Teaching Adults English: Your First Lesson

Summary

In this video, the speaker addresses the common stress surrounding first lessons between teachers and students. Emphasizing the importance of building rapport, they encourage teachers to focus on getting to know their students through casual conversation rather than strict assessments or textbooks. The speaker shares strategies for making students comfortable, including using technology to explore personal interests. They also recommend preparing engaging materials like videos or articles to facilitate conversation. By taking notes during lessons, teachers can better tailor future sessions to their students' needs, ultimately creating a relaxed and effective learning environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Acknowledge that first lessons can be stressful for both students and teachers.
• 😀 Building rapport is essential; focus on getting to know your student during the first lesson.
• 😀 Use casual conversation rather than formal assessments to ease tension.
• 😀 Incorporate technology like Google Maps to make discussions more engaging.
• 😀 Prepare a few short videos or articles to discuss if conversation stalls.
• 😀 Taking notes during lessons can help track students' progress and common mistakes.
• 😀 Share your notes with students to help them prepare for future lessons.
• 😀 Offer options for discussion topics based on your students' interests.
• 😀 Understand that students may feel embarrassed about their English skills; create a comfortable environment.
• 😀 Emphasize the importance of student interests to encourage participation and communication.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the first lesson according to the speaker?

The main focus of the first lesson is to get to know the student, which helps tailor future lessons to their needs.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of acknowledging stress?

Acknowledging stress helps break the barrier of awkwardness, allowing both the teacher and student to relax and move on more comfortably.

How does the speaker suggest handling a student who is nervous?

The speaker suggests finding common interests to discuss, as this can help students feel more at ease and willing to engage.

What types of materials does the speaker recommend preparing for the first lesson?

The speaker recommends preparing 5-10 minute videos or articles related to local or world news to facilitate conversation.

What strategy does the speaker use to encourage students to speak?

The speaker encourages students to share personal experiences or interests, making the lesson feel more like a conversation rather than a formal class.

How does the speaker address students who are not chatty?

For less talkative students, the speaker suggests having a few prepared materials that can prompt discussion.

What should be done at the end of a lesson according to the speaker?

At the end of the lesson, the speaker recommends taking notes on the student's performance and common mistakes, which can be used for future lessons.

How does the speaker suggest using technology during lessons?

The speaker suggests using technology, like Google Maps or images, to help students share experiences and interests visually.

What is the speaker's stance on using textbooks and assessments in the first lesson?

The speaker does not use textbooks or formal assessments in the first lesson, prioritizing the understanding of the student over structured materials.

Why is it important to take notes during lessons?

Taking notes helps the teacher remember important points for future lessons and provides students with a summary of what they covered.