Barbara teaches integrated listening and speaking (intermediate)

Introduction to Teaching and Training

Barbara's Background

• Barbara introduces herself as a teacher from Cambridge, sharing her journey from volunteering in India to becoming a qualified teacher after university.

• She has nearly 20 years of teaching experience and currently trains newly qualified teachers as well as those advancing their careers.

Discussion on Annoying Rules

Identifying Rules

• The lesson begins with an interactive discussion about rules, starting with the phrase "you mustn't leave your mobile on," prompting students to think about where they might see such phrases.

• Barbara encourages students to consider annoying rules related to driving and flying, highlighting the common frustrations associated with them.

Student Engagement

• Students are asked to brainstorm rules for driving (e.g., seatbelt use) and flying (e.g., no smoking), leading to discussions about whether these rules are annoying or necessary.

Complaints About Rules

Listening Activity

• The class listens to six people expressing complaints about various annoying rules, focusing on understanding specific grievances.

• One complaint centers around the rule requiring passengers to pay before boarding buses, which some find inconvenient due to issues like lack of change or malfunctioning ticket machines.

Group Discussions and Reflections

Sharing Complaints

• After listening, students share their thoughts on what was complained about; one notable annoyance is having to pay before getting on the bus.

Classroom Dynamics

• Students discuss other frustrating rules they've encountered in school settings, such as queuing for lunch in the cafeteria.

Lesson Objectives and Reflections

Lesson Goals

• Barbara reflects on her lesson objectives: integrating skills by focusing on listening for gist and specific language useful for speaking.

Future Improvements

Interactive Whiteboards in Education

Advantages of Interactive Whiteboards

• The speaker chose to use an interactive whiteboard due to its significant advantages in the classroom, particularly with a digital version of the course book.

• Critics argue that interactive whiteboards reinforce the teacher's position at the front and detract from student communication; however, the speaker disagrees with this perspective.

• Students benefit from hands-on interaction with the board, such as dragging items to match them and creating presentations, which fosters ownership and pride in their work.

• A clear visual representation on the board enhances student interaction compared to traditional methods like photocopies or textbooks, promoting better engagement.

• The ability to replay audio clips and highlight key phrases directly on the screen reinforces listening skills for students.

Importance of Listening Skills

• Listening is emphasized as one of the most challenging skills for students; thus, it should be a focal point in lessons.

• The speaker believes in assigning listening homework due to its value in language acquisition.

Effective Instruction Strategies

• When setting up activities, it's crucial for teachers to use simple language instead of complex phrasing that may confuse students.