TEFL Program - Creating and Using Great Materials


Creating and Using Great Materials

 

This unit focuses on using some great materials that can be used in addition to the coursebook. It looks what you can use and suggests some possible activities you can try out in your classroom.

 

Think About It

 

1.  Do you ever use materials in addition to the coursebook?

 

 

2. If so, what?

 

 

3. Do you ever make your own materials?

 

 

4. Can additional materials help your students learn better?

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, extra materials can be very useful. Why?

 

1. They make lessons more fun

2. They can bring language to life

3. They can motivate students to think about their English

4. They can get students talking

5. They allow you to make the language more personal

 

Can you think of any more reasons here?

 

 

 

 

Think about it 

 

Please write down 5 types of extra materials

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

Now give some examples of when you might use them.

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

 

 

Here are some ideas we had:

 

1. Pictures

These can be taken from magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc. You can also use your drawing skills, or ask your students to make them.

Possible Activities

 

2. Flashcards

Flashcards are pieces of paper or card with something simple on them – a picture or a word, for example. You can show flashcards to the whole class so they can respond to it. They are easy to make and can be used for useful classroom activities.

 

Possible Activities

-       To remind students of words

-       To test students to see if they can remember words

-       Ask students to write a sentence using the picture on the flashcard

-       To see if students can spell the word on the card

-       To ask students to make a story using the picture(s)

 

-       Ask students to make sentences using the words

-       Ask students to make dialogues using the words

-       Ask students to draw the word (to check they know its meaning)

-       Ask students to change the word by adding a prefix of suffix – eg for opposites

-       Ask students to pronounce the word correctly

 

3. Authentic Texts

 

If you have access to English language newspapers, or the internet, then authentic texts can be a great resource for higher level students.

 

Possible Activities:

 

4. Local information

 

This may be maps, cinema listings, lists of cafes, hotels, etc.

 

Possible Activities

 

 

5. Games & Problem Solving Activities

 

See unit XX for lots of ideas here 

 

 

6. The Black/White Board

Your board is a great resource. How you use it is vital to great teaching, and it can be used in all kinds of ways. See unit XX to get guidance and ideas.

 

7. You!

As a teacher, you are an incredible resource. You know the language, have lots of life experience, and understand what interests your students.

Your students will learn from their interactions with you. This is when you…

  1. Talk with them 
  2. Explain words and grammar 
  3. Demonstrate how language works 
  4. Describe people, things and situations 
  5. Draw things on the board or on paper 
  6. Set up games and activities with them  
  7. Tell them what they need to do 
  8. Correct them 
  9. Organize activities with them 

 

Without you, the extra materials described above are not very useful. It’s you who will bring them to life and use them motivate your students to learn.

So, it is important to choose the material carefully - it must fit the activity, guide students towards language aims, and be both interesting and useful

 

 

Next Steps

 

Try some of these out. Think about what your students would like to do and how it will make the course book more interesting. Think about what your students can learn.

 

If possible, work with another teacher. Make some resources together and try them out with your classes. Then meet and discuss what worked and what didn’t – and why and what can be done to make it more successful in the future.

 

Before you go to the next unit, write down 3 things that you will try out following reading this unit.

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

And go try them out!