1. You don't need to stick to a lesson plan.
This may come as a shock,
but things will happen in your classes that you don't expect! Students will
finish some activities too soon and take longer on others. Some things will be
easy for them, and others that you expect them to understand quickly will be
tougher. It is more important to be flexible than stick rigidly to something
that isn't working.
2. You don't need to know all the answers.
Another shock? I taught
some classes where they asked me questions I couldn't answer right then. I told
them I would find out for them, and I did. As long as you are honest, say you
don't know, and then give the answers later, that's fine.
3. Every student is different.
Now, that may be obvious,
but so many teachers forget this when they are teaching and treat each student
in the same way. That won't work. Get to know your students, their learning
styles and their strengths and weaknesses. If possible, create a variety of
tasks to suit different students in the class.
4. You can't force students to learn, nor
should you.
Teachers often feel
responsible if their students don't progress. You can give them the tools for
learning and inspire them to want to learn, but then it becomes the individual
student's responsibility to learn, not only yours.
5. Have a personality.
Be yourself. Let the
students see you're a human being and not a teaching machine. Laugh at yourself
if you make mistakes. Bring humor into the classroom.
6. Be encouraging.
Error
correction is essential in the right circumstances, but if you correct every
mistake then you can easily destroy a student's confidence. Praise
good work and
never tell students they are stupid. Students who think they are stupid lose
motivation.
7.
Balance your lessons between different skills.
A
teacher who teaches 90% grammar is not helping the students. Communication
skills, reading, writing, and vocabulary building are all as important as
grammar. Possibly even more important than grammar!
8. Keep an emergency resources box.
Include games, paper,
colored pencils, extra worksheets, magazines etc. This will be invaluable if
you need to add a new activity into the lesson or to extend something the
students are working on.
9. Give homework.
This is controversial!
You can't force students to do homework, but if you give them the choice then
they will feel encouraged and they can take responsibility for their learning.
It is really important to mark the homework if you do give it, and not leave it
on your desk for weeks.
10. Have fun!
If you enjoy your
lessons, then your students will too.
These are the pieces of advice that helped me learn how to teach English and I'm sure they will help you too!
These are the pieces of advice that helped me learn how to teach English and I'm sure they will help you too!
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