Category: Let's talk
hay all,
Well I'm teaching english at primary level at a catalan-speaking barcelona school. More accurately, I am the local native, helping out when the teacher assigns activities or assisting with oral and auditory tasks related to learning english. My questions are: how does one easily move about a classroom full of 10 year olds or younger to go between groups and tables? This is almost impossible due to bags and chairs stroon irregularly about or the tables not being placed in uniform rows, but in U shapes so that all of the children can see the board or work better in groups. Has anyone overcome this?
Secondly: are there any good activities for language learning which keep an entire class interested that don't involve visuals? I don't have access to powerpoint or any fancy projector equipment and am often at a loss on this issue when dealing with a large group.
3: Knowing when members of the group are messing around or not paying attention, especially when I don't know all of their names. I see over 100 students across my classes and since none of their voices have broken they all sound alike.
4: calling on members of the class, bloody impossible! hands up doesn't really help me I'm afraid!
Any suggestions from those who have tought would be amazing, language teachers if at all possible. I suppose it doesn't help that I despise the job and can't stand kids...but I'm stuck with it for another 5 months so thought I'd ask for some help
chears
MJ
oh gosh, you must be in hell. how did you get conned in to doing a job you hate so much? no offense, but
I've taught sunday school classes for 10 years and home schooled two kids. I have some thoughts. I'll put them under your questions.
In my opinion the whole issue of your teaching revolves around poor limmits and nonexistant communication. You need to talk with the person with whom you work and clearly state what needs to happen.
additionally, you need to have the ssame type of disccussion with the students. honestly explain your visual problem. talk about how you do things. explain your abilities and the areas in which you need help. most kids are willing and able to change. they want to make things better. they need to have clearly defined limmits and speciffic and known consequences for when these are breeched.
moving about the classroom shouldn't be a problem. this sounds like the teacher has control issues. you need to honestly communicate with her and have the kids put their crap in the same place every day. having it strewn everywhere is a safety hazzard for both you and them. If there aren't cubbies or lockers, at least insist that the backpacks go under the desk/table.
You young kids kill me. You need to have an electronic device to entertain and teach? oh come on kiddo. age appropriate guessing games. annagrams, and twenty questions are things which immediately come to mind. uif you need to learn how to play these, let me know and I'll teach you.
you have ears do you not? If a kid is messing around, you can hear them. what has worked well for me if i don't know their name, is to walk up to their table, lean over in to their space, and say, I hear you messing around. why ware you being so rude and disrespectful." usually scares the crap out of them.
i must go off to work. i f you have any other questions, please let me know. i'd be happy to help you.
haha, thanks. firstly moving about a classroom is mostly complicated by my having the spacial awareness of your average teaspoon. In answer to your question of how I landed the job, um, well, I'm doing a language degree and doing this job I'd get paid, where as studying in a foreign university I'd become broke, lol! As for non-visual activities, its not just for me, keep in mind that kids today rely on them as learning aids and get board easily when they are not present.
you underestimate the average kid. if they have a choice, say play 20 questions or do home work, which do you think they'd pick? currently i'm teaching middle schoolers. you can imagine how many of the actually want to be in my class. a lot of the reason they are there is because of the other teacher but also because of me i think. we don't have elaborate learning aids. just good ol' fashioned talking and listening.
hope i'm making sense.