Problems of motivating teenagers largeclasses mixedlevelsofability difficulthomebackground unsuccessfulpreviouslanguagelearningexperience

onsetofadolescenceinvolvingpreoccupationwiththemselves,theirfriends,andlivesoutsideclassroom

lackofself-confidenceWhy teenagers are reluctant to speak unmotivated shyandembarrassed frustratednotenoughlanguage notinterestedintopic reluctanttomakemistakes

Principles of developing speaking skills:1.Giveanaturalandlivelymodel:listeningandrepeatingisanessentialstage.

2.Giveplentyofcontrolledpractice:lessopportunitytomakemistakessoitgivesconfidence.

3.Includesimplefunctionalexchangesandsituations:motivatingbecausestudentscanidentifywithsituations+easytopractiseinpairsandfuntoactout.

4.Giveopportunitiesforpersonalisation:easierandmoremotivatingtotalkaboutoneself.

5.Makesurethattopicsfordiscussionarewithintheirinterestandexperience.

Ifwespendenoughtimebuildingupspeakingskills,wecanalmostguaranteeapositiveoutcomeforeverystudent,fromthehighachievertothemorereluctantmemberoftheclass.Speaking tips Getstudentsusedtospeakinginclass.TryanduseEnglishasmuchaspossiblee.g.forrequests,instructions,givingpraise,correctingetc.

Allowtimetoprepareandrehearse.Initialpairorgroupworkwillhelpshyerstudents.

Makesurethestudentsarentgoingtostrugglewithnewwordsorexpressions.

Tostimulateeverydayconversation,avoidYes/Noquestions,e.g.Didyouhaveagoodweekend?InsteadaskquestionsbeginningwithWhat/Where/How/Whyetc.e.g.What did you do at theweekend?

Withmoreconfidentstudents,promptwithTellme what/why/howyouetc.orTell me about your(weekend)Thisallowsstudentstosaymorethanonesentenceatatime.

Dontcorrectinmid-flow.Goroundandmonitorconversations,makingnotesofanymistakes.Anycommonerrorscanbetakenupwiththewholeclass,withoutpointingafingeratanyindividual.

Ifpossible,recordyourstudentsspeakingnowandagain.Correctionismuchmoreeffectivewhentheycanheartheirownmistakes.

Trynottoletjustoneortwostudentsdominate.Varyinghowyoupairorgroupthestudentscansometimeshelp.

Encourageandpraisewhereverpossible.Withweakerstudents,complimentonthecontent.Thats agood point, Carlos.

EXPERT TIPS 1

TEACHING EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION by Ingrid FreebairnIngrid Freebairnisawell-knownandhighly-respectedauthorwithyearsofexperienceinELT.TogetherwithBrianAbbs,Ingridhaswrittenmanyofourmostsuccessfulcourses,includingSky,Snapshot,Blueprint,FlyingStart,DiscoveriesandStrategies.Aswellasteaching,teacher-trainingandwriting,IngridhasalsoworkedasanexaminerforTheUniversityofCambridgeandaninspectorofprivatelanguageschoolsfortheBritishCouncil.Inthecourseofherwork,shehastravelledwidelyinEurope,theUSandLatinAmerica.

For more teacher training videos and expert tips go to: www.PearsonELT.com/upbeat

New course for teenagers coming in

January 2015

ThewholepointoflearningEnglishformoststudentsistobeabletouseit,tobeabletospeakit.Ifstudentsaretrulymotivated,theywillspeak.