MES curriculum – A non-textbook approach part 2

04/22/09 • -1 min

Podcasts – ESL Teacher Talk – ESL Podcasts for Teachers

Mark has added some phonics games for students at Fun Fonix.com.
This show discusses MES-English.com‘s curriculum for young learners. This is the second part of teaching without a textbook or teaching oral English only.Â For the first episode of this check here.

The curriculum covers core sections:

content – vocabulary
target language – phrases, questions, speech acts ...
running content – more lengthy topics
TPR – vocabulary introduction
Phonics – phonics, reading, spelling ...

Mark covers Units 4-6, explaining what vocabulary he uses for the content section, why he chooses those and how they work to achieve the target language goals for each unit, and how those vocabulary units tie into the target language.Â There are also a few ideas for practicing the different parts.
The materials for this curriculum are all available for free from MES-English.com.

We’d love to hear how you use you MES-English resources or your own curriculum ideas. Post them here or over at the ESL Teacher Talk forums. Ask questions or leave comments about the show. You can also just pop-in and introduce yourself. We’d love to know who’s listening.

Thanks for listening!

Game of the Week: Flashcards and Board Games
This is an activity for making a board game more of a conversational activity.Â Using a board game for practicing simple vocabulary or one taget language and combining that with another target language to form mini-speech acts.Â This is a great activity for changing a board game into a communicative activity and is useful for adults down to elementary school students.Â You can make boardgames here and get free printable flashcards here.
We hope it helps.Â Happy teaching!

Listen to the show.

The curriculum covers core sections:

content – vocabulary
target language – phrases, questions, speech acts ...
running content – more lengthy topics
TPR – vocabulary introduction
Phonics – phonics, reading, spelling ...

Thanks for listening!

Previous Episode

Explaining activities just using English

Listen to the show.
This show Mark explains some new features to the free word search maker at Tools for Educators.Â It really makes a word search a worksheet but keeps it fun.Â Matt has opened a new website Kids English Books.com and there you can find simple stories to download or use online.
This week’s show deals with how to explain activities just using English, without translating or using L1.Â There are several reasons you might not use the students L1:

you can’t speak the language
you have a mixed background class (many L1s)
your administration forbids the use of the students native language
you simply decide it’s best for the students

If you fit into any of these categories, this show might be helpful.
Mark and Matt cover ideas on how to get explain games or activities without translating.Â There are examples on how to explain some tradition American kids games, ideas for beginner classes, advice on how to strip activities down but still provide structure for learning, advice for more complicated games, higher level students and ideas on how to do this with large groups.

We also briefly cover some of the benefits to using an all-English explanation in your lessons.

A couple games were mentioned in the show: Go Fish and Get Four.
If you have any additions, questions or comments on the show please post them here or over at the ESl teacher Talk forums.Â We’re listening!

Game of the Week: What’s your name musical chairs

This week Matt brings us the GOTW.Â It’s an interesting twist on musical chairs and provides a fun way to get students up, moving and engaged in the language.Â While it sounds like a children’s game, there are a few variations discussed that create some great ways to practice with higher level students and adult groups.Â We hope you can use it.
Thanks for listening!

Next Episode

Teaching Thematic Units

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Matt has added some new simple easy songs for 1-3 year old classes.
Mark and Matt cover creating thematic units.Â This show covers what a thematic unit is, what the goals of a thematic unit should be, and what you need to get your thematic unit off the ground.

Mark covers the city, food and animals as examples of thematic units and we hope that gives you so ideas for introducing vocabulary, working in target language, and working in role-plays.Â There are also some discussion on the benefits and reasons behind why a thematic unit is beneficial.

If you have some ideas to add or questions about the show, please post your questions and comments here or atÂ the ESL Teacher Talk Forums.

Game of the Week:Â a Shopping Game

This is a game that can be worked into thematic units such as shopping!Â Using flashcards or slips of paper with items written on the cards and play money, students have to buy and sell items using language centered around shopping and bargaining.