another night of tech excitement. Angela was more than 20 minutes late because of computer headaches, and moodle was very slow (but working). The YOUSENDIT file I sent didn't get to Se-ok but did to Angela and Kelly, and I got the confirmation in "sending" email account but it didn't arrive in the email I use for this course (yahoo).
But in terms of not spending too much time in the book, it was good. We talked more "about the subject" and less "about the book." Which was good.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
English House Jan 10 - Stress Speaking
For the three English classes I used a Stress Game. The stress was a need to speak without errors: grammatical, vocabulary, or pronunciation.
Today's topic was "Terrorism" (from the book)
All students keep one hand on the table, if an error, a small "slap" (for shame, not for pain).
This did not work the first time (high-intermediate class, 9:30am). Slightly better second class (low-intermediate, 10:55am). Better still third class, but I think this was a question of student personalities.
The idea is good, I think, but need to find another way. or something...
I'm ashamed to have been 3 minutes late for my morning class (third time in three weeks) and 5 minutes late for my after lunch class (first time).
Today's topic was "Terrorism" (from the book)
All students keep one hand on the table, if an error, a small "slap" (for shame, not for pain).
This did not work the first time (high-intermediate class, 9:30am). Slightly better second class (low-intermediate, 10:55am). Better still third class, but I think this was a question of student personalities.
The idea is good, I think, but need to find another way. or something...
I'm ashamed to have been 3 minutes late for my morning class (third time in three weeks) and 5 minutes late for my after lunch class (first time).
Friday, January 7, 2011
Jan 7 online
I knew that Angela would be late on Fridays, but because of computer problems, she was 30 minutes late rather than 10, and Kelly never showed up (stuck in traffic) and Kyungsook may have given up the class. So the plan for sharing comments on lesson plans failed.
One read only half of Unit 6, the other none at all, so again I had to review the unit rather than have them talk about it.
I prepared a 'model" lesson plan that worked faily well.
No VODs available for next week. This is becoming a real headache.
One read only half of Unit 6, the other none at all, so again I had to review the unit rather than have them talk about it.
I prepared a 'model" lesson plan that worked faily well.
No VODs available for next week. This is becoming a real headache.
English House Jan 7
Classes were less successful today. I talked too much (lecture) about The Future of Asia. I wanted students to be "depressed" as a brain stressor for talking time, but could/should have been more efficient with time. Then, some groups avoided the issue by spending time talking about N/S Korea unification and impacts than how Korea was competing with the rest of Asia and the world.
I need to think more carefullly about how I set up the activities.
I need to think more carefullly about how I set up the activities.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
English House Jan 5
A good day. We did a "free" kind of discussion today on the assigned topic (pyramids) -- that is, after a 15 minute ranging talk on various things by me, including introducing the ideas
After that I talked about why we didn't do "mental body-building" (hard thinking while talking) in the class today: I wasn't copying the other conversation teacher with a focus on fluency, but instead was teaching the "reward" system of study.
A. Study hard, then take a break
(50 minutes, then have a Coke for 10 min, 50 minutes then a 20-min break, write a postcard or something, then 50 minutes and call it a day, my law school system -- if not studying well, no reward?)
(study a number of days, then do a "fun thing" as study, example, go see an English movie with friends, of course you can use the Korean subtitles, but TRY to listen in English)
B. Study different things, different ways
(Do grammar, then do vocab, then do listening, or whatever, not just the same thing every day)
C. Study regularly, make it a habit, not something to be avoided
(if ugly, don't do it til finals, and then you won't remember)
(assume that there is something useful in the class, and you want to remember it for the future, so should take some time to learn it)
(if friends going drinking, don't be early, finish some studying first, you won't miss much since they are still trying to figure out where to go! ... study til 10, drinking becomes a reward)
Students seemed receptive to this idea.
- history = his story (the winners write the history, losers may never get the chance)
- provocative = designed to create controversy or at least mental fireworks
After that I talked about why we didn't do "mental body-building" (hard thinking while talking) in the class today: I wasn't copying the other conversation teacher with a focus on fluency, but instead was teaching the "reward" system of study.
A. Study hard, then take a break
(50 minutes, then have a Coke for 10 min, 50 minutes then a 20-min break, write a postcard or something, then 50 minutes and call it a day, my law school system -- if not studying well, no reward?)
(study a number of days, then do a "fun thing" as study, example, go see an English movie with friends, of course you can use the Korean subtitles, but TRY to listen in English)
B. Study different things, different ways
(Do grammar, then do vocab, then do listening, or whatever, not just the same thing every day)
C. Study regularly, make it a habit, not something to be avoided
(if ugly, don't do it til finals, and then you won't remember)
(assume that there is something useful in the class, and you want to remember it for the future, so should take some time to learn it)
(if friends going drinking, don't be early, finish some studying first, you won't miss much since they are still trying to figure out where to go! ... study til 10, drinking becomes a reward)
Students seemed receptive to this idea.
Wed Jan 5 online
well, a whole bunch of tech headaches today, but nothing that interfered with the class. I couldn't access the moodle this morning (from the train) though it worked ok for me later in the day, just slow... but Se Ok couldn't upload her assignment. She sent it to my email, I uploaded for her. But then at end of class, I couldn't get the moodle site to open. I also found my computer slow even on its own tasks, rebooted twice today, so made a point of not uploading any files in class just to make sure I didn't infect anyone else.
class went well enough, although Kyungsook was not there. All three got their lesson plans uploaded to the group chat, and everyone did their first observation task. But they got bogged down in Harmer unit 5 - the Language section. It's really deep, and no fun, "parts of speech" and all that.
we started just about on time, I was 5 minutes late because of rebooting but the three students were waiting. We finished slightly early because of a short break and we were "done" - tired and completed my goals for the evening.
class went well enough, although Kyungsook was not there. All three got their lesson plans uploaded to the group chat, and everyone did their first observation task. But they got bogged down in Harmer unit 5 - the Language section. It's really deep, and no fun, "parts of speech" and all that.
we started just about on time, I was 5 minutes late because of rebooting but the three students were waiting. We finished slightly early because of a short break and we were "done" - tired and completed my goals for the evening.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Jan 3 2011 - getting better day by day
No major tech hiccups today! :-) Not that I did everything as I wanted, but I found some tools (such as the "boardroom display of a classroom") and didn't get frustrated. but I didn't try web -- I could see that Angela had gone to moodle, though it showed my log-in page.
Kyungsook was back,
she said she had been busy during the Christmas/New Years period. She came in 45 minutes lates, and Kelly after that. Angela pointed out that on Fridays she will consistently be about 15 minutes late from our 9pm start since her kids come home from swimming lessons each of our classnights at 9:10.
Tonight I gave a priority list for this week's assignments, based on what needs to be done to make our classtime work --
1. put up their draft lesson plans Tuesday night (so classmates can provide input by Friday)
2. do the week's readings
4. consider classmate's lesson plans (even if they can't upload their responses, at least be ready to talk in Friday's class)
5. watch methods video (quiz at the weekend)
-- other videos
Kyungsook was back,
she said she had been busy during the Christmas/New Years period. She came in 45 minutes lates, and Kelly after that. Angela pointed out that on Fridays she will consistently be about 15 minutes late from our 9pm start since her kids come home from swimming lessons each of our classnights at 9:10.
Tonight I gave a priority list for this week's assignments, based on what needs to be done to make our classtime work --
1. put up their draft lesson plans Tuesday night (so classmates can provide input by Friday)
2. do the week's readings
4. consider classmate's lesson plans (even if they can't upload their responses, at least be ready to talk in Friday's class)
5. watch methods video (quiz at the weekend)
-- other videos
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