Please tell me what your methods are for teaching structured English conversation to foreign learners.?

Question

I have my own methods (e.g. using magazines, Internet sources), but would be grateful for fresh ideas. I'm teaching on a voluntary basis at the moment and can't afford to study more. All my skills are ten years old. I did teach English in Japan a long time ago.

My students have told me they don't want 'free conversation' . When that happens I seem to do most of the talking which defeats the object!

Answer 1

It often helps to learn songs together. You would be amazed at how singing helps to develop proper accents and phrasing. Another other extremely helpful method is to make the learning experience complimentary. If you show an interest in the learner's language and culture, they are much more likely to prioritize learning your language.

It also helps to identify what the student's immediate needs are. Many language methods teach ancillary information that while ultimately helpful, has little relevance to the student's daily life or expectations.

Finally, make the learning experience as structured as possible. Start with concrete examples and avoid words that have several pronunciations and meanings. (Read is an excellent example) DVDs and television shows with subtitles are an excellent resource, as are flashcards. As the student progresses, they can literally see the pile of words build up in the pile, and it is very easy to build sentences with several flashcards. (Sometimes you have to include more than one flashcard of the same word in order for this to be completely effective)

Answer 2

I have the same problem with students not wanting free conversation. You can understand that, because it's not natural to speak to someone who might be from the same country as you in a language that isn't your own. It feels awkward. So conversation in class has to have a purpose. They already know they're practising English, so I never try to disguise that. Like you, I use whatever I can find that they might be interested in to read, but when I want them to speak, I have to make it a task. Like read something and ask each other questions about it (you can even make that an exercise, give them jumbled questions that they have to rearrange), or give them a kind of survey chart that has space for say 5 questions of your choice and say 3 people's names and they have to go around asking everyone. That works really well for my students, because they hate talking and are very reluctant, but when they know they have to have some kind of written task completed and to do that they have to talk, they will. Don't worry about your skills. The basics of teaching don't change, and when methods do, I often find it's a case of one domineering person's opinion and not necessarily a better method, so I tend to ignore that and continue to do things my way unless there's someone observing me :)

Answer 3

Students object to to memorizing and learning through repetition. So it has to be made interesting and entertaining today especially with so much ADD. Students don't like to be put on the spot and be forced to recite in front of peers or critics. Some are shy, and they don't want the others to laugh or correct them. So a way around this is, believe it of not...Poetry.
There are lots of interesting humorous poets and (Limericks too) . Poems can be repeated verbally in unison. (Like songs, except it doesn't require music skills.) I always kept my students busy writing everyting down. Repetition is the key to success with any language. It might sound childish, but saying things as they write them and see them being written is a 3 headed hammer that powers the memory (visual, muscular and auditiory memory reinforcement)

Answer 4

Get the books "Discussions A to Z". There are two levels. They are LIFESAVERS. You can get them on Amazon.com (not .ca, maybe .co.uk). The topics are really interesting, relevant and fun, and the questions actually do inspire conversation. All the materials in the books are photocopiable for your students.

When I'm teaching one-on-one or small groups, I think it really helps to get out of the classroom. Go downtown, go out for coffee, go to an art gallery... all of these new environments lend themselves naturally to conversation. No matter how many pictures you bring in, a boring old classroom is never that inspiring!

Answer 5

Hi Mermaid - check out the eslcafe.com site - they have tons of ESL teaching ideas. Whitequee gave you excellent advice so I'm not going to belabour the point.

Answer 6

just keep talking to them ALL of the time