Here are a few things I do with my beginning classes:
1. Total Physical Response
I use Live Action English, a text by Romijn and Seely.
This contains 67 different series of commands that
students (or student and teacher) can use. One person
gives a command; the other acts it out. Each topic
contains about 15 commands. Here are some of the
commands from 'A Party'
Offer some chips to some of your guests.
Eat some yourself.
Take a sip of your drink.
Clap your hands to the music.
Snap your fingers.
Tap your foot.
Nod your head.
You can select command series that correspond to the
topic, grammar, or vocabulary that you are using in
your lesson. Students always enjoy these activities
and appear to retain the material when it is reviewed.
I spend a lot of time with the whole class, introducing
new vocabulary and demonstrating the actions. Then
students do the commands in pairs. Finally, pairs of
students volunteer to act out the commands in front of
the whole class.
2.
Music
By repeated singing, students can memorize material
that will stretch their language learning. You can
readily observe which students favor music as their
learning style. I've tried quite a few songs. I don't
want to use children's songs for an adult class and I
like music that has good rhythm and a catchy tune. The
biggest difficulty is keeping it simple--many songs are
beyond the understanding of my students. Here are
three that I use:
Get Up, Stand Up--Bob Marley
Never on Sunday--The Chordettes
Lo Siento Mi Vida--Linda Ronstadt.
Students can practice the songs in groups of four.
3. Tossing the beanbag
The beanbag can be used for many activities that
involve repetition. It's good for a small class. A
student gives the information and tosses the beanbag to
another student. We use it for pronunciation practice.
One student repeats a series of minimal pairs and
tosses it to another student who does the same. It can
be used for all types of student recitation and
spelling--it adds a little levity to the class.
Here are some minimal pairs that I use for Spanish
speakers:
s---z
ice
eyes
b--v
berry
boat
bat
sh--ch
wash
ship
shore
sheet
very
vote
vat
watch
chip
chore
cheat
I also spend a lot of time having students practice the
'th' sound.
4. Eleven Digit Number
This requires that you memorize an eleven-digit number
yourself. It should only take a few minutes. You
bring up the subject of numbers with your class. You
repeat the eleven-digit number several times. Then you
tell the class that they too--each and every one of
them--will repeat that number. They will not believe
you, but you show them that they can do it. Break the
eleven-digit number into its component parts and
sounds, slowly demonstrate each part, and have them
practice the number in pairs or small groups. Students
will soon be able to repeat the number. Besides
providing good practice using numbers, this exercise
can build self-confidence.