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TESOL Materials--
Classroom Management,
Self-Study)
[Notes: at my school, for the teens classes we are required to do reports twice a term in which we mention areas that the students need to improve on, and then include a recommended action to help them improve. In order to save time, I've created a comment bank for recommended actions. (A number of these issues are reoccurring.) I'm posting this here in case it's at all useful to any other teachers out there.
The Google doc is a work in progress. I'll continue to update it as more issues come up. I'm also copying and pasting the current version onto this blog, but the version posted onto this blog post will not be updated. For the most current version, check
the link to the Google doc.
A couple more brief notes:
1) Because these notes are copied and pasted onto a separate document at my school, the preferred format at my school is to include the URL web address, and not a hyperlink. So that's what's shown below. Apologies for the mess.
2) Because I'm using these for my own students, it would be inappropriate to give them any links that direct to this blog or my Youtube channel. So I've often directed students to 3rd party materials, even though I've got several self-study resources myself on this blog (see
HERE and
HERE, for example). When I do use my own materials, I've used the link to the Google doc, and not to the blogpost. ]
Classroom Management Issues |
Cell Phone Issues | Social Media We suggest logging out of social media applications during class. Here is a video with more information: https://youtu.be/j3Thqrcw_Ag?si=uvcEccjWQFj2jMSP
Watching Videos: Avoid watching videos in class. Here is a video on Tiktok addiction that will give you more information on why this behavior is not good: https://youtu.be/JcB2RsHJZhw?si=jY49BHm7gqoh-5Nd
Playing Video Games:
Playing video games in class is not beneficial. Here is a good video to watch on how to deal with video game addiction: https://youtu.be/8PYhEWK2wVA?si=9Itu8yf9h9N2m6H5
General: It’s important to pay attention in class. Here is a video that explains why paying attention in class is so important: https://youtu.be/6vTsyJZbkug?si=SYbPEvikPwLHTqFT |
Homework unsubmitted | In order to get maximum benefit from this course, submit all writing homework. This way you can get more practice, and the teacher can give you more feedback. |
Homework copied directly from the Internet | When you submit writing homework for this course, don’t copy from the Internet. There’s no point in the teacher giving you feedback on an essay that someone else wrote. You want the teacher to give you feedback on an essay that you wrote so that you can improve. |
Late comers | Please try to get to class on time or early. Here is a video to help with tips for not being late: https://youtu.be/opOu6N103sQ?si=n6f11H752g3vv8r_ |
Student is unresponsive in class | Please answer the teacher’s questions. Answering the teacher's questions and learning how to make small talk will help you improve your English and your social skills. Watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/IRG-YubP1rw?si=CJbe-GtHgU329QRk |
Too much Vietnamese in class | Speak English in class as much as possible. The more you speak English, the more you can practice your fluency. Here is a video on the importance of practicing speaking: https://youtu.be/oXOTlM9n-_k?si=U9XQnVaTakBSfrV6 |
Grammar |
General | British Council has some excellent grammar resources: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar I recommend starting with the A1-A2 Grammar section. https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar Start at the top with the Adverbs of Frequency. Watch the video explanation, read the transcript and grammar explanation, and then complete the online exercises below this. Then, practice making sentences by answering the discussion questions in the comments. After completing all the exercises, go down to the next grammar point until all the grammar points from the A1-A2 Grammar section have been completed. Then, move on to the B1-B2 Grammar section https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar and work through those exercises systematically as well.
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Countable uncountable | This website has a number of good exercises for countable and uncountable nouns: https://agendaweb.org/grammar/countable_uncountable-exercises.html |
linking verbs | For more practice on linking verbs, check here: https://usefulenglish.ru/grammar/verbs-exercise-five |
Omitting the relative pronoun | Study this worksheet for more practice omitting the relative pronoun: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5QgMDk6npsRYWN1SmhMS1VwZUk/view?resourcekey=0-hgQHCJEO7xyEekMIte15XQ
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Past simple | Here is a video to practice irregular past simple: https://youtu.be/oJZdkhclusQ?si=Kvpt_pl8-GSlMFna |
Pronouns: subject object pronoun confusion | For more practice on subject object pronouns, check here: https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a1/object-pronouns/ |
question formation | There are a number of exercises for practicing question formation here: https://www.english-4u.de/en/grammar/forming-questions.htm |
Sentence Structure |
For issues such as problems with sentence structure and complex sentences, a good technique to practice sentence structure is diagramming sentences. There are numerous websites that can be referenced such as https://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/sentence-structure.html Go through all the exercises on this website, and then check your answers at the bottom.
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Subject Verb agreement | For more practice on subject verb agreement, check here: https://www.approachenglish.com/subject-verb-agreement-exercises/ |
Verb+ preposition | This website has good exercises for verbs+ dependent preposition: https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/verb-preposition/ |
IELTS |
Speaking | Part 1 | For IELTS speaking part 1, try practicing with these topics. https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-part-1-topics/ Practice at home and try to speak for 20 seconds on each question. you can’t make it to 20 seconds, brainstorm some more ideas, and then try again. |
Part 2 | For speaking part 2, the best way to improve your ability to is just to practice with a wide variety of topics. Here is a list of IELTS part 2 topics. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5QgMDk6npsRM2MxTUZMV045VDQ/view?resourcekey=0-AygxK7B_DHR7vF5IJgiBDA Practice each of them in turn. Brainstorm ideas for them, time yourself, and try to speak for a full 2 minutes on each of them. If you can’t make it to 2 minutes, brainstorm some more ideas, and then try again. |
Part 3 | IELTS Speaking Part 3 is tricky for teenagers, but the best way to start building up ideas and vocabulary is to start reading newspapers and news articles in English. Websites like CNN, BBC, The Guardian or the New York Times are a good place to start. |
Writing | Task 1 | In terms of the structure for task 1, I can think of no better explanation than the IELTS Liz tutorial lesson. https://youtu.be/E3U1Y1jgGls We actually watched this together in class, but it’s good to review again at home, especially since, based on the writing homework, it looks like there are one or two points which haven’t fully been absorbed yet |
Task 2 | For a review of paragraph structure (for Writing task 2), see here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tHCH5xK5YderAOsNj4Inq9t8w08-1dIbi5Hau1hGM4w/edit?usp=sharing |
Listening |
General | For more listening practice, try using the British Council Website: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/b2-listening I recommend working through all the lessons systematically. Start with the first lesson. Do all the exercises, check your answers, and check the transcript after you’ve finished listening. Then, move on to the next lesson and do the same thing.
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Vocabulary |
General | To practice Vocabulary, I suggest going to the British council website. https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/vocabulary/b2-c1-vocabulary There are many useful lessons here, and all of them would be beneficial. Start with the first lesson. Watch the video and do the vocabulary exercises, and check your answers. Then move on to the next vocabulary lesson. Vocabulary can also be improved by extensive reading. News websites like CNN or BBC can be useful for IELTS level vocabulary.
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