listening skills, or to improve note-taking techniques (these are useful for all Listening and Reading Comprehension activities). When as teachers we dominate the subject, however, we fall into error, as students are not given the opportunity to participate, and develop their Speaking skills. When we train this is stressed on, but after years of teaching one tends to eliminate the more creative and fun activities, and substitute them for didactic lectures. There are many reasons for this, pressure for better discipline in the classroom, lack of resources and materials, end-of-course deadlines to be met, exam results to be boosted, etc. There is pressure on teachers to perform well, their name and that of the institution where they are placed/hired is at stake. For novice teachers and teachers in training the experience is still new, they are more willing to experiment, and try out creative ideas. Experienced "seasoned" teachers have better understanding of how to control a classroom and their approach is more practical and didactic.
In other words teachers do a lot of speaking, students do less. At least in a disciplined classroom, when in recess or on a lunch break (depending on students' age ) balance is regained, and they are just as noisy. One hopes that their conversation refers back to what was discussed in the classroom.
Here are some ideas to get them to speak more and more fluently, and hopefully leave some good memories from their learning experience.
It's imperative that the teacher gets to know the group. They will have to spot the strengths and weaknesses of the students quickly in order to help them learn better, and prepare for tests and exams, if that is one of the course's objectives. It's necessary for the students to get to know the teacher and their classmates/coursemates in order to establish a good learning environment, where they would feel at ease to speak. Start the course by introducing yourself, and asking the students to do the same, there are many good ways to do this. I adapted an activity called "Personal Star" , mentioned on the British Council website, and have started asking students, from primary school to junior high school (all llevels) from high school to university (beginners), to first draw a fun star in their notebooks. Then write their first name in the centre and a favourite thing in each one of the star's rays. I start by making my Personal Star on the whiteboard, writing my name in the centre, and a helpful question in each of the rays for them to answer.
What is your favourite colour?
What is your favourite animal?
What is your favourite food?
What is your favourite hobby?
What is your favourite school subject/sport?
For small groups they work on their star individually, for larger groups in pairs, or small teams, I usually end with a class discussion. I tell them a bit about myself using the star questions, and they introduce themselves and talk about their favourite things. I find this is a great first lesson ice-breaker. It creates a nice environment and students feel confident to speak.
Click on the following links for other activities which encourage students to speak and exchange personal information:
Asure that all students are given the opportunity to participate. Encourage shier students. Give them incentives: points, candy, stickers, stamps, tickets.
Organise debates for intermediate and advanced students. Pose a controversial topic, divide the class/group in teams, ask Team A to be in favour, ask Team B to be against. Each team prepares their argument. Mix the two teams, and have the debate. Decide together which team was more convincing. You can even have a vote.
Have class discussions when starting a new topic, follow it up with a reading comprehension and/or listening comprehension activity. Use these discussions to elicit topic-related vocabulary. Ask students to present on these topics individually or in small teams, at the end of the course, using relevant vocabulary.
These are some techniques that I use in the classroom.
Hope you've found these useful, and thank you for reading today's entry.
No comments:
Post a Comment