Viv's EFLT course 02
by Viv Quarry (www.vivquarry.com)
Preparation before the first class
Before you enter the classroom for the first lesson with a new group, I recommend that you deal with some administrative factors involved in teaching groups. It's best to prepare a class attendance
Class Attendance Register so that you have some record of student attendance each month. This register also contains information which a substitute teacher may need if for some reason you need to be substituted at any time. Filling in the form is straightforward, but just in case you're not sure about anything, here's an example of an attendance register which has been partially completed.
If as a teacher you expect your students to work towards achieving their goal of improving their English, you should be willing to invest some time and energy yourself (if you don't, then give up now because you are unlikely to be successful).
Firstly, buy a two hundred-page-A4 sized notebook; I recommend that it has two hard covers to give better durability. Number the pages from the front up to page 50 (only numbering the odd pages - 1, 3, 5 etc. is quicker). Using a system similar to Viv's student notebook organisation, Create an index on page 1 titled "Index of classroom activities" and on page 2 title "Lesson plans".
On page 4 of the 'activities' index, write "Level 1", on page 20 write "Level 2" and on page 35 "Level 3" (you only need to create three levels if you're planning to teach more than one level of English). In this way you'll be able to divide your classroom activities according the level they are most appropriate for. On page 2 of your notebook, create another index, this one called "Lesson plan index". The first entry in this index will be page 50, and this entry will be "Level 1 - "name of your first group". It's best to mark the sections using a sticker attached to the top of pages 4, 20, 35 and 50 (I use business envelope address stickers doubled over across the front and back of a page). Do this in stages starting closest to the spine of the notebook so that you can easily access the different sections in your teacher's notebook (if you are teaching more than one level, leave space to add lesson plan sections for levels 2 & 3 - perhaps on pages 70 and 90). There are, of course, more than three levels of English, but for practical reasons, Viv divides these levels according to the following criteria.
Now go to page 50 and write "Level 1 - class 1 - name of class - no. of stuudents - age - Duration" at the top of the page. You're now ready to start designing your first lesson plan. Draw a margin down the left-hand side of the page and under the title write "Objective:", under this write "Assumptions:", then below this "Anticipated problems" and finally, on the next line "Materials (Mats)", under this put "Scrap paper and a stapler for any students who haven't got a notebook. Photocopies of units 1 & 2. Course CD."
Now put "5" in the margin (this refers to the amount of time you expect the activity to last). To the right of the margin write "Warm-up p.4F" (this means that you are planning to do the warm-up activity on page 4 in the 'activities' section at the front of your notebook).
Go to page 4 on your notebook and at the top of the page write "Level 1 - Warm-up 1". "Objective" and 'Ice breaker'. Underneath write "Materials (Mats)", and below this write "Pieces of paper for students and teacher to use as name cards - one for each student (SS)". Then "Preparation (Prep)" followed by "Cut a sheet of blank A4 paper into 8 pieces (fold in half vertically, then fold it in half and in half again)"
Underneath this write "Pre-teach? (PT?)" and then "My name's ***"
Then below write "Teacher's Instructions (TI)" and 'Point to myself and say clearly "My". Drilling this with all the students together.
Now drill "name's" and "My name's" (if you feel your students can handle it, do "My name's" straight away).
Pick up a name card, fold it lengthwise and write your name on it (the fold will make it possible for students to rest the card on the table/floor in front of them. Say "My name's Viv." Distribute one card to each student and get them to write their names on their cards. If any students arrive late, give them a card when they arrive. Drill "What's your name?" and then ask individual SS to stand up and say their names. When everyone has said their name, make a show of secretly writing on the back of your name card "Brad Pitt" or "Giselle Bundchen". Choose one of the best students and say "name?" pointing to yourself (to elicit "What's your name?". Reply "My name's Brad Pitt!!!". SS write famous names. (these instructions are much more detailed than you would need to put in your notebook). Everyone stands up and asks everyone's 'famous name'. Everyone sits down again. Teacher asks "Who's this?": Answer "Bill Clinton".
Write in your teacher's notebook "Student instructions (SI)", then underneath write
T-SS "Write your names on the card like this" (holding up teacher's card with name on it).
T-S / S-T / S-S "What's your name?"
T-SS "Write the name of a famous person on your card. Like this. (show teachers name card - secretively)"
T-SS "Stand up!" "Sit down!"
(T-SS = Teacher to class T-S = Teacher to individual student.)
Now go back to your lesson plan page (50). Plan what you are going to do for the rest of the lesson putting the time you plan to spend on each activity in the margin on the left (don't worry if you use more time for one activity than you plan - you can always save an activity for the next class). I always try to finish the first class with a new group or student with a song. Often it's the first and last things a student does in a lesson that stays in their minds. For beginners and intermediate students I use The Sultans of Swing. At the bottom of your lesson plan page, note down the homework you want your students to do. If you are teaching a group twice a week, it might be a good idea to ask them which day they would like their homework set (if you can speak SS's native language).
If you are planning to use Viv's student notebook organisation, then very early on in the course you should teach numbers 1 - 50 and practice it while students number the pages at the front of their notebooks. Other areas I would recommend teaching early on are the alphabet and metalanguage.
If you are using a course book, use the teacher's book to help you plan your lessons. List the tape script numbers of any listening materials you use, and make sure you know what you are going to do and say, as well as what you expect the students to do and say. Don't forget that the work you put into planning each lesson will be repaid when you want to teach the same class to a new group of students in the future! There's an example of a lesson plan on my web site, but this was done for an externally marked diploma in English teaching, so your lesson plans don't have to be as detailed as this!! :-)
Arrive plenty of time before you start your first class to make sure that the furniture is arranged how you want it to be and that any teaching aids you will be using (tape recorder/cd player, tv, computer) are operating planned. If you've planned your first class efficiently, time will go by quickly and you'll feel good when the students leave with smiles on their faces!
Homework activity: On a separate piece
of paper prepare a plan to teach and practice numbers from 1 - 50.
Good luck if you're going ahead with
your first lesson!!!!