or think about the topic you covered before the break and then pass them out to a different student, have them stand up and find their paper. "Hi, my name is Bob. What's your name? (make some small talk) and then ask a question - "Do you like to ...?" If not, move on and talk to someone else until you find your paper.

Then, ask a few students to tell the class whose paper they had and what they wrote. Today, one guy wrote that he liked girls and making love, which is what I wish I was doing now!

Encourage them to be loud is my motto.

[Revenant]

Derailing posts and posts lacking civility have been removed.