Foreign language assistants are native speakers serving as a support system in a secondary school or university foreign language department. Because language assistants must often travel long distances with limited suitcase space to reach the country in which they will be working, it does not make sense to bring a lot of teaching material along. Many of the materials listed below may be purchased in the foreign country, or even provided by the school. One resource assistants should definitely consider bringing, however, is a laptop computer.
Depending on the class level and class size being taught, there are some materials that are more useful and applicable than others. Below are lists of some recommended materials for a variety of classroom situations that language assistants may encounter when teaching abroad.
Teaching Materials for Beginner and Intermediate Levels
For students with basic knowledge of the language, who may not be prepared to tackle more challenging reading and writing assignments yet, there are plenty of activity and lesson possibilities. Here are a few useful materials for getting started:
- General information, photos, or a yearbook from the language assistant's secondary school or university: Students can discuss pictures and short texts, describe them, and learn about the country's culture.
- Magazines: Magazines, or any publications with multiple pictures, are also useful, especially because there are often short texts within that work well for beginner level students.
- Art supplies: Posterboard, markers, glue sticks, construction paper. Great for group presentations about basic information and topics. This is good for a longer-term project, as it may take up a significant portion of class time.
Teaching Materials for Intermediate and Advanced Levels
Students at a more advanced level in the foreign language can use materials with longer texts, including the following:
- Newspapers and magazines: These are great for in-depth discussions, as well as debates on any current issues presented in the publication.
- Books: Assistants can photocopy excerpts from a favorite novel from their home country, and have students analyze the text.
- Poems and songs: Playing the song for the students, with printed lyrics to follow along, is a good way to get a discussion going.
Teaching Materials for Large Classes
One of the disadvantages of teaching a large class is that the assistant often cannot provide students with much individual attention. A possible advantage of a large foreign language class, however, is that there are more students to contribute to a discussion. Here are some teaching materials useful in large classes:
- Videos: DVDs and online video clips can supplement a lesson. DVDs do not take up much space if packed in a slim carrying case that fits multiple discs. Film clips relating to the lesson topic are great for presenting information to a large group all at once, and after viewing, students can break into small groups to discuss.
- Small group project materials: One way to manage a larger class is to divide them into smaller groups for the day's activity. Papers describing the activity, be it a quiz, debate, short presentation, game, or interpretation of a text or photo, are needed.
- Projector and screen: For videos, PowerPoint presentations, viewing a larger version of a text or photo, a projector and screen is helpful. Many schools will be able to provide this, but assistants should prepare a suitable alternative (such as poster board, a laptop computer screen, or a different lesson activity altogether) if not.
Teaching Materials for Small Classes
Teaching a small class or discussion session means there is plenty of room for flexibility and a wide variety of activities. One other advantage of teaching a small class is that the students, in particular those who may not like speaking up in a large class, may feel more comfortable with a smaller group. Here are material suggestions for a smaller class:
- Photographs from home: Photos are a nice icebreaker to get students to ask the assistant questions about life at home. Since it is a smaller group, class discussion can become more like an everyday conversation.
- Interactive board games and word games: The students may not feel like they are doing work, but they are still learning and practicing vocabulary.
- Riddles and puzzles: Popular riddles from the assistant's home country, tongue twisters, whodunits, and idioms are good filler activities for a small class.
Working as a language assistant in a secondary school or university requires creativity, flexibility, and organization. Preparing the right classroom materials can enrich a lesson and provide students with a fun way to improve foreign language skills and increase confidence in speaking the language.
Suzanne Swartz - During college, Suzanne spent a semester in southwest Germany. After receiving her B.A. in History and German Studies, she went back to ...
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