This guide was prepared by Elaine Gallagher and includes seven parts that UNONEWS will be publishing once a week. Being at the present time Director of Academic Relations of Sistema UNO, Elaine shares with us her vast experience at the classroom and beyond.

Part I. A great bilingual teacher:

1)      Only speaks ENGLISH is English class, and ONLY Spanish in Spanish class.  Whatever language being  taught, it is the only one spoken in class.

2)      NEVER translates. Gives examples in the target language or with diagrams, pictures, drawings, or actions.

3)      Never lectures. Uses discussion and team models, seeking positive, active participation.

4)      Has students talking approximately 80% of the time.

5)      Asks questions the students are prepared to answer, based on various subjects and materials.

6)      Precedes each class with a short review from the previous class, and has a preview of what today’s class will be. (Uses a FOCUS).

7)      Adapts various examples for better understanding.

8)      Speaks fluently, but at a normal pace.

9)      Varies questions and examples to avoid monotony.

10)  Is creative, or seeks creative activities from others.

11)  Never asks, “Do you understand?”.  The teacher checks the students’ knowledge by questioning them: Checking for understanding by frequent questioning.

12)  Prepares the class thoroughly. Familiarizes him/herself with the book and the use of teaching aides/tools.

13)  Allows students to discover rules through practical examples. Never gives detailed, formal, and dry grammar lessons. Instead, students are challenged to USE correct grammar.

14)  Motivates and challenges students with new concepts through dialogue, gestures, contrast, analogies, differences, similarities, mental maps, and graphic organizers .

15)  Prompts a struggling student, then repeats the question, but never helps or interrupts a student who knows the answer.

16)  Presents the students with frequent opportunities to review the material with questions, role play, graphic organizers, and summaries.

17)  Supports students to feel good about themselves, even when they make mistakes.

18)  Knows the students well.

19)  Always greets students in a cheerful manner.

20)  Is friendly, but not too personal, with the students.

21)  Begins and ends each lesson punctually.

22)  Exhibits patience at all times.

23)  Shows interest and concern for the students’ progress.

24)  Motivates & challenges students through brisk and interesting teacher-student exchange.

25)  Supports students so they feel appreciated and secure.

26)  Is fair to all students, calling on each one in an equitable manner, by using students’ names on calling cards, for a fair distribution of names.