Job Discussion Forums

[the_otter]

I'm seeking advice. I've already searched the forum and found a lot of helpful tips, but I hope that a fresh topic will let me squeeze out a few more.

This is my first year teaching - in China or anywhere else. I've got two classes of third year university students, with about thirty-five people in each class. I like my students. They're English Majors, helpful, well-behaved and I don't want to let them down.

So far I've had them doing a lot of group work - role-plays and presentations mostly. They've had a lot of fluency practice, but I've not done much work on their accuracy, largely because I'm not sure how. There's a wide range of ability in the classes: some students have near-native fluency, others struggle to comprehend simple instructions.

I want to add more 'meat' to the lessons - to let the students walk away from every lesson feeling they've learnt something solid, like new words or collocations - but I'm don't know how to incorporate it.

ETA: Also, if anyone has any advice about teaching English Writing to first years, please share it.

[creztor]

the_otter, never taught at university but here is what I would do. While they are doing their group discussions or presentations, walk around and listen to what they are saying. Depending on the topic, you will probably hear phrases/mistakes that are common to most groups/students. Write these down and then at the end you can reflect on those areas by focusing on the correct form etc (don't single anyone out, just bring it up, ask if anyone knows the correct form and then write it on the board etc). The other thing I would do is if you know that students are weak in a specific area, say past tense as an example, then I would set a topic where they have to discuss in the past tense. About writing, I strongly suggest getting a book on how to teach writing. I am sure people here could share their own experience, but a book that explains how to teach writing will be much more useful.

[the_otter]

Thanks, creztor. Your ideas about noting the students weak areas sound very good. I'll give them a try.

The university actually provided me with a writing textbook, but it's dreadful. Does anyone have any recommendations for books about how to teach writing?

[randyj]

Otter, it sounds like you have already achieved a lot of success in your oral English classes. Third-year English majors can be a tough crowd.

I can recommend a writing textbook that has worked for me teaching practical writing to university seniors this semester. The book is titled �英语交际实用写作�。They translate this as "Reaching People Through Communication", by Zhang Shiyun （张世耘）, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press (2004), ISBN 7-81080-907-5. It costs 22�. The book concentrates on different writing purposes, like apologizing, giving instructions, accepting and refusing, etc. Each chapter contains a good writing practice and plenty of examples of letters. There are also lots of suggestions for journal writing.

I hope this helps.

[Trifaro]

I'm not quite sure that a book written/copied by a Chinese "author" is the right way to go about writing in English.

Check out Jeremy Harmer on Amazon.

[the_otter]

Thank you both for your suggestions. Because I'm in China, Zhang Shiyun's book will be easier/cheaper to get hold of, but I'll look out for Jeremy Harmer too.

[creztor]

Teaching ESL Composition. Purpose, Process, and Practice. That book may be one to consider as well.

[the_otter]

Thank you - I've just googled it, looks interesting.