| For English language teachers in Italy, it's always a | | | | of your drawing while you're planning your lesson to be |
| good idea to be cost-efficient with materials. Whether | | | | sure you can execute it on the board, and that you |
| you work for yourself or for a school, conserving | | | | can draw it quickly while students are focused on |
| paper and other classroom resources makes teaching | | | | another task. |
| ESL less wasteful and more economical. Teachers | | | | 4) Make use of dictation. Students in Italy have a |
| also save time when they don't have to copy and | | | | particularly difficult time with English spelling, and short |
| distribute handouts, and needn't worry about forgetting | | | | dictations are a good way to have them practice |
| materials or finding out too late that the photocopier | | | | accuracy of common words. This exercise is also |
| needs repair. | | | | very valuable when teaching the possessive "s", plurals, |
| Here are five ways to cut costs and save materials in | | | | personal pronouns and possessive adjectives. As a |
| the Italian ESL classroom: | | | | follow-up activity to review grammar, students can |
| 1) Design materials that can be printed on both sides of | | | | circle each instance of the verb "to be", underline each |
| the photocopy. Italian public schools aren't generous | | | | plural noun, etc. |
| with their paper stock. If you absolutely have to use | | | | 5) Take advantage of online quizzes and blogs. There |
| photocopied materials, make use of both sides of the | | | | are many free platforms available for teachers to |
| paper. The worksheet should not be too dark or | | | | create their own webpage or website. If the school |
| ink-heavy on one side or it will compromise legibility on | | | | has internet access (schools in Italy are catching up on |
| the opposite side. | | | | technology), it is even possible to conduct an entire |
| 2) Have students make their own materials. Students | | | | lesson online. The teacher plans the lesson and then |
| love to produce materials. A good idea is to have | | | | uploads it to the site, where the students can follow |
| them create a worksheet and then exchange with a | | | | along, complete on-site worksheets by downloading |
| partner. They love to challenge each other and it's | | | | them to a word processor, and test their knowledge |
| good practice for accuracy with spelling and grammar. | | | | with online quizzes. Its ideal for a mixed-level class with |
| Make-your-own word search and crossword puzzles | | | | students who finish earlier than others in lockstep. |
| (great for vocabulary lessons) are always hits in the | | | | They can simply go on to the next activity on-site, or |
| ESL classroom. The teacher should monitor the work | | | | click on one of the linked pages in the teacher's "links" |
| closely to catch and correct any errors before | | | | directory to find more ESL activities and games on the |
| students exchange worksheets. | | | | web. |
| 3) Use the whiteboard/blackboard. Italy still works with | | | | Your originality will be noticed by those with whom you |
| traditional blackboards in most cases, though some | | | | collaborate on your ESL projects, and you may |
| schools have whiteboards. Draw a scene on the | | | | become known as the teacher who gets the job done |
| board and have students write sentences in their | | | | creatively while saving materials and money. If you |
| notebooks to describe it, or have them comment on it | | | | teach English in Italy, using your resources wisely is not |
| as speaking practice. Be sure the drawing can elicit the | | | | only cost-effective and time-saving, but is one of the |
| grammar and/or vocabulary in your lesson's objective, | | | | best ways to promote yourself as a professional in |
| and that it contains enough details to give each student | | | | the ELT arena. |
| a chance to cite something original. Make a rough copy | | | | |