Advice on 'Conversational English Lessons'

Question

I have TEFL Teaching Certificate but unfortunately, after working in a private language school in Athens, I quickly realised that I wasn't quite enjoying it as I hoped I would. I have another job now working for the Cambridge Examinations board (still in Athens). However, to earn some extra cash I would like to teach some private English lessons from my home. While I didn't really enjoy teaching, I put most of my bad experience down to lack of confidence. Now that I am advertising myself as a private English teacher, I have decided to offer my services 'practicing the language' (let's say). I would like to conduct lessons based on the theory that 'practice makes perfect' and help students to develop skills such as pronounciation, confidence in speaking and listening ability by practicing my lessons orally (conversationally) in order to prepare them for the exams. The way I see it is that it is one thing to learn English at a private school with Greek teachers (or at home for that matter) but it is a very different thing to practice what you learn with a native English speaker. I speak, read and write Greek but I can honestly say that text books and dictionaries aside the most effective way of learning in my experience is to be 'forced' to speak and listen and on a trial end error basis you become aware of both your strong and weak points enabling you to correct them almost instantly. The most beneficial thing I have learnt from being in certain situations where I had no choice but to communicate the best I could, is confidence, which I know is one of the biggest problems with people learning another language, especially young people. I have learnt first hand that practice does in fact make perfect and no amount of revising or reading can prepare you for exams as well as communicating with native speakers can. Therefore, I would really apreciate some advice before I proceed with this, from anyone who has had any experience with this teaching format or simply anyone with something to say!!!

Thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it already. Guest.  Just be sure you have plenty of materials and topics to generate a variety of conversations.

Novalee · Answer

Hi Guest!
I'm also a teacher in a private school and I see your point when you talk about the lack of confidence in students. From what I have seen, this seems to be their main problem when practising speaking skills.
What I usually do is pair work and competitions. Teenagers seem motivated when they can be winners... or losers

I use different tools and approaches to achieve this: videos, discussions, definitions games, students' dictations, picture descriptions, etc. It depends on their age and the English they know. It is useful to encourage and praise them when they speak the foreign language. It makes them confident to speak more next time.
I agree with your point "practice makes perfect", but the bad side is when their other teachers encourage them "not to speak English if you don't know how". I tell them the opposite: "Try, try, try and practise speaking as much as you can". I think it's the only way to improve.
To sum up, I think it's a great idea to offer these Conversational English Lessons, and that many students would need them. Good luck!
These are my ideas but I'm eager to hear what the rest of (more experinced or not) teachers have to say about this.

Advice on 'Conversational English Lessons'

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