http://busyteacher.org/ ru Busy Teacher - Free Printable Worksheets DataLife Engine http://busyteacher.org/2842-realia-esl-classroom.html http://busyteacher.org/2842-realia-esl-classroom.html What do we usually do when we have to teach fruits and vegetables in English? We use flashcards and illustrations, right? But what if we were to bring a basket full of fruits and not only have students name them, but also take part in a surprise indoor picnic? I can assure you students will be both surprised and thrilled, and even though they may not be in the mood for a fruit salad, one thing is certain: this is one lesson they’ll never forget. This is what the use of realia in the classroom is all about: the use of real life objects that students can touch, feel, and even smell to effectively teach ESL components. Here are some great ways to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by the use of realia in the classroom: 5 o’clock tea This is by far the best way to teach table manners, requests, or expressions related to ordering or serving tea, coffee, or any meal in a home setting. For the following dialogue: - Would you like some tea? - No, thank you. - What would you like? - I’d like some coffee, please. - With milk and sugar? - Just black coffee. Simply bring a children’s tea set (it's a lot easier to bring to class) complete with tea cups, saucers, spoons, teapot and/or coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer, etc... and have students practice offering and serving each other coffee or tea. You may also choose to add cakes, pies, cookies, or anything that will make your 5 o’clock tea truly unforgettable. You can make it as simple or as complete as you wish, or as time allows. Eating out Design and print out a simple menu with the food you'd like to teach including starters, main courses, and desserts. In small groups, have one student play the role of waiter and take orders, while the other students order their meals. Then have students switch roles. You may also include as many props as you’d like, like a full table setting to teach tableware vocabulary. Students may ask the waiter for a missing item like a spoon, fork, or napkin. Location, location, location! To teach prepositions of place take common classroom objects like pens, pencils, books, etc…and place them on or under desks, and around the classroom; then have students simply tell you where each item is, or take turns asking each other where their own personal items are. This also works great for teaching “this”, “that”, “these”, and “those”, as the perspective of having items near and far from you clearly illustrates the differences between the demonstrative pronouns. Asking for directions Get some real city maps from the local tourist office and give one to each pair of students. Have them take turns asking and giving directions to popular city sights. Tell me about your family Real family photos are great for not only learning about relationships but also physical descriptions. Have students bring one family photo each and describe family members. Students may also take turns asking classmates questions.   Let’s have a fashion show Children love to play dress up, and what a better way for them to learn items of clothing and colors than put them on and strut around the classroom to show off their unique style? Adult learners can also model the clothing they’re wearing. Celebrate the holidays Learning English is not only about learning to speak in a foreign language. Students should learn about cultural elements as well. Special holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas offer unique learning opportunities. To teach students about Halloween, plan a celebration complete with pumpkin carving, costume contest, and typical games like bobbing for apples. Give your students the chance to experience the holidays and not just read about them.   The Job Interview Do you have students who will be applying for jobs in English? Try to get your hands on some real job applications and have students practice filling them out in class. You may also conduct job interviews using real life interview questions. This type of practice will not only teach them the vocabulary they should know, it will give students the boost of confidence they need. What’s the weather like today? It’s as easy as starting each class by having students comment on what it’s like outside. You can get as basic or as complex as you like, from simply saying it's “raining”, to it's “drizzling”, “pouring” or even “raining cats and dogs”!   You will have probably realized by now that including realia in the classroom involves a great deal of preparation in some cases. Is it really worth you time? The answer is, yes. Absolutely! And your student’s faces will be living proof. Here are the reasons realia should be included in the classroom: Kinesthetic learning is the type of learning that students will most effectively acquire, mostly because they will have hands-on experience. The use of realia brings a welcome change in the class, a break from typical class activities like reading and writing. The unexpectedness of having to suddenly interact with real objects will keep students on their toes; it will create excitement, and they’ll have fun. Students have the chance to practice real life situations like using maps and asking for directions in a foreign language, but with the guidance of someone who speaks fluently and will help them get it right. Once they hit the street, they will feel more confident in speaking the language with the locals. Students will clearly understand the reason they’re learning a particular ESL component. Instead of wondering when and where they might have use for a particular language element, they’ll know the reason. When it comes to using realia in the classroom the sky’s the limit! The best part is that your students will learn, have fun, but you’ll also enjoy your classes all the more. Busy Teacher Tools BUSYTEACHER_admin Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:59:04 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2841-thats-gr8-mobile-phones-and-sms-worksheet.html http://busyteacher.org/2841-thats-gr8-mobile-phones-and-sms-worksheet.html Most common SMS abbreviations - nice worksheet to get the students involved, if you're teaching a lesson about cell phones or teenagers etc.  Activities: Match the SMS abbreviations with their meanings Read and fill in the gaps Do you agree? Why? Why not? Do you have or want any of these things (list of gadgets)? Write about the one you want.   Enjoy! Telephones BUSYTEACHER_admin Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:42:22 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2840-suffixes.html http://busyteacher.org/2840-suffixes.html Suffixes are added to the end of root or base words. When you add a suffix to a base word, you change the word's meaning. some common suffixes and their meanings: -able= can be done, - est = most, er= more , ful= full of, less= without , er= one who Using this list of suffixes will make it easier for you to understand or guess sometimes words that you are not familiar with. Prefixes/Suffixes Seda Sokulgan Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:17:11 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2839-list-of-pre-fixes.html http://busyteacher.org/2839-list-of-pre-fixes.html Prefixes are added to the beginning of root or base words. When you add a prefix to a base word, you change the word's meaning. Some common prefixes and their meanings: re- again, back; dis- not, pre- before, un- not,opposite, mis- wrong, under - below. Prefixes/Suffixes Seda Sokulgan Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:16:02 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2838-food-and-moods.html http://busyteacher.org/2838-food-and-moods.html This worksheet is about food and human moods. There are two worksheets in one doc. Your students will need to find the appropriate words for the pictures. It may be used as a home task. It is a word drill. Constructions: I enjoy... - ing, I hate ...- ing, I have..., to be, past simple tense Countable/Uncountable Nouns, Feelings and Emotions, Food lufian Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:02:37 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2837-articles.html http://busyteacher.org/2837-articles.html For most students of English as a Foreign or Second Language, the placing of an article is easy. If the next word begins with a consonant it's “a” and if it starts with a vowel, it's “an”. Right? Wrong! This is a common mistake which I hope this comprehensive worksheet will help to rectify. Definite Article, Indefinite Article, Zero Article shamrock Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:31:45 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2836-shopaholism.html http://busyteacher.org/2836-shopaholism.html Great for intermediate-uppermediate level students. A lesson plan in two parts. Part A) Are you a compulsive shopper - a quiz.Then Ss read some extracts on copmpulsive shopping, compare shopaholism to other addictions (similarities/differences). Part B) - a cut-out activity prepared for a group of 8 Ss - retelling 8 shocking celebrity shopaholics stories, next they do the vocabulary exercises. Celebrities/Biographies, Everyday/Social English, Shopping/Clothes carrot Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:30:12 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2835-shopaholism-shop-till-you-drop.html http://busyteacher.org/2835-shopaholism-shop-till-you-drop.html A couple of shopping activities for upper-intermediate learners: vocabulary practice - find synonyms for the words in the table then paraphrase the given sentences - changing the key words. The activities suitable for FCE level - inversion used in paraphrases. Everyday/Social English, Shopping/Clothes carrot Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:27:27 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2833-commonly-confused-words.html http://busyteacher.org/2833-commonly-confused-words.html The following is a list of words which are alike and are often confused. The definitions are simple and not comprehensive. The list is designed in a table format and can be printed to be used as a quick reference tool. I am sure there are many more confusables but at least this is a good start. Correcting Mistakes, Dictionary Activities, Everyday/Social English shamrock Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:23:45 +0400 http://busyteacher.org/2832-shopaholism.html http://busyteacher.org/2832-shopaholism.html Make your students talk about shopaholism, additionally have them read a text about compulsive shoppers based on research findings (printed in American journal of psychiatry) - T/F exercise follows.Finally vocabulary practice and fun with shop expressions. Revise some kinds of shops. Read a text about the history of M&S, followed by two exercises: the first is a pair work activity - asking correct questions to complete the gaps in the texts and the other makes your students complete the gaps with correct past forms of the verbs in barackets. Everyday/Social English, Shopping/Clothes carrot Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:22:11 +0400