Teacher Selection

This afternoon, I went to Long Shan Junior High School to be a judge for their substitute English teacher selection. My dear friend Annie (詹麗馨), who teaches there, was one of the judges too.

 After watching the teachers' teaching, here I have some suggestions for future candidates, some of which are the good points of today's candidates:

1. Be energetic and lively.   Speak loud enough.  Add life to your voice and make good use of body language.

2. Try everything to catch and retain students' attention. 

3. Teach with a focus. For example, when teaching reading, focus on the main idea and some important details. Don't shift students' attention to grammar or vocabulary study, which can be dealt with later. Avoid jumping around.   Be organized.

4. When teaching reading, remember what a normal reading activity is like. When we read, we read for meaning. So after having the students read silently, ask them some comprehension questions to check how much they understand. Avoid translating the text sentence by sentence.

5. When teaching vocabulary, besides acquainting students with the sound and meaning, help students know how a word is used in sentences. Say some sentences with the word in it, and have the students make sentences. Using the word to ask students some questions about their real life would bring life to the word. For example, when teaching the word "dark," a simple sentence like "Is it dark now?" connects students' life with the word. 

6. When teaching grammar, don't just explain the grammar point. Students need practice to familiarize themselves with a new pattern.

7. Avoid too much teacher talk. Interaction is what we need langauge for.