TOOLS OF THE TRADE:

Tricks, Tips, and Techniques for your teaching arsenal

Ashley Greenidge

Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto-fu

2008-2010

KNOW THY CLASS.

“Class” here actually means more than just the students you are teaching. Find out as much as you can about your JTE, your students, your physical classroom, and your school as a whole.

○ Get to know your JTE(s). Try to find out their strengths and weaknesses so that you can find the best way to assist them.

○ All homeroom teachers have pictures of their students and seating charts—use both of these to your advantage!

○ Find out what other resources are available at your school. For example: a teacher supply room, the library, language labs, computer labs, etc.

○ Familiarize yourself with the classroom: desk set-up options, AV equipment, chalkboards (magnetic or not?), white boards, etc.

GET ORGANIZED

Regardless of whether you are teaching Elementary, Junior High, or High School, the most valuable skill to have in your arsenal is good organization.

○ Keep all of your resources in one place.

○ Have a good supply of inexpensive materials on hand (hint: shop through your local 100-yen store when you arrive). ○ Binders: with clear file pages to organize lessons you’ve done/printed

○ Flashcards and clear cover sheets for flashcards

○ Stuffed animal or puppet or ball for activities

○ Prizes: stickers, pencils, erasers etc.

TYPES OF CLASSES

○ Special Education ○ Classes

○ Schools

○ English Club

○ Speech Contest/Speech Club

○ International Club ○ May be part of your school or may be run by your BOE or local Community Center

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT LESSON:THE SELF INTRODUCTION

○ Prepare this before you arrive in Japan

○ Things to include: pictures of your friends, family, local town/area, favorite foods.

○ Activities you like

○ Prepare as many visuals as possible

○ Move around

Above All, Remember:

It will get easier.

MY NAME IS: ASHLEY GREENIDGE

I AM 30 YEARS OLD.

I LIKE: COOKING

GOOD FOODSKIING

SINGING

MY FAMILY:

I DON’T LIKE: Natto

Simpler Version (lower or younger levels)

• Maru / Batsu game • Use hands to form Maru (O) and

Batsu (X)• Nagako likes natto!• Nagako has two brothers.

LESSON PLANNING

Typical Class Structure

5 Minutes Greetings/Warm Up

10 Minutes Review from Previous Class

20 Minutes Main Activity

5 Minutes Review of Main Points

5 Minutes Closing / Goodbye

o Classes are usually 45 minutes

o Class structure will vary on age/level but basically it follows →

o Warm Up can also be combined with the Review depending on the lesson

o Always have an extra activity (5-10 minutes) planned in case your lesson ends early

TYPES OF LESSONS

Introductions

Warm Up

Reading

Writing & Listening

Pair work

Warm Up Activities Short Activities: Lots of Class Participation

○ Warm Ups can be (but don’t have to be) related to the previous lesson or as a lead-in to the upcoming lesson

○ Using English in a fun way

○ Lets your students “play” with English

5 – 10 Minutes

Word Tag

True / False (Maru/Batsu)

Telephone

Shiritori

2 Truths + 1 Lie

READING / READING COMPREHENSION Textbooks vs. Making Your Own

Textbooks will have reading excerpts but your JTE may ask you to prepare your own. If that happens, remember to keep it as simple as possible.

○ Write your own “short story” for class

○ Make a fake newsletter with different articles

○ Make a “picture story”: have your students put the pictures in order based on your descriptions

○ Fill in the blanks or a quiz to test for comprehension

WRITING & LISTENING ACTIVITIES

Many JTEs prefer to use their school texts instead of creating a lot of new materials.

This helps because the students are familiar with the vocabulary in the books.

However, don’t be afraid to deviate if you have your JTEs permission and remember: holidays are a great way to share new cultural information and vocabulary!

F_ll in t_e Bl_ n k

Word Searches

You Describe, They Draw

PAIR WORK

○ Discuss with your JTE beforehand: pair work is popular in Japan and they will have a system for pairing up students

○ Don’t be afraid of “Rotating Pairs” but make sure your JTE understand what you want to do

○ Worksheets help keep students on point○ Simple 2 person board game style

worksheets

○ “Describe the picture”

○ Students create conversations using grammar points

Pair work allows students to practice their English with each other. It is great for learning new sentence structures or new vocabulary.

TRIED AND TRUE RESOURCES FOR TEACHING

ESL Specific ESL KID STUFF:  http://www.eslkidstuff.com/ PRINTABLE BOARD GAMES:  www.esl-lounge.com/board_gamesindex.shtml   ESL Kids:  http://www.eslkid.com/index.html WYZANT RESOURCES:  https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/english/esl DAVE’S ESL CAFE: http://eslcafe.com/search/index.html  EFL / ESL LESSON PLANS (ALL LEVELS): http://iteslj.org/Lessons/ DISCOVERY.COM - MAKE YOUR OWN PUZZLES/WORD SEARCHES ETC: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/?CFID=3208214&CFTOKEN=18370909 

Flash cards, lesson ideas, games, songs, on-line stories: GENKI ENGLISH – www.genkienglish.net DLTK KIDS – www.dltk-kids.com NICK JR – www.nickjr.comED HELPER – www.edhelper.com

LESSON PLANNING ACTIVITY: WILL COMMENCE AFTER A SHORT BREAK