Hi,

I agree with Cunning Linguist on several points. The school seems to be, aside from giving you specifics on lesson topics, giving you free reign. This is a good thing and could really help you to develop the creative side of your teaching skills. There are SO many online resources that you could take advantage of for ideas including Scholastic (http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp), TeAchnology (http://www.teach-nology.com/), and Discovery Education (http://school.discoveryeducation.com/). As well, the Oxford Seminars ESL Teaching Resources (http://www.oxfordseminars.com/esl-teaching-resources/index.php) web page is full of ideas and resources.

I would suggest that you make your lessons fun and that you use realia (objects etc. from real life) as much as possible. Group interaction, games, drama, music, and various types of competition all add anticipation and excitement in the classroom.

As Cunning Linguist mentioned, keep detailed records of all your lesson plans. This will not only "cover your back"; it will also serve as a reference point/source of ideas/launching pad for future lesson planning. I kept detailed records of my approx 5 years of teaching in Indonesia and it proved to be very helpful, especially when in a pinch when covering for another teacher or a last minute call from the school.

Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.

Lyndsey Pratt