FOR TEACHERS - 1ST SESSION OF ENGLISH CLASS beginners' tips #beginnerstips

Summary

This video script from 'English with SRV' offers a creative icebreaker activity for teachers to engage with new students, whether in-person or online. The task involves preparing multiple questions, creating stations for discussion, and having students write their answers on separate pieces of paper. The activity is designed to be fun, low-pressure, and adaptable for various class durations and sizes. The script also provides tips for adapting the activity for online classes, ensuring student interaction and a memorable first session.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Icebreakers can sometimes be overwhelming for students, so it's important to make them fun and low-pressure.
• 📚 The icebreaker task is versatile, suitable for both teenagers and adults, and can be done online or face-to-face.
• 💡 The task involves using a set of questions to create stations in the classroom, where students can interact and share their answers.
• 📝 The number of stations should match the number of questions, and students should write their answers on individual pieces of paper.
• ⏱️ Time management is crucial for this activity; allocate one minute per question to keep the exercise on track.
• 📋 Providing pre-prepared pieces of paper and necessary materials (e.g., tack for non-sticky notes) will save time and make the task smoother.
• 👥 Grouping students and having them discuss their answers at the stations encourages interaction and deeper thinking.
• 📊 After sticking their answers at the stations, students should group similar responses and discuss common themes.
• 🏫 The activity can be adapted for online classrooms by sharing questions beforehand and utilizing breakout rooms for discussions.
• 🎓 This icebreaker helps teachers get to know their students better without putting too much pressure on them, making the first session more comfortable and engaging.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the task discussed in the video?

The main purpose of the task is to help teachers start a lesson with a new group of students in a fun and non-overwhelming way while getting to know them.

Who is the idea of this task credited to?

The idea of the task is credited to another great teacher whose channel is mentioned in the video, but the presenter has forgotten her name.

What are the different types of classes this task can be applied to?

This task can be applied to both teenagers and adults, and it can be used in both online and face-to-face classroom settings.

How many questions are suggested for creating stations in a face-to-face classroom?

The number of questions determines the number of stations, but it's recommended to have no more than four or five questions if the class is 40 minutes long.

What is the recommended time limit for students to answer each question?

Students are given one minute per question to write their answers on individual pieces of paper.

What is an ICQ and why is it important in this context?

An ICQ stands for Instruction Check Question, which is used to ensure students understand the task requirements. It's important to prevent confusion when students have to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

How do students share their answers in a face-to-face classroom?

Students write their answers on pieces of paper, stick them to the corresponding station around the classroom, and then discuss their answers with their group.

What is the role of the teacher in organizing the online version of this activity?

In the online version, the teacher shares the questions beforehand, collects answers, and during the session, organizes students into breakout rooms to discuss their answers.

What additional resource is provided for students to further understand the activity?

A worksheet is provided for students to complete after the activity to help the teacher get to know them better.

How does the presenter suggest adapting the activity for online classes?

For online classes, the presenter suggests sharing the questions beforehand, having students prepare their answers, and then using breakout rooms to discuss the answers during the session.

What is the presenter's advice for managing time during the activity?

The presenter advises preparing materials in advance, such as pieces of paper for each student, to avoid wasting time during the activity.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Icebreaker Activity for Classroom Introduction

The paragraph introduces an icebreaker activity designed for teachers to use at the beginning of a school year or term, suitable for different age groups including teenagers and adults. The activity aims to help teachers get to know their students in a fun and low-pressure manner. The idea is credited to another teacher whose channel is linked for further reference. The speaker shares their own experience adapting the activity for a middle school classroom, noting both successes and unexpected challenges. The activity involves preparing questions, setting up stations in the classroom, and providing students with post-it notes or paper to write their answers. The speaker also offers practical advice on managing the activity's time and materials, especially when dealing with large class sizes or limited class durations.

05:02

🕒 Timed Writing and Group Discussion for Icebreaker

This paragraph details the execution of the icebreaker activity where students are given eight minutes to write answers to eight questions, each with a one-minute time limit per question. After writing, students are grouped and asked to stick their answers on the board at designated stations and discuss their responses. The speaker shares an example of how students grouped their answers based on common themes, such as jobs and university aspirations. The activity concludes with a reflection task where each group identifies the most important thing to remember from the session. Additionally, a worksheet is mentioned as a follow-up activity for students to complete at home. For online classes, the paragraph suggests modifications such as sharing questions in advance and using breakout rooms for discussions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of making the first session memorable despite the limitations of an online environment.

Keywords

💡Icebreakers

Icebreakers are activities designed to encourage interaction and conversation among individuals, particularly in new or unfamiliar settings. In the context of the video, icebreakers are used at the beginning of a school term or class to help students get to know each other and the teacher in a relaxed and fun manner. The script mentions that icebreakers can be overwhelming for some students, so the task described aims to be engaging without putting too much pressure on them.

💡English with SRV

This refers to the educational YouTube channel or series where the video script is taken from. The channel likely focuses on teaching English as a second language, providing lessons and activities for learners of different age groups. The video script discusses a specific task that can be used in English language classes to facilitate introductions and interaction among students.

💡Task

In educational settings, a 'task' refers to an activity or assignment given to students to achieve a specific learning objective. The video script describes a task that involves students writing answers to questions on separate pieces of paper, which they then share with the class. This task is designed to serve as an icebreaker and to help the teacher understand the students' backgrounds and motivations.

💡Stations

Stations, in this context, refer to different areas within a classroom where students can go to participate in an activity. The script describes setting up stations around the classroom, each with a different question for students to answer. This setup is part of the icebreaker task and allows for a structured yet interactive way for students to share their responses.

💡Post-it

Post-its are small pieces of paper with a re-adherable strip of glue on the back, allowing them to be attached to surfaces and easily removed without leaving a mark. In the video script, post-its or pieces of paper are used by students to write their answers, which they then stick to the wall at the appropriate station. This method facilitates the sharing and discussion of responses among the class.

💡ICQs

ICQs stand for 'Instruction Check Questions', which are questions teachers use to ensure students understand the instructions for a task. The script mentions using an ICQ to clarify whether students should write all their answers on one piece of paper or on separate pieces, helping to avoid confusion and ensure the task is carried out correctly.

💡Grouping

Grouping in an educational context refers to the process of organizing students into smaller groups for collaborative work or discussion. The video script describes grouping students after they have written their answers, with each group then going to different stations to discuss their responses. This promotes interaction and allows students to learn from each other's perspectives.

💡Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms are a feature in some online meeting platforms, such as Zoom, that allow a large group to be divided into smaller groups for separate discussions or activities. The script mentions using breakout rooms in the online version of the task, where students discuss their answers to the questions in smaller groups before reconvening as a full class.

💡Worksheet

A worksheet is a document containing exercises or questions for students to complete, often as part of a lesson or activity. The video script refers to a worksheet provided for students to complete after the icebreaker task. This worksheet is intended to further help the teacher get to know the students and for students to reflect on their experiences and goals.

💡Online Classroom

An online classroom refers to a virtual learning environment where classes are conducted over the internet, typically using video conferencing tools. The script discusses adapting the icebreaker task for an online setting, highlighting the need to share questions in advance and use features like breakout rooms to facilitate student interaction.

💡Teaching Strategy

A teaching strategy is a planned approach or method used by educators to facilitate learning. The video script outlines a specific teaching strategy involving an icebreaker task that includes writing, discussing, and grouping answers to questions. This strategy is designed to engage students, encourage interaction, and provide insights into their backgrounds and motivations.

Highlights

Icebreakers can be overwhelming for students, and the video suggests a task to start lessons gently.

The task can be used for various age groups, including teenagers, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults.

The video provides a link to another teacher's channel for the original idea and shares personal classroom experiences.

The task involves creating stations in the classroom with questions for students to answer.

For face-to-face classes, questions can be displayed on a smart board or printouts, while online classes might use digital tools like Jamboard.

The number of questions determines the number of stations needed, with a recommendation for 4-5 questions for 40-minute classes.

Preparation includes having post-it notes or paper pieces ready for each student to write their answers.

Students write their answers on separate pieces of paper and are given a time limit per question.

ICQs (Instruction Check Questions) are suggested to clarify the task for students.

After answering, students group their answers and discuss them at the respective stations.

The teacher shares examples of student answers and the importance of the activity in getting to know students.

The video discusses how to adapt the activity for online classes, including sharing questions beforehand and using breakout rooms.

For online classes, students answer questions before the session and discuss them in breakout rooms during the session.

The video emphasizes the importance of making the activity memorable despite the limitations of an online environment.

A worksheet is provided for students to complete after the activity to further help the teacher get to know them.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe and share the video.

Transcripts

sometimes icebreakers can be

a little bit overwhelming for some of

our students

is that the sun

hello everybody and welcome to another

episode of english with srv today i'm

going to tell you about a task that can

help you start your lesson with a new

group whether it's the beginning of the

year with your teenagers middle

schoolers high schoolers or if it is

like an adult class and you will see

them for one term 12 sessions and you're

thinking how can i start it and

have a kind of icebreaker with my

students and at the same time get to

know them not to put a lot of pressure

on them and also make it fun this idea

is not exactly mine it's another great

teacher that i'm going to put the link

to her channel right here

and let's say that i'm going to give you

some tips because i actually did it in

my own classroom some things went really

well but some stuff i hadn't anticipated

before so i thought um you can take a

look at her channel you can find out

about the idea and then you can find out

about my own experience and how i

actually adapted it to my own middle

school lesson so remember that you can

do it with both teenagers and adults

both online and face to face and we're

gonna talk about both of them here in

this video don't forget to subscribe to

my okay

don't forget to just subscribe to my

youtube channel like the video share it

with your friends now let's go and watch

the video

[Music]

so the first thing you need is a bunch

of questions remember the number of the

questions will determine how many

stations you will have in the classroom

i'm gonna show you the stations right

here and also

the questions the questions are taken

from the same youtube channel that i

told you so i guess if you go ahead and

take a look at her channel you're gonna

find out the questions if it is a

face-to-face classroom you can put them

all on your smart board or take some

printouts and give them to your students

if it is an online classroom you need

like something like jamboard or the

whiteboard of your zoom

or any other platform that you use just

put it there put the questions there

copy paste it so that everyone can see

then the next thing is to create your

own stations you're gonna put them all

in different parts of the classroom as

you can see here

if you have eight questions you need to

have eight stations if you have four

questions you will definitely need four

stations quick tip if your class is 40

minutes and you have got more than 20

students i recommend that you go with

four or five questions tops but if you

see them more than 40 minutes like if

you have one hour at least with your

students or if you have got like 240

minutes one after another with a 10

minute break just like i do yes 8

questions to 10 questions that's a good

one but for us eight questions just 40

minutes was not enough the third thing

that you need which is very important

and can be really time consuming is some

um post-it or some pieces of paper for

your students ready-made like if you

have got like eight questions at least

have eight pieces of paper because if

you ask them to just take a piece of

paper from your uh their own notebooks

and just tear it up and make like eight

pieces of paper it will take a lot of

time and we really don't want to lose

time for this exercise because it's

really time consuming and it has got

like different steps prepare at least

eight pieces of paper for each student

if they need to stick it to the wall and

it's not a post-it

you need to have some tack it with you

now that everything is ready you can

begin you go to the class you give each

student eight pieces of paper you show

them the questions and you tell them to

write each answer to each question on

one piece of paper

and usually i ask this icq first are you

going to write all of the answers on one

piece of paper

they usually say no because we want to i

mean icq's instruction check questions

are exactly for situations like this

when students have to do some different

things or a lot of things at the same

time and they might you know be confused

so i suggest that you ask this icq too

give them eight minutes if you have

eight questions give them eight minutes

and before you start it tell them that

for each question you have got one

minute

manage your time and write your sentence

as soon as they are finished group them

you can use any grouping technique that

you like and then ask the groups to just

um go ahead and stick their answers to

the correct station and discuss why they

have chosen that answer or why they have

written that sentence like okay i want

to have my diploma why i'm gonna share

some of their answers with you and

you're gonna laugh

so a students are gonna go station by

station and they're going to stick their

notes on the wall

when they are finished they're not

really finished you will ask them to now

group the answers

based on the common things they can find

in the answers here i will show you

one example about

jobs and university

at the end of the class you will ask

each group to write

the most important thing for you to

remember from the classroom and i really

like the reasons that were provided in

the video i told you in the beginning of

the class i mean she's an awesome

teacher i've forgotten her name god

forgive me there is also one worksheet

as i told you which is provided for the

students to do after doing this activity

i didn't find the time to do it with my

own students so i gave it to them to

actually go home and do it as homework

and bring it back to school

but it's again another great um activity

a great worksheet that will help you get

to know your students better after all

it's the first day of the school or it's

the first session of a term that you're

meeting these students and you want to

know as much as you can about them and

without putting a lot of pressure on

them because sometimes icebreakers can

be

a little bit overwhelming for some of

our students about the online version um

there are some little changes that you

need to make first of all you need to

share the questions before the class

with your students through their emails

or you can just put it on whatsapp if

you have got like whatsapp group with

them and it's a good idea to actually

have a telegram group or whatsapp work

with them so share it with them

get their answers and in the classroom

and the first session i mean you will do

that before your first session and the

first session when you actually meet

them in the classroom you put them into

different breakout rooms and you will

make them a speak about all of those

answers um that they have given to the

questions and this way they can actually

make some interactions based on what

they have done before i know that it's

not that much dynamic your students are

not moving around that much walking

around you don't have any stations

around but still you can add more

questions to it

and

make it at least a memorable activity

for them i mean it's really good when

you look at it like before even they

start their first session in an online

classroom with its own limitations they

can steal

answer some questions on their own so

practice some writing and then in the

classroom they have got some

really fun activity to speak i mean they

are not writing anything in the

classroom or listening to anything

because we're talking about the first

session of an online classroom so try

not to expect much if you like the video

don't forget to share it with your

friends

like the video for me and also if you

still haven't done it go ahead and

subscribe to my youtube channel i love

you and bye-bye

so

[Music]

you