Konnichiwa, everyone! My name is Anne, and I'm waving to you from rural Japan, where I have lived for alllllllmost one year teaching very young learners (ages 2 and up). I have been teaching since 2002, mainly in South Korea and recently in Japan. I am here because I want to teach better, get new ideas and learn new ways to use old ones, and help my littles be more comfortable with their English-speaking selves. I’m also interested in creating non-competitive activities and other strategies to help learners who need a different class structure. In my non-teaching time, I do freelance writing and proofreading and study Japanese. One of these days I’ll have free time, and then I’m going to read the piles of books that keep stacking up, do some baking, and take long bike rides. It’s a pleasure to meet you all, and I look forward to learning together!
What seems to be the problem exactly? Do they talk too long or do they stray off topic? Or is there something else going on?
ReplyDeleteThey are a lovely class but there is around 5 who just love to talk when I am & when their peers are. They tend to stray off topic and go back into their L1
ReplyDeleteOne of my teacher-trainers recommended the following:
ReplyDeleteFirst, talk with your group and establish a set of rules everybody has to follow (e.g., use English only, don't interrupt others, etc.). Everybody has to agree on the rules and you can even print them for everybody to sign. Then you can print each rule on a separate piece of paper and stick them around the classroom (or make a poster with the rules) - it makes it easier to refer to them when/if one of the rules is broken. When it is time for an activity that might make the student too rowdy (or maybe every lesson), divide the class into two groups and prepare a 'prize' (it can be a tangible gift or less homework or a game) for those who follow the rules. As an alternative, you don't divide the class, but just tell them they have 10 strikes, for example. If they break the rules more than 10 times, they won't play an exciting game at the end of class (thinking about it, I believe it is better to rephrase it using more positive language). The idea is that students will 'self-police', keeping the more talkative ones in check.
In Ethiopia I used bottle tops: everyone was given 5 and each time they said something, I collected a bottle top. Those without bottle tops had to keep quiet, those who still had some were encouraged to speak up. The talkative ones started thinking twice before the opened their mouths :-)
ReplyDeleteThere are some great suggestions here. The only thing I'd add is when they are in groups, be sure that they have a clear task so you can monitor and tell when they are done. And set time limits. So if they exceed the time limit and/or go off topic you can catch it and redirect or go on to the next step.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! These suggestions are useful!
ReplyDelete