Ruth
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God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
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Post by Ruth on Apr 11, 2006 21:53:13 GMT 7
Ozgronk and Raoul, I'm counting on some serious help from you guys.
Oz, I'm already planning to use pictures for the kids to talk about like you suggested in another thread. Raoul, I'm also using the one you demonstrated at your English Corner I attended back in October (favorite place on earth).
I've wanted to give other students in the school (not the ones who are 'privileged' to have us for their teachers, but the ones in the lower classes) a chance to talk with me. The keen ones, that is. Had lunch time chat sessions two years ago but they were cancelled by admin. Thought I'd bring it up again since everyone is so crazy about impressing the inspectors who will be coming very soon to decide if our school should become a model school. 'Oh, that's a good idea. That will make our school look good.' Yeah, well, I really had the students in mind, but if it gets me what I want, exploit it however you can. Started last week with one lunch period for grade 1 students and one for grade 2s. Response was overwhelming so I increased it to 2 days for each grade. Limiting the number of students who can attend from each class. English teacher selects from those who are interested. The first 4 have been great.
Last week was introduce yourself and what you like. This week is 'If I could be any animal I would be ___ because ___. After they all did that, I passed out pictures of animals and asked them to discuss in small groups the good things and bad things about being that particular animal. I had time to go around the room twice, listening to their comments and swapping pictures.
I have ideas for the next two weeks. Assuming the school keeps letting me do this, I'll need more topics soon. So, any ideas would be welcome.
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Post by OZgronk on Apr 11, 2006 22:42:00 GMT 7
Ruth, a couple we have used over the past 2 weeks.
Silly situations:
Each get a slip of paper with a silly situation such as "you took your dog for a walk and came home with a different one....please explain why".
"You came to school wearing girls clothes...why?"
Photos
I gave each a photo (from my colour printer...12 to a page) taken around the school and around town. They had to explain what it was...they loved it!
And today...show and tell...fantastic!
good luck
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woza17
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Post by woza17 on Apr 11, 2006 22:49:26 GMT 7
If you had 10 or 100 kwai what would you buy?
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Post by cheekygal on Apr 11, 2006 23:07:30 GMT 7
AH we did the 500,000USD. They all wanted to buy their school and some famous football team. Some boy said shoes  One boy wanted to buy... USA. I wished him good luck  I like the WHY and pictures ideas. I am having really tough time with my grade 6 primary school students. They seem to be only interested in copying the way I talk and chewing snacks... |
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woza17
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Post by woza17 on Apr 11, 2006 23:20:35 GMT 7
  I wonder how these guys would control a class of 12 year olds
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Post by acjade on Apr 12, 2006 6:57:05 GMT 7
By burning the books and burying the teachers.
Xia 4 ke. Class over.
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Post by acjade on Apr 12, 2006 7:03:44 GMT 7
Sorry Ruth. Forgot to add my suggestion.
Form them into a 'Catherine' wheel. Two circles. An inner and and outer. PLay music and the outer circle skips, walks or marches in a clockwise direction. The inner circle in an anti-clockwise direction. Stop the music.
Each child turns to their partner. The outer one talks first. Five things I'd do if I was the school principal. The other responds with their ideas. After an appropriate amount of time the music begins again and then the process is repeated.
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gengrant
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Post by gengrant on Apr 12, 2006 9:24:36 GMT 7
nowadays he could buy it and get some change back! read a quote a little while ago about a Congressman who told a guy back home that he didn't have time to listen to him, but if he wanted to start up a lobby group he'd be more than happy to make time for him then. Show me the money...  |
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Post by Steiner on Apr 12, 2006 10:51:10 GMT 7
Who was the Congressman?
Man, if he told me that I'd seriously considering quitting my job and devoting my working life to getting him voted out of office (or, preferably, investigated and shamed out of office).
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woza17
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Post by woza17 on Apr 12, 2006 16:30:17 GMT 7
Ruth find out the current pop icons and ask who do you like the best and why. Who has the best voice or acting, for the older classes who has the biggest tits. That will have them going for hours. Who do you think is an "artificial beauty"
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Post by Raoul Duke on Apr 12, 2006 16:49:37 GMT 7
Ruth,
it's a bitter blow to have to disappoint you, but I don't have a lot to offer you in this situation.
I've done very few ECs for kids...real EC is usually a waste of time with them (at least in my experience); game sessions are better. It might help if the ages and fluency levels are fairly focused.
I also prefer to NOT have topics (but then I really only do EC for adults...). Sometimes a client will impose topics for me, but given my druthers I'd rather let the conversation drift with the interests of the attendees.
2 of the best consistently sure-fire topics for adults have been "Love, Marriage, and Apartment Purchases" (In China these ideas are closely related, especially the last 2), and "Movies".
Sorry I don't have more that will apply to you situation.
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Post by DollyODear on Apr 12, 2006 18:45:04 GMT 7
Who was the Congressman? Man, if he told me that I'd seriously considering quitting my job and devoting my working life to getting him voted out of office (or, preferably, investigated and shamed out of office). Sigh. Or moving to China to teach English. |
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Post by con's fly is open on Apr 12, 2006 19:44:14 GMT 7
Actually, Ruth, what Raoul said. I found that in English corner the kids just show up to practice what they learned last week in class: "Do you have 2 big eyes?" Games and activites fare better. For that age group, the Catherine Wheel idea sounds really good, especially if you can combine different kids who don't know each other. Then you can raid the Sppon's Icebreaker idea list.
Oh, I just rambled into an idea! Hand out forms: each kid has to get info from as many others as possible- English name, favourite colour, what are you most afraid of, etc. anyone caught speaking Chinese has to stand on a table and sing.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Apr 12, 2006 21:24:08 GMT 7
Thanks all. I appreciate the help. Ozgronk, I especially love the 'wrong dog' scenario. However do you think of these things?
Raoul, I'd love to do the free talk thing, but these kids just aren't there. Some of them have the potential to get there and it will be fun to watch the progress. Others cling to the little slip of paper with the topic on it like it's their lifeline.
I got some amazing answers to the animal thing today. Ranged from 'I would be a bird so I could fly.' (sat down as fast as he could) to very elaborate reasons for choosing a particular animal. One girl said she would be an ugly duckling because she knows she isn't beautiful but she hopes one day to grow into a beautiful swan. I told her I disagreed with her that she isn't beautiful. I went on to say that we can't all look like Zhang ZiYi (sorry GG) and that beauty comes from our heart. I told her I thought she was already a beautiful swan. (Made her smile, anyway!) Another kid said he wanted to be a donkey so he could work hard and help the farmers. Another one said if he were a penguin he would never be lonely, and he would enjoy swimming in the cold water. Amazing kids. Hope I get to keep working with them.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 12, 2006 22:24:31 GMT 7
I am also against topics, and my English Corners go along like Raoul's sound like. But I also do adults. I find topics, they listen and not speak. Here, the new teacher brings his friend with model planes. The students loved it, and learned not a thing.
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Post by OZgronk on Apr 14, 2006 9:08:28 GMT 7
Ruth, I can't take credit for the wrong dog one, its from the Bucklands instructor.
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Post by Mr Nobody on Apr 15, 2006 17:30:22 GMT 7
English corner this week had a topic, which it never has before, but they neglected to tell the Laowai. Heh.
It was "fashion". We looked at each other and just said "Nah".
So, the students said "what about fashion?"
and I said "I know nothing about it. How about you?" And that was that.
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woza17
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Post by woza17 on Apr 15, 2006 18:37:30 GMT 7
i went ot English corner at the new library here. There were 8 foreign teachers that I had never seen before.
The topic was numbers and what numbers were lucky and so on. I thought the topic sucked and so I talked about my past Chinese lovers. It kicked ass. Lots of questions. I may have gone a little overboard when I asked the guys if they had ever paid for sex. A bit of a pregnant pause so I handed the question over to the girls, one woman said she would if the guy was handsome and sexy. I met up with my students and we went to the Mongolian restaurant bloody great food
I think the group of teachers were Christians posing as teachers, nice bunch of people but maybe a hidden agenda. Because I wasn't being paid and I went on my own free will. I said whatever I liked. God what a feeling of freedom.
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Post by con's fly is open on Apr 17, 2006 22:30:20 GMT 7
The English Corner I go to has a topic discussion on the third floor, but I have yet to attend- I'm looking for a girlfriend, not an education. The last topic was Marriage- what the hell do I have to contribute?
But if I ran an English Corner for adults, I'd do it the same way: a topic discussion in one room to offer a structure, a larger room to mingle.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Apr 18, 2006 12:26:09 GMT 7
Ruth, I can't take credit for the wrong dog one, its from the Bucklands instructor. Well, thanks anyway. Got any more to share? I'd appreciate them if you have the time to post. |
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