Job Discussion Forums

[stevehamlyn87]

I am about to start teaching for the first time in Madrid and I have noticed almost all the classes I've been offered are stated as specific 'conversation' classes with a small number of students (1-5). I was wondering what exactly these types of classes consist of and how they differ from normal general English classes (I'm guessing there is less emphasis on grammar and vocabulary and more focus on fluency/accuracy?), and also any resources anyone knows of in regards to these types of classes, i.e. any good activities, worksheets, topics, etc. Thanks in advance.

[stevehamlyn87]

58 views no replies? Surely someone knows some good websites/resources for conversation classes?

[spiral78]

Ok, I have never taught in Madrid, but I can tell you a little bit about what 'conversation' classes usually are in the greater European region in my experience.

It usually means that the students are fairly high-level; at least intermediate, and they want to 'practice.' This basically means that until you've got to know them, it's best not to try to predict what grammar or vocabulary they might need you to highlight.

In my experience, such students are usually co-workers and may be interested in 'conversation' in their field of business. I've successfully used short internet or newspaper articles that relate to the students' business as a basis for conversation and vocabulary and grammar analysis.

Usually I would not try to predict what such students would need before meeting them. First lesson I normally let them tell me what they want to focus on, and go from there.

I suggest you might also post this in the Spain forum if you haven't already. It may be the 'conversation' classes are also applied to children/teenagers in Spain, which is outside my experience.

[Glenski]

Here in Japan, the student levels and attitudes toward conversation classes are different than what spiral has described for Europe. Here, students are kids whose parents want them to be better despite the kids' wishes to add to their already heavy after-school studying, bored housewives who just want to pick up a few phrases for traveling purposes (or to snare a teacher, or just to do something to get out of the house once a week), retirees who need a hobby but nothing serious, and businesspeople who falsely believe that once a week classes will miraculously raise their TOEIC scores so they can get promotions or overseas assignments. Most HS graduates here have had 6 years of English classes, but they are not focused on any sort of oral communication skills, so the conversation school market for them relies on reviewing what they were supposed to have learned (but didn't), and on the "edutainment" nature of presenting lessons.

I strongly suggest you post in a different forum to get more country-specific replies.

[LongShiKong]

Just the term 'conversation class' should sound an alarm bell. Is it an unstructured English Corner with a foreigner present or lessons on conversational skills. If it's a class, there should be some learning happening.

[spiral78]

Guys. The OP is going to Spain, and it's a whole different world than what you call 'conversation classes' in Asia.

[riverboat]

In my experience in France, "conversation class" usually suggests fairly high-level learners who want speaking practice. Vocabulary (especially useful idioms and fixed expressions) and pronunciation are often of interest too. Grammar is usually a low priority, except on an error-correction basis.

I'd definitely want to know what sort of context the students want to focus on, and their interests - like do they want to stick to professional subjects, ado they want to talk about things in the news, are they OK to discuss things related to their life etc.

As for materials, articles are always good, and any type of questionnaire that quizzes opinion http://iteslj.org/questions/ is good for that. Depending on the learner, "information gap" activities can work well too (especially those that require description, like half-a-crossword or Taboo type activities).

Anyway, this is only true of my experience, but I'd guess that things are fairly similar next door...