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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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 Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:45 am Post subject: My first full class. |
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| Went very well. I had fun. It's a very small class so I clustered the students into a small circle. Some of the students couldn't seem to get the idea that they weren't supposed to be sitting in rows behind desks but I solved that problem by getting them up and moving a bit. The #1 issue I need to get around is that they are shy (I think worried that they will make a mistake and appear foolish in front of their peers) I have enlisted the aid of the more outgoing students to try and encourage their peers but what tips do people have for getting students out of their shells? |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:05 am Post subject: Re: My first full class. |
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| SimonM wrote: |
| but what tips do people have for getting students out of their shells? |
Get them to do small group activities, or get the whole class to do non-speaking warm-up activities to build up the shy students' confidence. |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:17 am Post subject: |
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| Cool, thanks! |
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amandabarrick
Joined: 30 Dec 2004
Posts: 391
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:55 am Post subject: |
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What you may be referring to when you mention (I think worried that they will make a mistake and appear foolish in front of their peers) is what is called the affective filter. Their are whole books written on how to lower affect in the classroom, get students out of their shell, and get them openly participating in class. One of my favorites is by Richard-Amato titled 'Making It Happen: Interaction in the Second Language Classroom: From Theory to Practice.' While it covers several topics on Interaction in the classroom, her ideas on lowering affect are very effective. While it wouldn't be possible to go into all the aspects of this topic, a few she mentions are:
1-Using the TPR approach
2-The Silent Method
If students are shy to speak, starting with something that does not require them to speak is a great way to open them up to speaking and building their confidence.
Another great article on the subject can be found at http://faculty.weber.edu/tmathews/articles/negaff.htm
Good luck,
AB |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info! I'm going to read that link right now. |
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mlalahoi
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 54
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| Great link Amanda, thanks! |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah good link. I'm slightly concerned about the time frame though. This is a summer conversation class and only goes on for two months! I can hardly spend three doing silent activities. However it was a generally good article, thanks!! |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| SimonM wrote: |
| Yeah good link. I'm slightly concerned about the time frame though. This is a summer conversation class and only goes on for two months! I can hardly spend three doing silent activities. However it was a generally good article, thanks!! |
Are you free to do whateevr with your students, or is there a textbook you have to follow and use? How are the classes now? Did you try getting them to do group work and silent activities? |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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No text book. I prefer small group work (2-3 people) and discussion circles for activities. Class is about 75% conversation so not too many silent activities; I want them talking!!!  |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| SimonM wrote: |
| No text book. I prefer small group work (2-3 people) and discussion circles for activities. Class is about 75% conversation so not too many silent activities; I want them talking!!! |
Oh the silent activities is to wake them up in the morning if they appear sleepy.
How many students in a class? You can go 4 or 5 students in a group if you have a lot of students like 40 or 50 so you don't have too many groups you have to monitor. |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:54 am Post subject: |
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The first class 15.
The second class 5 (two new).
The third class 5 (two new).
I think time of day is a serious issue but also the first class was very basic (I had been told nothing about their relative English levels and most of the clas was assessing where to start them) and my liason says that some of them claimed it was "too easy" as their reason for not coming back. Now there are two students from the first class who are still coming. One was the most able english speaker in the class from the beginning and the other has improved in leaps and bounds in three days just by having a chance to practice his conversation so I smell an excuse to stay in bed a bit later on Summer hollidays. 
I'm fine with teaching a small class but I hope that the numbers go up a little bit (mabey back towards 15) just so that the college doesn't take a loss on employing me this month. Also the material in the class is getting more complicated by the day as I get my students used to talking in English and so if some students really DID chose to not come back after the first day because it was "too easy" they are doing themselves a disservice. |
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tw
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 3898
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| SimonM wrote: |
| I think time of day is a serious issue but also the first class was very basic (I had been told nothing about their relative English levels and most of the clas was assessing where to start them) and my liason says that some of them claimed it was "too easy" as their reason for not coming back. |
I assume you have kids of all ages, or are they all about the same age? That age difference can make a big difference when it comes to English proficiency. Since you are the only FT in Lishi now, I can only assume that the program has only one class of students? That can be hard because the more advanced (and probably older) students would be at the stage where they don't think they are learning anything new or improving much anymore and will lose interest in a fairly short time.
| Quote: |
| Now there are two students from the first class who are still coming. One was the most able english speaker in the class from the beginning and the other has improved in leaps and bounds in three days just by having a chance to practice his conversation so I smell an excuse to stay in bed a bit later on Summer hollidays. |
I love those students whose English are good and they still want to improve! The ones with self-discipline, self-motivation, and self-determination are always a joy to teach. Sounds like the leap-and-bound student has finally found his/her confidence and courage. Good for him/her! Maybe it's because he/she no longer feels intimidated now that class size has reduced dramatically and he/she has familiarized him/herself with you and the other student.
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| I'm fine with teaching a small class but I hope that the numbers go up a little bit (mabey back towards 15) just so that the college doesn't take a loss on employing me this month. Also the material in the class is getting more complicated by the day as I get my students used to talking in English and so if some students really DID chose to not come back after the first day because it was "too easy" they are doing themselves a disservice. |
Don't worry about the class size. Focus on your lessons and let the college worry about bringing in the students. It's not your fault if they don't come back. Obviously you are doing alright. Otherwise, how would you possibly still have students from the first class right? You have two gems there. Chinese students LOVE it when you compliment their effort.
Keep up the good work! |
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SimonM
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1835
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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My kids in this class are all middle school students, 14 to 17 year olds.
And I provide LOTS of positive reinforcement.  |
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