TEFL Reform Alabama

We have personally gained a lot regarding how to plan a lesson in an efficient way. The ESA lesson, as well as the patchwork lesson and the ESA boomerang lesson provide a very good support in how to motivate students and how to get them involved to the full, e.g how to increase the student talking-time during the class. There is a huge work in making the students involved and interested in the lesson. If we get them to participate, to express their point of view, there is much more chance that they retain what they have learnt, and gain confidence and fluency in using the language in various realistic situations. ( especially if we do a good use of role-play, or interview) We also learnt how to make the lesson more enjoyable in varying often the range of activities such as games, discussion, debates, movies, songs, tapes….etc, as well as varying the dynamic of the class. (For example putting them by pairs, or groups, or involving the whole class.) We think that it is very important as well to vary the visual aids that we use, such as flash cards, pictures, drawing, use of the board, magazines and newspapers, as well as mimes and gestures. It really gives life to the lesson and can imply more deeply an idea. This is what we are particularly determined to do, to use as much sorts of visual aids as possible. We are convinced that it is very efficient in the memory process. We are also resolute to use a written outline, because this is a very good way to manage the time, and to build confidence for the teacher. It also allows more flexibility to be well prepared and to exactly know what we plan to do, to use, and how much time is allocated to each part of the lesson. This is of course very important to be fair and consistent and to show an equal personal interest to each one of the students, strong or weak in the language.