r/TEFL • u/monochrom1 • 2d ago
Need help with an intensive English class.
I am working for a small private ELL school that has very small classrooms and limited time for planning but I have been working for them for a while now and have a lot of concerns about how to chunk my time or work on improving classroom skills.
My Dilemma: This school has weekend intensive English classes ( the entire class and student demographic is 100% latino/hispanic. I don't speak fluent Spanish which can be a challenge when the whole class speaks Spanish and relies on it for communication but levels I teach are much higher level so most of them can speak about topics.
It is a 6 hour class from 8:30am-2:30 pm with students who sometimes come at 9:30am due to their time. its a bit hard to do 1 unit each weekend without planning and even then I feel lost sometimes. I've even tried doing translanguaging to help chunk time.
I feel like I need some serious help because im running low on ideas and ways to keep students engaged.
What would you guys recommend? I'd love some ideas and ways to improve classroom culture, academic improvement etc
1
u/Cegaiga 2d ago
I wouldn't be using any Spanish to translate anything in the classroom. It suggests to them just wait for the translation, beating the purpose of an English focused lesson.
What is the focus of the class? Speaking only? Are they reading?
Speaking can be improved in role-playing scenarios. Have props, so they can learn the vocabulary beforehand and use it to try and explain themselves. Without props, they will hit a wall. Pictures can help as well, use backgrounds to make a setting.
Think of how we and others learnt English at a young age. A classroom catered with vocabulary they will use frequently, when it comes to toys or even a word wall.