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by Eric Roth
Apr 16, 2010
What's your favorite first day activity? How do you establish rapport and encourage students to talk?
Here's my standard ice-breaker group of exercises for ESL classes for high-intermediate and advanced students. The level might be a bit high, but I have used it successfully with adult, community college, IEP, and university students in L...See MoreWhat's your favorite first day activity? How do you establish rapport and encourage students to talk?
Here's my standard ice-breaker group of exercises for ESL classes for high-intermediate and advanced students. The level might be a bit high, but I have used it successfully with adult, community college, IEP, and university students in Los Angeles. Take a look - it might work for you too!
GOING BEYOND HELLO
“Accept me as I am – only then will we discover each other.” Federico Fellini (1920-1993), Italian director/screenwriter
Telling Your Story: Please interview the person sitting next to you. Feel free to add or skip any questions that you want. Take turns talking, jot down some notes, and prepare to introduce your partner to our class. Let’s begin!
1. What’s your full name? How do you spell that? 2. Who chose your name? Why? 3. Where were you born? Were you the first child? Second? Fifth?
4. Do you have any older brothers? Sisters? Younger siblings?
5. Where did you grow up? Is that a city, village, or suburb?
6. How would you describe yourself as a child? Why?
7. When did you decide to move to California? Why?
8. How long have you been in the United States?
9. Did you move here by yourself? How was the trip?
10. What possessions did you bring with you? Why did you choose these objects? 11. Can you share some of first impressions of California? 12. Do you have a favorite color? Number? Season? Why? 13. What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have a favorite singer? Group? 14. What’s your favorite radio station or television channel? Why? 15. Can you recommend any movies to rent or see? Why do you like those films? 16. What do you like to do outside? Why? 17. Where do you walk, hike, jog, or bike on the weekends? 18. What’s your favorite sport? Why? 19. How do you like to spend your free time? What interests you? 20. Do you have a hobby? How long have you enjoyed it? 21. How long have you studied English? Where? 22. Where do you usually speak English? Who do you usually talk with? 23. What’s your best language? Where do you usually speak it? Why? 24. What makes you smile? Where do you feel most comfortable? 25. What are some things that might cause you to frown? 26. How do you express enthusiasm in a word or sound in your native language? 27. Do you have a favorite English word or expression? Why? 28. What are your goals for this year? Why? What’s your plan? 29. How would your friends describe you? What would you add? 30. What are three things that you appreciate about living in Los Angeles? Vocabulary: Please circle the words that you know. Ask your partner or teacher for the meanings of the other words.
interview sibling suburb possession impression hobby smile frown enthusiasm goals
Proverbs: Read the proverbs below. Can you add another saying?
Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. – American proverb. Beauty is a good letter of recommendation. – German proverb You never get a second chance to make a first impression. - American proverb. You’re never too old to learn. – Latin proverb A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books. – Chinese proverb
Sharing Views: Which quotation is your favorite? Why?
1. “I never met a man I didn’t like.” Will Rogers (1879-1935), American humorist
2. “I am free of all prejudices. I hate every one equally.” W. C. Fields (1880-1946), comedian
3. “There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation.” James Nathan Miller, contemporary journalist
4. “He’s the sort of guy if you say, ‘Hi ya, Clark, how are you?’ he’s stuck for an answer.” Ava Gardner, film star, describing her ex-lover, the film star Clark Gable.
5. “Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for his competitors, for it is that which all are practicing every day while they live.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American essayist/philosopher
6. “Don’t tell your friends about your indigestion. ‘How are you’ is a greeting, not a question.” Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943), American poet
7. “The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man’s observation, not overturning it.” Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873), British novelist/politician
8. “Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680), French writer
9. “It takes two to speak truth – one to speak and another to hear.” Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), American philosopher
10. “There is no such thing as conversation. It is an illusion. There are interesting monologues, that’s all.” Rebecca West (1892-1983), English writer
11. “I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy and driven.” Barbara Streisand (1942-), American singer, actress, director, producer
12. “Everything becomes a little different as soon as it spoken out loud.” Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), novelist
13. “Never let your fear of striking out get in your way.” Babe Ruth (1895-1948), American baseball legend
14. “It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much.” Yogi Berra (1925- ) legendary baseball manager/catcher
EXTENSION: Before next class, compliment three people. Tell your class partner what happened.
[link removed]
by Pamela khairallah
Apr 20, 2010
Any study tips for the ESL section of the MTEL Reading Specialist Test?
lease advice on the best books or materials for teaching english as a foreign language for spanish speakers in Spain, for beginers and medium level students. Thanks,
Maria
by Chancellor Carlyle Roberts, II
Apr 24, 2010
This is an excellent resource, though it is primarily intended for people who teach English overseas. There are great podcasts on a variety of topics related to ESL. Check it out!
I have a 4 yr degree in history, and would like to apply for an ESL job with another school district. What type of degree is needed to teach ESL? What is your day like? Do you teach all subjects? Do you find it boring?
by skylark2868
May 8, 2010
Do any of you ESL teachers know of a guided composition book that's entitled, I think, 39 Steps? (It might be some other number, but I think it is 39). It isn't very thick - the first time I used it, it was a paperback. Thanks.
I am a secondary English teacher who is professionally certified in New York State. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to be eligible to teach ELLs at the high school level? Is it the same requirement for ESL? Is this an add-on certificate from the NYC Educ Dept?
by Chancellor Carlyle Roberts, II
May 17, 2010
"Buffalo public schools provide inconsistent, inadequate and inequitable services to students who speak English as their second language, according to a scathing report recently released to the administration and Board of Education.
The city's rapidly growing student population of recent immigrants and refugees — now numbering more than ...See More"Buffalo public schools provide inconsistent, inadequate and inequitable services to students who speak English as their second language, according to a scathing report recently released to the administration and Board of Education.
The city's rapidly growing student population of recent immigrants and refugees — now numbering more than 3,000 — has historically been 'largely invisible' in Buffalo schools, the report contends.
'The school system didn't seem to notice they were here, didn't think to modify an otherwise successful program to ensure that these newcomers could succeed, and didn't create an effective system to reach out to those communities,' states the Council of Great City Schools report, which was commissioned by the board.
'In short, the instructional program for many of these new Americans is poorly defined, inconsistently implemented, and lacking a clear strategy for developing English acquisition skills.'"
Read the rest of the article by clicking on the link.
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Teacher Chatboards
I like Genki English ([link removed]).
On 4/20/10, Maria wrote: > Please advice on the best books or materials for teaching > english as a foreign language for spanish speakers in Spain, > for beginers and medium level students. Thanks, > > Maria