Isabel: |
How was your first
English class, Maria? |
Maria: |
Oh, I'm so tired,
the children won't listen to me and they are very slow when they take
out their bags, and books, and pens and notebooks! What about you? |
Isabel: |
Oh, it was fine.
First I told the children to put their things on the desk then I was strict
when they answered questions. |
Maria: |
Really, what did
you say? |
Isabel: |
I only asked the
students who put their hands up. I think it's important to know their
names too so I made them write their names on a paper and put it on the
desk in front of them. It's much easier to control a child if you know
his or her name. |
Maria: |
Did you move them
round the class a lot, because my children are really noisy when they
work in a big group and have to move the chairs. |
Isabel: |
My children too are
really noisy if they're in a big group for too long or with the same partner
all class. I think it's a good idea to change interaction, so your classes
are not too repetitive. |
Maria: |
What do you mean?
|
Isabel: |
Having them working
in different groupings - sometimes individual, sometimes pairs or threes
and I put the children in big groups if they have to play a game or do
a competition. I think it depends on the kind of activity you want to
do. |
Maria: |
But don't they speak
in Spanish a lot when they're in pairs or groups? |
Isabel: |
Well sometimes, but
I try to monitor them and encourage English. |
Maria: |
Well, thank for your
advice, I'll try some of your ideas tomorrow. |