When to use are and is in sentences

[Amy lynne]

Hello,
I know when to use are and is in sentences but what I would like to know if there are any worksheets or activities anyone knows of that I could use for an adult class of beginners.Thank you in advance.

[gfell]

Have you tried the New Interchange Series of text books? They are excellent drills and fun lessons plans. There is also a Teachers Book that helps you further expand on each lesson. Rather than having a heap of loose papers flying around, I would much prefer to have it all in the 1 text book.

[Amy lynne]

Hello,
My students are between the ages 8-12. They have been taking lessons for about 3 months, they are beginners. I have to wonder if they get crazy in the class room at school like they do in my English class. Here's what happens and please don't be afraid to tell me what I'm doing wrong because what I am doing isn't working. My students are always getting out of their seats, talking all the time, I have to repeat everything 5 times because most of the time they are not paying attention, they will stand on the chairs, even the table a few times. I have 2 kids classes same ages and everything one of my classes all of the students are always asking to go get a drink or go to the bathroom, I think that every student in that class leaves at least once and the class in only 1 1/2 hours long. I use to have coloring books for the student to use when they came early but they would get up in the middle of me teaching and get a book so I took them out. OH!! I even have a few students that will get up and go to the white board while I'm giving instuctions and start drawing on the board. I think that my students have no respect at all for teachers or class rooms. Any advice you could me would be greatly appreciated. Amy

[cool ice]

Oh, seems like you are teaching real ratbags. I have had this happen to me. It's because they know they can get away with it.

You need to be more strict. Humiliate and scold the students in front of the other students. Separate the desks so they don't sit together. At the moment they think it is you vs them. You need to break up their group.

Start punishing them by having them sit on the carpet facing the wall with their text book in front of them. Only when they learn to behave, you can ask 1 by 1 to sit at the desk. Only if they deserve it, allow them the privilege of sitting at the desk.

You have a great opportunity to re-educate these children into respectful people. Lay down the law and let them know who is boss!

[exported_kiwi]

I kinda agree and disagree with you here. Because of Asian face, we can't humiliate them too much or it'll turn them into rebellious lil sods! Seperate the groups of trouble makers for sure. I make the culprits stand at the front of the class and show us how wonderful their English really is. Once they've humiliated themselves, they tend to realise that they should "knuckle down" and try harder.
The first thing after I've introduced myself in a new class, is to lay down the law. I say that they're no longer in China, they're in "kiwiland" and in kiwiland, I'm the law. I then ask what happens in China if they break the law. When I get the answer I want, then I say, BINGO, same in kiwiland! I also try to put em at ease...I'm not too strict on em but they know I'll not tolerate disruptions in class and any offender will be punished. Once i worked on an English only campus. The students were late teens, kids of rich parents here in Guangzhou, so their attitudes sucked! The rule was, if one person spoke one word of any language other than Chinese, the whole class went for a run, and a I jogged along with them. It was military style running with them chanting cadence all the way, in English. I tellya, they learned real damn quick....do NOT screw with me! You can't do this with little kids, but you can devise some method of punishment that is akin to it....they learn quickly!

[exported_kiwi]

OOps, this thread is about is and are. I use the generalisation that; is = 1 and are = 2 or more. Maybe it's oversimplifying things, but once the basics are firmly in place, you can fine tune them....hope this helps!