Online TESOL Program Module 9
Top 10 Teacher Tips (1) 1. Be Prepared Before you walk into the classroom make sure you have a plan 2. Use a Variety of Approaches Plan a variety of approaches and activities for each session. 3. Encourage Interaction Interaction between students will give themselves increased confidence and will allow them to express themselves actively. 4. Address Students by Name Learn their names as quickly as possible and use them often.
Top 10 Teacher Tips (2) 5. Use the Board Effectively Write any new vocabulary or concepts on the board that you have encountered in the lesson. Draw pictures too! 6. Use Realia Bring real objects that reflect English as a language used to communicate. 7. Manage Handouts Don t simply handout worksheets. Explain them fully. Engage the students in the handouts. 8. Check for Understanding Just because the class is quiet, it doesn t mean that everyone understands. Ask your students how they are doing.
Top 10 Teacher Tips (3) 9. Give Feedback Tell your students often how they are doing. Keep all the feedback positive and focused. As a rule, try to never say no or incorrect. 10. Ask for Feedback Give students regular opportunities to provide feedback on your performance. This will allow you to improve as a teacher and make the class more effective and relevant.
Students Absence (1) In the ESL classroom, students absences can make you very frustrating. How can we promote better attendance? 1. At first, to deal with individual student absent often, try approaching him/her outside of the classroom. And listen to the reason. If you think his/her reason is simply an excuse to miss class, try to find out what the problem is. 2. In the class, try to develop a group dynamic. Treat the class as a team that needs to work together. This will promote students motivation and general interest. 3. If possible, assign the students a study buddy who will update and explain the lesson to each other in case of absence. Encourage the class to exchange phone numbers. This will add a greater sense of personal accountability.
Students Absence (2) 4. For those students who don t regularly attend, design follow-up lessons. When the students do show up, they will quickly realize that they have missed an important part of the lesson. 5. Do not take the students who don t attend regularly into account when planning your lesson. 6. If absenteeism is a general problem, have a group tutorial to discuss the problem and possible solutions. 7. If possible, include attendance in your marking structure. 8. If possible, test the students from time to time on the class content.
Problem Behavior There are many reasons why problem behavior exists. But what are some of the strategies that we can employ to avoid it? 1. Create a Code of Conduct Get your students involved in the creation of a set of possible rules in the class. 2. Take the students B.I.G into account Know what your students want from the class. Find out what their interests are and bring it into the lessons. 3. Be Professional Show your class respect. Dress properly. Practice what you preach. You are a professional. 4. Have a great rapport with your class Ensure to listen to the class. Take interest in their lives. Involve the whole class in the lessons.
Reacting to Problem Behavior Act immediately. Focus on the student s behavior, not on the student. Offer suggestions. Reprimand in private. Keep calm, don t loose your control. Only after you have exhausted all possibilities, you should go to the administration or to a colleague.
Speaking English in Class We all know the frustration when a student will not stop speaking another language in the class. If the students are speaking another language in an activity, you must ask yourself why. There is a possibility that the activity that you planned is too difficult for the class. You must ensure to choose appropriate tasks. You must also ensure to teach your class any new language that they may encounter in the activity. As a teacher, you must also set very clear guidelines regarding when it is permissible to use another language. This would be covered in your code of conduct.
Tips on Studying English(1) Encourage your students to study English giving these useful tips. 1. Study everyday! 2. Distribute your study time. And focus on a different task each time. 3. Attend and participate in every class. 4. Make yourself comfortable in the classroom. 5. Learn grammar if you don t already know it. 6. Practice for tests. 7. Develop a good attitude. 8. Get help if you need it.
Tips on Studying English(2) Analytical Skills and Performance Skills Reading and Writing are analytical skills. You may be good at these if you are a logical person. Train yourself through practice to notice and remember details such as accents and gender agreement. On the other hand, listening and speaking are performance skills. You may do well at these if you are naturally outgoing. Students in English classes often have difficulty hearing and speaking because they are anxious about making mistakes. It's OK to make mistakes! Have fun trying to speak!
Tips on Studying English(3) READING SKILLS TIPS: 1. Read the vocabulary list for the assignment. Next, read the questions about the reading. Then read all the way through a new passage two or three times, guessing at meaning from context. Avoid word-byword translation. 2. Isolate new vocabulary and study it separately. DON'T write between the lines! Make flash cards. Carry them with you and recite them. Learn until they are easy. 3. Isolate new grammatical forms and study them separately. Write the pattern on a flash card and memorize it. Write out and label a model sentence. When you encounter the form while reading, pause and recite the pattern to recognize the form.
Tips on Studying English(4) WRITING SKILLS TIPS: 1. Pay attention to detail: notice accents, order of letters, etc. Compare letter-by-letter different forms (singular, plural, gender, etc.). Write out conjugations of verbs and check your endings. Memorize irregular verbs. 2. To master spelling, have a friend dictate 10 words to you. Write them out and immediately have your friend spell them correctly aloud while you look carefully and point at each letter. Repeat until you get all the words right. 3. Write (in your own simple English vocabulary words) a story you have just read.
Tips on Studying English(5) LISTENING SKILLS TIPS: 1. Listen to language tapes. Read the exercises in your book first, then listen and read together; then listen without looking. Say aloud/write what you hear. 2. Participate silently in class when others are called on to speak. Focus on the task. 3. If you feel nervous, relax yourself physically by taking a slow, deep breath. When called on, pause, relax, and give yourself time to respond. 4. Listen while a friend dictates to you and write what you hear. Check for accuracy. 5. Join language clubs, watch TV, listen to the radio. Practice.
Tips on Studying English(6) SPEAKING SKILLS TIPS: 1. Study out loud! Mimic the sounds of the language. Don't mumble. Although most people feel embarrassed making strange sounds, the language will soon feel more familiar to you. 2. When called on in class, say something, even it it's wrong. You'll learn from it. If you need a moment to think, repeat the question. If you don't know the answer, say in English, "I don't know" or "help!" 3. Practice with a foreign student who wants your help to learn English or with another class member. 4. When you are walking down the street, try to think in English.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed Module 9.