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Unit 20 goes over common problems that teachers may run into and some solutions.
For first lessons, teachers want to avoid using the course book and instead try to establish a rapport with the students and try to find out more about the students' needs and motivations in learning English. Some good activities for this are questionnaires, pass the ball game, or a needs analysis.
It's a good idea to use warmers at the beginning of lessons to get students ready and motivated to learn English. Some good warmers are hangman, pictionary, tongue twisters, or memory games. Warmers should be fun but short.
Teachers may have to teach students of different levels in one class. Some students may learn more quickly than others, creating a gap. Some ways to address this gap is to use different materials when the difference in abilities is wide. Teachers can also use the same material but give different students different tasks. Teachers can also pair stronger students with weaker ones.
Teachers might also have to deal with large classes. In these cases, teachers can take advantage of worksheets, pair/group work, choral repetition, and group leaders. Teachers should pay attention to their voice and their board work to make sure they are seen and heard by all students. Teachers should also pay attention to their class dynamics.
Sometimes teachers may encounter students who will try to use their native language. Most of the time, students who use their native language are trying to communicate and feel unable to do so in English. In these cases, the teacher should make sure all instructions are clear and activities are language appropriate according to the students' language level. The teacher should always respond in English and avoid using the student's mother tongue.
Teachers could have to deal with reluctant students. To address this problem, teachers can use pair work, controlled practice, role-play, or a tape recorder.
Some students may have difficulties with listening texts, but this does not mean the teacher should not use them. Teachers should pre-teach difficult vocabulary, and also make sure to match the pace of the lesson to the pace that most suitable for the majority of the class. If some students finish the task early, have extra activities or materials prepared.
There are a number of problems that teachers may run into, but they can rely on their own knowledge and training to keep students engaged and motivated to keep learning English.
