The Kinmen ETAs (English Teaching Assistants) are back and ready to teach a second semester at the Kinhu English Theme Learning Center, the KETLC. The stations or simulated classrooms are the Beach, the Hotel, the Kitchen, the Airplane, Customs and Duty Free, and the Transportation Station.
This semester the teachers have changed the lesson plans to accommodate fifth grade levels of English. What are some of the differences that schools will see this semester? All of the new lessons have been adjusted to meet the needs of Kinmen's fifth graders. This means there are fewer vocabulary words and sentence patterns.
Creating a lesson plan is a lengthy process. Successful lessons require three parts: goals and objectives, varied activities, and a time limit for each of the station's activities.
All of the stations in EV have been successful because the teachers have decided what their station's specific goals and objectives were.
Goals and objectives guide a lesson. An example of a lesson goal would be for students to learn how to order a meal in English. Once a lesson's goals and objectives are determined it is easier for teachers to create accessible and focused activities.
Balancing activities is crucial in keeping students engaged, and keeps management problems to a minimum. A balanced lesson includes activities that allow students to practice their conversation, writing, and listening skills.
Activities make lessons fun for students. If a station consists of only one type of activity, students have difficulty focusing because they are bored. Activities that allowed students to move around the classroom while using the station's vocabulary and sentences were very successful last semester.
Creating accurate time limits is the most difficult part when designing lesson plans. Within a lesson plan teachers must estimate how long an activity will take, but it is hard to determine the perfect amount of time until they practice with actual students. All the teachers at the KETLC have learned this point well and we are excited to welcome Kinmen's fifth graders this semester to the KETLC to experience our brand new lessons.