Here are a few of my thoughts on my first experience of teaching that featured in one of my blog posts earlier this month. Teaching for the first time can be really daunting, so I hope these tips demystify it all a bit..!
1. Never underestimate repetition.
It might sound stupid to you but it really does take a long time for a new peice of vocabularly to be introduced, learnt and remembered. I'm embarassed how many times I've asked for P'Om to repeat certain Thai words and exactly the same goes for my students. Learning a second language is hard. Repitition is golden.
2. Be patient.
Languages aren't learnt in a day. Sometimes a silent few minutes in front of a working class can feel like hours, but don't be scared to leave time for students to think things through for themselves and work it out.
3. Always have an escape route*
Sometimes it's just too hot or everyone is just too tired. Having a few games or songs as back up are so useful to re-energise or re-focus the class if they're flagging.
4. Don't be scared to ask for help.
It still feels like a privilege as a teaching assistant to be left alone at the front of the class to teach, but it can be a burden too. Never feel like you're failing if you have to ask for help - it helps the students more than anything and helps develop a good relationship with the other teachers at the school.
5. Don't rely on worksheets.
A worksheet can be a blessing and a curse. If they are well planned and given out at the right time in lessons they can be really useful. If they aren't, students are used to copying and completing sheets without actually digesting much of what you are teaching. Make sure you think through the worksheet thoroughly. Try to make sure that the sentences have been covered orally before the student encounters them in their written form. Then test after the worksheet has been completed; it's only another means for the students to practice, by the next lesson you're pretty likely to need to revisit the topics from the previous session and check understanding again.
*Games
Hangman:
Really great to get the children to learn how to spell words and test vocab. Usually primary 4 (8-9 years old) and upwards can do it by themselves
Pictionary:
Great to test to see if they've learnt the vocab, but can be difficult with some of the less able students who struggle to read English.
Vocab race:
Get the students into teams and set a topic (i.e. things in the classroom, things in the bedroom). Give each team a different coloured set of sticky notes and get them to brainstorm items from the topic and race to the board to stick them on.
Word scramble:
After you've taught a set of vocab you can test spelling and knowledge by scrambling up the words and getting the students to unscramble them. For example: chsolo = school. Set it in a time limit and in teams if the class is mixed ability
"In my pencilcase I have..."
Get the students into a circle. The first student names one item they have in their pencilcase, the next student names that item and his/her own item. It continues round the circle until the end of the circle when that student has to name all the things in the pencilcase. It also works for: I'm going to the market and I am going to buy, in my bag I have, in the living room there is, etc.
Below are a few of the resources I've made and activities I've used during the past few weeks teaching English to children aged 4-10. Please feel free to use them!
1. Never underestimate repetition.
It might sound stupid to you but it really does take a long time for a new peice of vocabularly to be introduced, learnt and remembered. I'm embarassed how many times I've asked for P'Om to repeat certain Thai words and exactly the same goes for my students. Learning a second language is hard. Repitition is golden.
2. Be patient.
Languages aren't learnt in a day. Sometimes a silent few minutes in front of a working class can feel like hours, but don't be scared to leave time for students to think things through for themselves and work it out.
3. Always have an escape route*
Sometimes it's just too hot or everyone is just too tired. Having a few games or songs as back up are so useful to re-energise or re-focus the class if they're flagging.
4. Don't be scared to ask for help.
It still feels like a privilege as a teaching assistant to be left alone at the front of the class to teach, but it can be a burden too. Never feel like you're failing if you have to ask for help - it helps the students more than anything and helps develop a good relationship with the other teachers at the school.
5. Don't rely on worksheets.
A worksheet can be a blessing and a curse. If they are well planned and given out at the right time in lessons they can be really useful. If they aren't, students are used to copying and completing sheets without actually digesting much of what you are teaching. Make sure you think through the worksheet thoroughly. Try to make sure that the sentences have been covered orally before the student encounters them in their written form. Then test after the worksheet has been completed; it's only another means for the students to practice, by the next lesson you're pretty likely to need to revisit the topics from the previous session and check understanding again.
*Games
Hangman:
Really great to get the children to learn how to spell words and test vocab. Usually primary 4 (8-9 years old) and upwards can do it by themselves
Pictionary:
Great to test to see if they've learnt the vocab, but can be difficult with some of the less able students who struggle to read English.
Vocab race:
Get the students into teams and set a topic (i.e. things in the classroom, things in the bedroom). Give each team a different coloured set of sticky notes and get them to brainstorm items from the topic and race to the board to stick them on.
Word scramble:
After you've taught a set of vocab you can test spelling and knowledge by scrambling up the words and getting the students to unscramble them. For example: chsolo = school. Set it in a time limit and in teams if the class is mixed ability
"In my pencilcase I have..."
Get the students into a circle. The first student names one item they have in their pencilcase, the next student names that item and his/her own item. It continues round the circle until the end of the circle when that student has to name all the things in the pencilcase. It also works for: I'm going to the market and I am going to buy, in my bag I have, in the living room there is, etc.
Below are a few of the resources I've made and activities I've used during the past few weeks teaching English to children aged 4-10. Please feel free to use them!
colours.pptx | |
File Size: | 1638 kb |
File Type: | pptx |