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In this unit I learned about teaching new classes of students for the first time. With a new group of students it takes some time to establish rapport among the class members; whereas an existing group of students may already know each other and be familiar with EFL teaching methods. With the first class, an experienced teacher won't use the course book but will attempt to establish a rapport with and among the students. There are a number of activities that the teacher can use to do so, including passing out questionnaires or perhaps doing a needs analysis survey.
Getting new students interested with short, fun "warmers" helps motivate students and gets them using English. Typical warmer ideas include activities such as Hangman, Pictionary, tongue twisters, or memory games. Once students are warmed up to using English, the teacher may discover that his or her students are at different levels of English competency. In this case the teacher may see fit to pair stronger students with weaker ones. Class size is another issue a teacher must deal with. Large classes, in particular, can present a problem as far as getting all the students to equally participate. The use of worksheets, pair/group work and choral repetition, among other techniques, can help remedy this potentially difficult situation.
The last thing I learned was that English teachers need to encourage their students to speak only English rather than the students' native language. To this end, teachers need to be sure that the activities they give their students are level appropriate. Teachers need to explain the activities clearly to everyone. Only English should be spoken in the class. If a student speaks to the teacher in their native tongue, the teacher should not respond. For the whole point of being an EFL/ESL teacher is to get your students thinking and speaking in English!
