I've added a weekly tips and ideas e-mail to
Heads Up English. Just visit the
site, fill out the form, and each week on Thursday you'll receive an idea, activity, or teaching tip.
Here are a few ideas to get you started!
Vocabulary: Present synonyms of the key vocabulary of an article, rather than the key words. Students should brainstorm additional synonyms in pairs or groups. When the target vocabulary is given as the next step, students have more words to associate with the new language. The connection is thus stronger, and retention is greater.
Speaking: Consider incorporating gestures into dialogues and role play activities. This adds a level of realism to the activity, but also reinforces the language used because there is a link between language and movement. As an extension to the dialogues or role plays, set students to continue the conversation, or imagine the results of the initial activities.
Speaking: Assign two questions for students to discuss in pairs. Each pair of students may work at their own pace, as long as both questions receive some discussion for five minutes or so. Everyone then switches partners, and discusses the same questions once more. Consider the first conversation as a practice session, as the second conversation will see improved fluency and accuracy with the language. What's more, students will adopt some of the ideas from their previous partner, thus enriching the second conversation.
Good luck in the classroom!