What is the best way to teach English through activities?
5781 asked:
Hi
I’ve to teach children aged around 15. Most of them have little confidence in speaking/communicating by using English. It is my job to teach and make sure they practice their english. Right now, I am planning to teach English (speaking) through certain activities such as board games, etc.
Any ideas what sort of activities should I use?
Thanks a lot.
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Hi
I’ve to teach children aged around 15. Most of them have little confidence in speaking/communicating by using English. It is my job to teach and make sure they practice their english. Right now, I am planning to teach English (speaking) through certain activities such as board games, etc.
Any ideas what sort of activities should I use?
Thanks a lot.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:43 am
mariam Nahed A
October 27th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
30 years ago I approached the Vocational Education Dir. of Hartnell College in CA with a request. Hire an English teacher/curriculum writer and team the teacher with the Voc. Ed. dept. They opened up a program shifting the class, a week at a time from one vocational ed program to another; carpentry, auto mechanics, auto body, electronics, machine shop, etc. It was very succesful. The teacher produced curricula to match each program. It was real life stuff, the English teaching being applied to hands-on experience. I think it was very succesful.
Whatever you do, try to make the activity as world relevant as possible. barry c
October 27th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
good suggestion by earlier poster - relating it to real life, making it relevant.
this can also be done through role-playing. think of everyday situations & places & assign roles/characters to the students. eg. breakfast time at home with a family of 4, getting late to school,… you can do it in small groups or divide the class into groups & let each group present their version or each group can be given different scenarios.
you may have to assist them initially with the dialogues, etc. but soon they’ll catch on …
you could try spoken word games to bring in some more enjoyment or as a ‘break’ from more serious learning. this will make them more uninhibited. some games - I spy, I went shopping , telephone or chinese whispers, tongue-twisters, Botticelli , buzz, & so on. [you may find these on the net. or if you want details, email me]
make it a practice that every day one child has to pretend to be some famous personality [past or present] or even any literary or movie character. and s/he will have to speak about that personality or character for a few minutes. you may or may not allow them to use a written text.
divide the class into groups/ rows. each group will build a story using cue cards distributed to each child. you can give the groups similar words/phrases/situations or different ones. give them some time to create a story - humorous, drama, play, … prize to the best group. they may even enact it or read it out loud, with each member participating.
hope these generate even better ideas
all the very best & have fun :-)) meenakshi