Hello

I have a question for all teachers. I teach English and German as a second language. I started working at a new school last week. I have the first, second ,third and fourth grade of highschool. (15-19 years old). Classes are big (30 pupils). I need some advice on how to make them listen to me. I know this is so difficult and depends on me and the pupils, but some advice would be good.

I have the most problems with the oldest pupils. They learn German for 9 years know and half of them can't put 5 basic sentences together (my name is, I am....years old, I come from....). The student's book is really boring. It is only about literature and German writers. I bring my own materials sometimes but they are so not interested! The only time they really listened was when I called their names out and asked them to tell me some basic phrases in German. They didn't know how to say "Where do you come from"? That was the only time they were calmer. I have to stick to the program and teach them modal verbs, indirect speech etc. but I really don't know how to do it