Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi everyone,

I need some ideas on a lesson based around introducing myself and getting to know my new students (and for them to get to know each other).

The lesson will last for 60 minutes and the number of (adult) students could be anything between 3 and 8!

Any suggestions would be great

Many thanks in advance.

It does make it a bit tricky not knowing the numbers because as low as 3 has an impact on pairwork (unless you are the extra partner).

What I’ve sometimes done is put up information about myself on the board (names, dates, place names etc.) inside individual circles and asked students to ask me about the circles. I supply answers and then check with them the kinds of questions they need to ask to get information. Then I get them (in pairs if possible) to write down similar kinds of information about themselves. Give them a list to choose from*. They swap circles and ask each other questions. They need to know the name of their partner and they take it in turns to introduce their partner to the group. There are similar kinds of tasks in pairwork activities books. *Name of friend/important date/ important number/ favourite place where they can relax/...

As it’s a conversation class, hand out some blank cards and ask them to write their names on it and 3-5 topics they would be interested in discussing. They can compare notes with a partner and then as a class you could have a permanent list on the wall/board of topics which can be added to. (If they’re open to it they could get individual assignments to present info on a topic for later classes. I’d look for short articles on these and other topics).

For the rest of the first class, there are plenty of online sites with discussion topics; you could look at – e.g eslflow: http://www.eslflow.com/debateanddiscussionlessons.html with mixed quality questions but, for example, the discussion questions under 'education' are quite good: http://www.tedpower.co.uk/discuss.html

Other sites:
http://iteslj.org/questions/
http://bogglesworldesl.com/adultesl1.htm
http://www.onestopenglish.com/community ... /speaking/

Good luck with it. I saw your other post on the one to one class too late ... update on that and this class would be good at some point.

I like to use an introduction dice game. It works well with 3 - 8 students. You need to make a rule for each number. I use around 20 conversation cards (http://www.eflsensei.com/Introduction-Dice-Game/?path=3) and the following rules:


1. Take a card, answer the question

2. Ask the teacher an original question

3. Take a card, ask the person on your right

4. Skip the next person

5. Take a card, ask the person on your left

6. Reverse


The first student rolls the die and then follows the rule for the number rolled. The play continues until all the cards have been used. I've used this with various ages of adults and they all seem to enjoy it.

All the best!