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the oak llama
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: Grammar idiot. Lesson plan idiot. |
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Would anyone be willing to point me towards some "Here's how to make a lesson plan" resources, online or otherwise?
Would anyone be willing to point me towards some "Here's an explanation of the grammar you've been using for 20+ years and still don't understand" resources, online or otherwise?
thank you |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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For all your grammar woes:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm
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| This index includes 427 references to both the Guide to Grammar and Writing and Principles of Composition. It does not, however, include references to the interactive Quizzes or to the Grammarlogs (posted responses to ASK GRAMMAR queries). The Frequently Asked Questions page and the Guide's Search Engine will also help you find help on grammatical issues, tips on composition, and advice on English usage. |
Good luck with your lesson plans. |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have to teach grammar?
Ouch
I couldn't teach spelling or grammar if my life depended on it. It's because it's become a complete unconcious process in my mind and I don't think I'm are quite as qualified as Korean teachers to teach it.
So with that, if you DO have to teach grammar I suggest this wonderful book you can pick up at your bookstore.
http://www.aladdin.co.kr/shop/wproduct.aspx?ISBN=0521797209&partner=egloos
There is a version completely in English, if I had to score it, I'd probably be over 9000. I love it. I carry it around so if people ask me what the word order of adverbs and verbs are, I can say "it depends on the adverb..." instead of saying "Ummmm.... I don't know" |
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the oak llama
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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I have no idea if I have to teach grammar.
I thought that's what English teachers teach.
Even if I don't "need" to, I'm sure it needs to be addressed at one time or another.
I would like to have answers to questions about the thing I am supposed to know about.
Spelling I can do. Sumtimes.
Thanks for the reference both of you I will check them out. |
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icnelly
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar idiot. Lesson plan idiot. |
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| the oak llama wrote: |
| Would anyone be willing to point me towards some "Here's how to make a lesson plan" resources, online or otherwise? |
Good question! Nice to see someone taking an interesting.
This is a stock reply I have saved, so some of it may not apply. Feel free to PM for better dialogue; this info, and the links may not lift off the page right way.
As for the poster asking about lesson planning:
check this site, and this one
A good lesson plan is one that considers the students' POVs and also has a method/structure for enabling the goal. Your goal may be different then others, but obviously it will deal with some kind of language content. I think first you should take a look at some different types of lesson plans:
PPP
ESA
EIF
My Esnips page on lesson planning
I tend to think through the EIF framework but write out a general style template because I take into account REVIEW, and especially at younger levels this is very very important. REVIEW is essential and a great way to vary the classroom content: practice new activities in small portions of time that won't stress the kids or make you rely on a bad activity. Also, if you have low level students, review will be easier and more accessible for them since they've already encountered the material; most likely that will help to motivate them: there will be less fear and intimidation involved.
For motivation, I suggest finding ways to truly incorporate A/V materials, and as such use them for the language introduction. Youtube is all downloadable and easy to get. Make your own authentic videos with some students before class (that will be an endless source of motivation), and especially try to incorporate KOREA! This kids respond to their own very well.
Two other things you might want to take into consideration when planning lessons: models of information processing (bottom up and top down processing, and scaffolding and routines. Do some light research on these and see how they might affect your lesson planning, which will then have a direct affect on your Ss motivation/participation levels.
AND
All the more reason to take lesson planning seriously. Proper lessons tailored for your students will solve 90% of your discipline/management and motivation issues: really. Part of proper lesson planning takes into consideration your deficiencies and your students, so you would try and plan so a translator, or A/V wouldn't be necessary. It's difficult. I know, but I want to show you that these are the things you might want to take into consideration.
There have been alot of threads on this lately, so if you're up for some studying then I'll give you what I've got:
Check my esnips page here for ideas and templates on lesson planning. You should look into PPP, ESA, and the EIF. I love EIF because it has a frame that is centered towards successful student achievement and not just note taking. Also take a look at the American TESOL one because it incorporates review right into the framework; that's important, but not essential: you have choices. Also, check this site out: American University
These links are Dave's ESL threads:
1. Newbies: An example of a lesson for a big class
2. PPP
3. Lesson Plans
4. Lesson Plans on Paper
Now onto the activities!! Hit the internet and find the game and activities on all those EFL sites that offer free this and that. Then, take a look at your EIF framework and see where those activites will fit and match the scope of what is needed: Controlled or less controlled practice, accuracy or fluency, and how exactly does the activity match the defintion for that piece of the lesson plan.
To get started on the activites download these from my esnip's:
1. Warm ups (warms can be great motivational activites and also they can serve as preperatory steps into more difficult activities)
2. Cooperative Games for Interactive Play
3. A TEFL Reader
4. Low Level Adult Activities
5. Thunder Bay Multicultural Association EFL Activites |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| the oak llama wrote: |
I have no idea if I have to teach grammar.
I thought that's what English teachers teach.
Even if I don't "need" to, I'm sure it needs to be addressed at one time or another.
I would like to have answers to questions about the thing I am supposed to know about.
Spelling I can do. Sumtimes.
Thanks for the reference both of you I will check them out. |
I'm assuming you are a new teacher? Just my guess ^^
Grammar is very obscure and almost impossible to teach if you are dealing with students below high school. For one, abstract terminology such as adjectives, noun, verbs, adverbs, etc... don't have much meaning or sense to them. Also, it's hard enough to explain it in Korean, the fact that you are explaining grammar in English will make it even more confusing. BELIEVE ME.
Often kids ask me, why is this? Why is that? And instead of trying to explain it, I tell them it's natural to me and I'll ask a Korean teacher to explain it.
It's EXTREMELY CONFUSING, DIFFICULT, and FRUSTRATING to explain grammar in the target language. I've done it many times and by the end we always had to grab a Korean teacher to explain it. What should have been 20 seconds took us 20 minutes.
Realistically it's much better to teach them vocabulary or common expressions. Exposing them to common phrases and repeating it helps internalize a sort of... inductive approach to learning. You are highly confined to what you can teach if you don't speak Korean.
^_^ |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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You have been hired to teach them how to speak English. Knowing your job description is a good start. many Korean's don't know what we are here for and will try to get you to teach expressions and vocab.
Find ways to help them practice talking as that's what you were hired for. |
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Tjames426
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Not only do qualified Foreign teachers teach grammar... but we do it better than the Korean teachers. |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Even though my first major for 3 years was technical writing and I've had all the prerequisite grammar classes for my teaching major I cannot explain the grammatical rules to the students as easily as the Korean Teachers.
Being taught grammar in your native tongue is hard enough, trying to do it through ESL is brutal.
Many of my students are fairly high level and they always (and quickly) find the exception to every English 'rule'. And they're never satisfied with 'well, that's just the way we say it' 
(I knew the situation in Korea so I brought several grammar books with me, but the above links are good web resources)
good luck teaching grammar, I feel for you. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Goku wrote: |
| the oak llama wrote: |
I have no idea if I have to teach grammar.
I thought that's what English teachers teach.
Even if I don't "need" to, I'm sure it needs to be addressed at one time or another.
I would like to have answers to questions about the thing I am supposed to know about.
Spelling I can do. Sumtimes.
Thanks for the reference both of you I will check them out. |
I'm assuming you are a new teacher? Just my guess ^^
Grammar is very obscure and almost impossible to teach if you are dealing with students below high school. For one, abstract terminology such as adjectives, noun, verbs, adverbs, etc... don't have much meaning or sense to them. Also, it's hard enough to explain it in Korean, the fact that you are explaining grammar in English will make it even more confusing. BELIEVE ME.
Often kids ask me, why is this? Why is that? And instead of trying to explain it, I tell them it's natural to me and I'll ask a Korean teacher to explain it.
It's EXTREMELY CONFUSING, DIFFICULT, and FRUSTRATING to explain grammar in the target language. I've done it many times and by the end we always had to grab a Korean teacher to explain it. What should have been 20 seconds took us 20 minutes.
Realistically it's much better to teach them vocabulary or common expressions. Exposing them to common phrases and repeating it helps internalize a sort of... inductive approach to learning. You are highly confined to what you can teach if you don't speak Korean.
^_^ |
One of the most useful things I found out doing my MA was that it's useless teaching grammar to kids at elementary school age. Research backs this up. It's much better for them to learn language naturally through songs, stories, games, kids' activities, pronunciation exercises, and dialogues. You can use pattern drills and stuff, but you won't get anywhere trying to present a grammatical rule. It's too abstract for them. I used to base most of my lessons around a grammatical point when it would have been much better to base them around vocabulary or culture.
For middle schoolers, I don't know. I hear teachers should avoid them like death. Once they get into high school you can start real grammar lessons. It's not as hard as everyone here is making out but you do need to make sure you research the grammar you're teaching, as should be obvious. |
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the foystein
Joined: 23 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I like to diagram sentences. It is "old school", but I find it works. |
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the oak llama
Joined: 05 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:20 am Post subject: |
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yes, am a new teacher.
thanks all for the resources and the job clarification.
I would like to go into this feeling at least a little prepared is the point. |
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Joe666
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Location: Jesus it's hot down here!
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:13 am Post subject: |
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goku wrote:
I couldn't teach spelling or grammar if my life depended on it. It's because it's become a complete unconcious process in my mind and I don't think I'm are quite as qualified as Korean teachers to teach it.
Absolute truth! I am glad it's not just me!! I am also new to the teaching world and I am finding it very difficult to get to the 7th and 8th grade level of English for Korean students. Goku put it best - We have been using the language for a long time (some longer than others) but still, a lot is 100% unconscious. We don't need the F-ing rules anymore until you get asked a question by a Korean. Shit!. |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| the oak llama wrote: |
yes, am a new teacher.
thanks all for the resources and the job clarification.
I would like to go into this feeling at least a little prepared is the point. |
So what does prepared mean to you. I get the feeling it means to you that you learn grammar. If so you have confused the Engish teacher in your home country to the type of teacher you will be here.
They have Korean teachers to teach grammar to them. Your job is to teach them how to use the language. I also teach writing as they have problems writing sentences. |
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icnelly
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| D.D. wrote: |
| the oak llama wrote: |
yes, am a new teacher.
thanks all for the resources and the job clarification.
I would like to go into this feeling at least a little prepared is the point. |
So what does prepared mean to you. I get the feeling it means to you that you learn grammar. If so you have confused the Engish teacher in your home country to the type of teacher you will be here. |
Is this meant to be helpful??  How about the other HALF of the OP: lesson planning? Does the OP have something confused with that??
OP: Learn grammar, it'll put you a cut above the riffraff and it most certainly can help you teach. Every single poster has mentioned teacher based explaining over student learning, and abstract metalanguage over reality and normal language. You can most certainly teach grammar to any level, BUT it depends on HOW you choose to do so: consciousness raising tasksand focus on form, or natural conceptualizations.
While grammar should be more of a personal endeavor, your interest in lesson planning is truly pertinent to your job and performance. Proper planning WILL account for many of your "issues" while teaching.
You probably won't get much more from this board in terms of help, so again, PM if you want better dialogue. |
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