tactics for TOEIC, hix...
It was a fourth-level TOEIC class. Since the TOEIC program has 6 levels, learners in this class should be quite familiar with the test form already. As a substitute teacher on the last of the course, I spontaneously asked them some question regarding time management during the test, particularly what to do during the directions. The answers were to listen to the directions carefully...
Well actually that is not the main point in this entry. The problem occurred when we went through more than three fourths of the class, and I asked them what they expected to learn in TOEIC class, and I offered them three options: correct answer keys, test taking tips, and comprehensive explanations before each recordings. "I've been learning this test for years", replied one of the learners in his mother tongue, " tips and experience is something you can achieve through doing the test. Every test takers know how and what to do if they do enough tests, since practice makes perfect. So it is kinda useless to talk about experience and tips. In stead of that, make it fun, and comprehensive. I want funny classes, not experience."
His answer gave me a shock. Very quickly, I lessened the conflict by saying that different learners had different perspectives; some wanted more of this, some wanted more of that, so his recommendation was to some extent reasonable... Phew. It was bad experience for me to tell them what they did not need, which could be a possibility in this case. But here are some things to think about:
A. Be careful not to hurt the students' feelings or making them lose faces. I think that when I said that they were still new and inexperienced to the test, some of them did not feel good, and they did wait for a chance to speak up their voice so aggressively. Is it a good idea to teach them without commenting on their proficiency, or to do that more tactfully?
B. Balance the load of strategies and pre-listening activities. It was the last day before the final test, but the heavy load of strategies were still not so welcomed. I was thinking test taking tips would help, but still they were rejected. Is it better to teach TOEIC class like a general English class with careful lead-in tasks so that they understand almost everything, and know almost every words before the recording - without strategy-aimed discussion?
Anonymous said:
Take care http://www.vnexpress.net/GL/Doi-song/2009/08/3BA11F7B/