Use prepared cards to revise functional expressions. These activities are good for Meetings, Telephoning etc.
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Groupwork in pre-experience BE: give them a follow-on task
This is an idea for keeping pre-experience students focussed and speaking in English when working in groups. I hope it is the first of many posts on this very important topic.
‘One to One: A Teacher’s Handbook’ by Peter Wilberg
If you only ever read one book on methodology/teacher development, then this should be the one.
Using a digital voice recorder
This is basic. You really do need a voice recorder if you teach 1:1. No excuses.
6 zero-preparation prediction activities
Predicting the content of a text before reading it is a timeless activity very familiar from General English. Here are some variations on that theme suitable for any authentic business text.
Responding to a text
You have a great text but you don’t know quite what to do with it and have zero time to prepare your class. No problem. Just read this.
Practising key phrases #2: phrase cards in a RP
Here are a number of ideas that use phrases written on cards to help students practice fixed expressions. They are particularly suitable for Meetings role-plays, but could be used for other RPs as well.
A Telephoning lesson using just an audio script
This is a favourite activity of mine that involves using a coursebook audio + script but not the exercises in the book that go with them. In fact if you photocopy the audio script you don’t need the book at all.
Social English Throw The Ball! (yes, that’s right, with business people)
Generate quick A/B mini-dialogues in class. Ideal for on-the-spot language feedback and ROLO practice. You’ll be amazed at the language developments/alternatives that come to your mind with the prompt of simple phrases offered by the students.
Two (wrong) things that students keep telling me about verb tenses.
Here’s something for the grammar fans: present perfect continuous and ‘going to’ are in the spotlight, with some teaching tips.