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Re: SK4 - Unit 6
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Re: SuperKids 1 - Unit 6 resources
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Re: SuperKids 1 - Unit 9 resources
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SK4 - Unit 1
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Re: Super Ittai Wani
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SK4 - Unit 6
by sakura1998
February 17, 2010, 09:41:55 PM
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Links  |
English Raven
Techonlogy In The Classroom and More...
DLTK Kids
Quizlet
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Lauri's ESL Website
SparkleBox
Conjugate a verb
English-test.net
ESL Pritables
English Language Center - Study Zone
Barry Fun English
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| Most Recent Teaching Articles |
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| Teaching English to hobbyists |
| Submitted By:
sakura1998
Date: February 07, 2009, 06:43:39 AM
Views: 1090
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| Summary: Many ESL students in conversation schools are hobbyists (a lot of the resources on this site are dedicated to dealing with them)
Teaching a 'hobby student' in a small class is very different from what most ESL courses prepare you for... |
Teaching English to highly motivated professionals or young folks dedicated to passing that TOEFL or TOEIC test is very, very different from teaching three elderly ladies who come to English school for entertainment on Tuesday night...
However, the course material and the majority of texts out there are not geared at all for this (very large) section of the market.
So... Here you go Teaching Hobbyists (a very short article)
1. Games and activities (you're in the right place  )
If your lessons are dry and boring, they will stop coming. They are here to enjoy themselves (this is their hobby after all...)
2. Adjust your expectations (and theirs if necessary)
Unrealistic expectations on the part of both teachers and students can also be a killer here.
Scenario One - The teacher comes armed with all the latest teaching techniques and everything they need for their class to become reasonably proficient in English in two years, but the students just want to chat (half of the time in L1!!)
The teacher becomes frustrated, disillusioned and not a lot of fun to be around and, before long, the students stop coming.
Always remember - This Is Their Hobby! (out of 100 points, concrete progress is only worth 20 to them - you can be a very good teacher indeed, but will lose most of your students if your lessons aren't fun)
Scenario Two - The student comes thinking that one hour's conversation a week is going to bring them to native level in about, say, twelve weeks... 
Students need to have it gently explained that how much or how little English they learn comes down to them, not their teacher.
They shouldn't be completely disillusioned, but neither should their hopes be falsely inflated (I tell them that learning English is a lot of fun - especially in my class - and they can become as good as they want to be, depending on how much practice they do at home)
3. Sugar Coating
You need to walk a fine line with this type of student. They want to have fun, but they also do want to learn some English.
But... They will very likely have a low threshold for any real work (in class and at home) and may be inclined to chat in L1 a fair bit with their classmates.
I told you before you were in the right place, and I meant it...
What you need are games that allow you to drill without being boring (did I mention that your hobbyists will be mainly of fairly low level? They need drill, but they don't like it!)
Games, games, games and pair-work (disguised as a game) It's a lot like getting a cat to take a pill - you need to be damn sneaky to pull it off...
I'm going to end after three points... (told you it would be a short article  )
Abruptly yours,
Mark.
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