There will definitely be times when your students
get discouraged because they just can’t understand something
that you have explained.
Why don’t we use this situation to teach them HOW
to say they don’t understand! Here are some
expressions they can use.
I don’t understand.
I can’t follow you.
I can’t understand how it’s used.
Can you please explain it again?
It’s difficult to understand.
It’s very confusing.
Sorry, I don’t get the point.
Can you go over it again, please?
Can you give me another example?
Here is where it’s important to see who exactly
has understood the lesson. These students can become your
“assistants” to explain to those who are having
difficulties.
Another sure way is to re-teach the lesson using
materials other than the class text . I found that having them
see comic strips or a single cartoon with English
captions is a help and they are also good for a laugh! This of
course means preparation, but once done it can be used over and
over again in future classes.
Make up more examples to show them how the
grammar point is used.
Have them read simple dialogues where the grammar
point is used. If they see this grammar “in action”, it will be
more impressed on their minds.
Work with a small group of students that are
having difficulties. The others can work on a simple
dictionary project, for example, make a list of words with
the prefix “un”, or “dis”, or with the suffix “…ful”, or
“…less”. This is NOT busy work. It’s work that has many
advantages. Learning new words is always positive!
A Nice Thought
“Anything will give us its secrets if you love
it enough.”
George
Washington Carver