Job Discussion Forums

[pspring]

I will try posting this question again in hopes I will get an answer rather than references to teaching materials and questions I should ask the employer. I know where to get materials, and have asked questions.

I have applied to several summer camps in Europe for ESL teaching positions. I was interviewed by one recently. They provide no curriculum, books or other guidelines indicating what or how they want one to teach. They provide unlimited access to their resources room and photocopy machines. The age groups are children and teens, and the level of proficiency is beginner to advanced.

My question: Is this lack of materials and vague format the norm for summer camps in Europe or not? There is a contract, so presumably one could not be fired for not meeting their expectations
(what expectations?).

Pat

[spiral78]

Pat, have pm'd you.

[Kootvela]

Hello there.

I've done only one summer camp and that will be enough to last my lifetime. But this is what I can tell: don't expect to TEACH. Kids go there because their parents make them to and NOT because they want to learn English. Also, summer camps tend to be based on some theme, mine was 'Midsummer Daydreams', and we tried to select the material for the topics of summer. Make sure they have a photocopier in the camp and you can make copies or you just copy a lot of neutral material- wordsearches, grammar exercises with past simple (you can never go wrong there), readers, etc. Also, take stuff for project work and make posters. This should do.

[Anda]

Summer camps nearly everywhere in ESL teaching are a money game. Most students are in classes because of parents. In general about 20% want to learn.

You have time now so prepare. I have about two years of teaching material on SD (Secure Digital) Memory Cards and USB sticks. I only have to get on a computer and download and photo copy then hand out. I mainly use conversational scripts and short stories. The scripts I can have students do pair work on. I do conversations on the board with students also. There are lots that you can do. There is a ton of stuff on the Net.

With young kids I use DVDs and use the pause function on the hand control to create flash cards so to speak. With more advanced students you can use a segment of movie to ask questions on.

The expectations of these types of places are that you keep your students entertained and happy.

If you are boring then your students will complain that they want value for money and the management will demand that you make your students happy. So is life.

[Kootvela]

Yes, DVDs and Videos are a good idea. That keeps them engaged for a good load of time and prevent from driving you up the wall.