In an ESL class, how can I increase student participation?
InternationalTodd asked:
I only know one technique, to write on the board some information on the board, and ask “what question is for that information?”
This works, but has limits!
The students understand basic English, but need to practice their usage and pronunciation. With out the classroom participation, they do not have the practice!
I had great success teaching immigrants in the states, but that was one on one, or two or three at a time, 10-30 is different!
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I only know one technique, to write on the board some information on the board, and ask “what question is for that information?”
This works, but has limits!
The students understand basic English, but need to practice their usage and pronunciation. With out the classroom participation, they do not have the practice!
I had great success teaching immigrants in the states, but that was one on one, or two or three at a time, 10-30 is different!
April 27th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
make the class enthusiastic….
make it fun!
or say
guys please participate this is for your own BENEFIT! Skater dudette
April 28th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
In my school I take an ESOL class too because I’m new in this country and I speek French.
But my teacher,to increase student participaton,when we go to the class,she give 20 minutes for reading and then she ask what the book is about so every body have to talk,or we have to do some game where she gives some words that we have to find and after every student have to teach the word that he find for and sometime she give some gifts to every student.
You can try too. Koffi
April 29th, 2010 at 4:15 am
Try playing twenty questions (where students have to ask the teacher or another student questions with yes or no answers to discover the answer). Good for interrogative and short answer practice. Cynthia
April 29th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Good morning. I don’t know the age of your ESL students, but I am a distributor for some wonderful educational products that have been proven to work effectively with ESL students. These are the Let’s Get Ready! resource books and the KleenSlate line of products, including a white board paddle with attached dry erase marker. I would be happy to send complimentary samples at your request.
Thanks!
Lorraine Lorraine
April 30th, 2010 at 7:04 am
Participation:
how much of the local education system do you understand ?
The students will be used to certain (non-participation) methods of instruction and learning, and for them having have years of it, it will work, probably better than more western methods.
Inside the class:
you have limited time, may focusing on the rules, giving ‘homework’ and them listening to them read it out.. or given them topics to discuss/you question and answer on. wheether your topics, or the classic ‘my hobby’ ‘what I do when I am not working/learning’ - OK, in china may not be much ‘free’ time or hobby , but many have personal interests…
Practice and exposure to language:
TV (CNN is available in many places), Radio, DVD’s (cheap enough in “local outlets”)
more interactively
Being where the expats hang out.. bars, sandwhich shops, 5*/4* tourist Hotels etc,
maybe getting them to Voluteer their ‘transation’ or ‘guide’ services to guests and tourists,
Can they team up with tourist agencies offering weekend trips etc. to be an extra hand ?
I have been on small 6-12 person minibus trips, often 1 man bands, that have had such extar help, and the people on the trips
Hang out at Tourist areas, and offer to help people who appear to not understand where they are going, or where they need to go next (eg even catching a bus, taxi etc).
Even joining the weekend Hash House Harriers that exist in most cities. most I have been on, have many local young ladies (from Beiruit to Beijing !) - a possible other attraction (even if their eyes are temporarily elsewhere)
Where do you hang out, where do you see english being used.. ? AnYing
April 30th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
The Internet is a wonderful invention. If you take your subject of your question and add to what you want to know about it, the search engine will do the rest. For example:
My subject is Primary and Secondary Education. I want to know where to get certified as a teacher.
The search engine result is as follows:
Teaching + state certification requirements
What you get is this:…
This will work for any subject category. Give it a try and good luck
I like that approach better than just saying “Google it” or “Look online”. F. J.