Teacher Discussion Forums

HOW DO I GO ABOUT STRUCTURING A SYLLABUS FOR AN ADULT PRIVATE STUDENT???
I have taken an ESL course from Trinity / Windsor but have not had classroom experience outside the course. The course was great in giving us a basic set of skills, but I would like some advice on how to give a private student value for money.
I am taking on some private students but would love some clues on how to tackle estcablishing a curriculum for a student - are there skill indicator tests for grammar and the like ; should i use one particular set of text books (and do i need to buy the student, teacher and exercise books as many come in these sets and the cost can be astronomical) as a basis - any particular recommendations?; any other ideas.

Thanks

Justin
Tel Aviv

Of course establish the level of the student, and find out why they want to learn English and what they already know... What they want to learn/know. When I was teaching Jazz Piano, I 'winged' each lesson. I knew everything I needed to know, and quickly created a lesson once I learnt how much the student had remembered, and needed to work on. Successful ares I embellished.