Our Method

PGM Group Method is an absolutely unique method of teaching conversation English. It is an on  going method which started 16 years ago and is continuing to be developed. It was not created in a university office or from the traditional methods.

 PGM Group Method is being developed in the class room. At first it was trial and error and progressed to a defined philosophy of teaching English to Spanish Speakers. Once the philosophy was developed, gradually techniques were developed to teach the philosophy. It should be noted that the experimental students had no English learning possibility available to them. They lived in very remote villages in Honduras and did in the beginning learn some English in free classes.

Philosophy

As you read the philosophy keep an open mind until you have viewed the video teaching  samples

1. Class must be taught 100% verbally.

2. Text book is only used in student pair work with the exception of vocabulary list pronunciation.

3. Writing is a band teaching tool.

4. Black boards are band with the exception of outlines for verbal presentations.

5. Classes must be absolutely dynamic at all times. Dead time must be limited to topic transitions and must not be more then 4 seconds.

6. Student learn best when they are having fun. All classes must be exciting and humorous but humor    must be only a teaching tool.

7. Classes must be 100% interactive with all students speaking 85% of the class.

     a. 15% teacher interrogation of individual students

    b. 25% teacher or student interrogation with class responding or asking questions as a group

      c. 60% pair work

Tools of the method

1. Hand-Signals

2. Socratic interrogation

3. Capturing – person, verb and time from question

4. Direct teaching

5. Student interrogated presentations

6. Topic discussions

Hand - Signal Tool

Hand signals are physical representations of words. Students take the hand - signal straight into English.

In traditional methods, a student will hear an English word - translate it into their native language and then translate it back into English. The hand - signal tool avoids the translation process.

The sequence of teaching using the hand - signal tool

1. Students make statements

2. Student Capture - person, time and verb from the question

3. Students respond to the full questions

4. Students make the questions

5. Student make questions and responses

6. Students work in pairs