Recommended Action Comment Bank (for Self-Study)

(TESOL Materials--Classroom Management, Self-Study)

Google: docs, pub

[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.
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
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.
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.

Presentation Skills
Color contrast is not good on slides	When designing a presentation, make sure that the background colors and the font colors create a suitable contrast so that the text can be easily read.  You can watch this video for more information about choosing font colors: https://youtu.be/KMS3VwGh3HY?si=4MXd7xqvVKRuvDrA
Font size is too small on presentation	Try to make your font size big enough so that it can be seen clearly in the back of the room.  You can watch this video for an explanation: https://youtu.be/OQJZKrjzYzw?si=gsN9bwxcoQ-xgL8G
Memorization problems	Memorize your presentation before class.  Watch this video for ideas on how to memorize your presentation: https://youtu.be/Nh8LJzzmJY4?si=pNU5baydXzW7EcgY
Presentation has not been practiced	Be sure to practice the presentation before presenting in class.  Here are some tips for how to practice: https://youtu.be/d812a7qG9Kw?si=2mPmHoPHDS4-kKSz
Pronunciation of unknown words	You can research the pronunciation of any new or unknown word before the presentation.  This video gives you some ideas of how to do it: https://youtu.be/Ci4lp_vf9WA?si=GHGsUeeGDVj9E7vw As I demonstrated in class, this can be done on the online Cambridge dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ or on youtube.
Student has information in presentation that they themselves don’t understand and can’t explain because it has been copied from the Internet	Avoid copying information from the Internet that you don’t fully understand.  Make sure that you understand everything that you put into your presentation.  You can read here for more information: https://tie.uic.edu/help-articles/tips-for-success-dont-plagiarize/
Students’ part of the presentation does not fit with the rest of the group (i.e. repeating information that previous group member already talked about, etc)	Make sure you plan your presentation ahead of time with your group so that all the parts fit together perfectly.  You can watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/qmoqxn27GAM?si=sBQNcDxJHsgHlj_u
Too much texts on the slide	Avoid having too much text on the slide.  Here is a video that can help you with strategies to reduce the amount of text on a slide: https://youtu.be/ep648UOCJx4?si=DKLf7pwglCECYM8P
unreliable sources	Make sure your sources are reliable when you are researching your paper.  Watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/q1k8rcYUmbQ?si=T67F4qWKFab0BEEy
Voice is Too Quiet	Try to speak louder for the next presentation.  Watch this video for extra help: https://youtu.be/ISo4_285iMg?si=PNLNWHCWI2eaLr_e

Pronunciation
Rhythm and intonation	For more practice on pronunciation, particularly things like rhythm, intonation, and connected speech, you may find the videos linked to in this document to be useful: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b9UtmeRRlRfid9u5IIk5REs8Xk0uTjHnTM6X8956_H8/edit?usp=sharing

Reading
General	To practice reading, I suggest going to the British council website.  https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/b2-reading   I recommend working through all the lessons systematically.  Start with the first lesson.  Do all the exercises and  check your answers, Then, move on to the next lesson and do the same thing.

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.

Writing
Expand on ideas	You can study techniques for expanding ideas on your writing here: https://www.englishclub.com/efl/articles/tip/mind-mapping/
Paragraph structure	Study this document for more information on how to write a paragraph in English: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tHCH5xK5YderAOsNj4Inq9t8w08-1dIbi5Hau1hGM4w/edit?usp=sharing