Job Discussion Forums

[waxwing]

Hi,
I've been assigned to help out with some sessions later in the summer, helping our classroom teachers with their English.

Our school uses English as medium of instruction, but these teachers teach a number of subjects, mostly maths, science and economics/business.

Apart from occasional tutoring, I haven't myself done much English teaching over the last few years, so I'm a bit rusty (I'm a subject teacher nowadays).

I was wondering if you had any suggestions for lively activities that would help specifically with the kind of skills these teachers will need. They all speak moderate to good English, but are generally rather scared of delivering subject content in the classroom in English.

So far I've decided on "mini-teaching" sessions with feedback as one major activity. I also want to focus on question and answer skills but I don't have good ideas yet on activities to "get them involved". Any suggestions, especially from people who've done this kind of thing before, would be welcome.

Oh, PS this is in China for what that's worth.

[spiral78]

I have taught teachers both in Canada and Europe.
One tool I've found works well is if they plan in pairs and then teach a short lesson (15 minutes or so) on something not academic, so that the focus is on the language they need to deliver a lesson rather than content.

Some topics I've had in the past
how to cook some dish
how to use an intactive whiteboard
how to use an ipad
how to sell a house
how to use the coffeemaker

There should be some outcome by the 'students' - a 'test' to show how well they were able to follow the lesson.

The last part of the cycle is to analyse the lessons on lots of levels (but you need to agree which levels 'students' should notice and report on at the end in advance):

language for sequencing/processes/describing
language for checking understanding/giving feedback/involving students in the lesson

etc, etc....general English also comes in, of course

I've got some models on cd to get them started, and this gives me a way to help focus them on different language sets needed to deliver effective lessons. We can also focus on stuff like pronunciation and delivery - slow enough/repeating or restating main points as needed/summarising information/checking for understanding by students.

It's my idea of fun

[Glenski]

1. Observe one of their classes. See where they are weak in English or in presentation style.

2. Survey them. Ask specific questions about how they perceive they are weak in teaching with English.

3. Get them together to brainstorm common weak points and their own ideas of how to resolve them.

4. Do what you think is best after all the data above is collected. That, of course, also means determining just what they NEED to teach in English and the level of the students who will be on the receiving end.

[waxwing]