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Thread: What do I teach them?

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[quote=APAULT,295386]If it is a private college, especially a Poly, the standard is not very high. They are not intellectual, they have little reasoning power or ability to critically analyse.  The main approach is to simply get them talking.  With 40 in a group you can start by talking on a topic and asking a few questions.  Then set a few small questions for them to discuss in groups of about 4 and ask them to discuss the topic - if they are new first years students iti s a good idea to get them to prepare dialogues and then act them out in front of the class.  The  best topics are human: family, relationships (should you avoid having a bf or gf while studying, is a good one). Do not worry to much if the groups revert to English in the groups but just steadily keep up the pressure to speak English.  To start with do not expect very much, but just build their confidence.  Most will have poor listening skills ie they cannot understand much of what you say, so much repetition and slow patient explaining is required.  You cannot expect much in depth discussion (first years especially) as none of the rest of their education requires this, even in Chinese.  If you ask questions you must nominate one to answer as it is VERY hard to get them to volunteer answers.

Look for decent textbooks as the basis of your work... I have twice used Contemporary College English:Oralpublished by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press - it has limitations but is adequate.  Have individuals read some dialogues as they provide some basic skill practice - do not have them reading together as it ruins syllable stress and sentence pattern (intonation).  Syllable stress is probably the most important single area that needs improving.

Have several small activities per 90 minute double class and do not expect too much, the pace is quite slow.  The most important thing is to have happy students as they formally or informally assess you!  If they say you are a good teacher, all is well![/quote]

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