This section includes materials developed by Viv to help make English language teaching more effective.
Teacher training materialsTeacher training material for experienced teachers
The link below has a step-by-step guide for people who would like to start teaching English as a foreign language, but as yet have no experience in this profession.
A guide for first-time teachers of English as a foreign language
Viv's metalanguage worksheet.
Metalanguage is the language students use to help them learn to
communicate. Viv gives all his new students a copy of his 'metalanguage' and
asks them to memorize the expressions as the first homework they are asked to
do.
Metalanguage for beginners and elementary students
Metalanguage for pre-int students and above
Viv's Marking scheme.
These are the symbols Viv puts in the margin of his student's written
work to indicate the type of mistake in the line next to the symbol(s). Using
this system should help students to learn to critically check their own written
work and help them avoid errors.
Using phonetic script in the classroom.
Viv has adapted the traditional phonetic script for use by Brazilian students.
He has substituted some of the symbols which are meaningless to a layman for
symbols which can be used by students when noting down the pronunciation of new
words in their notebooks. The traditional symbols are also included on this
page.
Note! In order to view the phonetic symbols on your computer, you will need to download and install the SIL Encore IPA93 fonts (silipa93.exe). You can do this from the site on the link below. The fonts are free and the instructions for installing them are easy to follow.
SIL Encore IPA93 font download
Viv's phonetic script exercise Organising a student's notebook. Learning Vocabulary. Viv's Vocabulary Database. Viv's Back of Notebook Database. Creating EFL worksheets. If you would like to produce your own worksheets, I've written some advice on
writing your own worksheets Example TV broadcast
activities An introduction to Computer Assisted Language Learning Links to sites with materials for English teachers
and students Links to sites with materials for English teachers
with Portuguese as their native language
I have designed a system of organizing my student's vocabulary and grammar
notebooks so that their notebook can be used as a reference resource long after
their English course has finished.
Why is it important to learn vocabulary? How do I increase the number of words I
know?
Viv has developed a vocabulary learning database program using
Microsoft Access. This program is designed to complement Viv's student
notebook vocabulary organisation. For more information click on the link below.
Viv has also developed a grammar and functions learning database program
with extensive help, including links to worksheets on this site. The program has
been designed as a Microsoft Access database. For more information
click on the link below.
You may also find the grammar, vocabulary and professional
worksheets useful. They can be found in the 'practice your
English' section of this site on the page 'Viv's video club,
library and worksheets'.
TV programmes, either recorded onto DVD or as a You Tube digital
video stream can be an excellent source for language practice classroom
activities.
DVD can be more versatile than VHS and a powerful teaching aid. Here
you can find the pros and cons of using DVD, how to set up and organise a
classroom activity using a film, and there's an example DVD activity based on
Viv's favourite film.
Computer Assisted Learning
Computers can be an exceptionally powerful tool in language teaching.
Here is Viv's guide to setting up a Computer Assisted Language Learning Centre
on a PC either at home or school.