I have been teaching children forever.. just recently I have added to my class list a few adult classes.. one of them is English Corner. This class is set up to be partly lecture and partly conversation.. but I am having trouble coming up with good topics... PLEASE help!! My first topic was Christmas.. and that went over great (since Christmas was only a week away) The students were interested and we even talked more about other US holidays.
Other teachers have talked to them about Globalization, pollution, and some buisness terms.
I want something simple.. but interesting and fun. It is a hour and a half lesson.
Thanks!!
Need English Corner Topics
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Try using the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
Basically, depending on their level, certain topics with certain types of conversation will be both challenging and productive for your students.
As a general rule of thumb if your students are:
comfortable at the word level (both input and output)-> content should be related to concrete subjects and personal topics
comfortable at the sentence level -> personal topics related to family, survival, etc.
comfortable at the paragraph level -> in-depth discussions about personal topics, beginning of abstract topics.
There are a lot more tips. List general characteristics about your students and I'll try to help you.
Basically, depending on their level, certain topics with certain types of conversation will be both challenging and productive for your students.
As a general rule of thumb if your students are:
comfortable at the word level (both input and output)-> content should be related to concrete subjects and personal topics
comfortable at the sentence level -> personal topics related to family, survival, etc.
comfortable at the paragraph level -> in-depth discussions about personal topics, beginning of abstract topics.
There are a lot more tips. List general characteristics about your students and I'll try to help you.
SuperHal
Thanks for the reply. I am not familiar with those standards...??
My students are mainly University level or buisness persons with Advanced English Skills. I am teaching through the New Oriental COmapany, which I believe is quite prominent here in China. These students are the "Elite" classes for the school. They are all very interested and have a good level of sentence structure and conversation skills. I am just having troubles finding a topic to suit them, I think mainly because I teach mostly children .. and this is all very new to me.
Thanks again for your help!!
Thanks for the reply. I am not familiar with those standards...??
My students are mainly University level or buisness persons with Advanced English Skills. I am teaching through the New Oriental COmapany, which I believe is quite prominent here in China. These students are the "Elite" classes for the school. They are all very interested and have a good level of sentence structure and conversation skills. I am just having troubles finding a topic to suit them, I think mainly because I teach mostly children .. and this is all very new to me.
Thanks again for your help!!
Have them do a writing exercise. Give them an open-ended writing question, and ask them to write as much as they can about it. That will tell you what amount they are comfortable with and capable of doing. If you get single sentences, that would put them into intermediate mid or high. If they can make a paragraph with connectors, then intermediate high or advanced low. If they can sustain the writing over an entire essay, with logical flow between paragraphs and support for hypotheses and arguments, that would be advanced high or superior.
