Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi All,

I work for a labour recruitment company and, due to some changes in immigration laws in my country, am now confronted with the task of bringing 116 Chinese adults' up to IELTS Lv. 4 in six months.

The majority of my previous English teaching experience would be intermediate to advanced (though I have taught some children beginner classes). Most of these adults can understand some very basic English, a few wouldn't need the class, but there are some (mostly the older ones) with no English whatsoever past the Roman Alphabet (gotta love pinyin - they can all read!).

I am complete lost and have no idea where to start with these. I figure the best way to ensure all involved can meet the ielts requirement is to study IELTS material almost exclusively; however I am worried that some of the lower levels might not understand enough to even begin studying the material!

If anybody knows of any way in which to start this, please let me know!

Yes, you can teach anyone to pass a test if you teach them how to do the test. Get a good book on help wit IELTS and all the tricks. Then just go through it with the students and get the good ones to translate and help the poorer ones. The good ones will learn by teaching and the poor ones will at least learn enough tricks to pass. Then work to change the requirements so that the poorer ones are really learning English. Give them a practice section of the test every week and they will gradually see that they are learning to do the test and will be OK for the final test as far as their anxiety level at least. You will soon begin to see patterns in their mistakes and can help them with these particular mistakes. Make groups of four or so with one good student, one pretty good and two poor and make them a team so that they know they must all pass at least to outdo the buerocracy that imposes such silly rules. That usually is a great motivator and the good student soon realize that they are learning so much teaching that they won't object to having to teach the poorer students.