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ADVICE AFTER THE ENGLISH COURSE
HAS FINISHED
8th August,
2005
This meeting
was in the form of a workshop brainstorming and ideas sharing session.
The first and most
important distinction we saw the difference between State Sector (University
and High School) and commercial EFL. State sector teachers will teach the
same class for an extended period and the end goal in graduation or the next
phase of the student's education. Commercial EFL teachers will teach the same
class for a couple of months, after which the learners may or may not
continue to learn English as part of a structured course. We decided that
advice on further study was much more important for the commercial EFL
teacher.
There is a wonderful
website about how to improve 'oral English' at http://www.tlgc.edu.hk/clubs/society2/learn00.htm
Richard has used this website as the base of a great handout to give to
students. Speak to Richard to get a copy.
We decided to
distinguish the advice we should give to lower-level learners (Elementary and
Pre-intermediate) and higher-level learners (Intermediate to Advanced).
Lower Level
learners
What to focus on?
We decided that most
lower-level learners need to learn more vocabulary as this will help them to
communicate, even if the grammar filled with error. Skills work is also
important.
How?
* SS from the same
class should try to form a study group and share ideas and word lists to help
everybody learn more vocabulary.
* If the course did not complete the whole classbook, the students should be
encouraged to finish the book, focussing on vocabulary.
* Tell students to read 'easy' or 'simplified' readers (Wangfujing foreign
language bookstore).
* Read Bangkok Daily Press - It has a list of difficult words with
definitions at the end or down the side of the article.
* Read 21st Century newspaper.
* Try the BBC/British Council website to focus on vocabulary.
Skills (speaking,
listening, reading, writing)
* If the teacher is willing
- ss could try to exchange regular emails with their favourite course
teacher.
* Join a society or group which has lots of native speakers in it such as the
walking society or bookworm library which has regular events.
Higher Level
Learners
What to focus on?
We thought that
higher-level learners will need to focus on accuracy and skills. Learning
vocabulary will be easier for these learners as they will have more exposure
to English through films and reading books. Grammar is often the biggest
obstacle, especially for learners on the 'intermediate plateau' where
vocabulary and fluency are improving but they still notice themselves making
lots of mistakes. Many of the learners at this level will be looking to pass
proficiency tests and so will need to focus on accuracy (grammar).
There are some very
good grammar self-study books around which focus on learners at this level:
For the less
able learners:
* The Good Grammar Book
by Swan and Walter (Oxford) - very authentic language
* Natural Grammar by Scott Thornbury (Oxford) - very new way of looking at
grammar. This book has received a lot of praise from other EFL writers and
teachers
For the more
advanced learners:
* How English Works by
Swan and Walter (Oxford) - a big improvement on the format first developed by
Raymond Murphy's 'English Grammar in Use'
* Exploring Grammar in Context by Carter, Hughes and Michael McCarthy
(Cambridge) - this book is really designed for the advanced students. It is
excellent because as the title suggests, it explores the English Grammar in
the contexts it is used. This book is also excellent for non-native teachers
to brush up on their grammar - it is also on the DELTA reading list!!
* Common Mistakes at First Certificate by Susan Tayfoor (Cambridge) - this
little book is designed for people preparing for the FCE. It is useful for
all Intermediate learners as it is simple to use and can slip into a jacket
pocket or handbag for study on the move.
Skills:
* Watch movies, read
books bla bla bla...
* Join a club or society where lots of native speakers attend regular events
- walking or the Bookworm Library...
* Read City Weekend/That's Beijing
* Read the internet - SS can enter a topic they are interested in (trains in
South America, Buildings of Tianjin) on the Google Website so they will get a
Google Alert when a new article is posted on the internet.
* Try to join, or form, an Amateur Dramatics Society which performs Plays in
English.
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