in The Beginning
in The Beginning
The principal tells me to bring English speaking culture to school and to make teachers get used to
speak English to other teachers and students.
every wednesday afternoon, teachers must stay for a 30 minute english conversation class before
they go home.
The principal tells me to bring English speaking culture to school and to make teachers get used to
speak English to other teachers and students.
every wednesday afternoon, teachers must stay for a 30 minute english conversation class before
they go home.
I will time them, every 2 minutes, they will have to swap partners and change roles
Is this okay?
I'm a new teacher in a big private school in Surabaya, Indonesia. I have C1+ English
proficiency level. At school, teachers only use simple English instructions to the
students. teachers talk to students in Indonesian. teachers talk to other teachers in
Indonesian. The principal tells me to bring English speaking culture to school and to
make teachers get used to speak English to other teachers and students. The
principal has made a new program. every wednesday afternoon, teachers must stay
for a 30 minute english conversation class before they go home. I will be the tutor in
this english conversation class for techers. 50 teachers , including 5 other english
teachers, will be my students. How best to conduct the class? What sort of activities
should I use? Design the class for me , please, chatgpt!
ChatGPT
Designing an effective English conversation class for teachers is a great initiative to
promote English language proficiency in your school. Here's a plan for your class:
Class Structure:
1. Warm-Up (5 minutes): Start each class with a brief warm-up activity like a
quick English quiz, tongue twisters, or a short English joke to create a fun and
engaging atmosphere.
2. Main Activity (20 minutes): This is where you focus on structured language
learning activities. You can try different activities each week to keep it
interesting. Here are some ideas:
a. Role Plays: Create scenarios relevant to the teachers' daily interactions.
For example, role-play parent-teacher conferences, discussing school policies,
or planning school events in English.
b. Group Discussions: Divide the teachers into small groups and give them
topics to discuss. Encourage them to use English to express their opinions and
ideas.
c. Debates: Organize debates on educational topics. It encourages critical
thinking and language use.
d. Reading Comprehension: Select short articles, news stories, or excerpts
from English literature. Discuss the content, vocabulary, and encourage
teachers to summarize it in English.
e. Listening Comprehension: Play English audio clips, like TED Talks or
podcasts. Afterward, discuss the content and ask comprehension questions.
3. Vocabulary Building (5 minutes): Teach them new vocabulary related to
the topic discussed during the main activity. Encourage them to use these
words in sentences.
4. Error Correction (5 minutes): Create sentences with common errors and
ask teachers to identify and correct them. This helps them recognize and
avoid mistakes.
5. Wrap-Up (5 minutes): End the class with a quick review of what they've
learned. Encourage them to share something they've learned or any
difficulties they encountered during the class.
General Tips:
By following this plan and being creative with the activities, you can help your fellow
teachers become more comfortable with speaking English and bring an English-
speaking culture to your school.
I'm a new teacher in a big private school in Surabaya, Indonesia. I have C1+ English
proficiency level. At school, teachers only use simple English instructions to the
students. teachers talk to students in Indonesian. teachers talk to other teachers in
Indonesian. The principal tells me to bring English speaking culture to school and to
make teachers get used to speak English to other teachers and students. The
principal has made a new program. every wednesday afternoon, teachers must stay
for a 30 minute english conversation class before they go home. I will be the tutor in
this english conversation class for techers. 50 teachers , including 5 other english
teachers, will be my students. I want to ue this activity in class : I give a study case
or prompts for role play conversation. I will split 50 teachers into group of 2 and each
group will do the role play conversation of 2 minutes I will time them, every 2
minutes, they will have to swap partners and change roles Is this okay?
ChatGPT
Your idea of using role-play conversations in pairs is a great way to encourage
teachers to practice their English speaking skills. However, the specific format of
having each group do a 2-minute role play and then swap partners every 2 minutes
might have some advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
1. Limited Depth: Two minutes for a role play might be too short for
meaningful conversations, especially for teachers who are not very proficient
in English. They may only have time for superficial exchanges.
2. Stressful for Beginners: Some teachers, especially those less confident in
their English skills, may find it stressful to change partners so frequently.
3. Lack of Feedback: With such short interactions, there may not be enough
time for detailed feedback or reflection on language use.
1. Extended Role Plays: Instead of 2 minutes, extend the role plays to 5-7
minutes. This allows for more in-depth conversations and gives participants a
chance to explore different topics.
2. Pairing Strategy: While occasional partner changes are still beneficial, you
could consider keeping the same partners for a few weeks before reshuffling.
This way, participants can build rapport and gradually improve their
conversation skills.
3. Feedback: After each role play, set aside a few minutes for participants to
give feedback to each other. Encourage constructive feedback on language
use, pronunciation, and content.
4. Variety of Prompts: Provide diverse role play prompts that relate to their
teaching context, such as parent-teacher meetings, student-teacher
discussions, or school event planning.
5. Support for Beginners: Offer additional support for teachers who are not as
proficient in English, perhaps by providing vocabulary lists or language tips
related to the specific role play scenario.
By making these modifications, you can create a more effective and less stressful
learning experience for your colleagues, allowing them to develop their English-
speaking skills while also making the best use of their time during the English
conversation class.
I'm a new teacher in a big private school in Surabaya, Indonesia. I have C1+ English
proficiency level. At school, teachers only use simple English instructions to the
students. teachers talk to students in Indonesian. teachers talk to other teachers in
Indonesian. The principal tells me to bring English speaking culture to school and to
make teachers get used to speak English to other teachers and students. The
principal has made a new program. every wednesday afternoon, teachers must stay
for a 30 minute english conversation class before they go home. I will be the tutor in
this english conversation class for techers. 50 teachers , including 5 other english
teachers, will be my students. I want to ue this activity in class : I give a study case
or prompts from the conversation topics book from cambridge for role play
conversation. I will split 50 teachers into group of 2 and each group will do the role
play conversation of 2 minutes I will time them, every 5 minutes, they will have to
swap partners and change roles Is this okay?
ChatGPT
Your modified plan of using role-play conversations with 2-minute sessions and
partner changes every 5 minutes is an improvement. This approach can offer several
advantages:
1. Encourage Realism: Make sure the role-play scenarios are relevant to your
teachers' daily interactions. They should mimic real-life situations, such as
parent-teacher conferences, school meetings, or student interactions.
2. Include Vocabulary and Language Tips: Provide some essential
vocabulary and language tips related to the specific scenario. This will help
teachers feel more confident during the role plays.
3. Evaluate and Adjust: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of this activity.
You can collect feedback from the teachers to see how they are benefiting
and whether any adjustments are needed.
4. Support for Lower Proficiency Levels: For teachers with lower English
proficiency, consider providing additional support, such as language guides,
pronunciation assistance, or dedicated practice sessions.
5. Encourage Self-Study: Encourage teachers to review and practice the
language and skills they've learned during these classes outside of class
hours. This can include homework assignments, self-study materials, or
language apps.
Incorporating these elements into your English conversation class will enhance its
effectiveness in promoting English language skills and creating an English-speaking
culture at your school.