Teacher Discussion Forums

Hello there, Re what you should charge, well you might charge the going rate at first but when you become more experienced I believe it's OK to charge a little more. Teachers anyway are often not very highly paid, and your hourly rate might seem high, but not when you consider the time that you'll t...

I would really recommend puppets with two year olds, and the puppet of course, only speaks English. For example with a story have a puppet who is one of the characters. Bear in mind that even a sock will do - you don't have to go out and buy something. If you put your hand up a sock you'll see you c...

This reply is maybe a bit late to help Spitzig, but for all those who have been looking at this post here is an example of an activity that gives students a reason to talk, because as Sally Olsen points out, they won't talk unless there is a reason to communicate. If students are reluctant to talk i...

I'm more like fluffy hamster in my approach to grammar with kids - I present it within sentences and the kids use it, without necessarily realising that they are learning grammar. I usually work on something for at least two lessons and then make sure I keep on revising it constantly after that. I f...

Here is a fun game to calm the kids down if they have become excited: Sit and Be Silent: On a given signal the kids race to plop down on the floor and sit with their fingers on their lips. You practise this repeatedly until the kids know the game and then surprise them with it in subsequent lessons ...

Hi Manny Three year olds can be shy and nervous until they get to know you so be gentle, for example there's no point insisting that they repeat something or say something if they are not ready to. Just be encouraging all the time regardless. They love stories, songs, puppets and play. They are not ...

Hi there,

Here's a one to one games book with video demo.

It's for children though some of the ideas are fine for adult beginners.

http://www.homeenglishteacher.com

Shelley

Hi there "The Broad", How about trying really simple vocabulary games which can be demonstrated without need for the native language. For example, this one (from my games book): Jump the Line Draw a line down the board and put two pics up that the kids already know either side of the line. Stand in ...

I agree with Sally Olsen about making students responsible for their own learning. I would say too that any textbook can be made interesting depending on how you use it. For example liven up a reading passage by giving a time-limit for the students to scan the passage and find things such as: four i...

Remember Othello's words about jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster that doth mock the meat it feeds on. And so it is with revenge. Vicious revengeful feelings will hurt YOU, not the boss. Relax: A big deep breath and letting it out with a sigh will instantly make you feel better. Reality is withi...

It's nice to read such a constructive thread. I particulary like what "zuu" says higher up - making parent contact and sticking to your guns - if you make a threat you must carry it out or you will have zero credibility in no time! Often naughty kids get more attention than the good ones. Let's say ...

Hi there, If you are taking on the younger ones then I recommend using games, songs, stories, plays and skits. It's also v. v. important to do a little show for the family each term so that the mum/parents can see what you are doing and see how their children are getting along. In a show I have the ...

Hi, Children can still participate in the story telling even if you do not have pictograms. My preschool stories are for children learning English as a foreign language and I don't expect them to learn how to read at three or four, when they are still learning their own language (though it can be do...

Hello Though my complete resources are not free I do offer free samples that you are welcome to. You simply enter your name and email on the site (full privacy and no spam). I would recommend the primary games for the children - these are mostly aimed at beginners to lower intermediate and I fully e...

Hello there, With lower levels pair work can still be v. effective but you have to make sure it is well guided and demonstrated before hand and even do some language drill-type games to embed some of the key language first. This increases the students chances of doing well and responding more enthus...