23 September 2011 / by Radmila Gurkova

Friday Meeting 23/09/2011

Developing the S1 Beginners Course

Teaching Beginners in any language can be a daunting task, which is why this week, a group of teachers set up a workshop in order to improve the S1 course. We came up with the idea of ‘building blocks’ - common vocabulary that will be incorporated in practically all the classes. Each class taught will cover the contents from the previous class meaning that students will be continuously learning without actually skipping any material.

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

After a very intensive meeting at Oxbridge we are pleased to report the following:

The S1 course is almost completed with 25 classes (previously 16)

The material and content is easier to follow making it teacher friendly

Classroom activities are not repeated but used for revision purposes in the following class.

The first couple of lessons will be focused on instructions, introducing yourself and others and allowing students to not only interact which the teacher but also freely interact with other students. (At this stage we are making the students feel comfortable with the language and the class itself).

Each class will consist of the same format as the other levels, meaning formatting 4 activities per class. Each class will start with a revision of the previous contents so that the students retain all the vocabulary used and put it into practice for the duration of the course.

Now, it would sound too perfect if I told you that this week has been a total success which in many ways it has, but many language issues were raised, for example some common verbs and in which order they should be taught, should they be incorporated into the same class or taught separately? How do we teach certain verbs? Are they suitable for absolute beginners? Or are we confusing students at this stage? (To go, To like, To want, etc)

Another important issue for the S1 beginners course is of course the transition to P2 level. How can we incorporate everything covered in the S1 course to P2 transition? We understand that vocabulary and simple structures are the foundation of all learning so at this stage we want our students to have a basic concept of English.

We will start the preparation of the new classes soon. We’ll keep you posted.

26

March 2012

The use of one and one's - Easter

by Radmila Gurkova

Do you know how to use one or ones? As a determiner, the word one is sometimes used before a proper noun to designate, particularly, this person: ''He delivered the package to one Ronald Pepin of Colchester.'' The article ''a'' will also function in that position for the same purpose. Sometimes we use the word one as an adjective, as in ''I'...

22

March 2012

adverbs of degree - very, extremely

by Radmila Gurkova

Do you know how to use adverbs of degree? We use Adverbs of degree express the intensity or degree of an action. Common adverbs of degree: ALMOST NEARLY QUITE JUST TOO ENOUGH HARDLY SCARCELY COMPLETELY VERY EXTREMELY Adverbs of degree are usually placed: Before the adjective or adverb they are modifying: The cup of tea w...

22

March 2012

Present Perfect Tense - He has been to Paris

by Radmila Gurkova

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE Subject + has/have + Past Participle ...

22

March 2012

ed-ing endings

by Radmila Gurkova

ED-ING endings There are many adjectives that we have in English that end in -ED or -ING. Usage: We use -ING to describe the characteristic of a person or a thing. We use -ED to describe a feeling. Compare...

22

March 2012

The Easter Story

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxQgXgS5G3c Do you know the Easter story? There have been many film interpretations of it including controversial ones such as Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' and funnier versions including Monty Python's '...

22

March 2012

Kawasaki

by Radmila Gurkova

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEP...

15

March 2012

Who, which or that?

by Radmila Gurkova

Do you know how to use who, that and which? Who is a relative pronoun and it is used with people The relative pronouns That and Which refe...

15

March 2012

Numbers in English......is it five thousand or five thousands?

by Radmila Gurkova

In British English AND is used between hundred (and)......whereas in American English it is omitted Hundreds American English 450 f...

15

March 2012

What time is it?

by Radmila Gurkova

Do you know how to tell the time in English? am before noon (ante meridiem) pm after noon (post meridiem) W...

15

March 2012

How to log on to......? verbs with fixed prepositions

by Radmila Gurkova

Do you know how to use verbs with fixed prepositions? Prepositional verbs are transitive and require an object. This object is normally stated but sometimes implied. Log on to P...

Inicio

Contact us

23 September 2011 / by Radmila Gurkova

Friday Meeting 23/09/2011

26

22

22

22

22

22

15

15

15

15