Job Discussion Forums

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

Let's assume that a poster, who shall remain nameless, is told to teach a 90 minute class of Uni and adult students (2 45-minute classes back to back.) Let us also say that said nameless poster arrives in the class without knowing anything about them-not their names, their levels, their backgrounds, nada (as he found out about that class only five minutes prior)- and rapidly finds out that this is their first English class EVER. There are only two people with any knowledge of English: one of the students and- I swear I am not making this up-the German roommate of another student who joins the class via mobile phone from their apartment in Germany.

What does this nameless poster do?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Said poster should take up magic and alway keep a handy rabbit in his or her hat. The present simple for example, or greetings.

Tough situation.

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Where are you teaching and what is the students' L1?

Go look in the Idea Cookbook on Dave's site. There's a wealth of material in there.

Some of my ideas on beginner lessons, context and grammar.

-Greetings
-I, you, he, she
-the verb to be
-Describing ourselves
-Simple verbs you can gesture - sit, stand, write, read
-Simple nouns you can point at - chair, desk, table, teacher
-Job titles
-the alphabet

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

I'm in Poland and their L1 is Polish. It's a Uni setting. They (the Uni folks) are very gung-ho on conversation classes and only conversation classes. As such no books or materials are provided although a library is available. It is not unusual for me to be assigned classes I know nothing about only 5 minutes in advance but this was the first time when practically nobody knew ANY English. I guess I wonder what to do on short notice- i.e. like today when I meet a class for the first time and find out that they are at the zero point. I'll check out the ida cookbook again but from what I recall most of the stuff there assumes at least some level of English.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Seems a little weird to be assigned a conversation class for students who have zero level of English. I don't see that you could do much else besides teach them some basics, then get some practice out of them.

Pollux · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 224 Location: PL

Hard to believe, indeed. Polish students at uni level not being to formulate simple sentences. Nada? I think they are playing you, and you're falling for it. Try asking each one how long they've been studying English. You might get a resposnse of 6-8 years. Don't be surprised that they know English grammar better than you do. Start out your conversation by asking anyone to tell you what is difficult about learning English. They will warm up. I think they're just shocked that someone acually asks about their view about something. They are expecting a formal lesson. Give them somethig else and they will remember you forever. Ask them to bring in an article of their choice and be prepared to talk about it. Design a debate. Do something different even if it's 'wrong.' Just a thought.

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

This was the only class I had which had almost zero English knowledge. I might have thought that they were playing but when one of them called her roomie in Germany and had the roomie translate what I was saying, I figured things have gone too far for it to be a prank. Anyhoo the Cookbook rocks!