Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Bonjour la classe

I'm about to start teaching French. This is scary and exciting. Other than speaking loudly and slowly, writing on the board clearly, and wearing clothes that can withstand a certain amount of chalk, any suggestions?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Make sure your students shut their cell phones?

Anonymous said...

David Sedaris.

joe said...

Don't ask people if they understand what you've just said. Ask them questions that require understanding to be answered. I took a course in teaching English and that's probably the single most valuable tip I got out of it.

Nick said...

I would like to know how you intend to deal with students who sit at the back of class and pass notes and snicker. The gall of these students! Will you expel them from class immediately?!

Anonymous said...

Learning to speak french would be a good start.

(What? Too obvious?)

Seriously, good luck. The hard part of teaching is not in the classroom, its in all the incidental paperwork and bureaucracy.

Anonymous said...

Start class when it is supposed to start so that stragglers/ late comers don't get in the habit of thinking that you are waiting for them to arrive. The rest of the class will appreciate it and they shouldn't be penalized for arriving on time. It took me a while to learn this and stick to it. Bye, JM

Rachel said...

bring food, not often but every once in a while have madelines or cheese or something. you woudn't want to make it a habit but it is always a nice little bonus. my italian instructor would every once in a while have biscotti or provelone, and it made quizzes more palatable. Plus it taught us italian. Mi piace questo fromaggio!

Anonymous said...

You weren't so good though... fromaggio? provelone? :-P