English teacher

[sayjaykay]

Hello,

I am new to China. I am teaching grade levels 2-6. I teach in a school with virtually no technology available.

My students conversational English skill are rudimentary at best. I have some better speakers but they are limited in number.

I am looking for some good lesson ideas that don't require handouts. Classrooms have no computers, overheads, projectors of any kind. None of the TVs appear to work. There are no English books in the classrooms or library. I can't even use a video. Printing, while not out of the question, is iffy.

Can someone give me some ideas, please. I am getting frusterated. Thanks.

Sayjaykay

[kitosdad]

Doh-ray-me-fa-so-la-tee-doh. As in " The King and I "

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by kitosdad

Doh-ray-me-fa-so-la-tee-doh. As in " The Sound of Music"

..

[Searching for language]

Best of luck.................... this reminds me of the first few weeks after my family came to Canada. We spoke no English and were literally dropped into an english speaking school system. It was either "sink or swim." Fortunately, we ended up "swimming."

I have no idea of how to help you out, though. Sorry!

[omayr]

Respect everybody.

Well, I remember teaching for long years and that was really hard when I started without technologicaal materials. However, those years were successful! Believe it.
So, I advise you to center your teaching on the learner, let them be operators and you just a monitor. How? Only with a KIS (Keep It Simple)! Unify the topic and simplify as possible as they can participate: because simplisity would motivate them to participate and warm the class just becuase of the sense they feel have found in learning new things through pair work of course -speaking.

SVP, never even mention 'frustration'. That's the first step of retreating to worse levels. Create your own environment of optimism! Be hopeful!

[MaryTeacher]

Hi-

You could create books for the classroom with the students.

First: choose a well-known story that you are comfortable with, and create simple pictures to tell the story.

Use the pictures to tell the story (eliciting as much language as possible from students). Then have students work on retelling the story.

When the students are comfortable with the story, you can start writing it- either on the board, or on large sheets of paper. Students could copy it, or they could copy one sentence to a page, and then illustrate their sentence. All the pages could be compiled to tell the story, and you've created a book for your classroom library. You could use this technique for any stories.

You could use the same technique with songs: use some pics for key vocabulary, and teach the students simple songs. At the end you could write the lyrics on the board, and students can copy them. The next day you could write a simple cloze exercise on the board, and they can complete it.

Use action games like simon says for simple verbs. Teach vocabulary for animals and play charades.

Have students draw pictures about their families, and daily lives. Then help them label the pictures and tell other students about their pictures.

You could create a word wall with new vocabulary, and have students illustrate each word card.

Try to create a routine, and with students at these age, vary the activities and let them move around. Action songs and rhymes are great, and good for rhythm and intonation.

I hope some of these ideas might work for you!

Mary

[phorntita]

Is there any whiteboard or some ? I think you've to write the new lessons on board. It's the only way that I can advise you now that you don't like any handouts, dear

Originally Posted by sayjaykay

Hello,

I am new to China. I am teaching grade levels 2-6. I teach in a school with virtually no technology available.

My students conversational English skill are rudimentary at best. I have some better speakers but they are limited in number.

I am looking for some good lesson ideas that don't require handouts. Classrooms have no computers, overheads, projectors of any kind. None of the TVs appear to work. There are no English books in the classrooms or library. I can't even use a video. Printing, while not out of the question, is iffy.

Can someone give me some ideas, please. I am getting frusterated. Thanks.

Sayjaykay

[HensTeeth]

You need: a pair of scissors, a piece of paper and some glue.
Purpose of lesson: shapes, colours, following instructions.
Get your students to follow your step by step instructions to make a paper lantern and a few links of paper chain to hang it up with.

1. What shape is this? Rectangle.
2. Fold a corner into a point, and you get a ... triangle.
3. Cut this strip away, to see a folded... triangle.
4. Open the triangle, and you'll get a ... square.
5. Fold the square in half, and you'll get another... rectangle.
6. Into the folded side of the paper, cut strips two-thirds of the way in.
7. Now take the strip from 3. and cut that into two strips.
8. Fold the square on the opposite side and glue the two edges together.
9. Use one of the strips to make a handle.
10. Use more strips to make a paper chain.

If it doesn't sound straightforward - it actually is very simple - you can look up paper lanterns on the internet.

I am sure that your students will show you more paper-folding things.

[ICAL_Pete]

Check the ESL Activities in the ICALwiki - there are many you can prepare yourself without requiring a lot of materials.