ESL Lesson Plan

Hi William

The best way to organize a large class is to have the desk in a horse shoe, this way
you will be in the middle of the students and can give your lectures for best
effect. It also you the opportunity to see how the student are comprehending the
lesson and all gives the teacher the best vantage point to observe the students
while they do lesson assignments. The horshoe shape can also be effective in smaller
groups. It allows the students a un obstructive view of the teacher and the teacher
a un obstructive view of the students. In smaller groups I have pulled a chair in
the middle of the horseshoe and conducted the class. This keeps the teacher at eye
level with the students which allows you to read the students comprehension of the
lesson. I hope this helps in some small way.

Best regards

Mike Harrison

Hi Carol
ESL PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
I am hoping you can help me with information, resources or tips about working with ESL Young Learners at an Experimental Government Primary School in China.
My previous experience in ESL was with Middle School students in China a few years ago and I have done some Early Childhood training in the past.
As I am considering a job where I only have four weeks to learn the job, I am trying to pick up what I can before I start.
In particular, I would like to know if Primary School students in China have an ESL curriculum and where I can obtain some info on the internet.
Can you help me please?
Regards
Laurel

Hi Laurel,

From my experience teaching primary school students in China, it's possible that the students will have some kind of basic English textbook. However, my guess is that their purpose in hiring a foreign teacher will be to introduce "real" English to the class, e.g. using your own materials.

I would recommend that you contact your school directly to find out what books they are using and to find out if they want you to continue working with those books while you are there. Also, it would be useful to find out what kind of resources you will have access to (e.g. paper, photocopying machine, art supplies, books, etc.).

In addition, I would also start collecting some resources for the classroom. Here are some things that I found useful:

* flashcards (A4 size is best) of animals, colors, numbers, food, letters, and people (you can buy these cheaply in China or you can start making your own by cutting out pictures from magazines)
* children's books (can be found at charity shops or garage sales for pennies)
* children's games
* book of children's songs
* yoga for children (a great way to calm children down)
* "Teaching English to Children in Asia" by David Paul
* "Teaching English to Children" by Wendy A. Scott and Lisbeth H. Ytreberg
* puppets, soft toys, and bean bags
* stickers
* lined books for practicing handwriting

Let us know how it turns out.

Hope that helps!

Carol,
Writer, ESL Lesson Plan
www.esl-lesson-plan.com

I would recommend some of the same books too. What I think none of them recommend is how to teach small classes that are not 1 to 1. Two students can be more challenging than 20 if you have mixed levels, interests, needs etc. Does anyone know of a book or website that specifically mentions that?

TEFLtastic blog- www.tefl.net/alexcase

Thanks so very much for taking your time to create this very useful and informative site. I have learned a lot from your site. Thanks!