Job Discussion Forums

[Laura C]

Hi all,

I've just started a new part-time jobs teaching kids, and one of my classes is for returnees -- 2 brothers aged 12 and 9 who spent 5 years in the States. The first class was painful -- I tried lots of different stuff but they clearly didn't want to be there and answered everything with 'Don't know'. They won't tell me what they like, what kind of stuff they'd like to do in class (yes, I know that's up to me but I like giving the students some choice)...any ideas? Their English of course is very good, so I can't use the basic stuff I use with my other classes.

Another class is 3 nine year olds who run riot -- ideas appreciated there too please!

I've asked my boss for info on what they have been studying, but he's been really unhelpful, and the previous teacher has gone back to Oz.

Please help -- I've only taught large classes before with a JTE, and don't know what will suit this new environment.

Thanks in advance,

Laura

[Glenski]

Even being 3 years apart, their English will likely be different. I wince at having people with different levels in my classes. At least you have only 2 kids total.

I teach some returnees in high school. Yeah, they can speak much better than anyone, but they are still teens with the same language problems that you might expect from native English speakers, so focus on that.

Deal with certain slang or phrasal verbs if nothing else, but these are kids who will eventually have to face HS and college entrance exams, so even though they may know grammar, they don't know nearly the right kind to pass those horrid exams. Give it to them.

Also, consider their reading and writing skills. Learn about extensive reading programs and provide such. Use the Internet if you can to provide research opportunities to read and write, too.

Just remember that these are still kids with kids' interests, and try to incorporate them into your lessons.

An icebreaker might be for them to each write a paragraph on a topic you think they can manage, perhaps as a recap to their lives abroad. Do it IN CLASS so they can't copy. Despite their different levels, you may still be able to openly compare their work to provide feedback, especially since they are brothers.

[Akula the shark]

I taught such students as well, and didn't find it easy. I taught two boys of about the same age who had each spent about two or three years in the U.S. Both of them spoke well, but there were, understandably, plenty of gaps in their knowledge. In one class, I got out a whole lot of picture cards of animals, trees and so on. Whilst of course they knew the names of the various animals and trees, they didn't know words such as claw, paw, trunk, beak and so on. My point is that you as a teacher will need to be searching for gaps in their knowledge of English, and that these gaps may be where you may not expect them to be.

[Laura C]

Thanks guys.

L

[Celeste]

They sound about the right age to be interested in Harry Potter. I would do some story reading with them (you can read to them, have them read to you, and ask them comprehension questions). I would also look up kids educational websites for English native speaker kids. The discovery channel has all kinds of activities for kids, as do a few other educational tv channels on their web sites. www.enchantedlearning.com has a lot of interesting material that can be used for reading, writing and research activities. www.bogglesworld.com has some really cool materials for kids that age.