Your Guide to Teaching with Limited Resources
Two words every EFL teacher dreads… limited resources. Picture this - you’ve prepped for a year to get here. You’ve completed your TEFL qualification, accepted your dream job in, extensively planned and organised your flights, accommodation, and whole new life. Then walked into your new role full of enthusiasm only to find out you are working with limited resources. This could vary from something small like a lack of whiteboard pens, or something bigger like no access to Wi-Fi and internet. No matter what the limitation is…DON’T PANIC! As an EFL teacher it’s essential for you to be prepared for scenarios like this.
We have the solution. As part of our course enhancements, in this blog we have put together a FREE starter pack. We’ll look at what defines limited resources, how you can effectively prepare and give you examples of engaging activities which use little to no resources. If you find it useful and want to delve deeper into the most effective ways of working with limited resources, you can purchase our specialist 10-hour module here.
Working with Limited Resources
Working with limited resources means working with a significant lack of educational resources. You might find yourself teaching in a school that doesn’t have access to computers or the internet. Remember, resources aren’t a guarantee! Supplies which you might find easy to source in the UK, you might struggle to get elsewhere.
For example, smart whiteboards are commonplace in UK classrooms. They’re a great resource that can be used in so many ways. You can play videos and audio content; they bring a collaborative element with interactive games and quizzes. They allow for teachers to manipulate colours and fonts which makes whiteboard time more engaging for students. We are fortunate in the UK to have access to great resources like this in most schools, however if you find yourself working in a remote village, you most likely won’t have access to things like this. This is why it’s crucial that you go into your lessons prepared. Think outside the box when it comes to your activities. Initially this might be hard, but the more you prepare beforehand the easier it will become. If you face a situation where you are working with limited resources, it’s important to remind yourself that textbooks and state of the art technology aren't essential for teaching English. As the teacher you just need to bring your imagination, flexibility, and most importantly organisational skills.
Preparing for Limited Resources Lessons
The key to teaching a class with limited resources is to prepare as many resources as possible prior to teaching. If you can before you start your new job, try to find out how much access you’ll have to resources like computers, printers, and the internet. This will determine what resources you’ll bring and the quantity. One idea of a resource that would be effective in your class and won’t be hard to fit in your suitcase is taking a form of realia with you. This could be a small ball, dice or even an inflatable object (this type of realia would give you room for more resources in your suitcase). Objects like this are an excellent tool in the classroom as they are multi-functional. You could use them for various word association games. If the object becomes overused and you want to switch it up, you could even use objects you have gathered along the way like bus and train tickets.
Another excellent resource to have to hand is a TEFL folder. Before you go on your trip create a TEFL folder where you can add any interesting supplies which can be used in your lessons like picture cards, newspaper articles, cut outs from magazines, etc. You could even collect things like postcards whilst you're teaching in the country. It’s so easy to do especially in schools with limited resources as you will always be able to pick up resources like newspapers and magazines. When considering newspaper articles and magazine cut outs try to gather engaging content which will create talking points for your students for example celebrities, animals, food, or a big news story. A TEFL Folder is a great resource as you can continuously add and develop it. Websites like BusyTeacher and iSLCollective are great to gather FREE resources to use in your classroom.
Activity Ideas
A lack of resources shouldn’t affect your student’s learning experience or the fun you can create in your classroom. There are so many exciting games you can play with your class which need little to no resources.
One example is the Hot Seat Game. Start the game by asking your class to get into groups of 4 to 5. One member of the group must sit with their back to the board whilst the other faces the board. This can be done as a class activity in two teams or adapt it depending on how many students are in your class. You can either hold up a flash card, draw a picture or write a word on the white board. You can adapt the game to the resources you have to hand. The students then must describe what has been created on the board without saying it out loud. For example, if you draw a picture of a Lion, the student could say “it is an animal” or “it has a mane”. The first group to guess the correct word wins the point. Set a points system, for example the group who hits the tenth point has won.
Other limited resources activities you could play with your students include Telephone Race. Split your class into 2-4 teams and ask them line up. Secretly say a target word or sentence to the first person from each line. They must run over to the line and whisper to the next person, who whispers to the person after them, etc. The fastest team to “race” down the line with whispers and then say the target wins!
A classic used in classrooms around the globe is Simon Says. In this game students can only complete the action you say, if you put “Simon says” at the front of the sentence. For example, if you say, “Simon says touch your nose.” Your class would touch their nose. However, if you only say, “Touch your nose.” Your class shouldn’t follow the instruction. Students who do are eliminated from the game, the last person remaining is the winner.
Remember working with limited resources doesn’t always have to be a negative. Teaching in schools like this can quickly develop your teaching skills and experiences. If you can accomplish this, teaching with resources will be a piece of cake! Experiences like this will teach you to think on your feet and be resourceful with what you have around you. If you’ve found this blog helpful and you’re wanting to be prepared for your TEFL journey (no matter what it throws at you), our Teaching with Limited Resources Course is for you!
