Chavonny Tillotson

The first thing I like do with my students is have them share what brought them here and why they want to learn English? It's important for me to be able to connect what matters to them to what they are learning.

Next, because I believe that the students' needs should dictate my content and teaching methods, I like to start with a Needs Analysis assessment of their skill level with the language. This gives me an understanding of the nature of a particular goal they want to accomplish out of being with me, and what it will take to get them there. This also safeguards me from developing a one-size-fits-all style of teaching. Everything is always tailored to the individual in front of me.

Following this, I go right back to what it is that matters to them and what brought them here in the first place, and develop a lesson that includes those things. The objective here is to have them leave the session with something they can take into their lives and immediately apply. This is usually done in the form of some kind of assignment at the end, due by our next session.

And I lean heavily on the Communicative Language Teaching method because I think it's important to look right into the student’s life and use their own experiences to bring real-world circumstances into our lessons.