Hi, I started to teach English this week in a school where students usually have studied grammar and translated words (basically they used the grammar-translation method). I was hired to teach writing, listening, reading, and above all SPEAKING. I am facing some problems in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades. I am have to use a book that was planned and organized to teach writing and grammar (there are a few activities using listening). Each class has 2 hours of class during the week (in my opinion it is not enough) and in different days. "Like: on Monday 1 hour of class, Friday 1 hour of class". The previous teacher was very strict and "pretended" to teach. The students enrolled in 7th and 8th grades are studying "advanced" things when they haven't learned "simple present" (well, some students know it...but they do not speak) I try to motivate them, but they simply do not interect. They got very surprised because I started to speak English in the classroom. Their previous English teacher used to teach that subject without speaking a word in English. I need your help. How can I make these students understand that now the focus is on speaking? How can I help them the most in a way that they will be aware that they have to practice at home...I thought about Google Classroom, so I could make extra activities and review their grammar skills AND BOOST THEIR VOCABULARY. Last but not least, I have a student who is really good at English and understands me...what happens is that SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO INTERACTS WITH ME...and the others 20 students are mostly speechless, bored or tired. Please, I need your help. Thank you for reading. Oh, one more thing: this is my first time teaching in a private school!