speaking exercises for kids

[spain212]

I am tutoring some lovely kids here in Spain. They have lots of written work that they´ve done in school....their parents want them using the language outside class....in other words, they want them speaking. I need some ideas to get them speaking, using short sentences, vocab, etc. They are 7 and 10. I know we can just "play" in English, but I think we should have a bit of structure as well so the parents think they´re paying me for something more than just goofing around.

you can post here or email me at [email protected]

thanks in advance!!
Carrie

[gongqin]

I think you can design some environment that similar to the real situation, then ask them to speak English, That is to say there is no their own language around them . Only English. But you also have to think a lot on its interest . If they don't have fun, that is a unsuccessful class. Wish you success during your teaching.

[angelxxx]

Hi,

If you tutor at their home, maybe you can see what their living space is like, ask them what objects around the home are and get them to say and label some stuff. e.g. on doors, can label doors with 'xxx's bedroom' 'kitchen,' 'fridge,' 'bathroom' etc.

Also, I find that if you play with them it is ok, but make sure that now and then, you give them something they can show their parents after the lesson, e.g. worksheet, card to parents, get them to write a diary, make wish lists, activities planner/calender to do and put up at home. If they are so lucky to have a PC, introduce some English learning websites for them to play on at home. Get the parents to see the website with fun games, even they can play. Teach them to search for things online via Google or some other search engines. Read the news from PC etc etc.

I put Phonicball games set up around the house to get them to hit the target and think of English words now and then when they are bored, kids love to throw things! I got them from http://www.phonicball.com

Most of all, encourage them to slowly replace Spanish names to English ones when talking to people. e.g. ¿puedo tener una bebida de WATER PLEASE? (can I have a drink of water please?)Gradually, they can replace more Spanish words with English, hence, making themselves practise for fluency, it effects the others around them to pick up the English too, so they can all learn!

Keep up the good work amigo!

[spain212]

hey thanks for the suggestions. However, I have a new problem with these kids. The boy is SMART and knows a lot of English. . . the girl, however, knows hardly anything and won´t ever try and learn because she waits all the time for her brother to give her the answers, even though I try to prevent this. While I need to challenge him, she´s completely clueless. While I try and help her he´s completely bored and learning nothing. Parents want them together and not in separate lessons. I´m at a loss.

[angelxxx]

Your situation is common. Many parents think that their kids can benefit from being together, this also makes them feel that they are paying at an economical rate.

I would try to tell them that I am happy with them both together, but on the long run, they are not gaining anything from it. They are both at different levels and should be tutored separately to be at their full potential.

If convincing them doesn't work, then just make the lesson more practical and fun for them both. What is the age difference between them? Maybe you could set them more worksheets aimed at them individually but on the same theme/topic? Explain to one, when the other one is getting on with their worksheet.

It's tough, but at least you are working on your monitoring and assessing skills! Good luck!

[spain212]

yeah, a friend of mine gave me the same solution. i tried it this last lesson and it worked really well. Though i don´t want to spend the entire lesson doing written work (they do enough of that in school), i figure we can do some in the beginning and then focus the end on speaking.

thanks for the help

[alicey]

Hi there,

For the smart kid, you can give them more combined tasks to do.
For the little girl, you can bring some pictures, ask her to describe the pictures for you (about 1-3 pictures is enough), or find two different pics and ask her to tell you the differences. At this stage, accept what the girl says to you, she may not speak so well. Or you can ask her few questions about herself, then ask her to draw something she likes and talks about it.

For the smart kid, other than showing him pictures to describe things, further than that, after he described it, you can ask him to put everything into words (as a writing task), so he is quite occupy that time, then you can shift your focus to the girl.

Hope this help.

Alice

[Sally Olsen]

Every class has the kids who are more knowledgeable and the kids who wait for others. This is probably a pattern in the family as well where the older boy takes the initiative and the daughter has learned to follow along. It is a difficult pattern to break and might not be necessay. She might be learning more than you think although she is quieter. Kids learn from other kids whose experience and language patterns are closer to their own. They also learn from practice and so if you can get the older brother to teach his younger sister, he is getting practice and she is getting information that is closer to what she can handle. You can teach him to teach - being patient, providing encouragement, making it interesting and fun. It will help with their overall relationship as well and if they enjoy it will keep them practicing after you leave.