TEACHING conversation.
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TEACHING conversation.
I'm a teacher for Korean ESL students who are here for 5 months to learn conversational English. I have them for 3 hours a day, but since the place I work for is new, I'm on my own to prepare my lessons, books, etc. I know this is a dream scenario for some of you who are tied-down to the specifics when it comes to textbooks, but I just don't have enough brain power to come up with new material everyday. I've been doing "free conversation" (discussed further down in the forum) but my students can't possibly memorize every verbal correction I tell them on the spot. I've been rummaging through different ESL sites for materials, but it seems that my students are bombarded with handouts. Any suggestions on textbooks I can use? My students have great grammar knowledge, but they can't speak what they know.
g'day rudolfnco,
where are you? a good textbook i recommend is Language in Use by cambridge (Adrian Doff and possibly somebosy else). It's a good communicative style textbook- there are alternating units of grammar (following PPP method) and fluency units. The series has a number of weaknesses but if you're after really interesting communicative actvities (even in the "grammar units") i reckon this is the best series around. If you're in Korea there's a korean published book called "Jazz English" which a co-worker of mine at the last place i worked at, swore by, but i didn't think much of it (although i never used it).
cheers jase
where are you? a good textbook i recommend is Language in Use by cambridge (Adrian Doff and possibly somebosy else). It's a good communicative style textbook- there are alternating units of grammar (following PPP method) and fluency units. The series has a number of weaknesses but if you're after really interesting communicative actvities (even in the "grammar units") i reckon this is the best series around. If you're in Korea there's a korean published book called "Jazz English" which a co-worker of mine at the last place i worked at, swore by, but i didn't think much of it (although i never used it).
cheers jase
Thanks for you reply. I'm in Texas, BTW. (hee~haw~) :D
I looked up the book you recommended, Language in Use. I wish I could actually take a look at the book before I could purchase is, but I don't think my local book stores carry it.
If anyone else is reading this post, I have a problem that's discussed in the Ideacookbook - Textbook - English Conversation Patterns section of this Cafe. My students seem to know the vocab and the grammar, but they (obviously) cannot make a sentence like a native since natives speak in certain common patterns. Perhaps buying a book like Chicken Soup for the Soul would be better than buying an actual textbook since it contains more phrases that a native would use.
I looked up the book you recommended, Language in Use. I wish I could actually take a look at the book before I could purchase is, but I don't think my local book stores carry it.
If anyone else is reading this post, I have a problem that's discussed in the Ideacookbook - Textbook - English Conversation Patterns section of this Cafe. My students seem to know the vocab and the grammar, but they (obviously) cannot make a sentence like a native since natives speak in certain common patterns. Perhaps buying a book like Chicken Soup for the Soul would be better than buying an actual textbook since it contains more phrases that a native would use.
As you said, they cannot possibly memorise every correction you give them; in fact they have been receiving too much input for their memory to process throughout their English study time.
I hold that there is an overkill amount of rote-learning taking place in Korean schools - and in other schools in the Far East.
Teach them to learn more analytically.
Instead of wanting them to 'remember" the correct answer/phrase/segment ask them to take down notes, requiring them to obey your dictations.
This way, they have to make sure they are writing correct English; you have to check, of course.
But wriiting it one time is as effective or more than repeating something ten or twenty times; it makes them think and realise the differences between standard English and their own version.
And, they should do exercises in writing so as to get the feel for the language: have them write ten times "I want to buy a coke, he wants to buy a coke..."
That's probably new for them - and what'ws new bears something beneficial.
I hold that there is an overkill amount of rote-learning taking place in Korean schools - and in other schools in the Far East.
Teach them to learn more analytically.
Instead of wanting them to 'remember" the correct answer/phrase/segment ask them to take down notes, requiring them to obey your dictations.
This way, they have to make sure they are writing correct English; you have to check, of course.
But wriiting it one time is as effective or more than repeating something ten or twenty times; it makes them think and realise the differences between standard English and their own version.
And, they should do exercises in writing so as to get the feel for the language: have them write ten times "I want to buy a coke, he wants to buy a coke..."
That's probably new for them - and what'ws new bears something beneficial.
Teaching conversation...
Hi,
I read your post and I teach at a university but have done some tutoring, too. I know how you feel about teaching conversation lessons. Handouts are good but it's nice to have a textbook, too. I bought this textbook/workbook for a student called "Talk Talk". It's published by Pagoda. I liked the way the book was set up. I have also used Jazz English and I think the book is great because it has questions but samples of how to answer questions so my students really liked it.
Good luck!
I read your post and I teach at a university but have done some tutoring, too. I know how you feel about teaching conversation lessons. Handouts are good but it's nice to have a textbook, too. I bought this textbook/workbook for a student called "Talk Talk". It's published by Pagoda. I liked the way the book was set up. I have also used Jazz English and I think the book is great because it has questions but samples of how to answer questions so my students really liked it.
Good luck!
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seefeather
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:47 pm
Conversation
Hello! This is my first time participating in this forum. I recently got a job in poland where I expected to be teaching creative writing and literature classes, but they also need me to teach a class in conversation. I have a BA in English-writing, but no training in teaching english as a second language. I was hoping that I would be able to get a textbook and follow the lessons in it. I looked at the Language in Use textbook online, and it looked like the sort of book that I'm looking for. I saw that it comes in different levels though, and I'm not sure what level my students will be at. They are university aged, so I expect that they will already have had a lot of english.
Are there other things that need to be taught in conversation classes that may not be covered in a conversation textbook--for example I thought that maybe some history of the english language might be useful, or reading a non-textbook book both as material for conversation topics and as an example of english usage. If so, is there a particular book or sort of book that any of you would recommend?--I was thinking a novel of some sort.
I have about a month before I start teaching classes, so I have some time to get ready. Other than preparing course material, is there anything else I should be preparing or be prepared for?
Thank you all for your help!
Are there other things that need to be taught in conversation classes that may not be covered in a conversation textbook--for example I thought that maybe some history of the english language might be useful, or reading a non-textbook book both as material for conversation topics and as an example of english usage. If so, is there a particular book or sort of book that any of you would recommend?--I was thinking a novel of some sort.
I have about a month before I start teaching classes, so I have some time to get ready. Other than preparing course material, is there anything else I should be preparing or be prepared for?
Thank you all for your help!
I don't know what you envision as a conversation course. It seems that it could be a course to enable students to feel comfortable speaking English, and to be able to help them speak more fluently. On the other hand, conversation has two parts: speaking and listening. It would seem some kind of concentration on understanding and being understood would also be appropriate. It could even include such things as non-verbal gestures, how people use their voice to express anger, surprise, and sarcasm (for a higher level, for sure), what kind of distance is appropriate, how to interrupt, when interrupting is appropriate, how we "take turns" in conversations, and depending on what kind of English you are teaching, the various ways we link words and reduce words in our spoken English.