Do you want to be TEFL or TESOL-certified in Kansas? Are you interested in teaching English in Herndon, Kansas? Check out our opportunities in Herndon, Become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language and start teaching English in your community or abroad! Teflonline.net offers a wide variety of Online TESOL Courses and a great number of opportunities for English Teachers and for Teachers of English as a Second Language. Here Below you can check out the feedback (for one of our units) of one of the 16.000 students that last year took an online course with ITTT!
This final unit of the course covers troubleshooting and common problem solutions. During the first lesson of your class it is important to establish a rapport between students and also between the teacher and the class, and the tone must be set for the rest of the course. Some teachers may have a new group of students, who doesn’t know each other yet and these students may be unfamiliar with EFL methodology. Existing groups will already know each other and be comfortable working together. The course book should not be used on the first day and the teacher should spend time getting to know the students, finding out about their needs and aspirations with English as well as each students’ level.
On the first day you can do this by giving your students questionnaires or surveys, playing games like Tell Us About and pass the ball, or doing a needs analysis. Teachers can begin the class with warmers like hangman, Pictionary, tongue twisters or memory games.
A class may have many different levels of English, so the teacher may have to use different materials for different students, use the same material and give different tasks, or pair the weaker students with stronger students, making sure the stronger students don’t dominate. Some teachers prefer to do nothing and let the students find out their own level on their own, but in doing this some of the weaker students may become frustrated and the stronger students may get bored.
If the number of students in your class is rather large it may be difficult to involve all of your students and to control the class. To help with this, teachers can use worksheets, pair/group work and choral repetition in the lesson. Teachers should make sure all students can see and hear the lesson well and can also appoint group leaders.
The students may want to communicate in their native language sometimes either to communicate something they feel they cannot express in English, or even to help another student understand. Although they are trying to help, and you may feel for your students, this should be discouraged. Teachers can help by making sure the activities used are at an appropriate level for the student and that they have the necessary language to cope. You must make sure explanations are clear to all class members and encourage and constantly remind students to speak in English where appropriate. Teachers should always respond to students as well.
There may be students who are reluctant to study English (or at all) for whatever reason, so the teacher can combat this by using plenty of pair work, controlled practice, role-play or a tape recorder. Students may have difficulty understanding listening texts and this can cause some teachers to avoid using tapes. This should not happen. Make sure to check the quality of the audio and choose a pace the entire class can follow. Teachers can also keep a selection of extra material on hand if needed.
