general principles of you are the course book method

General Principles of You Are The Course Book Method 08.01.13 Benefits for students: • Your work • Your ideas • Your current errors discussed • Your present needs met • You do the hard w

General Principles of You Are The Course Book Method (08.01.13)

Benefits for students:

• Your work

• Your ideas

• Your current errors discussed

• Your present needs met

• You do the hard work

• You are engaged

• T provides the opportunity and the framework: T = form, SS = content

Students:

• Student-centred – they do most of the work

• Students work together in pairs and groups, not individually Little or no individual “brain >

content” time

• Students need to be active learners and work hard Lessons will be demanding There is no free ride You have to work

Teacher:

• Teacher is a guide No top-down teaching Elicit don’t tell

• Teacher has to be patient and let the students find the answers

• Let SS make mistakes They will learn from their errors

• If you don’t know the answer, “trick it”, or ask the students to find out Don’t lose your authority

• Your positioning is important, e.g where you stand Don’t stand over students Stand away

When with them, sit with them at their level and make eye contact

• Teacher can disappear Save your energy! Don’t burn yourself up like the candle which gives

light The students should use their energy They are there to learn You are a guide directing them but not doing it for them

• Teacher controls the timing in the lesson, ensuring a variety of activities and elements are

covered

• Teacher controls the student input, encouraging everybody to get involved

Both:

• Improvise – don’t block Take other people’s ideas on board Say “Yes”! Don’t be dismissive

Environment:

• The classroom language is English

• There is a whiteboard and pens, or blackboard and chalk There is a clock; desks, chairs;

students bring with them notebooks, pens, dictionaries

• Use the board – it democratises the process Everyone can see the work as it progresses

• There are resources, e.g dictionaries, reference books, novels, newspapers, magazines, etc

• The layout of the furniture is important Sit students so they are in pairs and facing each

another rather than facing you

The Modes:

• Take as long as you want with Mode 1

• All the skills are practised regularly – reading, writing, speaking, and listening, but the focus is

on productive skills – speaking and writing

• 7 elements of English are practised regularly – vocabulary, text (reading and listening),

grammar, verb forms, pronunciation, free practice, and writing

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