Eager to take on new opportunities during our time abroad, I said yes to a little job teaching English to a group of children, some 9 months ago now. I had never actually envisaged that I would end up teaching anyone anything really, especially as being a native English speaker is perhaps my only qualification in this field. But, it’s going well, and I have become quite fond of my little group of 8 year olds. They are polite, usually enthusiastic, and have helped with my German more than I am ever going to let on (to them anyway!). They feign interest when I educate them in the strange rules of English language (although not as strange as some of the rules of their own language in my opinion), and have shown interest when I incorporate English traditions such as playing conkers for example into lessons (and I try not to laugh when I see their eyes meet across the table in a “what is she going on about now” kind of way)… I have also found that it helps (especially with boring grammar) to teach them things based around subjects I know they like. I now know much more about FC Bayern and Star Wars than I ever wished to perhaps, which according to The Five Year old is no bad thing…
And so far I have learned many more things from this experience too – more patience for example, and how Roald Dahl is possibly the best children’s author in the world, whichever country you are from. I have also learned just how rewarding it can be to see a child move on from repeatedly saying “yes no, yes no, yes no” to every question that he’s asked (in the hope that one of the them might be the right answer), and gradually gain enough confidence to read English out loud, and that has just been brilliant. This experience has also shown me how children are essentially the same, whichever background and culture they are from, and (I am ashamed to admit) it has also made me realise how awful I was at times to my own teachers – I am so very sorry!
If you are about to embark on your own “teaching English as a Foreign Language” Journey, there are plenty of great resources to help. I have a found a few EFL Books invaluable, such as Teaching Children English as an Additional Language by Caroline Scott, 100 Great EFL Puzzles and Challenges by Adrian Bozon, and of course Teaching English as a Foreign Language for Dummies. There are some amazing websites that I constantly use – English for Everyone, which is good, and my personal favourite Twinkl a great Primary Years teaching site, which offers thousands of resources for free (there’s lots of Christmas material on there at the moment too!), I go back to this site time and again for lesson prep. and for educational support. I also like the parent resource packs, which include lots of useful things like homework and visual timetables, educational games and reward charts, so it’s definitely not just for teachers – although I use that word term very loosely when it comes to myself, obviously!…
Erica Price says
I gave Roald Dahl books to the child of German friends – she can speak quite good English from when they spent 6 months here. I think the books are universal.
bavaria says
Aha… I wondered if it might have been you, new blog?? Roald Dahl is still one of my favourites! :D
www.sweetwhisperdreams.blogspot.com says
you are one heck of a talented and energetic lady! and you are right—children are children no matter where they come from. roald dahl is the best—his books have been in this house just about forever. oh FANTASTIC MR. FOX and THE WITCHES (love love love that one) CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and MATILDA and THE BFG……read THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE to two of my favorite little girls over thanksgiving. also, my dear bavaria, thanks for the comment you left about photo storage. that was so nice of you. i went to blogs by heather and that helped. gonna have to do some house cleaning and maybe pay the monthly fee……
bavaria says
Thank you, that is very kind! :) I just hope you get your photo problem sorted… Blinking Blogger! PS. The Witches is my favourite too, that and the Twits! And I do love The Enormous Crocodile as well, even if it did used to make me cry when he flies off into the sun!
single married mum says
Sounds like a really rewarding experience, and great tips too – going to have a look at Twinkl. How’s your german now? Teaching must help. Have your kids picked it up quickly?
bavaria says
Thank you. Teaching has definitely helped, especially when I can test their knowledge of an English object by asking them what it is in Deutsch (that way I get to learn as well!)… The children are definitely far better than me, it’s annoying how quickly they pick up other languages! :D
Helen says
Is there no end to your bounds of talents, how inspirational to teach bravo you sounds like your having an amazing time to. I live in the town where Roald Dahl is from and his museum and we have a big festival every year to celebrate him and his amazing books i cant wait to read the to Sophie. conkers how did that go down hehe
bavaria says
Aw thank you. Not sure about the talents, but it has been enjoyable (so far!) :) They liked the idea of conkers in the end, I am hoping they introduced it to their school (it wouldn’t be banned here at least!)… I am very jealous you live where Roald Dahl is from. I read the boys the Twits, and at the end they wanted to know if all English people were like that!! :D
Trish - Mum's Gone to says
I still enjoy helping out at Rory’s old primary school. I go twice a week and help with computer classes and the children are, mostly, a delight. But at least they speak the same language as me so I think I have it easier than you do!
bavaria says
Thanks Trish! Possibly, in some respects, although I do struggle with what my own two are on about sometimes! :D
Midlife Singlemum says
I teach EFL and I have a bookcase full of old photocopies of every grammer point you could think of. Also poems, writing exercises, wordsearches, quizzes and puzzles. I am slowly going through them but not in the classroom. I am giving them to my 4yo daughter to draw on the back. Everything is online these days and my study can now take up half the space it once did.
bavaria says
Thank you… This internet business is at least good for the planet paper saving wise! :D
Pia says
Oh my, this post had me laughing out in surprise :) I spent this summer doing a the CELTA, commuting to London with sheafs and sheafs of paper to teach a class of multilingual adults while an examiner observed and marked my every move. Harrowing. I have no idea why I did it, but now there’s a lovely certificate from Cambridge for all my sweat and toil :) I’ll have to put it to good use some day.
bavaria says
Thanks Pia… Congrats! That sounds like quite an acheievement, and it’s good to have! :)
MsCaroline says
Thanks for the tips! I have taught German *and* ESL for years (I did a lot of work on L2 acquisition theory in grad school) but I never imagined that I would find myself teaching such young children, and my bag of tricks for this age group was quite small! Always appreciate anything new – heading over to look right now!
bavaria says
Thank you Caroline… By the way, apparently the children did sing that bimalabamalaboom, boom, boom bit of the Saint Martin’s Song REALLY loudly! :D