Effective Teaching Tips from Hooping.org

Ever heard of Hooping? Hoola Hooping that is! I found these great teaching tips on hooping.org which is "dedicated to the underground hooping community."

Hooping.org gets high marks for entertainment value and some very interesting discussions, including this one on Teaching Effectively, in this case, teaching how to use the hoola hoop, but also applies to teaching ESL.

Teaching Tips:

1. Before class has even begun, I encourage students to read a description of what will be covered which is usually posted on my website or on a flier.

2. I always begin a class with a spoken description of what we did last time and what we will do today, while also physically doing those things at the same time so students can both see and hear.

3. I always demonstrate a trick/concept for the students to see at least 3 times while talking them through
it before they try it. While they try it I constantly move around in front of students having problems.

4. I always pause mid class to recap what we have learned so far. And then I do the same for where we are going.

6. At the end of class I recap everything we did speaking and demonstrating.

7. When I remember, I like to say what we will be doing in the next class.

8. Throughout class, I give descriptions of how moves/concepts feel using as much visual and sensorial description as possible, almost poetic to really bring students alive into their senses.

8. When I first started, I used to send students home with a xeroxed set of notes about what was learned, but I haven't maintained this always. I am sure it is helpful to people who like to take home paper to review things in this way.

by Keith Taylor

Learning a language is a complex and long process as anyone who has tried will agree. One of the most difficult and frustrating things is making the transition from the classroom to the 'real' world. In the classroom, everyone knows you are a student and mistakes are allowed, and the environment is contained and safe. Speaking another language outside the classroom is completely different and often students are lost at sea as soon as they step outside the
door. Lists of memorized vocabulary are suddenly useless when ordering in a restaurant.

Role-plays, or simulations are one of the ways ESL instructors can ease students' transition into using English in real world situations. A simulation is where students act out a real-life situation, for example checking into at a hotel, but do not act out a different personality. Role-plays are where students take on different personalities. In a role-play, for example, one student may be asked to take on the role of "an angry neighbor" which is out of character for the student.

Role-plays require more imagination by students and teacher and can be difficult to manage because they are unpredictable. The initial scenario develops from the students interacting with each other and can literally go in any direction. This gives students practice in a non-threatening environment, and gives the motivation and involvement where they have to think in English. Role-plays are interesting, memorable and engaging, and students retain the material they have earned. In their assumed role, students drop their shyness and other personality and cultural inhibitions, making them one of the best tools available for teaching a second language.

Here are a few pointers and suggestions to assist ESL teachers using and managing role-plays:

-The more engaging the better. The value of role-plays come from students immersing themselves in the material. - Choose a 'hot' topic and stage a debate. Assign students positions on the topic (for/against). This will get students out of their personality and into the role where they do not have the same inhibitions.

- Preparation is very important to success. Give students 'personality cards' which sketch out their personal characteristics or scenario. Divide students into groups and give them time to sketch out various scenarios, and go over extra or special vocabulary ask them to discuss how they will act, think about the character and plan what they will say. For example, what are possible responses/replies for the angry neighbor?

- The teacher, as facilitator of the role-play must support students in their role, i.e. they 'are' in the backyard arguing over the fence. Don't do anything to interrupt the pretend environment. Leave grammar correction to the end. Correcting students in the middle of an argument
interrupts the pretend environment. Make notes and do a debriefing after.


Full Article >>>

“Learn How To Make A Difference In The Lives Of Your Students And Inspire Them To Do Their Best For The Rest Of Their Lives With Teacher Tested Techniques You Can Use Immediately In Your Classroom" Learn More >>>

The free discussion and debate activities we have included every month have been incredibly successful and so we have expanded our free discussions section to include a full debate. These exciting new activities can be used for Intermediate students, omitting the more difficult sections, or for hours of activities, discussions and a real debate for advanced students.

We hope that you enjoy our new activities!


Cat Trapped in Deli Walls

Molly is a cat that spends her time mousing in a delicatessen that sells British foods. One day, Molly wandered into a space between the inner and outer walls and got lost inside the walls. People outside the building could hear Molly's frantic meowing.

Crowds of onlookers and reporters gathered to see Molly's rescue. Rescuers tried everything from using a psychic to using and a kitten to bring Molly out. In the end, it was good old-fashioned elbow grease that got the job done.

Rescuers worked around the clock to rescue Molly from inside the building walls. First, rescuers drilled a hole through the cellar walls, and then hammered out bricks.

Molly was finally pulled out from a small space between the walls by a tunnel worker who was volunteering in the rescue.

Molly lived between the walls of the building for fourteen days. When she was rescued, the Molly looked calm and wasn't panicked.

Her first meal after the rescue was roasted pork morsels and sardines in oil and water.

Molly was rescued by Animal Search & Rescue. They have an agreement with the city to handle lost, sick and unwanted animals.

They have a place on their website for people to donate money to help pay for the wall repairs at the deli.
 

Vocabulary List

Cellar - Basement
Delicatessen - A shop that sells cooked or prepared foods ready for serving
Donate - To present as a gift to a fund or cause; contribute
Exterior - outside
Frantic – inside
Hammered – to hit with a hammer
Kittens – baby cats
Meowing – make a meow sound
Mousing – catch mice
Narrow – thin
Onlooker - One that looks on; a spectator
Panic – terror or alarm, fear
Pork morsels – small pieces or pork
Psychic – a person with ESP – can tell the future
Reporters - A writer, investigator, or presenter of news stories
Rescuers – people who rescue
Sardines – small fish
Tunnel - underground passage
Tunnel worker – worker in tunnels
Unwanted – not wanted
Volunteering - to give work for free
Wandered – to walk with no purpose or destination

Idioms

In the end – at last, finally. We tried everything and in the end…
Elbow grease – physical effort. Using your hands. I will have to use elbow grease…
Around the clock – 24 hours a day. We worked around the clock.


Listening Comprehension Exercise.

Read the news story above and have students fill in the blanks

1 . Molly is a cat that spends her time _______ in a delicatessen that sells _______ foods.

2. One day, Molly wandered into a _______ between the inner and outer walls and got lost inside the _______.

3. People outside the _______ could hear Molly's frantic meowing.

4. Crowds of onlookers and reporters gathered to see Molly's _________.

5. Rescuers tried __________ from using a psychic to using and a kitten to bring Molly out.

6. In the end, it was good old-fashioned elbow grease that got the job _______.

7. _______, rescuers drilled a hole through the cellar walls, and then hammered out bricks.

8. Molly was _______ pulled out from a small space _______ the walls by a tunnel worker who was volunteering in the rescue.

9. Molly lived between the walls of the building for _________ days. When she was rescued, the Molly ______ calm and wasn't panicked.

10. Her first _____ after the rescue was roasted pork morsels and sardines in oil and ______.

11. Animal Search & Rescue is a group with an _________ with the city to handle lost, sick and unwanted animals. They have a place on their website for ______ to donate money to help pay for the wall repairs at the deli.

Fill in the Blanks Answers:

1. mousing, British
2. space, walls
3. building
4. rescue
5. everything
6. done
7. first
8. finally, between
9. fourteen, looked
10. meal, water
11. agreement, people

Education Instead of Bullets

Third installment of a Report from Afghanistan , where LEWL has donated ESL curriculum to a grass roots project with the US military to train Afghan ESL teachers.

Our contact in Afghanistan was recently involved in a helicopter accident but was miraculously unharmed. He has since been transferred to a remote area and we are waiting to hear from his replacement teacher.

Downed Helicopter with Soldier/ESL Teacher in Afghanistan

Welcome to our new ESL JOBS section which has proved to be very popular with our subscribers. Below are jobs posted on May 10. For updates every day, please visit our website for daily updates.

• English Language Teacher Developers -- North Korea
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 12:08:03 -0600
  English teaching opportunities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. £24,877 a year plus benefits (including rent-free accommodation, air fares and health care provision)...
• Summer English Teachers -- Hong Kong
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 12:08:03 -0600
  We invite applications from native speakers of English to teach summer language programmers for kids aged 3-13. Must be friendly, out-going, dynamic, energetic and love teaching kids! University graduate or equivalent preferred.
• ESL Teacher -- Saudi Aramco
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:44 -0600
  Seeking an English Teacher for a position in its Industrial Training Center at the corporate headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
• Study or Teach in China for Summer
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:46 -0600
  Teach Abroad is proud to offer over 100 exciting paid and volunteer teaching opportunities on mainland China. We are ACTIVELY recruiting for the SUMMER, Fall, and Spring semesters.
• Business English Teacher -- France
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:43 -0600
  Needed immediately: Business English teacher for students at an institute of higher business education. Candidate must have an appropriate university diploma (bac +5) and teaching experience. Business experience a plus.
• University Teachers -- China
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:42 -0600
  Native English speakers; Numbers needed: 25; Age: 20-50; Education: diploma or degree; Teaching experience: at least one year in China.
• English Teachers Overseas -- Japan / Korea
  published on Wed, 10 May 2006 11:59:42 -0600
  TEACH in Japan/Korea. Salary $30-$47K/yr. 20-25 hr./wk. Min. B.A. B.ED or B. A. + ESL.
• English Language Teachers -- Taiwan Ministry of Education
  published on Tues, 9 May 2006 11:59:42 -0600
  The Taiwan Ministry of Education is initiating a new project to enhance the quality of English teaching education in rural Taiwan and offshore islands of Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu.
• EFL/EAP Instructors -- Turkey
  published on Tues, 9 May 2006 11:59:42 -0600
  Bilkent University School of English Language Preparatory Program (Ankara, Turkey) invites applications from motivated and hardworking native speaker instructors who have a strong sense of responsibility and are willing to work in a professionally demanding environment.
• TEFL Teachers -- China
  published on Tues, 9 May 2006 11:59:41 -0600
  Graduates, TEFL trained, to teach English to Chinese primary or secondary pupils in a well resourced private school in Guangzhou, southern China. Top remuneration package, including free food & good accommodation, return flights, end of year bonus...
• Travel and Volunteer -- Worldwide
  published on Tues, 9 May 2006 11:59:41 -0600
  Make a difference with a Teaching & Projects Abroad placement. Help on interesting and worthwhile placements while adding value to your CV without needing a TEFL qualification.
• Native English Speakers -- Thailand
  published on Tues, 9 May 2006 11:59:41 -0600
  Native English Speakers - to teach English In & Outside BKK. Good Salary, Insurance...
• EFL Teacher -- IH Hamburg
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:20:00 -0600
  General and business English to employees, in school and on company premises. CELTA and at least 2 years' CELTA experience. Other work experience prior to TEFL very desirable. Freelance contract, airfare London - Hamburg, paid by school and we help in finding accommodation.
• Teach at a US-accredited College in Dalian, China
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:20:00 -0600
  The LNU-MSU College of International Business is recruiting English-speaking teachers to teach courses in a variety of fields.
• Teaching in Greece
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:19:59 -0600
  We are looking for an English-speaking tutor for our son who will be 14 years of age in the next school term.(September of 2006 to June of 2007) Essential skills include teaching math, literature and writing. The tutor will be responsible for all areas of the curriculum and needs good organizational skills.
• Jobs in Germany (inlingua)
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:19:59 -0600
  Full / part time opportunities available for qualified / experienced native English speaking Teachers.
• Seoul School -- Korea
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:19:59 -0600
  Seoul school 2.0-2.2 million won, 20-25 hours per week. Very fair school.
• Thailand -- Public School Placements ASAP
  published on Mon, 8 May 2006 11:19:59 -0600
  Teach English in a public school in Thailand in the historic city Ayutthaya! Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO this will be an amazing cultural and spiritual experience for any teacher.

ESL Bingo

ON SALE!
Every month we have a new special -- games, ESL Mysteries and more!
http://www.efl-esl.com/specials/index.htm

ESL for CHILDREN
Visit our sister site for ESL materials for teaching children age 8 - 12.
http://www.esl-storybooks.com

ESL Curriculum
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http://efl-esl.com/esl-curriculum/index.html

ESL GAMES
Looking for something different for your students? Try ESL Games!
http://www.esl-games.net

ESL Jobs
Travel the World and Teach! Hundreds of jobs are waiting.
http://www.efl-esl.com/esl-jobs/

This Newsletter is brought to you by Learning English with Laughter Ltd.!
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The author can be contacted at:
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(C) Learning English with Laughter Ltd.  2006 All rights reserved.

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