Peer-teaching

Peer-Teaching is a useful tool for overcoming the language barrier in the classroom.

ALTs are often asked not to use Japanese in the classroom; so for complex explanations the ALT can explain as simply as possible, and then asks the students to discuss the meaning amongst themselves.

This can be a useful tool for re-injecting energy into a classroom that has been paralysed by an incomprehensible explanation from the teacher.

Peer-Teaching at Partner-Level
Students talk with their partner to figure out what the ALT has explained.

Instruction: "Talk with your partner: What did I say?"

Benefits:


 * By discussing in pairs, some stronger students can pass on their knowledge to weaker students.


 * By discussing in partners, some students may gain enough confidence to volunteer their opinion of the explanation as well.

Consider: Use this as a scaffolding activity that leads to Peer-Teaching at Class Level (See below for details).

Peer-Teaching at Class-Level
Here the teacher asked a student to volunteer to explain the problem to the class.

Instruction: "Who can explain? Please put up your hand."

Benefits: (Asking for Volunteers is a useful tool for finding the one person in the room with the ability to answer the question.)
 * The ALT is able to work around the language barrier.
 * Students are able to work together to find the answer to the problem.
 * More than one explanation can be requested from the students, potentially allowing for repetition and multiple perspectives to be given on the same topic.

Consider: Use Incentives to encourage student particupation. If students don't want to do it for $5, maybe they'd be willing to try for $10 or $15.