During our time in China we've realized that Teaching ESL is not always as easy as it seems! So here are 10 quick tips to make your classes run smoother!
1. Don’t Be Like A Chinese Teacher
It is not a stretch to assume that very few students would say that they feel “close” to their Chinese teachers. This is reasonable considering the amount pressure put on teachers in China to produce outstanding (test) results. The exact same pressure is applied to the students. As an international teacher you sit somewhat separate from this in the fact you can have a more relaxed attitude. Be relaxed (not too relaxed mind) when teaching your classes, inject some fun into proceedings and make students look forward to your classes.
2. Patience
It takes time to build a good relationship with students. You will also find it takes some time to learn about the cultural differences. Ask fellow teachers in your school and also in Expat networks about topics that should not be spoken about. Build good relationships with Chinese teachers at your school. In classes the first one might be a little bit awkward as you all get to know one another, but things will get easier over time.
3. Remember The Three Leaning Methods
When teaching it is very easy to forget that students learn in different ways. If possible, each class should contain elements that are structured around these three methods. The three methods are visual, aural and kinesthetic. This means using pictures and movies, using speaking and listening, and also using interaction (TPR). Kinesthetic learning is learning through doing. This means through speaking and writing, through doing puzzles or other tasks. Interaction is very important for a lot of students.
4. Lesson Plans
As mentioned above, the lesson plans need to include different aspects of learning. This means elements of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and actually doing. Parts where you talk to the students and where they talk to each other in English too. The use of Q&A sessions with open ended questions (avoid yes/no questions) is proven useful. It is good to have elements that check the learning and some sort of finale to the class where the students produce something by using the new vocabulary or grammar point.
5. Use Peer Support
Students have different levels of learning. This is especially true in typical school classes. Ability levels improve if the students are studying English in university. Chinese students tend, on the whole, to have higher language skills than neighboring countries like Japan, but may be shy and unused to open discussions or speaking aloud. Use peer support where higher level students help lower level students answer questions and do tasks.
6. Find The Mood Makers And The Leaders
Each class’ mood is usually governed by mood makers and ring leaders. These can be recognized as class leaders or those with the strongest personalities. If you can recognize these individuals quickly and get them onside, the class will go smoother in future.
7. Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Finding a good lesson plan formula is good, but it quickly gets very boring. This means you need to be good at finding new activities and learning styles to keep things fresh. There are a whole load of teaching materials for teaching in China, but also for teaching English around the globe. Make use of these, adapt them for you, your students and to Chinese culture.
8. Be Adaptable
It is possible you will find yourself teaching the same plan to a few different classes. In China this often means at a public school. What works for one class may not in another. This is because of personality, skill levels and circumstances. Active classes after a sports class, for example, is obviously not going to work as well as if it is the first class in the morning. Similarly, begin to learn to adapt to what the classes are interested in. A class about restaurants involves ordering food for a public school class, but if later in the day, week or year you want to use the materials from restaurants for a business class, then you can adapt upwards. Turn it from ordering food, to a class about restaurant internet marketing, using all the food words which are useful for them, but also terms that will definitely help their business grow in English.
9. Save Everything
As you learn and create lesson plans, keep all the materials. No point letting all that hard work go to waste. This means saving plans on your computer and keeping copies of print outs, models, and photographs etc. These will often come in handy as you stay in China and help make future teaching plans easier to make.
10. Teaching Is Not Just In Class
Finally, a lot of people think that teaching finishes when the class is over, but actually some of the best opportunities to teach ESL students English occur outside of the classroom. Even if you have learnt how to speak Chinese, do not let the students know this. Interact with them and make them use English with you for school assemblies, social clubs, giving orders and whatever else. This will help lots of students pick up more English and in a much more personal and more relaxed environment.
This is just the beginning! For more tips on Teaching in China go to www.networkesl.com or check out our social networks!
1. Don’t Be Like A Chinese Teacher
It is not a stretch to assume that very few students would say that they feel “close” to their Chinese teachers. This is reasonable considering the amount pressure put on teachers in China to produce outstanding (test) results. The exact same pressure is applied to the students. As an international teacher you sit somewhat separate from this in the fact you can have a more relaxed attitude. Be relaxed (not too relaxed mind) when teaching your classes, inject some fun into proceedings and make students look forward to your classes.
2. Patience
It takes time to build a good relationship with students. You will also find it takes some time to learn about the cultural differences. Ask fellow teachers in your school and also in Expat networks about topics that should not be spoken about. Build good relationships with Chinese teachers at your school. In classes the first one might be a little bit awkward as you all get to know one another, but things will get easier over time.
3. Remember The Three Leaning Methods
When teaching it is very easy to forget that students learn in different ways. If possible, each class should contain elements that are structured around these three methods. The three methods are visual, aural and kinesthetic. This means using pictures and movies, using speaking and listening, and also using interaction (TPR). Kinesthetic learning is learning through doing. This means through speaking and writing, through doing puzzles or other tasks. Interaction is very important for a lot of students.
4. Lesson Plans
As mentioned above, the lesson plans need to include different aspects of learning. This means elements of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and actually doing. Parts where you talk to the students and where they talk to each other in English too. The use of Q&A sessions with open ended questions (avoid yes/no questions) is proven useful. It is good to have elements that check the learning and some sort of finale to the class where the students produce something by using the new vocabulary or grammar point.
5. Use Peer Support
Students have different levels of learning. This is especially true in typical school classes. Ability levels improve if the students are studying English in university. Chinese students tend, on the whole, to have higher language skills than neighboring countries like Japan, but may be shy and unused to open discussions or speaking aloud. Use peer support where higher level students help lower level students answer questions and do tasks.
6. Find The Mood Makers And The Leaders
Each class’ mood is usually governed by mood makers and ring leaders. These can be recognized as class leaders or those with the strongest personalities. If you can recognize these individuals quickly and get them onside, the class will go smoother in future.
7. Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Finding a good lesson plan formula is good, but it quickly gets very boring. This means you need to be good at finding new activities and learning styles to keep things fresh. There are a whole load of teaching materials for teaching in China, but also for teaching English around the globe. Make use of these, adapt them for you, your students and to Chinese culture.
8. Be Adaptable
It is possible you will find yourself teaching the same plan to a few different classes. In China this often means at a public school. What works for one class may not in another. This is because of personality, skill levels and circumstances. Active classes after a sports class, for example, is obviously not going to work as well as if it is the first class in the morning. Similarly, begin to learn to adapt to what the classes are interested in. A class about restaurants involves ordering food for a public school class, but if later in the day, week or year you want to use the materials from restaurants for a business class, then you can adapt upwards. Turn it from ordering food, to a class about restaurant internet marketing, using all the food words which are useful for them, but also terms that will definitely help their business grow in English.
9. Save Everything
As you learn and create lesson plans, keep all the materials. No point letting all that hard work go to waste. This means saving plans on your computer and keeping copies of print outs, models, and photographs etc. These will often come in handy as you stay in China and help make future teaching plans easier to make.
10. Teaching Is Not Just In Class
Finally, a lot of people think that teaching finishes when the class is over, but actually some of the best opportunities to teach ESL students English occur outside of the classroom. Even if you have learnt how to speak Chinese, do not let the students know this. Interact with them and make them use English with you for school assemblies, social clubs, giving orders and whatever else. This will help lots of students pick up more English and in a much more personal and more relaxed environment.
This is just the beginning! For more tips on Teaching in China go to www.networkesl.com or check out our social networks!