I've just started a new job teaching English in the Czech Republic. I'm going to take a TEFL course during the summer but that won't help me at the moment. I would appreciate any advice you could give me on how to be an effective teacher. In particular, I would like some tips on things to avoid. For example, I've read that good teachers don't just give answers to their students, they elicit answers from them. That was great advice. I would be grateful to anyone who could provide similar insights.
Chris
Top 10 Mistakes New ESL Teachers Should Avoid
Moderator: Joe
Re: Top 10 Mistakes New ESL Teachers Should Avoid
Hi,
There are many "dos" and "don'ts", and it's impossible to make a list of everything. Anyway I have some tips, I hope they help!
- Earn your students' appreciation, admiration and respect, avoid beeing "buddies" with them from the beginning. Pupils like you more when you are strict and at the same time fair with them;
- On the other hand, avoid being too serious. Avoid boredom introducing fun in your lesson plan;
- Never show favoritism towards a student;
- Discipline tip: write the lesson plan on the board (numbered items). The last item should be a game, a song, a fun activity they like. Tick off each item after it's completed. This keeps the pace of the lesson and avoids discipline problems!
- Respect pupils' intelligencies; not all of them are drawing or drama artists, or even singers, some like to read outloud others don't. Learn to know them.
- Never humiliate a student!
- When a pupil gives an answer, your reaction should be always positive: if it's incorrect, a "quite good, but probably someone could come up with something different" may encourage the student to always participate in the lesson.
I hope this helps!
Syl
Syl's English Corner - Learn English and Have Fun
http://www.ginnegar.0catch.com
There are many "dos" and "don'ts", and it's impossible to make a list of everything. Anyway I have some tips, I hope they help!
- Earn your students' appreciation, admiration and respect, avoid beeing "buddies" with them from the beginning. Pupils like you more when you are strict and at the same time fair with them;
- On the other hand, avoid being too serious. Avoid boredom introducing fun in your lesson plan;
- Never show favoritism towards a student;
- Discipline tip: write the lesson plan on the board (numbered items). The last item should be a game, a song, a fun activity they like. Tick off each item after it's completed. This keeps the pace of the lesson and avoids discipline problems!
- Respect pupils' intelligencies; not all of them are drawing or drama artists, or even singers, some like to read outloud others don't. Learn to know them.
- Never humiliate a student!
- When a pupil gives an answer, your reaction should be always positive: if it's incorrect, a "quite good, but probably someone could come up with something different" may encourage the student to always participate in the lesson.
I hope this helps!
Syl
Syl's English Corner - Learn English and Have Fun
http://www.ginnegar.0catch.com
Re: Top 10 Mistakes New ESL Teachers Should Avoid
I wrote an article on this a few years ago based on a task that was part of a job application:Top Teaching Banana Skins and How to Avoid Them
http://www.tefl.net/esl-articles/teaching-mistakes.htm
Hope that helps
TEFLtastic blog- "All the truth that's fit to teach"- http://tefltastic.wordpress.com/
http://www.tefl.net/esl-articles/teaching-mistakes.htm
Hope that helps
TEFLtastic blog- "All the truth that's fit to teach"- http://tefltastic.wordpress.com/
Re: Top 10 Mistakes New ESL Teachers Should Avoid
Thanks Alexcase. That was very helpful. 
Chris
Chris