Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JFuller317]

Hoping to get some ideas here.

My school has started me on an afterschool conversation class that meets twice a week. I thought it was going to be an advanced class (that's what they told me it would be), but during the first lesson it became apparent that about half the students have a very low level of English proficiency while the other half are pretty good.

The other problem is that there are about 15 students. I'm not sure how exactly you're supposed to teach a "conversation" class that involves mostly speaking with that many students. I've tried to get them to talk to each other, asking each other questions and then writing down the answers, but the lower-level students have a problem with this.

So far I've just given them a topic each time and made them all write short paragraphs (topics include stuff like what the students did that weekend, favorite singers/actors, etc). Then each student reads his/her mini-essay, and I kind of grill each student by asking a bunch of questions based on what they say.

Anyone have any ideas for ways to change this up? I think that we'll all get pretty bored if I keep using this same formula constantly.

[Fishead soup]

I had the same problem before. Put them in different groups with 3 different sets of materials. This is what I used

Low level- Word finds, Cross word puzzles,(Bogglesworld) Lebel the picture body parts prepositions( from Tell Me More- Andrew Finch TESL journal)

Middle level- Simple dialogues from Side by Side with Substitution activities.

High level-Peer Dictation( Tell Me More Andrew Finch TESL journal)
Discussions- Small Group Discussion topics Jack Martire.

It might sound difficult but the most challenging thing is getting the students into thier groups and making sure they all get the correct papers.
then just circulate around the room to make sure all the students are on task.

Sometimes you can have an activity that brings the whole class together like playing 20 questions.

[JFuller317]

I don't have any books; I make all my own lessons at this school.

I'd really prefer not to do three times the work.

What kind of activities do other people do with their conversation classes?

[Fishead soup]

[sojusucks]