Job Discussion Forums

[askiptochina]

This is the opposite problem I am having with large classes of 45 students (if you followed my other thread).

In a few classes, 1 in particular, students are independent enough to decide what to follow and what not to follow to get "the grade" in my class. So, I don't enforce rules as much until I see problems. Today, these students chose not to take notes and only missed one review question (they thought Squanto was King Philips). 95%, not bad for a group where I rushed through the lesson to show them a movie. It wasn't just 1 student either, like many of the other classes, 5-10 would say the answer together.

So, the problem then is I don't know what to do to challenge them. This class is the top 10th grade class. In the top 11th grade classes, I took down the names of the best students and gave them some independent study work. None of them were thrilled to receive it, so I didn't push it with them.

Would you recommend these students get in front of the class and give presentations? Should they spend time reading something on the screen which is at a higher level and then talk about it?

One thing they don't seem to do is make decisions together as a group. So, I wonder how debating would work. If they were to debate, should they pick one topic to debate the entire hour or should I give them 5-10 topics to give a smaller debate on? In these cases, they probably have a position to defend, but they won't know the English. How do you overcome this issue?

I can pretty much guarantee any homework assignment I give will not be done. These students know it is a speaking class and I can understand their position on this.

[Non Sequitur]

I assess twice a semester using role plays.
Students choose who they role play with but max is 3.
They choose from say 3 topics* - one male oriented, one female and one neutral.
Random order. The mid semester episode is in front of class. Final is to me alone.
* Three topics could be
'Will you help me buy a new winter coat'
'Let's play basketball after class'
'How are you settling into University life?'
In the normal classes I get them doing those textbook dialogues for the first 45 mins and then we have a speaking game later with maybe a word race if there's 5 mins left.
Always have a song.
On role play days students can leave once they're done but most hang around to hoot at their mates. At finals time I am impressed with the originality of most of the teams. Keeps me coming back.
One team of two girls I remember played 6 parts between them.

[askiptochina]

[Ariadne]

Divide them into teams (count off so you mix up the players) and give each team a name. Keep score on the board. My university students get wild when we have any kind of competition. They want to win. Make sure that everyone has a turn and everyone participates. After you've done it a few times it only takes a short time to organize. Games can be a good way to shake things up.

Another idea for a quick game is to have the teams write their answers on the board. Which team can write the most things that use electricity? Which team can name the most animals that live in water? Etc. On this one the teams will most definitely try to steal from each other, so you can have them write on paper before putting the words on the board. Or not. It's fun either way.

.

[Non Sequitur]

The difference between a 'game' and an 'activity' can be moot.
It's years since I had anything other than a bolted down desk situation so that cramps games right there.
In summary, for the song I have a ghetto blaster which I leave in the downstairs janitors office between classes. We have a/v equipment but it frequently isn't operating.
I use simple constant beat stuff - Brit pop like Beatles Love Love Me Do.
I have the song lyrics on paper and generally they will last a semester or two. Maybe teach a new song 2 or 3 times a semester.
Word race is two equal teams in the seat aisles. Just getting them to number off is a hoot. Then I uncover a word on the board and each team must add a word that starts with the last letter of the prev word. ie the series could start with nice which becomes easy which becomes yellow.
I like to have my classes go off to lunch feeling good even if a lot of the lesson has been pretty slow going.
Actual games are stuff I've developed over the years and have the resources for. Mainly pairing games and I have a signs of the Zodiac activity which birth year Chinese find interesting.