[tinyteachinthemaking]

Hi all,

I haven't been back to this forum for a while! A belated happy new year to you.
I was wondering if had any suggestions for activities for the first day of an English for Academic Purposes class.

I was thinking of keeping it light but focussed: getting to know my students, their needs, strengths and weaknesses through a questionnaire.
The class is a 90 minute one and I'm going to have to devise materials as I go along - no syllabus!

In addition, my class will be a mixed ability one, 20-25 - University students from an Asian background.

As many teachers, my biggest fear is boring my students and not keeping things snappy. I don't want to dive in straight away with a listening or a complex written task, as it's the first day and I don't want to terrify them.

Maybe a paragraph organising activity or a dictogloss?

Please feel free to suggest some activities that you have used and that worked.

Thanks!

[Denis DNT]

Here is an article I wrote in 2008. "Tips to help you grab your ESL class from the first day."
I am sure you can use one or two ideas from it.