New at teaching + teaching adults - need advice!
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:04 am
Hi,
I am an inexperienced teacher and very nervous! I have started teaching in Greece and here most teachers are Greek who teach English - there are very few Native Speaking Teachers such as myself! Anyhow, teaching here is normally done in Greek esp when explaining grammar. I don't know any Greek! The problem is that I have to start teaching an adult beginner course - how do I teach English Grammar in English to beginners? Esp if they have been taught to expect Greek in the classroom. They always expect the teacher to give them the Greek equivalent!
Thanks
I am an inexperienced teacher and very nervous! I have started teaching in Greece and here most teachers are Greek who teach English - there are very few Native Speaking Teachers such as myself! Anyhow, teaching here is normally done in Greek esp when explaining grammar. I don't know any Greek! The problem is that I have to start teaching an adult beginner course - how do I teach English Grammar in English to beginners? Esp if they have been taught to expect Greek in the classroom. They always expect the teacher to give them the Greek equivalent!
Thanks
Secondly, if you really don't have any Greek, then the students will have to accept your English explanations - whether it's what they expect or not 
You'll be surprised how little explanation is anyway needed. I'm sure lots of teachers looking in on this site would tell you it's perfectly possible to teach well without concentrating at all on grammar 
On a practical note, why not look in the "idea cookbook" here at the esl cafe? You'll find lots of good ideas for lesson plans and activities, and there's a whole section of recipes concentrating on the teaching of grammar. You'll be fine, so be cool 
and enjoy your new career. Don't forget that you can always ask for help and advice in the many forums at the cafe