• Tell trainees that the lesson not only focused on learning sight words (decoding the symbols) but also on understanding how they were used in simple statements and questions.
20 minutes

graphic of an overhead projector




B: Teaching Grammar to Beginning Learners

1. Rationale

  • Show overhead, Factors determining the value the study of grammar may have for your learner.
  • Discuss contents of overhead. The grid shows how age, education and English proficiency level can determine whether or not specific grammar lessons will be useful for the learner. (Naturally, the learner will determine how important learning grammar is for her, despite in which "category"he may fit.)
  • Introduce drills as a way in which to teach structure without having to use "grammar talk" and as a way to increase fluency.
  • Cite examples of drills from the Russian or the Arepelalese lesson. (An example of a drill would be the exercise with cue cards where learners were required to say, "This is a table. This is a chair." This type of drill is called a substitution drill. In it, one word out of the sentence is substituted for another similar word. For example, a noun is substituted for another noun, and a verb for a verb.)
  • Introduce complex substitution drills and refer to the tutor training manual for an example.
  • Introduce response drills and discuss how part 2 of the Russian / Arepelalese lesson was an example of this type of drill. Refer to the tutor training manual for an example.
    • Ask trainees to make a response drill using the materials given in the Russian or the Arepelalese lesson.
    • Give trainees five minutes to put a response drill together. (They should work in pairs.) Have them perform it with another pair as their learners.

2. Drills

  • Introduce transformation drills.
  • Show overhead, Things to consider when using drills.
  • Show overhead, The Benefits of Using Drills.
  • Note the completion drill in the tutor training manual.
  • Time permitting, try a completion drill with the class. The topic could be "if I had a million dollars..." (2nd conditional practice)