Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rojees]

I will be teaching adults conversation english - beginners and low-intermediate levels.

Any tips/ideas regarding the first lesson?

introduction of myself
going over the curriculum,
letting the students introduce themselves
try and to start a simple free-talk session to evaluate their speaking levels

what else??

[yingwenlaoshi]

Your first day teaching? Ever? If so, I'd say don't worry too much and follow your nose. Fly by the seat of your pants. Wing it. Don't give yourself a headache.

Here are some conversation topics and questions:

http://iteslj.org/questions/

http://www.eslpartyland.com/teachers/nov/conv.htm#Reading

Stick to the easier questions.

Ask them about their weekends. Practices past and future. Correct them on their grammar by writing their answers on the board the correct way. Not too much though right away.

Just shoot the sh!t.

Most adult classes I have don't like or fair well with text books. They don't want to read anything of any length because they already figure they are masters at reading and writing English a lot of the time.

They want to speak.

Hope your class sizes aren't too big.

Hobbies is a good topic.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Ok. Ok. Maybe "Fly by the seat of your pants. Wing it" was the wrong thing to say. I was kind of joking. But he should take it easy with them and provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Having some easy questions ready and getting to know who he's teaching and introducing himself is a good way to start. You don't have to freak them out by getting them to write down questions right away and put them through the stress of speaking to other Korean students in English in the first class. More than anything, it would probably scare them away. After all, they're only beginners.

Give it time. Takes a while for the students to warm up to each other. Feel them out first. Not to say the previous posters ideas aren't good. Hell, they sound good to me. You might be able to try it out first class. I don't know. Depends who you're teaching, how many students are in the class, etc.

It's great when the students start talking to each other in English, but I wouldn't expect beginners to on the very first day.

"I strongly disagree!! Oh my god!! World coming to an end!!!" Christ, take it easy, bub.

Don't give them homework. If you have a text book, tell them what you'll be covering next class. Always tell them what you'll be doing next class. They like that.

I hope you don't get any finicky students. They come around once in a while. All the other students hate that student. They're like "Isn't it better to say blah blah blah?" like they're testing you. Or, "I would like to discuss what methods you'll be using to teach blah blah blah" while all the other students are rolling their eyes.

Anyway, I've been teaching engineers and office workers at LG and Lotte (same building) in the mornings for well over a year. It's a gig I have on the side that my boss arranged for me. 10 hrs/wk at 50,000/hr. So, I must be doing something right or they'd find someone else.

Anyway, take it easy. You'll find your own methods as time goes by.

[bnrockin]

Are you doing Pagoda? Where you teaching at?

[ddeubel]

Besides what Ya-ta said regarding grouping and using the time to learn about each other, I"d offer a few more suggestions about "the first class".

It is also a very important time to introduce structure and routine. Very necessary to a successful classroom and learning environment. Just as it was suggested that you let students know what the next lesson will be about, also let them know what this lesson is about. Write an agenda on the board. It will also help you structure your lesson, give your lesson.

Depending on the time length, provide time for General conversation, review (should usually be done with the general chit chat of the first 5 or so minutes), prepare (illicit students prior knowledge). Practice. Using structure, gambit, set form, students practice the lesson's target language. Produce -- provide pair or group work that is open ended but will still illicit the target language.

Personalize at the end. Ask them questions about their lives that will personalize the lesson, make it relevant and embedded that language.

End with something fun, like mentioned, a quiz game, competition etc....

First class should also be the time to set into motion any class rules you have (discuss together, post a chart, all can sign). Also time to let students know any class management techniques you use. How to bring the class to order, time outs etc....

How would I do a first class.

1. Warm - up. General questions to the students. What do you do? Do you like .....? How are you? Weather? Sports? Have students reply with AND YOU? So they learn about you. Make sure they realize the importance of this, it will help all classes, if they respond back.

2. Snowball game. Give each a large piece of paper and marker. They write their name in the middle and in each corner. A food they love. A country they have visited. An animal which represents themself . A person who they respect. Put yours on the board as an example. Students ask, "what does ...... mean?"

After they make it, get them to crumple it up. Tell them they will have a snowball fight for 30 sec. After the fight, students pick up a piece of paper and read. They try to guess who it is. Continue until all finished.

Also any other option that gives students a chance to know and introduce each other. The conversation Questions in pairs above or something else.

3. The teacher. I usually either give out photos, small things, documents about myself. Or show a powerpoint of pictures etc.... about my life. Students ask questions about each.

4. Target language -- Past tense. I always focus on this unless it is a beginner class. The past tense is the most important thing in English beyond facile pronounciation, used in up to 65% of our speech. Design a game to play where you can go around the room and assess students language level. Keep a class seating chart on your desk in the front and make notes about students as necessary in the box with their name. (this is for accountability reasons..). A good game for this is to just give them a pile of flashcards and sit them in groups. One group member asks , When did you last .....? The other group members have to ask one more question regarding the flashcard. (ex. When did you last eat? I last ate an hour ago. What did you eat? Who did you eat with? Why did you eat? etc....) Model the language, question structure and game on the board.

Review; Past tense quick answer review game. The teacher says a sentence in the habitual tense using usually. (use students names doing this - it will help you remember them). Tom usually walks to school. Students must quickly make it into a past sentence for points. Tom walked to school yesterday.

Sorry for the long post but maybe this will give you ideas. Also, use a simple lesson plan, atleast for the first lessons you give. Let's you structure your thoughts, class. I have one in the teaching folder of my website.

And yeah, as was mentioned. Set the atmosphere. Light, unjudgemental, talk, talk, talk....

DD

[spyro25]

the snowball game is an excellent idea dd!~ i'll be sure to use that when i start my new job next month. thanks again!

[saybanana]

I usually never know what to teach adults I have never met.
First day of class is diffficult.

When I think of beginner I think no english ability.
Intermediate for those who have a good grasp of English but limited vocabulary and a short sentence length, slower comprehension.
There is a tendency to place yourself at a high level if you are not.

I dont really try to structure the first day too much. Its more a less a meet and greet, talk about the class, learn names.
I like to ask what they expect to learn? What do they want to learn? What is the purpose of learning the language (business, conversation, travel)? Do they want to learn lots of vocabulary? Grammar? So on.

Its also good to start to establish what is their real level of English language ability, take notes. Quiet students dont equate to not understanding English.

My first day of my adult class I taught easy introductions for 3 levels: Formal, Informal and Ghetto. Good Morning. How's your day? Hi. How are you? Yo. Wazzzzp dog? (I like the thought of adjumma gangstas) just kidding.

[teachingld2004]

"Teaching" a first lesson is quite easy. I look at it like "let's all get to know eachother"

Find out how many people will be in the class. If possible get a list of their names and make name tags. Or bring in blank name tags and have them right their names. You also have a name tag.

Welcome them to class. Tell them some things about you, and then have them ask you some questions.

Ask them to introduce them selves. You can have a form if they need it. Name_____
What should we call you____________
Why are you in this class____________
What do you want to talk about_______
What is your job_________________
Are you married__________________

What ever questions you want.
You can ask them a question. The other members of the class must ask them a question also.

Bring in some photos. Write on the board:

1. Who is this person
2. How old is this person
3. Where do they live.. Number the pictures. Pass them around.

Do not collect them, have the students read the answers to you. Write the answers on the board.

For example: I had a picture of my brother. That was number one. Some one wrote:
1. Husband
2.51
3. New York

Some one else wrote:
1. Friend
2. 38
3. I don't know

So you can say, OK, picture number one, who is it?
Write down what every one says. Husband, brother, friend,
51, 38, I dont know, what ever.

Then when they all have answered, tell them who the picture is.

There are so many things you can do.

Bring in some photos of some women, men, children, dogs, flowers, what ever.
have a "beauty contest". Ask them to rank them from best looking to worst. Best being number one.

Come into class wearing 2 differnt shoes. See if anyone notices. (that sounds crazy, but it is funny). If no one says something, YOU say some thing like "Oh wow, I can't believe it! I am wearing 2 differnt shoes" Or wear your shirt inside out. Anything to get them talking. And let them laugh. Laughing is a great thing, and it is a good "ice breaker".

Play 20 questions.

First class can be easier then the second.

I think the object of the first class is just get to know how much they know, and make them comfortable. the second class you will know what to do.




I think it is almost impossible to teach adults unless you find out what they know, and what they want to learn.
You want to make the class interesting, but you also have to teach them. You also have to make them want to come to class.

Ask them how their day was. Have them tell you some thing interesting that happened to them recently. Or ask them to tell you some thing funny that they saw.

Ask them where they learned English.
Some times when I have an adult class I ask them "how are you?

I do not let them say "fine thank you, and you?" I say I have a headache today. How are you? And if htey say "fine thank you, and you?" you tellthem you just said you had a headache. they think "Fine thank you, and you" is what they should say.

I give them a list, and then they can add to it if they want, or if you have time.

How are you?
Fine, great, sick, not very good, awfull, super, OK, bored, tired, wonderful, hot, cold, cranky, disgusted.....what ever.

Or you can hand out "How are you?"

a___awful
b______
c___cranky
d___disgusted_
e_______
f_______

g_______
h____happy
i_______
j__________
K________

Fill out some, have them go around the room and try and fill out the list. Theuy can have more then one answer for a letter.
example...f) fine, fantastic

It so depends on their leverl,a nd also it depends on how many are in the class.

Keep lots of ideas with you, and see how it goes.

But name tags are great, and introductions are too.

Do not stress about the first lesson because you have to "feel them out", but remember, you are the teacher. You have to be in controll.

You can bring a timer. Tell them they have 5 minutes to look around the room and tell you about some thing they see.

You can have a deck of cards, and matching numbers are partners. Or you can give out cards and use that for order, Ace talks first, two second, thruu third...what ever.

you can have them write down their names on paper, fild it up, put it in a cup or something, pull it out, and that way pick who goes first.

[passport220]

I have used the one where you each introduce yourself by telling some things about yourself: some true and some false and the group has to guess which is true and which is false (say 3 things - two true, one false) . I usually start. It has worked well.

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree with passport's idea, I've used that in adult classes and it is a lot of fun.

My advice is try not to be nervous.

[jimmiethefish]

I love the snowball idea. It's gone on the list of things to do.

A good old ice-breaking fave is 'Find Someone Who...' Make up a worksheet with different activities, places, likes and dislikes etc. The grammar can be adapted to the level as well as how much of the question/answer forms you want them to see. It's a good idea to include something interesting that you have done as students (generally) like to know about their teachers lives.

Pre-teach any vocab they are not likely to know especially if you are including your skydiving/paragliding/base jumping type exploits (or even knitting). Pics (from the internet) get the message across quickly.

Get them to practice any difficult vocab/asking and answering some questions. Choose a couple of students to do a practice demonstration for the class and then let them at it. If they need some encouragement to get them mingling get the two who demonstrated to initiate the action.

Have a feedback session where they share and re-tell the information they discovered about their classmates and you. You can also use this time to correct any pronunciation problems and point out things they did well.

This is also useful for practicing present perfect and 'have you ever...?' questions.

At the moment, Oxford is promoting their 'Natural English' texts with 10 free weekly emails with tips and activities. I've just received the first and will definitely be using it. The focus is on social English for adults using typical expressions and conversation techniques. If you're interested in signing up to it, PM me.

[ddeubel]

Yeah, the snowball games works well - in any way you see to adapt it. Don't think adults don't like it, they do!

Also as mentioned, "Have you ever....?" works well with other students getting to know each other. Also helps you assess their language as they ask additional questions Who, what, where, when did you...?

Also as mentioned as well, get them to talk about a partner after some intro activity. Speaking to classmates in English is a great way to instill confidence, just be careful if there are some low level speakers who might really feel put out.

Find someone who.... also works well but I would adapt and not just use it in the traditional way, first class.

As passport mentioned, The Lie Game works well. I usually structure it with 4 statements on the board.

1. I like to ................ in my free time.
2. I have ...........................
3. I hate .........................
4. I wish I .............................

Students complete , read and you guess which is the lie. Teacher models. Another variation is collecting the statements. Reading aloud and the whole class first guessing who it is and then guessing which is the lie? Prize to whoever guesses correctly in the class.

I've also done We Are Family as a song. Brings together the group. Form 3 teams in the class. each one sings a part of the chorus. We are family / I got all my ......... with me / We are family / Come on everybody Sing!
Karaoke version on my site.

DD