Intro to Teaching

Adult Learners
• Second most spoken language in the world

• Growing number of English learners around the world

• 1.5 billion English learners worldwide

OBJECTIVES

WHAT WHY HOW

As a growing company, we
Teaching EFL would like to broaden our
scope of students who would
Adult learners like to learn English
effectively
tips and techniques in
handling lessons
effectively with adult
learners
51Talk adult students may vary depending on the level of their English skills.

51Talk Leveling System

• Students with very little experience and exposure to English
Beginner • Greatly needs guidance from the teacher
• Limited vocabulary
• Ability to answer questions and explain simple ideas
Elementary • May converse with the teacher about simple topics
• Knowledgeable in basic vocabulary and grammar structure
• Able to express opinion and preferences
Intermediate • More fluent in conversing with others
• Ability to use vocabulary, idioms and expressions
• Can elaborate opinion and answers
Upper Intermediate • Very fluent, with good accent and intonation when speaking
• Able to use more complex grammar structures and vocabulary more accurately
What kind of lessons
does 51Talk offer to
adult learners?
 Kinds of 51Talk Lessons

51Talk offers several kinds of lessons to different kinds of students, all depending on the
student’s preference and purpose on why they student English. Lessons are mainly divided into
three (3) categories: MAJOR, MINOR and ELECTIVE lessons.
Type of Lesson: MAJOR

Mainly for students who would like study General English, which includes the four (4) major
English skills, Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
Materials and topics are set within everyday experiences. This is for the student to learn how to
interact and communicate with other people about their daily lives through the use of the English
language.
 Type of Lesson: MAJOR – Classic English
• Lessons are divided into fifteen (15) levels, and each level having several Units
• Lessons have an Objective and a set of Target Language that the student must be able to do by the end of
the lesson
Type of Lesson: MINOR

Business English Interview English IELTS

Focuses on the For students who are For student who plan to
vocabulary and topics preparing for advanced take one of the most
used throughout the English interviews and popular English
business world and the learn how to successfully proficiency tests, IELTS.
communication skills answer other common
needed in the interview questions.
workplace.
Type of Lesson: ELECTIVE
Geared towards students who would like to improve on their speaking and
communication skills.

Free Talk Daily English Travel English

A lesson that focuses Students learn Students learn

on conversations, but
still with a lesson flow,
and a set of Target
Language to be
followed.
vocabulary and conversations and
expressions they may interactions they may
use in daily situations. experience in an
English speaking
environment
How do we teach
51Talk lessons?
 51Talk Lesson Flow

Greeting Presentation Practice Production Wrap Up

Greeting and Introductions
The very first part of the lesson were you get to know your student and
develop rapport.

Greeting Lead In
Introduction Warm-up

Introduce yourself and Give the title of the Briefly go through the
ask for the student’s material, objective of warm-up activity
name the lesson
Greeting and Introduction

Teacher: Hi, Yu Tu! My name’s Anna. Nice to

meet you.

Student: Hi, Anna. Nice to meet you.

Teacher: Yu Tu, today, we will learn

expressions that will help you when you
introduce yourself.
Now, you!
• Go through the warm-up briefly
(2 mins)
• Ask the optional question if you
still have time
• Have the student practice
Now, you!

• Introduce yourself
• Ask the student’s name (if
it’s not indicated in the
reservation details)
• Introduce your lesson
Presentation
The stage when the teaching happens. This is when the teacher presents
the words and phrases the student will use throughout the lesson.

Vocabulary Phrases Dialogue

Have the student read
the words. Correct
mispronounced words.
Choose some words to
talk about with the
student.
Have the student read
the phrases. Correct
mispronounced words.
Choose some phrases to
talk about with the
student.
Read the dialogue with
the student. Exchange
roles with the student.
Correct mispronounced
words. Ask Concept
Checking Questions. Ask
personalized extension
questions.

NOTE: CONCEPT CHECKING QUESTIONS (CCQ) are questions to check if the student has fully understood what they have read.
Answers from these questions must come from the reading material. While EXTENSION QUESTIONS are questions that deal more on
the student’s experience and ideas. Answers for these questions will come from the student’s personal opinion.
Vocabulary Phrases/Sentences

Dialogue
Teaching Vocabulary
How to teach vocabulary to different levels?
Teaching Vocabulary: Low Level
Visuals
Visuals - objects from real life and pictures -- improve students'
understanding of words and concepts.
Teaching Vocabulary: Low Level

It’s your turn!

Student: What mean office supply?
Teacher: That’s easy…
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate Level
LEXICAL SETS/ ENUMERATIONS
A lexical set is a group of words that share a
similar feature.
Shoes
Hat Skirt

CLOTHES

Pants Socks
Shorts
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate Level

SUBSTITUTION
Replacing the word with a synonym, more common word.

happy glad
I am really _____ to meet you
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate Level

It’s your turn!

Student: Teacher, I’m not sure what hobbies are?

Teacher: I’ll tell you…
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate Level
Contextual Analysis
Getting the definition of the word based on the clues given the sentence

I felt
after
the whole day.
,
my son was still .
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate

It’s your turn!

Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate Level
Morphemic Analysis
Dissection of the word into its different parts all the way to its root word.

Morphemes

Prefix Suffix

Root word
Affixes
Teaching Vocabulary: Intermediate

It’s your turn!

Deprioritize
Presentation: Pronunciation

▪ Pay attention to the pronunciation

of the words.
▪ Follow the IPA symbols under each
word.
▪ Ask the student to read the words
3x (if they mispronounce), if they
don’t mispronounce, have them
repeat 2x only.
Presentation: Pronunciation

What if the student cannot pronounce

some words or phrases even though
you’ve asked him/her to say it several
times?

Show your mouth and use IPA

symbols.
Now, you!
• Ask the student to read the words
one by one (be sure to guide the
student with words that are too
difficult)
• Correct mispronounced words
• Choose at least three (3) words to
talk about with the student
• Ask questions that will lead to the
student using the target word.
Example: “Do you often visit your
family?”
Presentation: Dialogue
▪ Do the role-play
▪ Assign the longer part
to the student first
▪ Switch roles
▪ Check the student’s
pronunciation and
intonation

If the student can readily

do this part, ask some
CCQs about the dialogue!
Practice
These are activities, tasks or exercises to check if the student can put into
practice what they have learned from the Presentation stage.

Exercise

Go through the activity with the student. Always be ready to guide the student into getting the correct
answers. Remind the student to use the words and phrases he/she learned from the previous stage.

NOTE: the number of activities may vary depending on the material. In this part of the lesson, the student is expected to use the what
he/she has learned, but still with the help of the teacher.
Now, you!
• Read the dialogue with the
student
• Exchange roles with the student
and read the dialogue one more
time
• Correct mispronounced words
• Ask CCQs
• Ask personalized extension
questions
• Move on to the exercise
• Guide the student by answering
the first item of the exercise
 Production
This is the part of the lesson when the student is able to use everything
he/she has learned from the lesson.

Summary

Review the lesson with the student. Have the student pronounce the words, correct any mispronounced
words. Get the student to use the phrases and expressions he/she learned through a conversation about the
main topic of the lesson. If the student does not use the Target Language, remind you learned practiced from
the previous stages.

NOTE: The student is now expected to use what he/she learned from the lesson INDEPENDENTLY. However, if the student still cannot do it on
his/her own, always be ready to help him/her.
Now, you!
• Have a 2 – 3 minute discussion with
the student about your main topic
• Make sure to prepare extension
questions, and be sure to ask
interesting following questions
• Remind the student to use the
words, phrases and expressions
learned from the lesson
• Listen to your student and take note
of any grammatical errors
Wrap Up
The last part of the lesson, and the stage to remind the student to practice
and review what was learned.
Review
Place the student’s
mispronounced words on the
chat box. Practice them with the
student. Place grammatical
errors on the chat box, and teach
the proper sentences to use.
If the student asks why his
sentence is wrong and your sis
correct, explain the grammar
rule in the simplest way
possible.
Closing
Feedback Remark
s
Give the student’s strengths, Tell the student to practice the
weaknesses, and tips and words and sentences. Say your
suggestion on how they can goodbyes to your student
improve on their weaknesses
Give specific tips on how to
improve English. For example:
“Do you like listening to music? If
you do, then please listen to
English songs only so you can
practice your listening.”
Now, you!
• Give the student’s strengths
• Explain what the student still needs
to work on
• Give tips on how the student can
improve her weaknesses
• You may also give a set of words or
sentences for the student to
practice as form of assignment
 Things to Keep in Mind
• Chinese adult learners know more than they let on – don’t judge their English level lightly

• Comprehension, especially in reading, is stronger than their spoken English

• They have specific motivations for studying English; they’re serious about these lessons so
be sure to take the class seriously as well

• Don’t just chat/casually talk with them – make sure you TEACH them something such as a
new word, expression, idiom, phrase

• Type your corrections in the chat box

What makes an excellent
51talk lesson?
 Look PRESENTABLE and PROFESSIONAL

Clean background
Styled hair for the women / Clean cut for the men
Scarf for the women / Neck tie for the men
Time Management
Be punctual, enter the class earlier than expected, end the class on the
25th minute, and make sure every second counts.
Positive Attitude
Smile, be enthusiastic, be engaging and demonstrate patience in the
lesson.

Communication Skills
As English teachers, we are expected to have great pronunciation and
grammar.

Grading Language
Adjust your pace, choice of words and grammar structure depending
on who your student is.

Corrective Feedback
Be accurate, honest and complete in giving feedback.
Sensitive Topics
Topics that should never be discussed in class
Sensitive Topics:

PARSNIP
What is PARSNIP?

PARSNIP stands for politics, alcohol, religion, sex, narcotics, -isms and pork. These refer to the
controversial or taboo topics in the EFL classroom. Many teachers believe that these topics should not
be talked about in the EFL classroom. Why?

For adult learners, PARSNIP topics may cause offense to sensitive students and students may not feel
comfortable speaking about them.
Sensitive Topics:

P politics, physical characteristics

A alcohol, abuse, assault, abortion

R religion, race

S sex, sexual orientation, smoking, stereotypes, settings

N narcotics/drugs, nudity

I -isms like communism, atheism, nationalism, capitalism, socialism, ageism, racism

P pornography
Sensitive Topics:

Politics
1. DO NOT mention Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and any political topics
2. DO NOT mention or use China government leaders as examples during teaching
3. DO NOT mention any sensitive topics related to territory or islands.
4. DO NOT ever mention COVID-19 related topics

If the student initiates the topic, redirect students asking about politics to other appropriate
topics.

Standard answer:
“That’s not part of our lesson. Let’s stick to our lesson so you can learn more English
words.”
Sensitive Topics:

Erotic/Sexual
Do not initiate or entertain conversations with erotic and sexual topic.

Tips
1. DO NOT describe/compliment students as “sexy”.
2. Dress up during lessons.
3. DO NOT discuss sexual related topics with students.

Redirect students asking about erotic/sexual topics to other appropriate topics.

Standard answer:
“That’s not part of our lesson. Let’s stick to our lesson so you can learn more English
words.”
Sensitive Topics:

Religion
Do not initiate or entertain conversations about religion.

Tips
1. DO NOT bring up religious topics.
2. DO NOT lecture students about religion.
3. Redirect students asking about religious views to other appropriate topics.

Standard answer:
“That’s not part of our lesson. Let’s stick to our lesson so you can learn more English
words.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS

What are the key takeaways

that stood out for you in this
session that you will apply in
your 51Talk lessons?
THANK YOU!