Job Discussion Forums

[SH_Panda]

... with around 10 kids in a decent sized classroom (they are primary school age and I have been told their ability ranges from average to good for that age). What would you do in your first lesson? And how would you plan subsequent lessons?

I am doing an extra class for extra money, but I am expected to prepare all my own lesson plans. I'm asking for help because although I have some teaching experience, I have never had to come up with my own stuff from scratch before. By the sounds of it I basically have free reign to do whatever I want as long as I help the kids practice their conversation.

I will see the class once a week.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated

[kev7161]

If it were me, I'd get hold of their English book from which they study and build some conversations using the vocabulary they are learning. I'd find some songs to teach them and sing with them. I'd try to come up with some English-based games that match the vocabulary they are learning. You might find some current cartoons, superheroes, movies, video games, etc. that they may be into and talk about these topics. (For example: Let's spend 10 minutes talking about Spider-Man. [10 minute passes] Okay, if you could be a superhero, what kind of powers would you like? What would be your superhero name? Why did you choose that power/name? etc.)

[SH_Panda]

[Miajiayou]

After I clicked and saw it involved primary kids, whom I have zero experience with, I decided not to comment on the original post. That may be why you have a lot of views without a lot of comments.

[SH_Panda]

[dean_a_jones]

You read this thread?:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=91521

Similar topic, so maybe some people didn't post as they figured you saw their ideas on this one.

Also teach at university, so ideas for kids would simply be guesswork. Throw "ESL and kids" into Google and you will get plenty of activity ideas, as you will on stuff like the British Council 'for teachers' site and BBC. Might also try torrent sites for downloading some books on teaching, plenty out there and some will have ideas for activities.

[ArtHay]

I know this post is a few weeks old but I thought I would post a reply to see if my suggestion might be helpful to anyone in a similar situation.

Right now I teach university but prior to this I taught younger kids for five years.

I usually start a new class with the introduction game. I ask each student to stand and provide basic info about himself based on questions in a hand out or ones I've written on the board such as:

1. Name.
2. School.
3. Siblings.
4. favorite subjects.
5. Hobbies.
ETC.

I keep the other students engaged by asking them questions concerning the student who has just done the presentation.

Example "Billy what school did Jim just say he attended?" and I keep score of the hits and misses on the board.

[Non Sequitur]

While I�m a uni/vocational college teacher, I have taught language school Sat morning classes of this age group.
For 10 students type out and print large font about 50+ common English words. One word per line.
Truncate the word into two parts � some at natural spaces ie between syllables and others less obviously.
For example �Snow� could be �S _________now� �Butterfly� could be �Butter___________fly�.
Cut the words into strips and then across at the truncation.
Arrange the words in two rows across the front desks or around a large table.
The first part of the word in the top row and the second part in the bottom row if you want to make it easy.
Make sure no two parts of an individual word are anywhere adjacent to each other.
The task is for each student to locate two parts that go together to reassemble the word. Whoever has most words at the end wins.
Build in clues if you feel students need them.
This could be letting on that the piece with the Capital letter will always be the start of the word. Lower case will always be the second part.
Use different angles of cuts across words so that students can physically match word parts that they think go together. This helps the kinetic learners or less able students.
Expect student questions like �Is �Butternow� a word?' but that adds to the fun.
The game can be lengthened by adding words to the original pot but good idea to make the number divisible by the number of students so that feasibly all students can tie.
Another extension can be for each student to �present� their words to the class and use them in a sentence.
At my last Sat morning language school I had a class of just four students and they would happily work away for an hour to find up to 20 words each.
The students will chatter to each other in Chinese but don't let that worry you. Neither should you try to stop it.
Expose them to success in this encounter with English.
Very positive feedback from parents at parent/teacher interview on this one. Gets away from the static �desk bound� format. One parent said that her daughter loved the game and mentioned that 'this is the way she plays at home.'
Encourage them to take the words home to tell their families.