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ESL forum >
Techniques and methods in Language Teaching > When teaching is frustrating...
When teaching is frustrating...
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Salenka
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When teaching is frustrating...
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I teach basic english to a sweet, healthy and very communicative 11 years old girl, who seems to be eager to learn english. But... I have realised a notorious difficulty of her to get the most elementary points of the language.
Even after two classes about Pronouns and Simple Present of verb To Be, she couldn �t do her homework properly. It �s like she can �t set pronouns as a category and verb as another category in her head, or understand the difference between them. And she can never remember the meaning of words like "I" and "and" - for mentioning just the most basic ones.
That �s really frustrating, because I know I �m not really bad at teaching. I �m not a professional teacher but I have taught adults before in a variety of school subjects and I have always heard I �m really patient and didactic.
I was even concerned about a supposed dyslexia of her, however I haven �t heard about any troubles of her on reading or writing in her native tongue, thus I think fortunately it �s not the case.
So I ask you teachers: is it a regular profile of a absolute beginner kid? How is the best way to deal with this issue?
I have made a worksheet with 30 personal pronouns exercises for her to "train" literally speaking. Is it a good way to make a kid memorize words and meanings? I meet her once a week, so we don �t have much time together. I use to left 3 or 4 light worksheets for her to work on during the week. Should I make them heavier?
Looking foward for your opinions.
If you want, feel free email me: [email protected]
Thanks! |
28 Feb 2009
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libertybelle
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I �m off to bed - but I would like to ask you why is it so important this young person needs to know this?
I teach my children to speak before I start putting grammatical names on the elements of speech.
Everyone on Earth learnt a language by imitation, not by knowing verb tenses and pronouns.
If you re-enforce language orally now, later on can explain the grammatical elements.
At my teacher �s college we learned to teach speaking, reading and comprehension long before we ever taught grammar.
Language is all about communication, not necessarily knowing your verbs and tenses.
Learning through play, songs, conversation, games, pictures and films are what usually work for me and I �ve been a teacher for 25 years.
Start with the "whole" and later do the elements, in my opinion.
L
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28 Feb 2009
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mylena87
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well... i would advise u trying to teach without telling her what u re teaching... just teach her how to communicate and she ll end up learning the gammar point... i have an adult student who is like that...if i say "its red" and ask what color is it, she says "it�s blue"!!! And i figure out it happens cause she doesnt like English n that �s it! I had had some problems like this one with children too and this method worked pretty well! About her homework i think its enough cause if u give too much she can get frustrated n desmotivated. Try to alternate between easy and difficult ones so she ll be excited when she realizes she can do it!!! And the most important im my opinion... never speak in Portuguese!!! my experience has shown me that its possible even with the ones who has never learned even a little bit of English in their lives! Shes very young so try to motivate her enthusiasm... bring pics... if u have already been in an English Spoken Country bring her some curiosities, souviniers and plenty of games!! all kind!!some websites show u different games focus.. so u could start ur class with a warm up from the last one (correcting homework 4 eg), then introduce the new vocab/grammar; play a comprehention game; right after a communication game and finish ur class with homework !
Doesnt matter ur teaching way i think the most important for this age is not telling her what is that grammar!!!just practice!! cause normally she doesnt know it even in port by name....
i hope i could help u in some way.. anything feel free to add me in msn or send me emails!!!
kisses
xoxoxo |
28 Feb 2009
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bambo
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hi, the best way is repeating repeating and MIMING ! Let her go round the room and play.
Ask her to bring two toys - "she" and "he" and play with them.
He is happy. She is happy. He is big. She is small. They are toys.
They are sitting on the desk. They are dancing... Let her show the actions.
When you teach present continuous, always mime the actions as well.
EG: I am singing. (and sing the sentence). and then ask her to repeat Yes, you are singing... and so on...
Give her SHORT homework (6sentences) - 2-3 exercises on differrent topics and ALWAYS include pictures ! Bring her some little presents - stickers, pencil, when she finishes the homework without mistake...
Don �t worry, if she is eager to learn and clever, she will be able to improve...
Remember, she is a kid, so the learning must be fun... She should meet you with a smile on her lips. She should like you... So be always nice to her and she will try to do her best...
Remember, repeat everything many times. Let her speak a lot and let her read simple stories with pictures. You can find everything on this webpage...
Wish you good luck.
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28 Feb 2009
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Cassy
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I couldn�t agree more, Suzy
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28 Feb 2009
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Faurfab
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I have been teaching dyslexic pupils in a special unit for a few years now and I have had to think differently my lessons because their minds don �t work the same as the others. They are as intelligent but you have to find other ways to teach them!
First, we work orally a lot because writing or reading is a real big problem for them. So thanks to powerpoint diapos, pictures, games (dominoes, board games, memos, bingos...) I introduce the vocabulary and the new structure. I have to repeat and repeat because they often have memory problems. Then when I think they remember the words or understand the grammar point we start the writing part. I use a lot of pictures to help them remember.
For example for the subject pronouns, I associate each of them with a special clipart that I will always use afterwards ( she = a girl).
I try not to use to many words to explain. It must be very easy and clear. They can �t understand if they have first to understand the rule, then the instructions. I have to simplifly a lot and I go step by step very slowly. Time is very important. They need more time than the others.
I could speak for hours telling you what I have learned until now ...
So if you want to know more, don �t hesitate to contact me. |
28 Feb 2009
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MissMelissa12
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I admire you Faurfab, I HOPE I be a great teacher as you with such experience one day. I �ve never taught any student with dyslexic ... but the goal I see myself as a teacher in the future is exacllty that. What you do. Being able to TEACH whoever that can be taught anything.
I congratulate your work and experiences like yours and many of other teachers here is the thing that inspires me everyday in my brand new profession which Im working on day by day.
Miss Melissa. 
(sorry about grammar/spelling/coherence erros...its 2am now and Im very tired) |
28 Feb 2009
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chobby
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Hello colleagues:
After reading some of the post by my Brazilian colleagues, I couldn �t be more simpathetic about your situation as I think we shared similar problems in my country, and it is probably the same in Latinamerica, our school system is obsolete, archaic.
However we as teachers have to be optimistic in our job, we have to love what we do to put all energy and enthusiasm in the classroom, it is true that there are programs that we have to follow during the school year to cover a series of "grammar topics" as it is thaught the English in our schools like you said the pieces and not the whole picture as it should be.
However you can dictate your class the way you want it to be, I know many English teachers in Mexico don �t speak the language fluently that �s why they cannot speak in the classroom, in the other hand in my case I �m so much better speaking than writing on in grammar so that �s why I follow like Lisa said; I´ve tried to use English in the classroom as much as posible and even outside of it when I ran into students I talk to them in English so they don �t forget whom they are talking to.
What I �m saying is you should try to exploit your strongest abilities in the classroom, if you are better in speaking use that, or perhaps writing, reading, listening, anyway I think that just teaching the grammar without a context on how to use it like a function of the language;it is pointless, you can �t teach verbs tenses or any other thing without having a common aplication for it, so I �m sure with readings, showing flashcards, games, singing, or any other fun activities is much better than just concentrating on grammar exercises, that would probably be the end of the class just for assessing what the students have learnt.
I �m sure that for beginners the best is also lots of choral repetitions, using mimic, gestures, and other forms of communication, I remember how I learned my first words of English, the same way of my mother tongue by repeating others, then once you have a solid base you can start to build from there, grammar, reading, writing, etc |
28 Feb 2009
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Salenka
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Hi, thank you all for your opinions and for sharing your experiences.
I see the point of each one and I can just agree with them - mainly with the importance of the oral emphasis we should apply to the classes.
The advices and understanding surely motivates me to try to do better.
Thanks again!
xoxoxo
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2 Mar 2009
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so the frustrations come to our mind and soul...It is hard..I feel the same sometimes..my advice is : Breathe deeply, watch a good movie, relax your mind and try one more time.do it with love and patience....NEVER GIVE UP! Teaching can be so stimulating too.. You must see the both sides..and take the best of each one..GOOD LUCK!