Fulltime TESOL Classes

Managing equipment and teaching aidsThere are so many factors that contribute to understanding and effective learning. The teacher needs to consider and realize all these contributing factors and adopt various roles and methodologies to promote learning. Teaching students in a language other than their mother tongue presents a greater challenge for the teacher as he/she cannot rely merely on spoken words for explanation, but has to apply a more visual teaching approach. Thus the EFL teacher will need to pay extra attention to his/her physical presence and voice in the classroom as well as demonstrate meaning by using equipment and teaching aids. This article will examine various equipment and teaching aids used, and run through the advantages and effective use of each for the TEFL classroom. Using an overhead projector (OHP) is a good way to reduce the unnecessary usage of paper; Instead of handouts, *you (the teacher) can use lesson material and activities on overhead transparencies (OHTs) which can be filed for future use. *You can also write and illustrate on blank OHTs with non-permanent markers that can be and be altered or erased for reuse in other lessons or layered over the original OHTs. Advantages of an OHP include; -Time can be spent preparing OHTs in advance, ensuring legibility and relevance -It saves time and eliminates the need to turn away from the students to write on the board. -It will focus and hold the attention of the class -OHTs can be layered to show emerging patterns and to write over text without altering the original. -OHTs can be filed and reused for revision and future lessons or cleaned completely for rewriting -it’s a very useful tool for correcting written work as a class, giving feedback, making comparisons and highlighting different layouts and language points to the students -Sections of the OHT can be blocked out using paper or card and revealed when required -it’s an effective way to model grammar and introduce vocabulary -it can be used for numerous lesson activities such as timed reading, gap fills, spot the difference, make comparisons, memory game (cover and uncover words or images), text analysis and anything else you would do on the board. Visuals such as pictures, photos, charts, real objects etc illustrate meaning more quickly and effectively, therefore reducing teacher talk time, and can be produced by the teacher. It’s a good idea to use visuals whenever possible to aid memory and reinforce understanding. For effectiveness the visuals will have to be unambiguous and large enough for everyone to see. Advantages and use of Visual aids; -to add variety and interest to the lesson - attract and hold the students’ attention - assist the learning process and memory retention - stimulate discussion and elicit language -for prompts in communication games and story building -to set the context or introduce topics - presenting new vocabulary items Worksheets and cards can be produced by the teacher or bought from a publisher. They work well with language practice and for progress indication. Worksheets can be produced creatively and made fun and interesting for students to test out there language skills. Cards can be covered in plastic or laminated for reuse. Advantages and use of worksheets include: -to prompt and cue materials - produce your own exercises with authentic material - adapt published material and course books - use for communication activities (make role play cards) - use in reading and grammar tasks and present new vocabulary (flash cards) Cassette recorder- cassettes accompany many course books and aid understanding and pronunciation accuracy. Cassettes are useful for prompts as well as language drills. Students’ communication and language progress can be recorded onto blank cassettes during role plays, reading and oral activities. Authentic material, such as interviews, news broadcasts, radio hosts or advertisements can be recorded for lesson context. Teachers can even record their own dialogue for class work. To ensure effectiveness of the cassette recorder in the classroom, practice and preparation is essential. Video cameras are mostly used to record student activation and then played back to them later for analysis and class discussion. Like the cassette recorder, the video camera must be used correctly for effectiveness. Advantages and use of a video camera include: -record a film, TV programme, news or advertisement to use for lesson activities such as; role play topic, writing a movie review, advert production, analysis and discussion, comprehension questionnaire and much more -students can record each other, for analysis and discussion. -students can use a video camera to interview people on the streets for a homework assignment. E.g. to conduct market research or surveys to see how many people use rain water tanks and recycle bins in their home. Computers can be used for so many things in the classroom, but shouldn’t be overused however, as it will lose impact and may cause students to become uncommunicative when using a computer too often. A computer with internet access can be extremely useful for the teacher as there are plenty of websites to access for support and lesson ideas. Advantages and use of computers include: -for email communication so EFLs from around the world can communicate with each other -as a word processor, put text together attractively using graphics and design programmes to create effective presentations for lessons and projects -to play language games, quizzes, tests and self evaluation tasks -as a reference tool, allowing students access to CD dictionaries, encyclopaedias and various internet material for research and class work, as well as lesson preparation for the teacher Dictionaries are so valuable for language students and can be available in book or computer form. -a good dictionary will help students discover meaning, pronunciation and correct usage, as well as assist with language production and writing skills. -The teacher should encourage students to use english - english dictionaries that are presented clearly with simple definitions and example sentences. Teachers must instruct students on how to use a dictionary effectively, and also incorporate dictionary work into lessons for practice and skills development. A Course book is usually expected by the students and is designed for their appropriate language level and course syllabus. Course books can be used with supplemented and created materials, such as custom worksheets and activities, to interest students specifically and suit their needs. Advantages and use of a course book include: - It can be adapted or supplemented to suit the needs of your students - It offers more support and guidance for the teacher - It has usually been tried and tested before publication - It’s graded to a level suitable to the students - It’s easier and less time consuming to supplement than creating materials or a syllabus from scratch - It usually includes extra materials to reinforce language points and aid understanding - It usually provides a balanced mix of grammar, vocabulary and skills practice - It offers continuity and progression - It’s often appealing and attractively designed. - It offers ongoing revision Resource books are used to adapt, supplement or replace material from the course book. A resource book offers grammar exercises, lesson material and activity ideas as well as games, assessment and self evaluation tasks and more. This will help me plan more stimulating and interesting lessons. A Photocopier to copy supplementary material. It’s also useful for duplicating activity resources to share, for instance with a student who may have forgotten to bring newspaper articles or magazine cut-outs to class for a collage or brochure design activity. Unnecessary photocopying should be discouraged however, and using both sides of the paper as well as recycling worksheets at the end of the course is a good practice to modal environmental responsibility to your students. The (white/black/chalk) board is probably the most standard or commonly used teaching equipment and should feature in most classrooms. Here are some tips for using the board to maximum effect. ~It is good to pre-plan your board work on a piece of paper so you know what you are going to write, draw or display and when. ~start with a clean board and clean it again at the end of the lesson. You must keep your board clean and easy to read throughout the lesson ~write neatly and clearly so the students can read it ~use the correct writing tool or stationary for the board and have extras available (chalk, markers, eraser) ~use columns or your own method to section off the board so as to not confuse yourself or the students when referring to various parts of the board work, such as vocabulary lists, grammar rules, definitions and corrections ~the size of your handwriting should be adjusted to suit the board size and be clearly visible from the back of the class ~erase board work that is no longer required or leave up language points for the students to refer to during activities ~use different colours to highlight points of importance or focus, (e.g. to show language differences, irregularities, exceptions to the rule, verb changes) ~involve the students in board work so that they are actively involved in the learning process. This will also motivate them and hold the class’ attention ~only put important and essential information on the board ~write what you can before class to save time and to avoid having your back turned to the students unnecessarily. It is important to manage your equipment and teaching aids appropriately! Know how to operate each and pre-plan how you will use the relevant equipment effectively, with minimal disruption and time required for set up. It isn’t likely that classrooms will be fully equipped with all the above mentioned, therefore knowing how to make the most of each separately will prove helpful when teaching with limited equipment, space and resources.