Job Discussion Forums

[theoriginalprankster]

I'm being tasked with giving workshops to the local teachers at the Chinese middle school I teach 6th graders at.

Not something that was in the job description, but I'm up for the challenge, and relish the challenge.

However, over the course of 15 one hour workshops, through the semester, I'm not quite sure exactly what to impart on them.

Some of them are freshies, some of them have been teaching for longer than me (13 years).

Suggestions please! Also, if you can suggest material I can purchase off Amazon that would be great.

Next semester only kicks off next month around the 22nd, so I have time to suck in some knowledge, and start building the framework for this 'challenge'.

[nomad soul]

[theoriginalprankster]

[nomad soul]

[theoriginalprankster]

Righto.

I will:
1. Observe classes
2. Get them to complete a survey

There is no issue with their teaching, but my company would like to 'add value' to the product we are selling them - me.

I have a CELTA, but won't be getting extra for this, and it won't be overly hard on me - I think more chatting amongst ourselves about what works and doesn't and throw in some ideas, suggestions, etc.

[bograt]

If you're being asked to do teacher training, it's going to be tough with just a CELTA and less experience than some of the teachers. Not only do you need to find out what they want but also what they already know. Nomad makes some good points. In my experience of teacher training, what they ask for again and again is practical ideas and demo lessons. I wouldn't spend too long on theory or discussions.

[nomad soul]

[spiral78]

I do similar work on a regular basis, but with university professors, so not entirely relatable.

For what it's worth, I'd consider maybe structuring your 15 1-hour sessions along the lines of 1 1-hour input followed by 1 or 2 1 hour workshop/discussion sessions per topic. Doing research for a 1-hour input shouldn't be terribly onerous, if you choose topics fairly carefully.

So, for example, something like

What are considered 'best practices' (from research, published materials, with references) in our teaching context? 1 hour input followed by 1 hour discussion (to what degree are the defined 'best practices' applied in our context? to what degree should they be - we may have better ideas for our school!) supplemented by workshop type tasks in case discussion flags.

Other useful topics might include stuff like
Materials and resources
Using technology in the classroom
Dealing with difficult situations/students (could be two separate sections when teaching kiddies - one on institution/parents, etc and one on hands-on classroom issues)

You could also have them each plan a 20-minute mini-class to deliver for feedback from you and their peers. In fact, you could do this twice; once early in the program and once near the end. It's a good way to firstly give input on what they do well and what they could possibly improve, then to track progress. In a collegial situation, most practicing teachers usually enjoy getting ideas and feedback from their colleagues. So long as it's clear that there is no rating connected to the exercise, of course. I usually emphasize that each teacher has his or her own style and experience (we wouldn't want cookie-cutter teachers after all!).

I've always found teachers to be pretty open to discussion of what is, after all, an activity which occupies a great deal of our time, energy, and thought.
I think the notion of a 15-hour opportunity to have this type of conversation is great, though it does need some structuring and planning, as nomad notes above.

[theoriginalprankster]

Great replies! Thanks very much! Looks like I might be doing some work on my vacation though

[Tudor]

There's a Cambridge book called "Teacher Training Essentials" which contains 30 ready-made workshops covering Classroom methodology, Developing language awareness and Background to teaching. Each workshop is 60-75 minutes long, but they're all adaptable.

I doubt you'll find anything else that's as "ready to go" as this book providing you can get hold of a copy where you are.

[SH_Panda]

Are you supposed to be doing workshops on teaching, or are you supposed to be teaching them English?

[MotherF]

I do similiar work with similiar teachers, but in Mexico. Some have excellent English and that's how they got their job, but have little or no idea about teaching methodology. Other's have higher degrees in education but can barely speak English. So, we generally do model lessons, where you teach a lesson which serves as both an example of methodology and serves the purpose of an English lesson for those who have little or no English. If you have one hour, I'd start with what do you know session for 15 minutes give 30 minute model, then 15 minutes on what they thought about it what other ideas they have. That way you give space for them to share their, in some cases, ample experience with each other.

Also, if they are like teachers in other parts of the world, what they most need is practice speaking and building their confidence in their speaking, possibly some pronunciation pointers.

[theoriginalprankster]

[santi84]

This is a nice podcast about beginning/ending class strategies (four minutes).

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/brian-sztabnik-beginning-ending-class/

[MENA_chica]

Santi84, that podcast was so refreshing and informative! Thanks for sharing. OP, I don't have anything to add, but I'd like to wish you all the best.