Set a time limit!

This afternoon I got to the conclusion that a simple way to turn an easy activity more challenging is setting a time limit! Students tend to like the challenge of having to accomplish a certain "mission" in very little time. Today one of my beginner students was reviewing numbers from 0-10 and of course he already knew the content, but once we had time and he's a teenager I decided to use an extra activity I've prepared which is a simple match up on numbers. My student would have to match them with their corresponding writing. It seemed obvious to me that the exercise could be really boring if I used it with no adaptations at all. Instead, I decided to get my "hourglass", placed it on the desk and asked him if he could match all those numbers in a certain little time. Ready! A boring activity at first became an exciting game!

A spelling dictation?

Yes! Why not, colleague? This afternoon I was thinking about it as a great (and different) way to have our students practicing the alphabet. So, students would have to write words in a piece of paper, but teacher should not dictate the words but only their letters, for example: Instead of simply saying: "notebook", the teacher should say: "N", "O", "T", and so on. As most activities this one can also become a challenging competition! A reward for the one who makes fewer mistakes! Have great classes tomorrow, colleague!

Let's label!

I've just had an idea for one of my classes tomorrow! My new student is just starting the book. In the first lesson I'm supposed to teach him "What's this?" "What's that?" and so on. As he is only 10, I thought about using as many real objects I could, just like many teachers already do (including me!), but I also thought about improving the presentantion of the content with some "labels". So I've just typed the words I need to teach him, such as: pen, door, window, desk, etc. Then, after introducing the structures "What's this/that?", I'm going to ask him to label the objects using a tape. I guess it may work! Have a nice class, colleague!

Questions, questions, questions!

This week I'm gonna make use of another activity from a book which I mentioned here long ago "Inglês é Teen!". Basically the teacher has to show the students a picture and, in pairs, they're supposed to make as many interrogative sentences they can about that image. Soon afterwards, they may ask and asnwer those questions among the group. In my case, as a private teacher, I'm gonna work as my student's partner and we might answer each other's questions. Sounds like a wonderful way to practice Wh- questions and also the structure of interrogative sentences using different verb tenses. A brand new idea from a great book! Have a wonderful SUNday, colleague!

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For the ones who don't know...

Yes, I like it!

A simple activity that can be used in class, even as a way to present the Simple Present, is the following: Write on the board "I LIKE ________ BECAUSE_______" and ask your students to write 5 sentences like the one you wrote on the board, filling out with true information about them. Set a time limit and soon afterwards ask them to report their sentences for the whole group. As a private teacher, I'd ask my student to tell me what was written. The teacher can also improve the exercise by asking the group to walk around and find things in common what can be reported in class, as well. Have great classes, colleague!

Happy Valentine's!

Yes, collegue! Time just flies! It's almost February 14 again and here I am thinking about a romantic song to give my students and some printable activities as well. Concerning the song, I'm thinking about using my Simply Red's DVD and this week I intend to show my older students the song "You make me feel brand new". The lyrics are pretty easy, the performance of the singer is wonderful and students are able to easily understand what he sings. For my teen students (I'm pretty sure they wouldn't like that song) I printed some great activities from abcteach (http://abcteach.com/directory/seasonalholidays/valetines_day/). The site brings some cool printables,such as reading comprehension exercises (a text and its corresponding questions) and also an activity in which students are supposed to make words from "VALENTINE'S DAY" - this one always works pretty well and we're able to practice and test their vocabulary skill, too. Be my Valentine!

An imaginary party!

This is a great and funny idea to have your students talking and practicing the language even more! I made use of this activity today with an intermediate teen student who has some difficulties and the result was pretty good. I told him we would pretend we were at a party and we had to start a conversation. We could use different names, nationalities, etc. It was pretty funny and I could check on my student's development in Speaking. I imagine that this idea can work even better with big groups so that there are a larger number of "people at the party" and the teacher can also implement the task making use of music and some other stuff. Have a great party, dear collegue!