Teacher Discussion Forums

I have recently found story books that make compelling material for teenage students. Scholastic publishes a series of stories aimed at teenagers*. We have previously read DJ Ambition - about a teenager trying to become a DJ in London, and are currently reading Angela's Ashes . They come in all abil...

I found that class quizzes, where the students write the questions for each other, were quite a good way for them to test each others knowledge and revealed the things they found interesting in a given text. You can specify they use a certain tense, reward the best questions, etc.

Thanks for these tips, guys. I'm going to try the story boarding 'project' today and possibly highlighting and using key grammar phrases. )

Cheers.

Really? I promise to read it today, then!

unstated linguistic premises this is funny, because 'unstated linguistic premises,' - those which supposedly and conclusively determine the nature of language itself, are precisely what linguists can not find! Not that any equivalent lack of understanding ever stopped a budding economist in any com...

fluffyhamster wrote:Maybe I should have called this thread 'Why would anyone study linguistics?!' instead.

I have to agree with you there.

Machjo wrote: ... an address from Winston Churchill to parliament, and the story of the tower of Babel in Ogden's Basic English.

Yours is a fascinating post and example to many, I'm sure. I, my self, have no knowledge of those moments quoted above. Please enlighten me.

chix4866 suggested tongue twisters. I have found this to be an excellent test of phonics and pronunciation, and a suitable forfeit. Below are tongue twisters I have taken from http://www.jamesabela.co.uk/beginner/Pronunciation.html which provides some great info on teaching pronunciation and other ...

Thank you guys for your advice. I am sure I can try your suggestions in the future. UPDATE: In the event, the students were fine. Actually, they tricked me by turning the lights off and hiding so that I thought the class was empty (and it worked). When, eventually, I went in anyway, I found them all...

I guess my point is - how to get them to read it, to know it. Reading it in class ain't condusive to a good class activity. They won't read it at home.
Do you know what I mean?

Thanks blackmagicABC.

I wonder how anyone could read Jane Eyre, but, I take your point!

Girls are into that kind of thing, no?

This is a call for lesson ideas, strategies and materials. I describe two below - everyone is welcome to try/adjust them and see how it goes... Add your ideas... [edited the title to include both/all genders..] Situation: I have a new class of 6 teenage (ave. 16 yrs. old) girls who have been at the ...

chix4866 wrote:Try a tongue twister...

that's a good idea! Short, sweet and potentially amusing. I'll try it.

Cheers,

Trubadour.

Don't mean to be rude guys, but have you noticed this is the secondary (not elementary) forum? You'll find other sections more relevant to your difficulties.

Best wishes and the best of luck,

Trubadour.

I suggest the MEGA series from Macmillian. It works really well as a self contained source of everything you need, such as communicative activities, vocab, grammar things, and features a kind of interesting narrative about some students and their lives. It's simple to use, relevant, up to date, focu...