Files/videos/thoughts
If you can SAY it, you can HEAR it!!
Pronunciation is VERY important
Daily Dictation is an ESL/EFL channel on YouTube for people who want to improve their English listening skills. Various audio samples are used to teach the vast varieties of English pronunciation. The purpose of these videos is to expose English students to as many types of English scenarios as possible. An introduction to the background of the topic being discussed, a discussion of cultural points, and a detailed discussion of the pronunciation make up most of the lessons.
What kind of things can I do to make my lessons more creative?
Depending what kind of work your children have done before, perhaps initially you might need to take a handful of ideas every week and let the children explore how to successfully do them. This ensures that the children know how to do a variety of activities so they don’t avoid some because they are unsure of how to tackle it – or so they don’t just stick to making posters because it’s easy.
Lesson management
Here are some things I’ve found useful to remember in trying to provide effective learning experiences in lessons.
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Know what your objective is for each lesson – what you want the students to have done and learned by the end of the lesson.
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Look through the materials you’re going to use and write brief notes of headings to remind yourself of what you want to, in which order and what reserve task you have in mind if you find yourself with extra time or an activity needs to be changed.
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Vary activities, but ensure they fit together to construct a smooth, coherent sequence. Activities may be fast or slow, easy or difficult, fun or serious. Students may work alone, in pairs or groups, or in a whole class interaction with the teacher. They may speak, read, listen or write.
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Ensure you’ve got their attention before you start the lesson and make sure they know and follow any routines you’ve given (such as always having books and writing materials on their desks, bags off the desks and are seated appropriately).
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When doing group work, give instructions and ensure these are understood before dividing into groups. You might demonstrate the task with some students as purely verbal instructions may not be clearly comprehended.
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Tell the students how long activities should last and keep an eye on the clock yourself. You don’t want to run out of time for key tasks at the end.
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Don’t wait till the bell rings to give homework. Students will start packing up and not be attentive. Give any homework earlier, ensure they’ve written it down and remind them at the end.
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Ensure all students are engaged throughout the lesson. This doesn’t mean they are all speaking English all the time. Some learners may be quiet, but passively taking in a lot.