TEFL Walden Vermont

Teaching aids are a critical and important part of the classroom; being able to effectively use the materials available is equally as important. Depending on the country, some schools have access to unlimited resources, while others have more basic materials to work with. However, it is important to know how to maximize learning in both a fully-equipped classroom and in a more traditional classroom. This essay will review common teaching aids before looking at several teaching aids that I find particularly helpful in the classroom. I will conclude by assessing how I can improve my teaching ability by using teaching aids differently. Teaching aids refers to any supplemental material that a teacher employs to make teaching a lesson more interesting, engaging or effective. Some of the most common teaching aids include the following: white boards, dictionaries, course books, computers, televisions, the internet and music playing devices. Some classrooms, in very privileged schools, come equipped with Smart Boards or Smart TVs. These devices are very useful teaching aids, as they combine computers, online resources, video, audio and visual aids into one machine. The chalkboard or white board is an often-underrated teaching aid in the classroom. However, it is a very versatile and useful resource. teachers can use the board to display notes, ideas, charts, webs or keywords. The teacher can also use the board to exhibit the day's lesson plan for the class. The board can also be used to supplement activities. For example, I like to draw pictures or graphical representations of whatever we are learning in class, to further engage with the students. It is important to keep the white board clean and organized. Audio recorders are a very practical resource to have available in the classroom. The audio recorder, such as a cassette player or an mp3 player, allows the teacher to record the student's speaking. The audio can then be played back for the student to listen to. This allows the student to be able to better identify strengths and weaknesses in their english. In my experience, we have recorded audio files for children to listen to at home, with their parents. We have also recorded the class singing a song, in preparation for school assembly. This allows students to identify and correct their errors. Videos and DVDs are the final resource that I find particularly helpful in the classroom. Videos can present information to a class, provide background information and help with listening comprehension (tefl Unit 17). Students often enjoy watching videos in class and teachers should allow it, as along as the video relates to the material being studied. For example, if young students are learning the parts of the body, they can watch a video of the song “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” If students watch a film in class, it should be followed up with a worksheet or discussion. Overall, I have found white boards, audio recorders and video to be particularly helpful teaching aids in my classroom. However, there are many other resources that I should better try to integrate into my lessons. I would like to better incorporate dictionaries into my classroom. Dictionaries are a wonderful resource, which are easy to use; they are helpful with grammar, spelling and vocabulary. I would also like to better utilize online resources in my classroom and my lesson planning. There are hundreds of tefl websites that offer teaching ideas, advice, worksheets and more. In the future, I would like to explore these sources and incorporate their ideas into my lesson plans. While I have always recognized the importance of using teaching aids in the classroom, studying the lesson on teaching aids has been both useful and helpful. I feel that I can now better utilize the resources that I have available; furthermore, by knowing how to best use resources, I hope that my teaching will be improved when I teach at less privileged schools. Aids and equipment are critical parts of teaching; it is important to be educated on how to best use these resources.