« previous next »
Pages: 1 2 3 »   Go Down

Author Topic: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English  (Read 3474 times)

Offline andygarth

  • Explorer
  • *
  • Posts: 29
  • Gender: Male
Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« on: May 29, 2011, 07:46:19 am »
I teach low to high level high school girls at a public high school and a vocational high school.

Advice: Create nametags for all the students.

Better yet, have the students create nametags. I bought a bunch of bright construction paper from the stationary store, cut them into quarters, and at the first class, the students create a name tag. One side is written in Korean, the other side is written in English, and they are encouraged to be very cute with it. I collect all of the nametags at the end of the class, and distribute them at the beginning. I also have a plastic bag to organize the classes. This has given me a lot more power as a teacher since JU-RAN be quiet! has a lot more power than short girl with black hair be quiet.
Logged

Offline S.Lee

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 248
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2011, 08:21:06 am »
have/keep an open mind about EVERYTHING :laugh:
Logged

Offline DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP

  • Hero of Waygookistan
  • *****
  • Posts: 1594
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2011, 08:32:25 am »
If one's mind is too open, one may find their brains spilling out ;)
Logged
If you think you can or can't do a thing - you are probably right.

Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.

Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

“When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” Mark Twain

Offline dostoevsky_21_81

  • Super Waygook
  • ***
  • Posts: 269
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2011, 08:55:29 am »
To just relax.  Things won't always go the way you want them to. Don't sweat the small stuff.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2011, 07:32:56 pm by dostoevsky_21_81 »
Logged

Offline cruisemonkey

  • Waygook Genius
  • ****
  • Posts: 542
  • Gender: Male
  • You could be next!
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2011, 09:05:38 am »
Learn to say "No".  ;D
Logged
The Ks once gave me five minutes notice. I didn't know what to do with the extra time.

Offline fattycat100

  • Lesson-Plan Worthy
  • *
  • Posts: 10
  • Gender: Female
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2011, 10:36:18 am »
Do some professional development. If you don't have any TESL related certificate, get one. Or get your BEd or MTESL online while your working. At the very least, join some conferences with a group like KOTESOL.
Logged

Offline southernman

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 146
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2011, 01:04:34 pm »
Turn up to work looking like a professional,  that includes showing respect to everyone at your school
Logged

Offline jackdaniels

  • Global Moderator - LVL 2
  • The Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: I am a geek!!
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2011, 01:13:17 pm »
No matter how bad they are Never develop a grudge against a student/students.
After all they are just kids!  ;D
Logged

Offline hilarity ensues

  • Waygook Genius
  • ****
  • Posts: 672
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2011, 07:31:02 pm »
Quote from: jackdaniels on May 29, 2011, 01:13:17 pm
No matter how bad they are Never develop a grudge against a student/students.
After all they are just kids!  ;D

Best one so far.

I guess mine would be:

Don't lose it in class... when you lose it, the kids know that they've gotten to you.
Logged
"Enough is enough! I've had it with these Monday-Friday kids in these Monday-Friday classrooms!"

Offline Shenanigans

  • Lesson-Plan Worthy
  • *
  • Posts: 10
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2011, 07:46:28 pm »
No matter what, tomorrow is a new day.
Logged

Offline leeb

  • Lesson-Plan Worthy
  • *
  • Posts: 7
  • Gender: Female
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2011, 09:34:27 pm »
I definitely agree with knowing the students' names... if you show interest in them they'll show interest in you.

Since inspiring students to speak English is a huge part of the job, I like to give my students a reason to talk to me. For example, wearing something interesting that they can comment on. Getting involved in the culture by going to concerts and famous places so you can discuss the experience with them. KPOP knowledge is more useful than you'd think!!
Logged

Offline jimmyjamison

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 114
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2011, 09:40:03 pm »
Some people are just born with tragedy in their blood.  :P

But seriously, for god's sake, have fun with these kids! Be spontaneous in the classroom. It is sometimes the hardest but most important thing a teacher can do.

Sing to them. Dance around like a monkey. This is the highest paying clown job on the planet! Enjoy it.

Make at least one period a day enjoyable for your students. These kids are stressed and tired. It kills me to see them sometimes. I have one student who has developed tremors from stress. His hands shake all day. It breaks my heart to see this sweet, intelligent kid shaking and shaking and shaking. AND I am a guy, meaning I have the emotional spectrum of a rock, so if my heart is hurting something is seriously wrong.

For example, last week, for a warm-up with every class, I sang the SpongeBob Theme song. I just had them repeat the chorus, and I sang the rest of the song. I even did the little whistle flute at the end for good measure. Then I made each row into a team, and the team that sang the chorus the best got stamps for their stamp chart.
Logged

Offline hqn0779

  • Lesson-Plan Worthy
  • *
  • Posts: 6
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2011, 12:44:58 am »
Quote from: jimmyjamison on May 29, 2011, 09:40:03 pm
Some people are just born with tragedy in their blood.  :P

But seriously, for god's sake, have fun with these kids! Be spontaneous in the classroom. It is sometimes the hardest but most important thing a teacher can do.

Sing to them. Dance around like a monkey. This is the highest paying clown job on the planet! Enjoy it.

Make at least one period a day enjoyable for your students. These kids are stressed and tired. It kills me to see them sometimes. I have one student who has developed tremors from stress. His hands shake all day. It breaks my heart to see this sweet, intelligent kid shaking and shaking and shaking. AND I am a guy, meaning I have the emotional spectrum of a rock, so if my heart is hurting something is seriously wrong.

For example, last week, for a warm-up with every class, I sang the SpongeBob Theme song. I just had them repeat the chorus, and I sang the rest of the song. I even did the little whistle flute at the end for good measure. Then I made each row into a team, and the team that sang the chorus the best got stamps for their stamp chart.

I also think it's very important to help them enjoy their time in the classroom and having compassion goes a very long way.

Practice compassion.
Logged

Offline natale_laplante

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 182
  • Gender: Female
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2011, 07:51:17 am »
Quote from: hqn0779 on May 30, 2011, 12:44:58 am
Quote from: jimmyjamison on May 29, 2011, 09:40:03 pm
Some people are just born with tragedy in their blood.  :P

But seriously, for god's sake, have fun with these kids! Be spontaneous in the classroom. It is sometimes the hardest but most important thing a teacher can do.

Sing to them. Dance around like a monkey. This is the highest paying clown job on the planet! Enjoy it.

Make at least one period a day enjoyable for your students. These kids are stressed and tired. It kills me to see them sometimes. I have one student who has developed tremors from stress. His hands shake all day. It breaks my heart to see this sweet, intelligent kid shaking and shaking and shaking. AND I am a guy, meaning I have the emotional spectrum of a rock, so if my heart is hurting something is seriously wrong.

For example, last week, for a warm-up with every class, I sang the SpongeBob Theme song. I just had them repeat the chorus, and I sang the rest of the song. I even did the little whistle flute at the end for good measure. Then I made each row into a team, and the team that sang the chorus the best got stamps for their stamp chart.

I also think it's very important to help them enjoy their time in the classroom and having compassion goes a very long way.

Practice compassion.

This is a little difficult for me. I always worry about treading the fine line between compassion and strictness. I worry that if I'm too compassionate, the students might see me as being weak, and if I'm too strict they might see me as being boring and uninteresting.
Logged

Offline amoonbot

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 98
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2011, 08:10:25 am »
Be open minded. I know that's a vague and general statement, but there is a large number of teachers who expect too much out of these students. Unless you're in some gifted academy or hagwon, you won't find too many aspiring English learners. In addition, most of us don't see these students more than once or twice a week, which is hardly effective in increasing a language. That's why I believe you have to be open minded and try your best. I know most of my students won't improve from my games or activities, so I try my best to make it fun for them. I try to provoke any kind of fun conversation with my students regardless of what the topic may be. I know it's easier said than done but English education here is a faltering bridge, so we have to work with what we have. Sorry if this sounds negative, I'm just trying to give my input.

Logged

Offline hilarity ensues

  • Waygook Genius
  • ****
  • Posts: 672
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2011, 10:57:05 am »
Quote from: jimmyjamison on May 29, 2011, 09:40:03 pm
Sing to them. Dance around like a monkey. This is the highest paying clown job on the planet! Enjoy it.

It is what you make it.
Logged
"Enough is enough! I've had it with these Monday-Friday kids in these Monday-Friday classrooms!"

Offline Katherine84

  • Explorer
  • *
  • Posts: 39
  • Gender: Female
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2011, 11:01:59 am »
smile, even when you want to kill them - and never turn your back!
Logged

Offline Say what?!

  • Explorer
  • *
  • Posts: 73
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2011, 11:03:44 am »
I think it's important to remember that it's not always a rosy situation...and that is perfectly normal.  There will be times when you'll really enjoy yourself but there will also be times when you're in a deep valley and don't really feel the job...at all.  No job is perfect, so don't expect teaching to always be perfect either.  Of course, a lot of it is what you make of it.  But there will be times when you don't feel like talking with your co-workers, when your lessons don't pan out the way you thought they would and when the general atmosphere of teaching simply feels obnoxious.  Sometimes you just won't want to come to work.  All of this is completely normal.  I think it's important to value the moments at work that do make you happy even if they don't come along as frequently as you'd like. 
Logged

Offline hilarity ensues

  • Waygook Genius
  • ****
  • Posts: 672
  • Gender: Male
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #18 on: May 30, 2011, 12:41:55 pm »
I want to change mine to:

Remember that the other teachers are your peers, not the kids.
Logged
"Enough is enough! I've had it with these Monday-Friday kids in these Monday-Friday classrooms!"

Offline GLondonful

  • Veteran
  • **
  • Posts: 79
  • Gender: Female
Re: Best One Piece of Advice for teaching English
« Reply #19 on: May 30, 2011, 01:56:37 pm »
Always speak good English.

Sometimes it's tempting to say stuff like "You - go - office - talk - principal" in order to be understood, but if you talk like this a lot they'll never learn proper English from you.
Logged
Pages: 1 2 3 »   Go Up
« previous next »