Intro Lesson for Advanced English Learners
How do we break the ice with new students?
Should we dig right into the lesson materials?
I was finally able to complete my first lesson for my teen student. This design was created as an initial lesson idea for any teens. The topic is very general and filled with games for more advanced students, plus and introduction to the book we will be reading. :)
I wanted to share some of my slides and suggestions for creating an opening lesson with any teenager whose English is more advanced.
#1: Know Your Parent’s and Student’s Expectations
I knew this student previously, and they sought me out to continue working with them online after they moved back home. So, I already knew who this student was and their English level.
If I had not known this student, I would have contacted the parents and discussed expectations, language levels and any pertinent information.
This is important to remember because you cannot create a good lesson, if you do not know someone’s expectations. This is my pet peeve with cookie cutter language companies. They funnel everyone through the same system, and this is not beneficial for all students.
In conclusion,
Do not assume you know everything about what the student needs. Ask them first. Then build from that. You can recommend certain topics to include in your lesson (like reading), but you need to cover what their expectations are. I have many parents who tell me they just want conversation for their children or even adults who only want conversational English.
Seems easy right? Just talk to them!
No! Because you don’t know what they enjoy or what the student already knows. You need to prepare and include content that is new in your lessons. Playing games is a great way to do this. Which brings us to our next subject to include…
#2 Playing Games
There are so many resources on the internet to find fun quick games that are adaptable and timeless. Some of the games I used were:
Two Truths and a Lie:
As you can see, I explain the rules of the game. The language I use in the explanation may be difficult to understand for some students. In this case, I would break it down.
Define truth, lie, Don’t tell.
You want to make the game a fun learning experience. Once your student understands the concept of the game, you can play it whenever you would like.
Would You Rather?:
*Side note: My student said they would be a villain because they are smarter than every other villain....they would be the best villain...hahaha :'D*
This fun game is great to build vocabulary and can be super funny. You can even extend by asking the student why they chose a certain option. To explain the game. Tell them to answer the question and give them two outrageous options. Like the ones I show above. 😉
Create and Advertisement:
This is a really fun activity because it gives the student an opportunity to show off their speaking skills to their fullest. There are so many weird and crazy products that have been created to improve our day-to-day lives. What I like to do is introduce a picture to the student and give them 1 minute to come up with a way to sell me the product. They should understand that they need to answer all the questions to the best of their ability and create crazy things that happen when you use the product. It is hilarious and loads of fun for more advanced speakers.
#3 Include Writing
This is easy to forget when you are doing any lesson because when you are online or in person, teachers do not want to spend a bunch of their time waiting for their student to write an essay.
So here are my thoughts on this,
Why is it necessary for the student to have at least ten minutes of writing in their first class?
Because this will give you an idea of their level of writing. Have them use the messaging box from whatever platform you decide to have, whether that is Zoom, Skype, Cisco Webex, etc. Have them share it via email or google drive accounts. Many teens are just starting to learn how to write proficiently and articulately in their native language. They will thank you later for showing them how to write in a second language as well.
When do students use writing?
Resumes, cover letters, blogging, college entrance exams, college applications, job applications, formal emails, postcards from trips, etc.
How can I create a simple writing activity?
Go to Pinterest and Google and type in teen journal prompts. There will be so many great questions that you can give to you student. Then let them write for five minutes. After the time is up, have them send it and read it out loud.
#4 Word Play
Riddles
Riddles are very fun and definitely tests your student’s ability to think abstractly! To use a language in an abstract manner to solve riddles shows you their true potential!
Take a look at some riddles I used in the first lesson and see it you can solve them. First, you need to find a few appropriate, fun riddles. Then use PowerPoint to create cool affects, and finally…BAM! You have a fun activity.
Poems/Rhymes
Poems are really cool to use because of their diversity. You can use poems with rhymes, haikus, songs, etc. Then have the student create their own poems by giving them a subject to write about, a specific poem genre (e.g. haiku), and let them write for five minutes.
You want them to understand the art of using words to convey their own thoughts and ideas. So, don’t judge their content (unless it is way off of the topic or severely inappropriate <- In this case you should establish certain boundaries and rules in the classroom) but instead look at their grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
I did not use this idea in this lesson because it did not fit with my student's personality. :)
#5 Reading
As you can tell, the theme of most of my lessons are reading based. I enjoy using literature because books are tools that are all around us, and they should be used.
Even with students who I am helping with conversational English, I will still incorporate books because they allow us to connect and discuss. Not only will books give my student and I something to talk about, but if the student reads, they are being exposed to grammar, vocabulary, and ideas.
During this lesson, I was more focused on introducing "The Giver", by Lois Lowry to my student. I had them read the simple plot summary and characters list I created based off this book. If you would like to see the Syllabus for this specific book, I am posting the link here:
https://englischmorganster.wixsite.com/website/post/lesson-plan-advanced-student
That is all for now! I hope you enjoyed the article and pictures from my first lesson. Please subscribe and comment if you have any thoughts about teen lessons! Bye! 😊
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