ESL job: Nordhausen October 6 through December 14, 2009

[Torsten]

Hello Scott, Noel, Richard and all English-Team trainers,

Our new Nordhausen group is a brilliant group consisting of 3 men and four women. They are different ages and have different professional background but they all have one common goal: They want to find a new job and that's why they are practicing and improving their English with us. To gauge their current level of English we took the 'Mini TOEIC test' from this book: TOEIC Bridge Book

There are 100 multiple-choice questions in that test and here are results:
One person scored 84.
One learner scored about 70 points.
Two members scored about 60 points.
Two scored about 40 points.

This means that team work and an individual approach are vital to every team member's success. Here is a run down of what have covered so far:
http://english-team.com/Getting_to_know_each_other.pdf

The first two units of this book:
Essential Grammar in Use

The first few pages of this book (which the students have): Business Basics

We also went through this worksheet: http://english-team.com/How_to_use_the_forum.pdf

Noel, on Wednesday please be prepared to answer a few questions the group will ask you about you, your job and your life in Germany. When I introduced English-Team last week, I put your name and Scott's name on the blackboard so the group know that you are part of our team. Also, please continue working with 'Business Basics' and concentrate on the basics such as the alphabet, the numbers, the question words, the time, basic prepositions, etc.

I'll have the group answer the following questionnaire which I'll give you tomorrow: http://english-team.com/Learners_Profile.pdf
Torsten (one of the group members) is going to pick up on Wednesday morning. See you tomorrow.

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: An Asian puppet show

[NoelHolburn]

A fuller report next week, so briefly....

We have been progressing through the business basics book and i have occasionally been tieing that in with corresponding exercises in the Murphy book 1, e.g. page 19 in the business basics book corresponds to unit 38 in the Murphy. Plenty of games have been thrown in but this group, largely being older has not responded so enthusiatically to games as the younger groups have. There have been some really peaceful contented moments for instance when we have been going through the Fairway book 1. Even though for some this has been very easy indeed, there is something about the pace, the content and the colours etc that this group takes to very well indeed. And indeed although the early parts of the book may be too easy for the middle ranking learners, the end would be a challenge for most.

Klaus popped his head around the door on thursday morning to say that he was dropping out because he has found a job ( he wasn't here wednesday so that was the first time we met ), and because of illness etc, today is the first time the remainig 6 have been all together. The group dynamic today has been positive. However, this is an older group and i have found that they repsond vey well to a personal gentle approach - this group has been around the block too many times to be inspired by group games which younger groups might respond enthusiastically. They have enjoyed most personal stories from me about life in england, or personal narratives i have to tell about life in general. As an example of how the group operates, the most humorous moment was as an exercise in talking about companies, we had to create a company, name its directors, state its mission etc. We have two teams, the duck team and the garden team, and the duck team said they were called the duck company, their founder and managing director was Donald Duck, and they produced rubber ducks for the bathtub !! The class broke down in to prolonged hysteria at the self obsessed narcissim of this theoretical company.

The main purpose of the course is the business basics book, but then the Fairway enjoys second place, and least enjoyed is the Murphy. The group also very much enjoys the game of pelmanism, and another game they responded well to was one i made up myself, whereby each team finds five words for the other team to spell out loud correctly. They also respond well to stand up walk around activities.

[Torsten]

Good morning Noel, how are things with you and the group in Nordhausen today? Thank you very much for your great work and your detailed report. It's good that you did a lot of team work activities and had the group create their own companies. Please tell them to prepare a short presentation of their companies, products, tag line, target markets, price strategy, distribution channels, etc. for me tomorrow.

Also, please remind them of the project work we are going to start this week.
Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: Two jogging women

[NoelHolburn]

We had a very successful day today where i finally seemed to tap into what this group really wants - which is hard concrete grammar ! They want substance - not so much games and fun. It was last night while looking through what might be appropriate for today, when i came across a really weak and poor presentation of grammar in the business basics book.

It was so bad it had my brain in knots never mind a learner ! I took to thinking of an independant presentation of the words "much" and "many" - but in fact added on to that was "some" and "any". The day started with presentation of countable and uncountable nouns. We then had a game or something and i then taught the word "much" as an uncountable. This took some time, but eventually the learners understood the concept. We then did some othe material, probably the fairway book, and then came back to "many" which as a countable was far easier to understand.

Then it was lunch, and after that we dealt with "any" and all its possibilities, and then finally "some". I had concentrated on the comparison of much and many, and then the contrasting usage of some and any. There was much throwing of the ball and asking each other questions and prompting the appropriate either negative or positive answer - any or some.

The time taken from first presentation of uncountable nouns to the cross comparison of all four words was actrually most of the working day. But we finally got to the weak area of the business basics book and all learners sailed through it with no problems at all. A great success ! A day well worth repeating. And the group REALLY appreciated me stepping outside the course books and taking control of an aspect of the language personally. They were very responsive and mutually helpful, and where one learner had not 100% understood the concept, the permameters or the process, then other more advanced learners would step in and explain thoroughly in german what i had given in english.

They REALLY appreciated it and the day ended with warm smiles and farewells till next monday.

[Torsten]

Hello Noel and Scott,

Here is a rundown of what we have covered in the past few days:
- review of the alphabet
- personal pronouns, possessive adjectives, object pronouns
- countable vs. uncountable nouns, some/any, much/many (Thank you, Noel for explaining this to the group -- it was easy for me to do the review!)
- translation of the following text (I gave the group this text in German and they had to translate it into English: Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft.
He is also the main programmer.
His wife works for the company as marketing director.
Microsoft creates two new software programs every year and sells them to customers from around the world.
The company creates its products in the USA.
They also employ the services of programmers in India.
Bill Gates and his wife live in a house in the centre of Nordhausen, not far from their office.
They are not often there because they both travel a lot.
How do they relax?
I do yoga and my wife plays chess says Bill.
At the weekends they play golf together and eat out at local restaurants with their children.

- reading and discussing this: http://english-team.com/Characteristics_of_English.pdf
- homework: http://english-team.com/Learners_Profile.pdf
- asking and answering this question: http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic46115.html#origin_of_expression_dance_tea
- creating an introduction: http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7816-2670.html#189764
- readind and discussing this introduction: http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic45611-15.html
(Hello Bhukkar,
Hello All,

I work as a purchasing coordinator in an international company which assembles bicycles for Western European countries. Usually my workdays are all the same. I wake up at 7 o'clock, eat my breakfast and prepare myself for work. I start at 8 o'clock with reading emails and answering these related to the most urgent matters.

During my working hours I often have meetings where I discuss with my staff all short- and long-term issues which we need to focus on. I try to end at 4 p.m. but since many things happen each day sometimes it's very, very difficult.

I find my job very interesting and that is mainly because of the fact that it gives a great opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people - not only from Poland - but from all over the world.

And how about you people? What do you do?

Rgs,
M.)

- have got vs. have
- Business Basics pp 28/29
- introduction to the English tense system (time vs. tense, German tenses vs. English tenses, which tenses are most frequently used?)

Noel, can you please do the following with the group:
- review of the simple present (positive statements, questions and negative) -- please use the Murphy Grammar book
- review of the alphabet
- the numbers from 0 to 100
- giving phone numbers
- telling the time
- the days of the week
- the months

Also, if possible please give an introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet and phonetic transcription symbols used in German/English, English/German dictionaries. You might also want to use some elements of music teaching to teach pronunciation, stress and intonation.

On Monday a new person will join the group. At this point this is all information I have. As you know, Peter will fetch you from the Lapps on Monday morning.

Good luck,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: A large pipeline

[NoelHolburn]

Hi Torsten

Many thanks for the specific requirements there - much appreciated. Numbers, the alphabet, and telling the time we have already covered although i am more than happy to review these areas. I was just wondering if you might like to broaden / increase your recommended areas of study there, afterall, we can get through quite a lot in two days. Thanks, Noel.

[Torsten]

Hi Noel,

In addition please print off some of Scott's diary entries and read them together with the group: I'm leaving on a jet-plane ... My diary by Scott Graham

Tell them they'll be meeting Scott in person soon so they might as well ask him some questions on the forum!
Thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: Impressive column

[NoelHolburn]

Brief update while we are on a break......

Yesterday, 26th, we started with a telegramme message game, where the learners had to create sentences out of their names - e.g. Noel was Natalie Only Eats Lettuce. We then looked extensively at the present simple. The group are now comfortable and secure with both the present simple and the present continuous. We also played the four squares game, whereby as a walk around activity the leaners interviewed each other about vrárious likes dislikes etc. We also looked at the first page of Scotts holiday, and then having translated it, then made a pelmanism game out of the new unknown words - "partaking" came up many times ! There were more ball game exercises on both forms of the present.

Today, we launched straight in with "was were" - explanation on the board, then ball game asking each other questions, then the Murphy book. The learners took very well to not starting with a game. I intend today also to storm through the past simple. Also on the agenda for today is the imperative. Likewise i intend to look at pages 33-35 of the business basics book. More later.

We also covered many prepositions and giving directions yesterday.

[Torsten]

Hi Scott and Noel,

The group now consists of 5 men and 4 women, 9 participants 3 of whom are 'real beginners' meaning that didn't have any English language tuition at school. This week we reviewed the following vocab and grammar items:

customer
directions
advertisement
sales figures
supplier
deliver
outlet
useful
founder
component
expensive
competitor
distribution
factory
successful
owner
annual
turnover
countable
consultant
percentage

Which of these words describe people or organizations?
Please put these words into three categories: verbs, nouns and adjectives
Please create one question which each of those words.

Where do you live?
Were there many customers in the shop?
How often do you speak English with your customers?
What time did you get to work?
What are you doing here?
What did you do last week?
Where does your company advertise?
What time does the meeting begin?
Whose documents are those?
What month is your birthday?
Why are you asking me so many questions?
What do you like doing most in your free time?
What day is our next meeting?
How many people/staff does your company employ?
What is your spouse doing right now?
How many competitors do you have?
Does your company have many different branches?
How long was the seminar?
When will we see our boss again?
Why are you not listening to me?
Do you have any customers in the United States?
What would you like to eat?
How much time a day do you spend on listening to English audio resources?
Please tell me how to get to the railway/train station
When did you call your boss last week?
Did you work for Siemens last year?
When did you go to football match?
Would you like to have a cup of coffee?

You might want to use the following question to review the present simple, the present progressive and the simple past:

Where did you spend your holiday last summer?
Why did you ask me so many questions yesterday?
What time did their plane leave?
Were there many people in the shop?
How much were those shoes?
Whose books are those?
How long did the seminar last?
What time did your colleague get to work yesterday?
When will you start your new job?
Why did you close the window?
How often do you go to the petrol station?
How long did you stay at the office?
Did you wait for the train long?
Does your friend work for Opel?
Our colleagues are working very hard today, aren't they?
How much time will you need to complete this project?
Did you spend much money on the new machine?
What time does the store open during the week?
Will you be here next week?
Would you like some tea?
What do you prefer -- credit card or cash?
Which laptop is yours?
Where does your colleague work?
May I use your pen?
What time does the train arrive?
Where did you buy that dictionary?
This was your idea, wasn't it?
Do you know how to use the Internet?
Does this store sell stationery?
How many letters did you get/receive last month?
And how many of them did you answer?
How much is a litre of diesel in the Nordhausen area?
She works very hard, doesn't she?
How long was your trip to Vienna?
These shoes are very comfortable, aren't they?
No, I don't think so.
Our new colleague is often late but the boss is usually on time.
Unfortunately you didn't read the directions carefully.
His new job is very important, isn't it?
Do you know where can I park my car?
What kind of job does he have?
How far is the post office?
Did she have to work late?
Did you find your dictionary?
Do you have plans for tomorrow?
Did you buy a first class ticket?
Did you enjoy the party last night?
Is there any petrol left?
How long is your trip to work?
How did your boss look yesterday?
How many companies are there in Nordhausen?
How much water is there in the bottle?
Is there a cinema in Nordhausen?

Many group members wanted to read more of your diary entries and asked me how to find that thread since it has moved down so I told them to google the following phrase: 'scott graham diary english test'. It doesn't matter which of the many Google sites they use since they all access the same database. The group is very interested in your travel experience and look forward to hearing more about your recent trips.

Also, some of the group members have started asking questions on the forum like this one: "Besitzer" vs "Eigentümer" and their English translations

They were amazed by Alan's immediate response and couldn't believe he even recorded a voice message! We are currently doing the exercises in Business Basics pp. 35/37 so please review the material again since it is difficult for most of the group members.

If you have an electronic version of the book or your own copy you might want to use it since we had to reorder two more copies which will arrive next week only.

Today we listened, translated and discussed this: http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-07/2009-07-16-voa2.cfm

Good luck!
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: Prayer time

[NoelHolburn]

Credit where credit is due Scott ! I have just used the first of that package of 20 games you put together for me at Nordhausen, and at the games end, one student expressed deep satisfaction with the game. I don't know if you actually created those games or simply assembled them from other sources - either way it was your choice of game to hand on - and the learners loved it !

[Torsten]

Hi Noel, yes Scott is very resourceful and creative indeed. Many of the games in his collection are unique and new to most Germans so please do continue using them in the classroom. Also, what do you think of my suggestion to implement some elements of your music teaching? Maybe some rhymes or limericks that help memorize certain sounds and sound combinations.

Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: A river view in Saint-Petersburg

[NoelHolburn]

Update of work done yesterday and today.

Yesterday we started in the business basics book at page 35 - like and would like, and then briefly looked through page 36. i then omiited page 38 altogether, but we briefly went through the international restaurant simply to identify countries names in english. I then skipped through to Unit 4, and we looked at pages 42 - 45, finishing on 45 today.

With the Raymond Murphy book, we have looked completely at units 7, 13 and 14, doing extensive activation work on the tutor page, usually followed by a complete and thorough usage of the exercises pages, although have often been broken in to two halves with a break of another activity in between.

We also reviewed "a/an" in relation to the alphabet, e.g. an a, but a b, then a c, a d, an e.....etc. We reviewed again this morning MUCH MANY SOME ANY as one advanced member of the group asked for review for claification. If that individual asked for it again, then i knew it would be good for the group as a whole.

I also introduced some fresh diversionary material, a section about two twin sisters from california, and today a Roald Dahl poem from his "little monsters" childrens rhymes book.

One new member of the group is so far behind the rest of the group that he has syohoned himself off in to doing his own thing on the internet, although he then joins in with the games when appropriate. He is more than happy doing this. One advanced member of the group i have given extra tasks from the Murphy book - she selected herself the advanced material she wanted to work on. She is doing both - both participating in the group work and doing her own thing. She is very happy with this dual solution.

More later.

[Torsten]

Hi Noel, it's very good that you are trying to give every student individual treatment while keeping the group function as team too. I'm sure the group appreciate the fact that you are teaching them grammar with bits of playing games thrown into the whole process. Makes it much easier to digest that stuff ;-)...

TOEIC listening, photographs: A family meal

[NoelHolburn]

Wednesday 4th November.

1, We started today with another of Scotts games "I'm a market trader and i can sell......". It took one run through for the group to understand that it was essentially a complex word learning exercise, but now they undestand it, it can be played again if desired.

2, We reviewed yesterdays countable and uncountable nouns, in particular the process of turning unc. to c. i.e. a........of........

3, We then looked at various plurals e.g. women, men, children, babies, ladies, people, wives, knives, sheep etc. We then created sentences using these plurals e.g. the men and baies ate potatoes from glasses !

4, We then finished off unit 13 of the Murphy book - past simple - "I didn't"

5, We looked at page two of the Roald Dahl poem i have given them. Í spoke the page first, then i repeated two lines at a time and then got the learners to copy my vocal sounds, we then translated it line by line and i gave illustrations and explanations of idiomatic terms e.g. oh blimey, oh deary me and by gum ! Also wretched and wreathed, fizzed and whizzed ! And as the words "Cliffs of Dover" occured here, i told the class about the cliffs, how white they are, how significant they are to the english, what cliffs are, etc etc.

6, We launched straight in to Unit 14 of the Murphy, the past continuous, "I was doing". We went very slowly through this stopping at every point to have an exercise, or to write a sentence or two. The learners seemed to thoroughly understand the concept of the "Zeitspanne" here and we cross - referenced with the present continous. We then made sentences using both the present and past continuous.

7, Now we are on the english team website. I plan next to have a game of pelmanism based on new words encountered in the Roald Dahl poem. Then, if time allows, we will be looking at page 46 and 47 of the business basics book "Reporting on a trip" - which will reinforce the past simple already done in the Murphy. Again, if time allows, we will then play Scotts "blip" game.

More tomorrow

[Torsten]

Hi Noel,

Thank a lot for your detailed report. I'm planning to review some business terminology tomorrow and do a number of TOEIC based listening comprehension exercises. We're also going to discuss the Microsoft vs. Google article (VOA News).

Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, photographs: A beautiful doorway