[Pesky Wesky]

As many of us are involved with English teaching or have an interest in the English language I thought we could try a TEFL thread where we can post "Things of Interest".
I came across this short interview with Jeremy Harmer today. He talks about the changing face of ELT
Interview with Jeremy Harmer | IATEFL Online

 

[Pesky Wesky]

Videos from Speakout pre intermediate
Speakout: Video Podcasts Pre-intermediate
Videos to use with Speakout Pre intermediate or on their own. There are no exercises, but you can make up your own, search for them on internet or just stick them on and see what happens!
I use them in my classes sometimes. I do have the worksheets that go with them, but the students find them hard to work with, so I do my own thing with them. I like the videos a lot as they use very natural language.

Looking forward to other contributions on this thread

 

[Megsmum]

Brilliant idea. Obviously I'm a novice so do not have the experience that some of you guys have.

Examples for this coming weeks

B1 exams students.

Dictating minimal pairs. They have to write down what they hear. Moving on to telephone game. Each word has a number. They have to tell classmates their telephone number using minimal pairs. Aids with pronunciation and understanding


B2

Aging. Poem by Jenny Joseph
Describing pictures of the elderly
Discussion on ageism in different cultures

 

[cermignano]

Thinkspain is advertising for a Native English Teacher with diploma in Montilla, Cordoba

 

[Megsmum]

https://teflexpress.co.uk/blog/im-not-a-native-english-speaker-where-can-i-teach/

Native speakers usually know if something is correct or not, but an inexperienced native speaking teacher will often have a difficult time explaining why or providing a rule for the situation. This is something that non-native speakers often understand.

I think there's some truth in this, particularly for those only TEFL or CELTA trained who have not studied grammar in depth at school or university?

 

[Pesky Wesky]

Brilliant idea. Obviously I'm a novice so do not have the experience that some of you guys have.

Examples for this coming weeks

B1 exams students.

Dictating minimal pairs. They have to write down what they hear. Moving on to telephone game. Each word has a number. They have to tell classmates their telephone number using minimal pairs. Aids with pronunciation and understanding


B2

Aging. Poem by Jenny Joseph
Describing pictures of the elderly
Discussion on ageism in different cultures

Ahhh I remember that poem. It used to be in one of the Headway books I think. I wonder if I could do it with my class of "mature" students at the university...?
Here's a vid of Jenny Joseph herself reading the poem. Unfortunately the sound's not that great

 

[Pesky Wesky]

https://teflexpress.co.uk/blog/im-not-a-native-english-speaker-where-can-i-teach/





I think there's some truth in this, particularly for those only TEFL or CELTA trained who have not studied grammar in depth at school or university?

I think there are two Real Truths about this
1. Not all native teachers are good
2. Not all non native teachers are worse than native teachers

I have certainly worked with some excellent NN teachers and awful N teachers and it's a myth to think N is better full stop. Other factors have to be taken into account like training and experience. On the other hand, I did some interviewing some years ago for a local town hall that was setting up some English language programmes and there I interviewed some classic examples of Spanish teachers with good ideas, but an accent so thick that I really struggled to understand them - such a shame.

BTW there is a movement where N teachers are showing support for NN. Here's a link
https://teflequityadvocates.com/

 

[kaipa]

What do we think is the average hourly rate for teaching at the moment.? I work in the South of Spain in a small town. One school pay 9 Euros an hour the other 12Euros. For me it is not a huge problem as I am nearly retired and I enjoy teaching about 15 hours a week. I examine as well for Cambridge. The payment is legal to a point although I notice my employer always doctors my nominee so it shows less hours. I could work privately but to be honest the autonomo is too high. This way I pay SS and have a legal contract which is what I really want given the approach of BERXIT.

 

[kaipa]

Talking about J Harmer he came to my college one year to talk about his ideas. Seemed pleasant enough but despite all the hype he really just relabels old ideas. ( Remember his insistence of replacing PPP) He doesn't spearhead any new methodology as many seem to think. The same goes for Thornbury- his dogma approach is not a new methodology although it is sometimes seen as. The last real attempt to alter approach was Lewis' Lexical Approach but that seems to have failed given the fact that no one seemed to produce a workable syllabus.

 

[Megsmum]

What do we think is the average hourly rate for teaching at the moment.? I work in the South of Spain in a small town. One school pay 9 Euros an hour the other 12Euros. For me it is not a huge problem as I am nearly retired and I enjoy teaching about 15 hours a week. I examine as well for Cambridge. The payment is legal to a point although I notice my employer always doctors my nominee so it shows less hours. I could work privately but to be honest the autonomo is too high. This way I pay SS and have a legal contract which is what I really want given the approach of BERXIT.

r

9€ ph is about right, although here privately I charge 5€ for children and €7 for adults

M autonomo because it gives me healthcare... as for Brexit... I'm not sure a contract will give you anymore security than being self employed. contracts are supposed to be offered to Spanish or EU citizens, being self employed I'm not taking a job from anyone else?

 

[Pesky Wesky]

Talking about J Harmer he came to my college one year to talk about his ideas. Seemed pleasant enough but despite all the hype he really just relabels old ideas. ( Remember his insistence of replacing PPP) He doesn't spearhead any new methodology as many seem to think. The same goes for Thornbury- his dogma approach is not a new methodology although it is sometimes seen as. The last real attempt to alter approach was Lewis' Lexical Approach but that seems to have failed given the fact that no one seemed to produce a workable syllabus.

I don't know much about him except he is revered in the TEFL world, but I'm pretty sure he knows more about teaching than I do
As for re-labling old ideas the king of that is Richard Vaughan. I don't know if his empire has reached Andalucia, but here in Madrid you can't move without bumping into Vaughan books, Vaughan radio, Vaughan tv and Vaughan disciples and his method basically revolves around drilling and translation (and smarminess piled on thick) imported directly from the 1960's.

 

[kaipa]

Yes I have heard Richard Vaughan on the radio. He is very slick but I really don't think it would cut the mustard within the TEFL community. As you say it is Audio LIngualism- much practiced in the 60s. Nothing remotely new. Having said that it does have some good things. Lots of fast receptive patterns which are produced quickly with different substitutions. Good for pronunciation but academically dismissed as it lacks any functional elements. Still lots of people used it after the war and many went on to learn languages as well as people who were subjected to communicative methods

 

[Pesky Wesky]

Here's another link for resources. I find you have to be very careful with online resources; there's a lot of rubbish out there. A lot of materials are made by non natives and are full of mistakes, others are just not well thought out and many are very much focused on an American or Asian market.
This place though has well thought out and professional looking worksheets. They also have a whole system for revising vocabulary and more which you can get if you pay a fee. I've just used the occasional free download worksheet when I've been short of time, and they are good.
https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans

 

[Megsmum]

Here's another link for resources. I find you have to be very careful with online resources; there's a lot of rubbish out there. A lot of materials are made by non natives and are full of mistakes, others are just not well thought out and many are very much focused on an American or Asian market.
This place though has well thought out and professional looking worksheets. They also have a whole system for revising vocabulary and more which you can get if you pay a fee. I've just used the occasional free download worksheet when I've been short of time, and they are good.
https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans

I use this one, it's very good. I know exactly what you mean.

I'm interested in knowing what paid for sites people use.

For my 5 year olds, I often use sites for children with learning disabilities, these sites have fabulous graphics and are obviously very basic. I've downloaded some great flash cards for laminating

 

[Megsmum]

Another site. I tend to have a theme and plan the lesson from various sources

Heads Up English | ESL Lessons - Frontpage. This one covers all abilities

I also like some of the lesson ideas on here especially the ones referring to music videos


Blog de Cristina | A NEW LANGUAGE MEANS ANOTHER VISION OF LIFE When we talked about communication, I used the Adele song - Hello.

Yesterday I purchased a laminater...... I'm a proper teacher now ROFL

Anyone reading this thread thinking I could teach, do not underestimate the amount of work (over and above the hours actually teaching) you will work, preparing class materials and the amount of trees that will die in pursuit of handouts!

For those seeking ideas on teaching little one... save white bottle tops, using permanent pen write the letters of the alphabet on them. I then use these for the kids to play a kind of scrabble game or I call out a verb they have to use the tops to spell the verb in the correct tense. I find that kids love to be interactive

 

[Pesky Wesky]

Here's a course some people might be interested in
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/english-in-early-childhood

 

[Maureen47]

I did my TEFL course whilst back in the UK and did some classes there too mainly for experience. I havent used it in Spain but now have an opportunity to do so. The reason I am keen on this as its a different type of school where the language is taught through activities. The plan is I will do a gymnastics class for Spanish children in English. I am a British Gymnastics qualified coach with a lot of experience and this class will be doing the basics. Have you guys any links to any fun physical activities please ?

 

[Megsmum]

I did my TEFL course whilst back in the UK and did some classes there too mainly for experience. I havent used it in Spain but now have an opportunity to do so. The reason I am keen on this as its a different type of school where the language is taught through activities. The plan is I will do a gymnastics class for Spanish children in English. I am a British Gymnastics qualified coach with a lot of experience and this class will be doing the basics. Have you guys any links to any fun physical activities please ?

I don't but on my travels around the internet I will keep an eye out for you

 

[Megsmum]

I am looking for simple school plays...... short plays for my class of 13 year olds to present to parents......

 

[Megsmum]

https://pronunciationstudio.com/spanish-speakers-english-pronunciation-errors/

Interesting look at the problems Spanish learners have with English pronunciation