The same three folks. maybe that's who we have. Kyung sook and Sunmi maybe won't be back?
Class was OK. It seems they all watched the TBL videos. We are basically "caught up" with readings. A little concern about test, I assured them it wouldn't be too hard, and open book, since we really don't have to memorize things (we have computers to be our memory). They do feel overworked, and we haven't done half the VODs we should have!
Did some of the tasks for chapter 3, spent a lot of time on the "think of one of your teachers" - and at end I pointed out that while the teacher I chose to talk about was NOT a "model" or even my favorite teacher, they seemed to have chosen loved teachers, and perhaps those teachers indicated their teaching preferences. Some smiles, and maybe some recognition, when I said that. Also said we'd be thinking about our own performance to our models, so we could then see if we measure up to that.
Tired. Pretty good class, though students don't see my web viewings.
Everybody turned in their Reactionnaires! I'm happy.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
English House Dec 29
I've been meaning to write, but keep getting pushed away by other things!
I have three groups, Lower-Intermediate 2 (from beginning through today, my first class, from 9:30am), Upper-Intermediate, and Lower-Intermediate 1. (There is 1 group of Beginners, 1 group of Advanced, and three groups each of Upper and Lower Intermediates.) Not surprisingly the Upper-Intermediate group is more talkative, but also, partly through personalities, more fun.
We are working through a discussion book, but for one class hour we did "winter vacation" - but not as they expected, and not as another teacher is doing. Instead, it was more "controlled practice" with also memory exercise - repeat what people before you said. The point of it, as I explained after the first round, was to help them work on the higher-level memory tasks while using English, not just practicing "taxi-driver" English. I introduced the content-language diagram and the idea of BICS/CALP (as with TOEIC/TOEFL) and that the other conversation teacher was working on general fluency and comfort, whereas I was working on "building brain power" (cognitive processing load) and they seemed to get it, be more comfortable with what we've been doing. (See "Combining Language and Ideas" blog post from last summer, here.)
I feel much better about what I'm doing. Let's see if they continue to accept it.
I have three groups, Lower-Intermediate 2 (from beginning through today, my first class, from 9:30am), Upper-Intermediate, and Lower-Intermediate 1. (There is 1 group of Beginners, 1 group of Advanced, and three groups each of Upper and Lower Intermediates.) Not surprisingly the Upper-Intermediate group is more talkative, but also, partly through personalities, more fun.
We are working through a discussion book, but for one class hour we did "winter vacation" - but not as they expected, and not as another teacher is doing. Instead, it was more "controlled practice" with also memory exercise - repeat what people before you said. The point of it, as I explained after the first round, was to help them work on the higher-level memory tasks while using English, not just practicing "taxi-driver" English. I introduced the content-language diagram and the idea of BICS/CALP (as with TOEIC/TOEFL) and that the other conversation teacher was working on general fluency and comfort, whereas I was working on "building brain power" (cognitive processing load) and they seemed to get it, be more comfortable with what we've been doing. (See "Combining Language and Ideas" blog post from last summer, here.)
I feel much better about what I'm doing. Let's see if they continue to accept it.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Dec 27
Well, three students tonight, though two were late. Gyeongsook has missed two in a row, and our new student (Sunmi) also is absent.
We haven't caught up on the reading, but at least everyone said they had read unit four in Harmer and at least looked at the Scrivener extracts (reading), so we did Harmer and touched on the beginning of Scrivener. They need to really really read Scrivener and look at the Scrivener Observation Tasks prior to next class (Wed), and read Harmer 12, and watch the Task-based videos.
Angela (You Sun) asked whether we really have to do lesson plans every class -- a good question, which I let Kelly and Se-Ok reply to. I'm hoping for more questions, and more discussion, as people read more.
The VODs are still a bit weird. Some aren't linked properly, but just put at the bottom of the page, and some don't open one time (not prepared, it says) and sometimes do.
We haven't caught up on the reading, but at least everyone said they had read unit four in Harmer and at least looked at the Scrivener extracts (reading), so we did Harmer and touched on the beginning of Scrivener. They need to really really read Scrivener and look at the Scrivener Observation Tasks prior to next class (Wed), and read Harmer 12, and watch the Task-based videos.
Angela (You Sun) asked whether we really have to do lesson plans every class -- a good question, which I let Kelly and Se-Ok reply to. I'm hoping for more questions, and more discussion, as people read more.
The VODs are still a bit weird. Some aren't linked properly, but just put at the bottom of the page, and some don't open one time (not prepared, it says) and sometimes do.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wed Dec 22 -- Darn It!!!
Well, technology has given us FITS tonight.
My mic keeps shutting off inside Windows. (I'm in the office tonight using an old microphone that worked at home no problem). My newer headset worked ok on this machine, but I didn't try for a whole class, so I dunno.
then, using the web window in the class, one student didn't get any updates as I changed windows, and I couldn't either after it worked in the beginning.
Add to this the fact that one Kelly was 10 minutes late and Se-Ok was 90 minutes late (Se-Ok had equipment problems) and the other two weren't here at all...
Bad night.
My mic keeps shutting off inside Windows. (I'm in the office tonight using an old microphone that worked at home no problem). My newer headset worked ok on this machine, but I didn't try for a whole class, so I dunno.
then, using the web window in the class, one student didn't get any updates as I changed windows, and I couldn't either after it worked in the beginning.
Add to this the fact that one Kelly was 10 minutes late and Se-Ok was 90 minutes late (Se-Ok had equipment problems) and the other two weren't here at all...
Bad night.
First day teaching in English House
I started teaching today for English House, the inter-session English program at Keimyung University.
It's the first day, so hard to say. I only saw the book about 5 minutes before the first class, but already knew we weren't using it today. And met with the teachers who I share classes with at lunch -- well, the conversation teachers. The Writing Teachers are doing their own thing, mostly. We conversation teachers for Intermediate students (both levels) are using a discussion topics book.
The students seem keen enough, though of course most are a bit shy this first day. I had to talk too much. But started all my classes with silence, then asking them "why are you here?" Trying to make them talk. Sitting at the side of the class, not taking the front of the class and the lectern until all students had done their own self-introductions (about 30 or 40 minutes of classtime). 75 minute class meetings. We'll see how it goes. I hope to talk little. But they seem to want me to be active.
It's the first day, so hard to say. I only saw the book about 5 minutes before the first class, but already knew we weren't using it today. And met with the teachers who I share classes with at lunch -- well, the conversation teachers. The Writing Teachers are doing their own thing, mostly. We conversation teachers for Intermediate students (both levels) are using a discussion topics book.
The students seem keen enough, though of course most are a bit shy this first day. I had to talk too much. But started all my classes with silence, then asking them "why are you here?" Trying to make them talk. Sitting at the side of the class, not taking the front of the class and the lectern until all students had done their own self-introductions (about 30 or 40 minutes of classtime). 75 minute class meetings. We'll see how it goes. I hope to talk little. But they seem to want me to be active.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mon Dec 20
We have a new student! But Kyungsook sent an SMS that she couldn't join us tonight.
Sunmi is joining us tonight, the first night of the second week, and we didn't have class last Friday, and Sunmi won't get the textbook before Wednesday, and most of our VOD are not yet ready. So....
tomorrow I'll do the Moodle to show a realistic time schedule for assignments.
The class was good, I think, except I had to talk too much because they hadn't yet done the readings, and didn't have assignments to talk about. I talked too fast, probably.
I had a bad weekend, and a very long day, so I'm not satisfied with my performance. But I'll be a better teacher online with more experience in this system, and as the learners get comfortable, they'll talk more and I'll talk less.
I gave them the job of thinking of a teaching metaphor. Teacher as Pilot, as sculpture, or whatever. Every time I think of this, I come up with something different, but I'm never satisfied. "How to Teach" book talks about a music conductor. Not bad.
Sunmi is joining us tonight, the first night of the second week, and we didn't have class last Friday, and Sunmi won't get the textbook before Wednesday, and most of our VOD are not yet ready. So....
tomorrow I'll do the Moodle to show a realistic time schedule for assignments.
The class was good, I think, except I had to talk too much because they hadn't yet done the readings, and didn't have assignments to talk about. I talked too fast, probably.
I had a bad weekend, and a very long day, so I'm not satisfied with my performance. But I'll be a better teacher online with more experience in this system, and as the learners get comfortable, they'll talk more and I'll talk less.
I gave them the job of thinking of a teaching metaphor. Teacher as Pilot, as sculpture, or whatever. Every time I think of this, I come up with something different, but I'm never satisfied. "How to Teach" book talks about a music conductor. Not bad.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wed Dec 15 - 2nd Class Meeting
Whew! Still talking too much. (but understandable since they hadn't yet read their books or watched any VOD).
I can't see the VOD list, but apparently they can - the CPD VOD is up (#7?) and it sounds as if one student did actually see it. So need to confirm whether I will be allowed to see the VOD board... right now it says I need to do a lessons plan to see it. But I know that the other VOD are not yet available...
I need to get the moodle assignments up. Weekend will be busy! Finishing up exams tomorrow, and I have a report to finish for Daegu City by tomorrow as well.
No class Friday because of Prof Kim Bokkyu's Hwanggap. Some students thought it was mine! (I'm only 52.)
As comfort increases, I really think this could be a good class.
Catching a cold, too much time in the cold home-office today.
I can't see the VOD list, but apparently they can - the CPD VOD is up (#7?) and it sounds as if one student did actually see it. So need to confirm whether I will be allowed to see the VOD board... right now it says I need to do a lessons plan to see it. But I know that the other VOD are not yet available...
I need to get the moodle assignments up. Weekend will be busy! Finishing up exams tomorrow, and I have a report to finish for Daegu City by tomorrow as well.
No class Friday because of Prof Kim Bokkyu's Hwanggap. Some students thought it was mine! (I'm only 52.)
As comfort increases, I really think this could be a good class.
Catching a cold, too much time in the cold home-office today.
Monday, December 13, 2010
First Class Meeting
As I said during our first live class (and said during the Orientation) all of us must keep a diary or journal. You can decide which you do (watch the first VOD, for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to learn a little about the differences between a diary and a journal).
I'm going to put mine on this blog, so that you can see what I write. Yours can be secret, I won't look at it unless you invite me. You can keep it in a book instead of online if you want, you can use any online system if you choose. You should write a short entry (50 words) or as long as you want in your diary or journal after each of our class meetings.
Also, you should write in your diary or journal at least twice a week about the classes you teach. (If you don't teach classes, talk to me about this.)
We also must do "Reactionnaires" sometimes (by assignment). I assigned your first Reactionnaire for the first class. A reactionnaire is 250 or more words that talks about your 'reaction' -- your feelings, your impressions, whatever you want to "talk about". I will collect your reactionnaires after the first one. The first one is for you, so we have notes for our discussion in the second class meeting.
You can write your diary/journal in Korean if you want, but Rreactionnaires are in English. Don't have to be perfekt Englisr, spelling and grammar errors and not perfect vocabulary are ok, but I need to read them.
My Reactionnaire from after the first class.
Wow, what a great group of people! I think I'm going to like this class.
Wow, what a pain in the tech! We all need to learn the new technology.
Sigh... almost none of the VOD for the first three weeks are ready yet, and two students have not yet received the books. (I KNEW I should delay starting the class one week from Orientation Day!!!)
Of course someone would have technology problems for the virtual class... unfortunately that was Kelly. It's normal (sigh). Hope she stays positive.
I spoke a lot, maybe sometimes too fast? Three of them seemed to follow pretty well, but I'm less sure about the fourth.
It seems that students could switch the view panels (browser/whiteboard/other... I'm not sure I like that. Will have to talk to Dr. Hong about that.
My headset was uncomfortable, I gotta get a new one.
My kids did a good job of staying out of the study while I did this class. Wonder if that will continue. Ms Oh's boy spoke really good English when he popped in just before class!
I saved the video/audio for the class but was surprised to see that it didn's also save the "chat" -- I guess that makes sense, actually. So have to save the chat separately, had to go back and askf olks to send me their email again so I could open their moodle accounts. But the chat is saved in the video-- as video, you can't copy-paste, but you can see it. The video requres a special player... no problem on my Hangeul-Vista system, but I wonder about elsewhere.
Oh well, time to prepare for my other classes!
I'm going to put mine on this blog, so that you can see what I write. Yours can be secret, I won't look at it unless you invite me. You can keep it in a book instead of online if you want, you can use any online system if you choose. You should write a short entry (50 words) or as long as you want in your diary or journal after each of our class meetings.
Also, you should write in your diary or journal at least twice a week about the classes you teach. (If you don't teach classes, talk to me about this.)
We also must do "Reactionnaires" sometimes (by assignment). I assigned your first Reactionnaire for the first class. A reactionnaire is 250 or more words that talks about your 'reaction' -- your feelings, your impressions, whatever you want to "talk about". I will collect your reactionnaires after the first one. The first one is for you, so we have notes for our discussion in the second class meeting.
You can write your diary/journal in Korean if you want, but Rreactionnaires are in English. Don't have to be perfekt Englisr, spelling and grammar errors and not perfect vocabulary are ok, but I need to read them.
My Reactionnaire from after the first class.
Wow, what a great group of people! I think I'm going to like this class.
Wow, what a pain in the tech! We all need to learn the new technology.
Sigh... almost none of the VOD for the first three weeks are ready yet, and two students have not yet received the books. (I KNEW I should delay starting the class one week from Orientation Day!!!)
Of course someone would have technology problems for the virtual class... unfortunately that was Kelly. It's normal (sigh). Hope she stays positive.
I spoke a lot, maybe sometimes too fast? Three of them seemed to follow pretty well, but I'm less sure about the fourth.
It seems that students could switch the view panels (browser/whiteboard/other... I'm not sure I like that. Will have to talk to Dr. Hong about that.
My headset was uncomfortable, I gotta get a new one.
My kids did a good job of staying out of the study while I did this class. Wonder if that will continue. Ms Oh's boy spoke really good English when he popped in just before class!
I saved the video/audio for the class but was surprised to see that it didn's also save the "chat" -- I guess that makes sense, actually. So have to save the chat separately, had to go back and askf olks to send me their email again so I could open their moodle accounts. But the chat is saved in the video-- as video, you can't copy-paste, but you can see it. The video requres a special player... no problem on my Hangeul-Vista system, but I wonder about elsewhere.
Oh well, time to prepare for my other classes!
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