Job Discussion Forums

[tomnewcombe]

Hi just after some advice. I have never taught before and i recently just completed my CELTA course gained the qualification applied for a few jobs and got one pretty quick in Vietnam working for ILA. I am very excited about it but i'm absolutely scared about my level of grammar.
It has never been one of my strong points. I've got the next 2 weeks to get some revision in but not sure if this will be enough.

What will it be like when i first go over, will they just realise i'm not brilliant at teaching higher/intermediate classes and sack me and will i just get constantly observed because my teaching will be a poor standard.

I'm very worried about it now so just after some advice on what to expect and how to address this issue.

Thanks in advance

Tom

[Sashadroogie]

The only way to address this issue is the same way countless other first-time teachers have. Hit the books. Read up on the grammar section of whatever course book the students will be using. Buy a grammar reference book - Murphy's or Vince's are quite good for teachers as well as students.

But in any case, I think you misunderstand what is expected of you. Two weeks will not be enough to know all you need to know about grammar or the teaching of it. It is rarely the strong point of most native English speaking CELTA trainees either. Your DOS at ILA should know this and will probably view you as still being a trainee. Therefore, your observations will most likely be a great boon to you to help you understand deeper how to put your CELTA training to real use. They are not a punishment because of your 'poor standard' of teaching. They are supposed to develop you as a teacher. Listen to what feedback you get. Discuss it. Reflect on it.

This is of course how things will work out ideally. Everywhere is different and I don't know much about ILA Vietnam. But they have a CELTA and DELTA training centre, don't they? I cannot see things being radically different for you than any other new teacher fresh off the CELTA.

Relax. Everyone goes through this. You'll go and get through this too.

Best of luck.

[TeresaLopez]

I highly recommend Cambridge University Press' "English Grammar In Use", both for yourself, and as a teaching aid. It is presented in a very logical manner, each unit is devoted to one topic, then offers exercises to check your understanding. It is meant to be a self-study guide, and has the answers in the back (if you use this with your students don't tell them this), and you can also purchase it with a CD with further practice, it is also self-checking. But anyway, you won't learn grammar overnight, and really, you only need to be 10 pages ahead of your students. Perhaps your weakness in grammar will actually be an advantage, having recently reviewed it yourself might give you insight into what your students might also struggle with.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[Isla Guapa]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

My sincerest apologies to any of your grammar/publishing gods that I have offended with MY opinion!

Sheesh!!!

NCTBA

[Isla Guapa]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

If you're talking about Murphy's Basic Grammar in Use and Grammar in Use Intermediate, both my students and I find them extremely helpful and not arcane at all. On the contrary, I find that a lot of the usage rules and examples reflect the way the language is used in real life and not the way many grammar books tell you it's used. Remember that they come in two versions, North American and British, so be sure to get the ones that reflect the variety of English you'll be teaching.

There, I fixed it for ya...

NCTBA

[naturegirl321]

Go to the back of the student's book. There's usually a simplified grammar section. Study and learn that. Pretty soon you'll be great at grammar.

[nickpellatt]

Ill second the posts saying dont worry!

I would make the teachers book (as opposed to reference books) your best friend. Most course material introduces single grammar points within the material, often with a guide for students to understand how to use it, and the rules to construct it, within the context of the material and the exercise.

Teachers books often add more information with ideas and instruction on how to introduce the grammar point within a context too! This (I feel) is the key to learning grammar. Teachers book also point out the typical mistakes students make, and the questions they may ask....invaluable IMO, and a really good way to learning grammar points.

I would NOT recommend reference books as an especially useful too when teachers books are normally readily available...they often lack the all important context that I feel makes understanding easier. My grammar is also a bit pants, but when I have taught something from a book with a grammar point, I have used the teachers book quite diligently, and the knowledge then kinda sticks. The cold, black and white approach of reference books doesnt really work for me, and even when it does ... I end up thinking 'OK, great ... but how the heck does that relate to what my students need'.

[spiral78]

Nick, I agree - in the case that one is using a coursebook! But keep in mind that they aren't always used by schools, and in that case, the grammar reference books are priceless.

Also, have you checked out Murphy's? I agree with earlier posters that it's relatively 'warm' and 'fuzzy.'

[Sashadroogie]

Warm and Fuzzy, like a great Russian bear.

Actually, my most treasured possession is my signed hard-backed edition of Raymond's current Blue. Got it at the IATEFL in Liverpool some years back. Magic!

[spiral78]

Wow, a blue one signed by Raymond....that's pretty cool.


Here in Calgary, I've got a colleague who knows/knew Betty Azar.







Far less cool, IMO.






Although I have to thank Ms. Azar for her fish tense review - I've found it quite useful to help students focus on the grammatical forms and context for review of tenses. Thanks for the fish, Betty.

[Sashadroogie]

Who is this Batty Azar?

[Sashadroogie]

Or even Betty?