E V O L V E S C H O O L: TeachingEnglish Newsletter 9 February 2011

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TeachingEnglish Newsletter

9 February 2011

Our Guest Writer this month Michael Swan has been blogging on the prickly subject of how to teach grammar. Why not let him know your opinion here.

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Welcome to this week's TeachingEnglish newsletter! There's lots for you to try in your classroom this week including a writing practice activity, a new BritLit kit and a teaching tip on avoiding terminology in the classroom.

Our Guest Writer Michael Swan has been active this week and has posted a new blog entry. There's also a cry for help from one of our readers who wants some ideas for teaching one to one classes with a totally new student.

Enjoy,

Duncan
TeachingEnglish Team | British Council | BBC

How to teach grammar

There are three golden rules for successful grammar teaching. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. So instead, let me offer a few personal opinions. I'll try to be brief: I've spent the last three years writing a practical grammar course that's moving towards publication, and I've got so much in my head that it's hard to sum it all up.
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Picture to story

I use this activity mainly to provide writing practice. It also practises question forms and encourages creativity. It is a student-centred activity which encourages collaboration and teamwork. This idea was influenced greatly by Jacosta Von Achten of the British Council, Bangkok.
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Pink Bow Tie

A fourteen year old finds himself in trouble with the school Principal - again. This time, however, he has a genuine excuse, but is he likely to be believed? This popular BritLit kit has been revised and reshaped from the 2005 original and contains new material. The teacher is offered a 'slimmed down' version which can be used to occupy just one or two lessons.
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Avoiding terminology

Coursebooks and supplementary materials use a lot of grammar terminology but I try to be cautious about what I use in the class. For example, my learners get confused by the 'present simple' which doesn't just refer to the present. Some terminology just doesn't tell my learners anything, such as 'a type 4 phrasal verb' or 'the infinitive'.
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Conversation English

I'm looking for some help and some ideas. I have a new class starting in 2 days with a woman who is starting work as an air steward with a well known low cost airline. She wants conversation classes so she can interact and speak with the customers but also learn all the vocabulary she'll need for her job. I'm unsure what to do on the first day as I don't know her level, I don't know anything about her.