hi stanley
i used to teach LG at my last school and i really liked it, especially for the ages you are teaching.
I will use what is relevant and supplement it with my own ideas.i think this is a good way to approach lg. it's not loaded with stuff so it allows you to review and cover material in your own way. but its organized well so the flow is really good. the progression of the series is what i liked most.
I have had a look at some of the workbooks but have not managed to see a teacher's book. the techer's book has a lot of ideas in it. if you are going to be using lg in a lot of your classes, its worth it to get the tb.
I was wondering roughly how long each level is designed to last. I teach grades 3, 4 and 5 (8 - 11 yr olds). Could anyone who uses the course let me know how long they spend on one level (book).i was teaching my kids (ages 7~12, 2-3 days/week, 1 or 1.5 hours) a book in about 8 months. this gave me plenty of time to cover what was in the book, review to make sure they knew it and do my own supplemental stuff as well.
At first glance, the workbooks don't seem to have a huge amount in them. I have each class for only 40 minutes a week and I am only teaching speaking and listening. you're right. the workbooks are a little weak. not too much to do and not that great for homework as most of it is really easy. if you're not doing any reading/writing you'll get throught the book a little faster, maybe 6 months. but hard to say since your classes are shorter than mine were and you only see them once a week.
Also, where does the series stop - intermediate? upper-intermediate? In other words, would it even be suitable for my grade 5s, many of whom speak English very well.the series stops at level 6. here's a little bit of what is covered in L6:
- comparing tastes, aroma, sounds
- making comparisons and stating preferences
- giving and accepting compliments
- asking about possession
- making a trade
- giving advice and suggestions
- expressing conditional situations
- expressing opinions
that is definitely not all but its definitely all i care to type out.
as for grade 5, i didn't like lg for students in their teens. the drawings don't capture the student's interest and it just wasnt fun enough. i really didnt like teaching lg5 or lg6 as usually those students were older and 'more mature' and too cool for lets go.
i think lg is great for kids 6-12. after that, try another series or a reader.
hope that helps and if you have any other questions regarding LG, let me know as i think i've taught every book.
eric