SURVIVAL GUIDE

By Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord

Troubleshooting

Oh no! The photocopier isnt

working again
and its not just the photocopier! Teachers come
up against all sorts of minor and major frustrations
every day. Relax and take a deep breath. Our
troubleshooting guide will sort everything out for you.

listening material coursebook

problem area solution problem area solution

Your CD player Check that it is plugged in and You cant find Be honest if you dont know.
/ MP3 player turned on. If it still doesnt work, the teachers Tell students you will check this
doesnt work. see below. book with the for the next class. Then do so.
You cant Read the text yourself. If it is a answer key and
find the CD / dialogue, read it with a student you dont know
audio file. or read both parts yourself. the answer.
The pictures / Find your own pictures by
The audio quality
photos in the using an image search on the
is terrible.
coursebook are internet, if necessary.
The students say Consider what you were really old / out of
the listening is hoping students would get out In the class before, ask students
date / horrible.
too hard. of listening to the recording. to bring in pictures of the topic
Perhaps you can re-create the / area in question.
same input by telling a story
or anecdote or by initiating a
dialogue with a strong student.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE
By Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord

Troubleshooting

online video / DVD material photocopier / printer

problem area solution problem area solution

The DVD player Check that the DVD player is
doesnt work. plugged in and turned on.
If you are playing the DVD
on a computer, check the
software is compatible with
the file you are wishing to play.
Ask if a student can help you
make the player work.
If all that fails, see the
next page.
You cant find Abandon the lesson and use
the online video a standby lesson (see The
/ DVD you want emergency activity file).
to use.
You cant find Bring in DVDs in the students
any suitable L1 and use scenes or visuals
online videos from them to do interpreting
or DVDs in work or as a springboard for
English but your discussion (see Using L1 in the
students would classroom for more ideas).
really like to do a
video class.
The photocopier Start the class by dictating
/ school printer some of what was on the
doesnt work. worksheet (possible if there are
only sentences or words).
Make the reading into a listening
and dictate the questions or
write them on the board (if the
handout was a text).
Abandon the lesson and do
a standby activity (see The
emergency activity file).
You left See above for ideas.
your flashdrive
Begin using an online cloud
at home.
storage system (e.g. Dropbox,
Google Drive) instead. These
let you save your files to the
internet and then access them
from anywhere.
You have only Have students share the
ten copies for a photocopies and write answers
class of 15. individually in their notebooks.
Collect the copies at the end
of the class (that way they
dont litter the floor).

If it is crucial that every student

have a copy, then abandon
the activity and do a standby
activity (see The emergency
activity file).

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SURVIVAL GUIDE
By Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord
Troubleshooting
You always have Use photocopies for texts but
too many copies ask students to write answers in
and your school their notebooks. Collect copies
has set a limit. back in and keep them in a file.
You have to pay Do a photocopy audit activity
for your to see if you are using too
own copies. many copies (see Professional
development).
whiteboard / blackboard / projector
problem area solution
Its really small! Be as economical as possible.
Plan your board in advance.
Your Prepare some of your
whiteboard is presentation on big pieces of
always really paper (A3, for example), which
messy. you could use again, if need be.
Have a colleague observe you
and your board use and help
you with it (see Professional
development).
The projector Check that it is plugged in and
does not attached to a computer.
turn on
Check the input. Press the
input or source button on Your students
the projector.
If neither of these works, the bulb
may be broken or the projector
may have overheated. Turn it off
and try again later. Do a standby
activity (see The emergency
activity file).
Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2014
SUPPORT / Survival Guide / Troubleshooting
The wi-fi Download as much as you can
connection at for presentations at home (e.g.
the school images, video) and save to a
is terrible. USB stick.
Take snapshots of key websites as
backup to show.
If your phone has a cheap data
plan, you may be able to make
it into a hotspot and use the
internet that way, in a pinch.
students
problem area solution
Your students Do a survey to find out what
are not topics your students think are
interested in relevant, and have some
the lessons ideas yourself. Supplement the
in the coursebook with these topics. Get
coursebook. learners to help you by bringing in
material themselves. If they cant
find anything in English, let them
bring texts in their own language.
These can provide a springboard
for discussion and vocabulary
work, as well as translation.
Adapt activities so that there
all have are easier and more difficult
different levels. versions, and allow students to
choose which they would like to
do (sometimes this could mean
giving hints for the answers).
Have activities that are
extendable (activities that will
allow early finishers to continue).
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SURVIVAL GUIDE
By Lindsay Clandfield and Duncan Foord

Troubleshooting

Your students Draw up a list of class rules with

constantly the students participation. Allow
misbehave. them to help make rules both for
themselves and for you. Display
the rules where everyone can
see them.
Your students Start the lesson with something
always turn that students will regret missing.
up late. This could be an important
exercise, giving back test
results or a fun activity they like.
Incorporate latecomers discreetly
but dont stop the activity for
them. Talk to them about their
lateness afterwards.

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