Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Unposter]

There has been a lot of discussion lately about credentials. Obviously, credentials are pretty clear way to demonstrate your committment to the field and to demonstrate what skills you bring to the classroom, especially if you do not have any or much work experience. But, what should you do now that you are here, in the classroom, and looking for ways to be a better teacher or you are new to the field and you are not sure if you want to invest in a lot of fancy paper?

So, I thought we could start a new thread about how to become a better teacher without having to run out and get a CELTA, or a TEFL or a TESL degree.

I don't have anything to offer that is paticularly earth shattering or clever or anything that most long termers don't already know. But since so many people are concerned about credentials I thought I would make these obvious observations.

The first thing I would recommend is use the internet. I'd say everything you have ever wanted to know about teaching English can be found on the internet. Just google it. Theory - its there. Games - tons of them. Grammar questions? There are more sites than I can count to. Spend a little time cruising the sites and you'll be a bonafide expert just like if you had a Ph.D. And, most of it is written in plain English that anyone could understand.

The second thing I would suggest is to join a teacher's organization such as KOTESOL or KATE. They are not that expensive and most meeting are free and open to the public. They really do offer all sorts of tips and ideas. And, if nothing else, just being around other interested teachers will keep you motivated and less isolated.

As for the classroom itself:

The first thing is to be energetic. They may not understand what you say but they can feel your energy.

The second thing is to care. Care about the lesson and care about the students. Students are much more aware than you might think. If they don't think you care, they surely won't either.

The third thing is vary your activities and break each class into short segments. You think we suffer from being part of the MTV generation? You try to concentrate on a foreign language for a long time. It is not easy, especially for young learners. By all means keep a unified learning objective in your class, but vary the activities within the class to keep the students fresh and interested.

The fourth thing is stay positive. Not every class will be a gem. Not every student, even your best, will be at the top of their game every day. Even superstar athletes have a bad game every once in awhile. The idea is to shake it off, look for ways to do better if that is what is necessary, and remember tomorrow is another day.

If the boss complains or makes a suggestion, nod your head, say yes, and then ask yourself is this really a problem. If you can honestly say it is not don't worry about it and just keep your head down and do your best.

Find ways to relax and blow off steam. If your personal life is not satisfactory, it can effect your teaching no matter how disciplined you are. Now, life is not always perfect. But, you can do things to lessen your stress. Do them.

In the end, teaching does not have to be that difficult. What really matters is what you bring to the classroom and your ability to relate it to the culture of your students. Your degree really doesn't matter. Your heart, your sensitivity, your desire to do a good job, your willingness to improve (and for you cynical types your appearance and your clown skills) are what really matter.

As most books on teaching are hundreds of pages. And, since there are an awful lot of them out there (publish or perish?), there must be an awful lot that I have not mentioned. So, please feel free to add:

[faster]

I'll add one:

Learn the difference between affect and effect

(I keed, I keed -- your list is great!)

[the_beaver]

Yes to everything to said, but those are just some examples of things that a teacher who is trying to improve might do.

- Every time you plan a lesson you ask yourself what you could do better.
- Every time you teach you ask yourself what could have gone better.
- Have discussions about teaching with other teachers and mine for ideas.
- Read as much theory as possible with the realization that people who say "it's just theory" aren't trying to stretch themselves and see possibilities. For theory I'd say read everything, but focus on learner motivation and learner autonomy because motivation is the greatest indicator of success is a second language and autonomous are the most likely to learn -- all the other theory is sauce on those two ideas.
- Have a personal connection to the students.

[ajuma]

Be prepared for class. Don't just take a quick glance at the book. If you've been teaching the same material for a long time, look for a different approach. This will keep you from getting stale.

Do all of the gap-fills and exercises yourself before class (particularly with older/adult students). Be sure you can explain WHY something is correct or incorrect. "Because it sounds funny" isn't a grammar rule.

Make a lesson plan. Know what objectives you're trying to get across and incorporate past objectives in your current lesson.

[ddeubel]

I made this recently for a teacher training presentation. Some of my suggestions. Also look at all the prof. development materials available online free. I've made a folder of the best for download.....go to www.ddd.batcave.net

http://www.esnips.com/doc/b2035cda-f348-4a40-9abc-f5d40320b1ec/HOW-TO-BE-AN-EFFECTIVE-EFL-TEACHER

Also become a member of a community that offers really forthright and up to date ideas (yes, teaching changes, thought some things stay the same.).

Ajuma,

My advice would be don't complete the gap - fills and exercises in class EVER. Unless it is required for you to keep your job. That should be done outside of class time for students to reinforce learning. Use your time carefully -- you are a valuable resource. The book can do this....

DD

[ajuma]

[bosintang]

Great advice here. I'd also recommend anyone with no teaching experience working in public middle schools take their silly Middle School English textbooks home some boring Saturday afternoon, plop themselves in an ESL section of a bookstore and flip through professional books like "Let's GO" and "Side by Side" to get a feel for how how they would approach a lesson. It's a start.

[Snowmeow]

I'm curious about what secret information is taught in a CERTA course that makes being a certificate holder so much more highly regarded.

What books? What info? Spill the beans

[Woden]

[ddeubel]

ddeubel

This is true, but when going over the homework, you'd better know all of the answers, and why things are incorrect!! "Just because" only goes so far!

[icnelly]

Supplementation

Teaching communication does not always bring about the desired effect; kids can learn how to say, "what's this?", but not understand some other functional chunk, so how about trying to foster development through supplementing the functional with some grammar awareness through listening (intonation and questions, intionation and statements, listening for wh- fronting, etc). Not traditional grammar translation, or gap fill wksht bullshit, but activities. Also, develop ways for the Ss to start asking and answering questions that they've created (not from the book): I've set up question time activities, and made some .ppts for noticing question formats, sentence formats, that then lead into activities/games.

How about DEAR (drop everthing and read). I follow the book, but I also make sure to supplement it with things. Set DEAR up for before classtime, after classtime, lunchtime, after school times. For elementary levels (where I'm at), I've been teaching the Dolce sightwords to prepare the students for reading primers, dolce sightword books, etc. I don't know how well this will work cuz I haven't gotten books yet, but I'm thinking it will help the students tremendously: reading fluency and enjoyment I think will make up for the lack of scope in the book.

http://www.havasu.k12.az.us/oro-grande/dminer/Dolce_Word_List.html

http://ndreadon.utma.com/dolchwordpage.htm

[angelgirl]

Or you could try a really radical approach. Join a professional teachers' association. KOTESOL for example
www.koesol.org
They are having an International Confernece in October.