I created a powerpoint music video for Daft Punk's One More Time. You can use this as a warm up in the beginning of class and it is timed to the song. If you have the song great! If you don't I am sure you can figure out a way to get your hands on it!!
Daft Punk One More Time PP
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
3rd year (JHS) Have you ever~
The question have you ever is another really fun lesson that the students enjoy because it allows them to express themselves and their experiences. After the a warm up activity I get right into "Have you ever~?". I usually do this by going around the room and asking students the target question. If they can answer great, if not I answer for them in a different voice. Then I go over the verbs they will be using by drilling and giving them a short verb conversion quiz:
As always I demo this in class with both the JTE and students that I feel are already fairly confident. First the students need to complete the written areas. Depending on the class this takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Then they get up and ask their friends the questions that they have written. Some of the students get really into it and ask things like, "Have you ever lived on the moon?". I find that the more sill the better. When they finish they come to me to get an OK stamp. I tell them to practice on the back with this sheet:
I find that a lot of the verbally shy students like to write me little notes to find out more about me!
Here are all the materials needed for the lesson:
Verb Conversion
Have you ever WS
Have you ever backsheet
Power Point
The students have two minutes to finish the quiz and then we review the answers. I find this to be helpful for them to keep later on to study with. I also have large print outs of verb charts so that they can reference them later on in the lesson. After we complete this short quiz I move on to the powerpoint that has examples of what they could ask. A lot of them are silly and that's the point! After this review I give them their main WS:
Here are all the materials needed for the lesson:
Verb Conversion
Have you ever WS
Have you ever backsheet
Power Point
Friday, June 6, 2014
I-Phone Pass Game
This is a game I learned at my company's training and it is very very easy to demo and implement as a regular activity in your class room. Kids, possibly everywhere, really like i-phones. I printed two of them out and I believe they are actual size (though I have no idea because I don't personally have an I-Phone). After I printed them I laminated them so that I can use them again and again. This is another question and answer game that can be played in a couple of versions. First demo the game. I walk around and make some music up as I walk and pretend that I am passing the phone through the row of students. Then I say, "Stop!" and pretend to have a conversation with myself. This is a question and answer game and I use grammar points that we already used so that it is more of a review. Then I play the actual game with them. I like using fun songs like Daft Punk's "Around the World", whatever is upbeat and fun works. The students really enjoy seeing who will get the phone, and laugh a lot. Here is an example dialog:
Me: Hello, how are you?
Student: I'm fine thank you, and you? (some of the more advanced students will say they are sleepy or hungry, but most have the former memorised).
Me: I'm OK! Do you like baseball?
Student: Yes, I do
And then I play the music again. The second version of this game is that both phones are being passed around the room. One has a Q for question and the other has an A for answer. When the music stops the students have to create their own dialog. I really only recommend this for later on in the year with 3rd year students and after you have played the game several times so there is little explanation needed.
Me: Hello, how are you?
Student: I'm fine thank you, and you? (some of the more advanced students will say they are sleepy or hungry, but most have the former memorised).
Me: I'm OK! Do you like baseball?
Student: Yes, I do
And then I play the music again. The second version of this game is that both phones are being passed around the room. One has a Q for question and the other has an A for answer. When the music stops the students have to create their own dialog. I really only recommend this for later on in the year with 3rd year students and after you have played the game several times so there is little explanation needed.
2nd Year (JHS) I think that ~ Powerpoint and Worksheet
For the second year students we have been focusing on
"I think that~",
"What do you think?"
"I agree" / "I disagree"
This can be a really fun lesson because the students will learn to express their opinions. I begin with an introduction to adjectives that the students can use. I used beautiful, cool, exciting, fun, interesting, busy, delicious, famous, great, special, kind, popular, difficult, wonderful, and cute. Most of the 2nd year students are familiar with these words.
Before we begin I did a front, back, left, right game with a previous grammar point. Then we practice the adjectives. I ask them if they know the words in Japanese just to make sure they have a firm grip on their meanings. After this I walk around the room and demo the target grammar, I usually say "Hello, I think that ~ is ~, what do you think?" and if the student can answer that's great, but usually they can't because it is new to them so I pretend to be them, change my voice a little, and answer for them. I do this a few times and then we drill the new grammar with repetition. I also introduce how to make question negative with the word not. We practice a couple of times and then we play a practice game with powerpoint slides. I made signs with my A4 flashcard holders that say "I agree" / "I disagree" with happy and sad faces. I place them on opposite sides of the room and then demo what they are supposed to do when I read the question. They are to pick if the agree or disagree and then move to that side of the room. It's easy and for the most part the kids get into it. There will always a be a small group of boys that just stays in disagree, but there isn't much that can be done about this. This activity takes about 5-7 minutes depending on how easy it is to wrangle them. I have large classes so sometimes it is difficult to get them to pay attention if they are moving around the room.
After this they take their seat once again and I give them a warm up worksheet that has all the answers and questions printed on it. It is pair work and intended to get them acclimated to using the new grammar.
After this they take their seat once again and I give them a warm up worksheet that has all the answers and questions printed on it. It is pair work and intended to get them acclimated to using the new grammar.
I demo this with the JTE, the students ask each other in pairs and check off what their partner responds with. It takes about 3 minutes. When they finish I tell them to file this and hand them their next worksheet, which has a similar set up but they get to write their own opinions.
They really enjoy this and some of them even like to use adjectives that I didn't list in the tool box. The last two can be anything they want and I got some pretty interesting responses. Make sure that the students know they can use the same words listed in the tool box multiple times. I had some students crossing them off and not using them again. I said if you want to write that everything is cool then you can! After they complete the writing part they get up and, you guessed it, collect signatures while asking their friends the target grammar. When they complete the WS they get an OK stamp. I usually put some extra practice on the back for super advanced students that involve asking me questions. They seem to enjoy writing me personal notes, and I am more than happy to answer them.
Link to materials:
Front, Back, Left, Right or "Criss Cross"
I'll take the time now to explain this very simple game. I ask the students to please stand and then I say, "Do what I do and say what I say,"we practice front, back left and right with movement and repetition. This is easy to teach on the first day and they know exactly what is about to happen. You can pick any target question grammar and for this it was "Did you ~?" because it was what they had learned in the previous lesson. Ask a "did you question" and then any student can raise their hand and say "Yes, I did" or "No I didn't". I have the question and the answer written on the board. The student that answers gets to pick front, back, left, or right. Depending on what they pick the students to the front, back, left, or right of them gets to sit down in a row. For example, if the student says front, all of the students in front of them get to sit. It's a great warm up and easy to demo on the first go. You will not need to demo it again and it's also easy to use as an evaluation tool if you have a few extra minutes at the end of the lesson.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
3rd year (JHS) Have you ~ yet? Rilakkuma Worksheet
Recently I have been doing past participle lessons, which can be extremely confusing even for me! I usually turn to Learn American English Online when I am in doubt about the correct form of verbs. He has a pretty good chart here. We have gone over these a lot in class lately so I didn't really need to spend a long time reviewing the verb forms. I do use a verb chart and a power point to get them reacquainted though. We also play a short game of Criss Cross (which I actually call "Front, Back, Left, Right" (more on that later)) with the question "Have you ever ~?" because they had just learned that grammar. Then we do a listening test/reading test that involves a copy of my schedule. This is actually a pretty accurate representation of how I spend my day and it only takes most of them 2 minutes. Their midterm was also coming up so I thought that it was important to get some listening practice in.
I always, always make a big version of the worksheet and put it on the board with magnets. I say, "This is my worksheet, and I am writing my name and class". I write with a big purple marker. Then I demo the WS by walking around and asking a few students the questions from the start. On this WS they must ask the question and then write their friend's response as Y or N and then say, "sign please". When they have gotten to the finish they receive an OK stamp from me and go back to their seats. This activity takes about 10-15 minutes and is very easy practice for them. On the flip side is bingo.
On this Bingo sheet they write the second part of the question, for example: "studied English yet?" I demo this with my big copy and when they complete it I demo the activity, which is simply to ask me any of the questions that they have written down. If I say, "Yes, I have", then they can cross out that box on their sheet and it is also applied to the rest of the class. So, if one person says, "Have you read a book yet?" and other students have that written down, then they can also cross off their block. If a student gets bingo they receive an OK stamp.
All of these combined with a short review of the verbs at the beginning should take about 45-50 minutes.To be fair I did borrow these ideas from a fellow ALT who runs the website English Web Book. It is a fantastic resource, but sometimes he uses things I don't like, such as Starwars (I know it's very unpopular to have that opinion, but I don't give 2 hoots about that space western). I also like to make my own materials. There is absolutely no problem with borrowing any of the ideas you see here, contributing your own in the comments, or simply using the worksheets that I have created. Sharing is Caring. :D
Link to materials:
Schedule
Rilakkuma have you yet WS
Rilakkuma have you yet bingo
Powerpoint Review
Once they complete this they file it and they receive their next worksheet, which is more fun and gets them out of their seats, because like many of my activities, it is a signature collection game:
I always, always make a big version of the worksheet and put it on the board with magnets. I say, "This is my worksheet, and I am writing my name and class". I write with a big purple marker. Then I demo the WS by walking around and asking a few students the questions from the start. On this WS they must ask the question and then write their friend's response as Y or N and then say, "sign please". When they have gotten to the finish they receive an OK stamp from me and go back to their seats. This activity takes about 10-15 minutes and is very easy practice for them. On the flip side is bingo.
All of these combined with a short review of the verbs at the beginning should take about 45-50 minutes.To be fair I did borrow these ideas from a fellow ALT who runs the website English Web Book. It is a fantastic resource, but sometimes he uses things I don't like, such as Starwars (I know it's very unpopular to have that opinion, but I don't give 2 hoots about that space western). I also like to make my own materials. There is absolutely no problem with borrowing any of the ideas you see here, contributing your own in the comments, or simply using the worksheets that I have created. Sharing is Caring. :D
Link to materials:
Schedule
Rilakkuma have you yet WS
Rilakkuma have you yet bingo
Powerpoint Review
You Say Goodbye, I say Hello
The Beatles are an excellent band for JHS students becuase their songs are easy to sing and many of them already know quite a few Beatles songs. I am not the biggest fan, but their songs are really great for ESL learners. Because I am a fan of trying to get my students excited I use their song "Hello, Goobye", which I created a powerpoint music video for. You can download and play this powerpoint with the song and all animations are timed to the lyrics. My next music video project in the works is "One More Time" by Daft Punk.
Helpful Materials
This post is about items I find helpful. I know that every classroom is different but mine allow me to use a computer with a USB. So this brings me to my first item: a USB drive. I store all my teaching materials on this drive and if I want to work at home I can easily.
The next item is my magic bag. I use this bag for my action game as well as other activities that I want the students to pick a card at random. I like Rilakkuma a lot, but you can use any small bag.
I would be fumbling around all day if it weren't for my pencil, pen, and other random stuff case. By random stuff I mean magnets and OK stamps, 2 other essential items for my particular class rooms. One of my favorite things about Japan are the ubiquitous Hyaku En shops (100 yen shops). Like the dollar stores of the US, but at least 10 times better. It is there that I purchase items like scissors, magnets, and A4 folders. It is a very very helpful place. Another helpful place for teachers here is LOFT, a home goods and stationary store. LOFT in Yokohama has an excellent selection of OK stamps. I use these when students complete their worksheets and in my school they also use a point card system, so I stamp those as well.
Of course regular office supplies are great and most schools will supply items like binder clips, paper clips, tape (though I like to keep a mini tape dispenser in my bag of stuff), paper and rubber bands. Rubber bands are super helpful if you are creating a lot of card based activity games.
One of the most essential items is my mug! I would be no where without my Moomin mug, or at the very least sleepy! In Japan's schools most teachers bring their own mugs. Some schools also have a monthly pool for tea and coffee, but because I am too cheap for that I bring my own instant coffee or if I am having a productive morning before I leave my house I brew my own and bring it with me in a Thermos.
I also have fly swatters, which are used in a vocabulary game I will explain later.
My portable speaker is also very useful when I want to sing a song with my students as a warm up. I know not every school will let you use a laptop in the classroom, but mine does so I find this helpful and the students think mine is very cute.
STICKERS!! I love stickers and so do my students. I mostly use these in special circumstances like if they volunteer for a game or to translate on the blackboard. Everyone gets an OK stamp, but stickers are special.
I also use a canvas bag that helps me bring all my materials to different classrooms. Some ALT's are not so busy, but I usually teach 4 periods a day and these are usually mixed between all 3 grades, so my bag is quite helpful.
A4 folders I have converted into flashcard holders with magnets that have adhesive on them already (both from hyaku en).
A soft ball for toss games, which can be seen in my pen case picture (yes it is korilakkuma). Lastly my own box of tissues because my school does not supply them and I find tissues to be useful in many applications.
If you teach in Japan and have other materials you want to add to this list please comment!!
The next item is my magic bag. I use this bag for my action game as well as other activities that I want the students to pick a card at random. I like Rilakkuma a lot, but you can use any small bag.
I would be fumbling around all day if it weren't for my pencil, pen, and other random stuff case. By random stuff I mean magnets and OK stamps, 2 other essential items for my particular class rooms. One of my favorite things about Japan are the ubiquitous Hyaku En shops (100 yen shops). Like the dollar stores of the US, but at least 10 times better. It is there that I purchase items like scissors, magnets, and A4 folders. It is a very very helpful place. Another helpful place for teachers here is LOFT, a home goods and stationary store. LOFT in Yokohama has an excellent selection of OK stamps. I use these when students complete their worksheets and in my school they also use a point card system, so I stamp those as well.
Of course regular office supplies are great and most schools will supply items like binder clips, paper clips, tape (though I like to keep a mini tape dispenser in my bag of stuff), paper and rubber bands. Rubber bands are super helpful if you are creating a lot of card based activity games.
One of the most essential items is my mug! I would be no where without my Moomin mug, or at the very least sleepy! In Japan's schools most teachers bring their own mugs. Some schools also have a monthly pool for tea and coffee, but because I am too cheap for that I bring my own instant coffee or if I am having a productive morning before I leave my house I brew my own and bring it with me in a Thermos.
My portable speaker is also very useful when I want to sing a song with my students as a warm up. I know not every school will let you use a laptop in the classroom, but mine does so I find this helpful and the students think mine is very cute.
STICKERS!! I love stickers and so do my students. I mostly use these in special circumstances like if they volunteer for a game or to translate on the blackboard. Everyone gets an OK stamp, but stickers are special.
I also use a canvas bag that helps me bring all my materials to different classrooms. Some ALT's are not so busy, but I usually teach 4 periods a day and these are usually mixed between all 3 grades, so my bag is quite helpful.
A4 folders I have converted into flashcard holders with magnets that have adhesive on them already (both from hyaku en).
A soft ball for toss games, which can be seen in my pen case picture (yes it is korilakkuma). Lastly my own box of tissues because my school does not supply them and I find tissues to be useful in many applications.
If you teach in Japan and have other materials you want to add to this list please comment!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
1st year (JHS) Are you ~ ? Yes, I am. No, I'm not. Shin Chan's world and Lesson Plan
Teaching Are you ~ can be boring, but I created a lesson based off the popular anime and manga Shin Chan. Many children here in Japan already know the character's names so it is easy for them to become acclimated to saying Are you ~ and answering.
I will have the doc file available on a google drive because sharing is caring. Of course you can not begin with a worksheet right away and it is always a good idea to have a warm up activity. I try to make my warm ups lead into what the students are learning. For this lesson I used an action game. I wrote the target grammar on the board:
I will have the doc file available on a google drive because sharing is caring. Of course you can not begin with a worksheet right away and it is always a good idea to have a warm up activity. I try to make my warm ups lead into what the students are learning. For this lesson I used an action game. I wrote the target grammar on the board:
"Are you ~?"
"Yes, I am"
"No, I'm not"
Ususally I have this written before class is started and I draw a happy face next to yes and a sad face next to no. After I ask the important questions (Hello, How are you, How is the weather, What day is it today, What is today's date, What year is it) and write them on the board we repeat them. The beginning of the lesson is always the same and it is important to have consistency.
I will have the action cards available as well, but if you would like to make your own the actions are: Happy, Sad, Hungry, Cold, Hot, Sick, Sleepy, Fine and Tired. I use pictures on my cards that match the flashcards used so that the students have an easy time. My mission is to make English fun and accessible. These are also 1st year students (the equivilent of 7th grade in the USA), so their reading skills aren't excellent. First we review the material, then I demo the game. This involves a lot of me talking to myself and pretending that I am a student. If you like acting and being a little silly then an ALT position is a good one for you. After I demo the game we play. I put the smaller cards into my "magic bag" and shake. The students are divided into 2 teams and play rock, scissors, paper to see who will go first. First team to score 6 points is the winner and students that volunteer win the sticker of the day. Most classes really like this game, but you will run across a quiet class who will not want to play. Usually I tell them that I count down from 5 and if a person volunteers before that they will get a point for their team and a sticker, if this doesn't work I still pick someone to play.
After the game is over we review the target grammar and then I introduce the idea that you can also use "Are you" for someone's name:
"Are you ~ (Natalie)"?
"Yes, I am"
"No, I'm not"
Then each student receives a Shin Chan work sheet. I make a large copy for an example and attach it to the blackboard with magnets. Again, I demo the game. In advance I have prepared many different character cards. I tell the kids to take one card and that it is "TOP SECRET". I show them that they will ask eachother, "Are you ~" and respond with the target grammar. If their classmate says yes, they ask them to sign in the area with the character's names. We then move on to completing the worksheet. I also created another side of the work sheet that has more general questions, but they LOVE this activity. It is funny when they get a character they don't like and vice versa. When they finish the sheet they see me and I give them an OK stamp (more on supplies I find useful later).
The back of the worksheet has the more general version:
The idea of collecting signatures is the same, but they also get a chance to practice the target grammar with more general phrases. Before I let them collect signatures we practice the phrases on the sheet. When they finish they receive an OK stamp. This lesson should take 45 to 50 minutes and the kids seem to have a lot of fun doing it.
I will make all materials available, including a lesson plan available soon. If this kind of thing interests you then please feel free to message me or send me any tips you have on being an ALT.
Link to materials:
Cheers!
Natalie
Hello
Hello! I am spending a lot of my time creating worksheets as an assistant language teacher in Japan so I thought I would share my experiences with you as well as some worksheets and lesson plans. I hope you find this blog helpful.
Cheers!
Natalie
Cheers!
Natalie
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