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Q: What are some good teaching methods to use for younger and older students in China?
11 years 32 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
With older students (11/12 up) I favour lots and lots of pair-work. I sometimes throw in work in larger groups of three or four but that's mostly to break up the routine of pair-work activities as group work tends to be dominated by the stronger students and the weaker ones clam up. In pairs the students have generally found someone they feel comfortable with of a similar level and I find it the most suitable opportunity for each student to do some productive spoken practise.
With younger children you need to keep everyone involved 'all the time'. Keep it active, avoid lengthy explanations of 'anything,' and make sure you have a good mixture of games and activities, that way if one doesn't work you can switch to another.
A reward scheme is something I find vital with teaching young children as it motivates them to make effort in their study and it motivates them to behave if you threaten to take it away. Some students will laugh as you take away their rewards but take away those of the entire class as a result of said individuals bad behaviour and peer pressure will do your work for you.
Teenage students aren't so easily bought off, unless you have iPhones to give away, but keep a number of grammar exercise sheets to do as punishment for bad behaviour during a period of the lesson when they would otherwise be doing a fun activity, and they will also behave better.
One thing i've found of paramount importance is to actually see the best in your students. There are always some who are unruly but this is more often than not, a matter of seeking attention or problems of insecurity. If you take a disliking to a student they will most likely pick up on it and behave accordingly. Similarly students react positively to encouragement and being shown respect. Raising your voice with your students is a very risky thing to do and can be the quickest way to put up a wall between you and them so my approach is to become quieter as they get louder. If they try to test your authority you just pull out the grammar sheets.
I could go on but i'm putting myself to sleep so i'll leave it there. Hope that helps.
