Managing large classes
This being my last blog entry about didactics 1, i know it should be special but i think that it's special enough with the fact that i'm doing it a day after the last exam at 10:00 pm. Well whoever reads this here it is:
Managing large classes is a big chalenge. Big in number, in effort and in planning the class. The aspects that i found more interesting about this topic were the techniques to deal with these large number of students, and perhaps the most motivating one is rotating the students in every class because, like mentioned in the video, students cannot be discriminated or divided 'cause they will stop paying attention, and by rotating students the teacher is making them understand that every student is important in the development of the class. Also, a good use of the rooms is an amazing technique to lock the eyes of students into the class and basically on the teacher. Teachers in the classes i have been always take this things into account, well, in the university, and i like it since i'm one of those students that don't pay attention, but teachers almost never pull that card to make me pay attention, and that has make me see by myself that i can totally mess around and no one will say anything... jaja just kidding. I have seen good management in the 30 or 40 students classes, although some noise and lack of attention cannot be avoided sometimes. Regarding this techniques applying for adults, i guess it is very obious that they apply, since most of the things done in the video are the ones that i just mentioned that teachers have done in the classes i have been.
To whom it may concern:
If you are so lucky to have a large group of students someday, just be prepared and get your dukes up and go for it. It might be fun, or not.
jueves, 25 de noviembre de 2010
domingo, 14 de noviembre de 2010
Internet tools
Well, the use of internet tools is now a basic every-day use since is the easiest way to get information and the most interactive way to work either in groups or individually. I like to use the internet in most of my asignments when i understand what i'm doing, and that means that when i get frustrated or angry with the tools, i simply just don't work on them. For example; the use of the blog might not put me in that position, but i find it consuming a lot of my time, and since is not that interactive because we don't get feedback out of it, it can be a little boring for some of us that don't enjoy writting so much. Anyways, I still find it useful and practical for it doesn't waste any paper or effort in handwriting, like a journal would. Another good thing about internet tools is how practical it can be. In a research assignment, the students can look for any information they need just by going through a quick browse, and looking for information in English will give them a much more wide range of vocabulary too. As I mentioned before, regarding the ones that don't have the habit of writing, this tipe of asignments can also improve those skills, and that can be the greatest reward about the usage of these tools.
Well, the use of internet tools is now a basic every-day use since is the easiest way to get information and the most interactive way to work either in groups or individually. I like to use the internet in most of my asignments when i understand what i'm doing, and that means that when i get frustrated or angry with the tools, i simply just don't work on them. For example; the use of the blog might not put me in that position, but i find it consuming a lot of my time, and since is not that interactive because we don't get feedback out of it, it can be a little boring for some of us that don't enjoy writting so much. Anyways, I still find it useful and practical for it doesn't waste any paper or effort in handwriting, like a journal would. Another good thing about internet tools is how practical it can be. In a research assignment, the students can look for any information they need just by going through a quick browse, and looking for information in English will give them a much more wide range of vocabulary too. As I mentioned before, regarding the ones that don't have the habit of writing, this tipe of asignments can also improve those skills, and that can be the greatest reward about the usage of these tools.
domingo, 7 de noviembre de 2010
Contextualized Language
Well, starting with the fact that i basically learned this language by feeling atracted by the fact of using it someday to improve myself, i believe that using this method of teaching is really useful to get the students to participate in the activities. Teachers from the time when i was in school, and even in high school, never proposed this kind of activities, or tried to make the fact of learning a new language was with a good purpose. On the other hand, teachers at the university have used this technique very often which has helped me personally to get interested in the mayority of topics. So i guess that when the students decide what is interesting and what is not, there´s a better possibility for them to learn more, and this basically means that this can, and should be applied in all EFL classrooms, no matter what kind of level, or age we are teaching. It might take some effort to include this tipe of activities, but i can assure that this will work as a charm.
Well, starting with the fact that i basically learned this language by feeling atracted by the fact of using it someday to improve myself, i believe that using this method of teaching is really useful to get the students to participate in the activities. Teachers from the time when i was in school, and even in high school, never proposed this kind of activities, or tried to make the fact of learning a new language was with a good purpose. On the other hand, teachers at the university have used this technique very often which has helped me personally to get interested in the mayority of topics. So i guess that when the students decide what is interesting and what is not, there´s a better possibility for them to learn more, and this basically means that this can, and should be applied in all EFL classrooms, no matter what kind of level, or age we are teaching. It might take some effort to include this tipe of activities, but i can assure that this will work as a charm.
lunes, 4 de octubre de 2010
The teacher as a creator of a pleasant enviroment.
As always i'll start by saying what i think by saying that i believe that the class vibe goes around the teacher's vibe, and an enthusiastic teacher is the key to the class success. Of course, there are other techniques because not all teachers look enthusiastic and they are exelent at teaching, but to teach ESL is totaly different and demands a lot of energy, and even more teaching children. Well, but going back to whether or not being enthusiastic; I remember that i used to have a teacher that never looked enthusiastic, but he's classes were so memorable because we were the one excited to give homework, and to do every excercise because he gave good rewards and made us see knowledge as the best reward. Again, want to say that enthusiasm is so important to an English teacher because the students have to feel the same way when it comes to do activities in the classroom, since the teacher is going to be sometimes doing the activities along with them. Now, there is another very good tool to make a good enviroment and that is: Creativity. Sometimes, and depending on what the teacher comes up with, creativity can help the teacher to work less, or to do a much less physical effort. In conclusion, a smile and a little effort on planning an interactive class can make us as teachers, and the students, go through a whole class without even noticing.
As always i'll start by saying what i think by saying that i believe that the class vibe goes around the teacher's vibe, and an enthusiastic teacher is the key to the class success. Of course, there are other techniques because not all teachers look enthusiastic and they are exelent at teaching, but to teach ESL is totaly different and demands a lot of energy, and even more teaching children. Well, but going back to whether or not being enthusiastic; I remember that i used to have a teacher that never looked enthusiastic, but he's classes were so memorable because we were the one excited to give homework, and to do every excercise because he gave good rewards and made us see knowledge as the best reward. Again, want to say that enthusiasm is so important to an English teacher because the students have to feel the same way when it comes to do activities in the classroom, since the teacher is going to be sometimes doing the activities along with them. Now, there is another very good tool to make a good enviroment and that is: Creativity. Sometimes, and depending on what the teacher comes up with, creativity can help the teacher to work less, or to do a much less physical effort. In conclusion, a smile and a little effort on planning an interactive class can make us as teachers, and the students, go through a whole class without even noticing.
martes, 14 de septiembre de 2010
PROFICIENCY LEVELS
I think that my favorite level to teach would be intermediate students because they are not going to feel lost with what i'm teaching them (as beginners would) and they will also need to be guided to a better understanding of EFL. That kind of student already has enough knowledge to be curious about learning more, and in my experience, when you realize that you know something enough to understand it, you try to upgrade your knowledge to a different level. The teacher in this case, is the one responsable to make the students go to the advanced level and this means being responsable of preparing the students well enough to face the challenges in advanced learning.
Well, i believe that i'm still an intermediate student, no matter what the university, and the course we are in say, i think this about myself because if i trust too much that i know too much, i'll stop being interested in becoming a better speaker, writter or listener of the language.
So people let's be the best intermediate learners.
I think that my favorite level to teach would be intermediate students because they are not going to feel lost with what i'm teaching them (as beginners would) and they will also need to be guided to a better understanding of EFL. That kind of student already has enough knowledge to be curious about learning more, and in my experience, when you realize that you know something enough to understand it, you try to upgrade your knowledge to a different level. The teacher in this case, is the one responsable to make the students go to the advanced level and this means being responsable of preparing the students well enough to face the challenges in advanced learning.
Well, i believe that i'm still an intermediate student, no matter what the university, and the course we are in say, i think this about myself because if i trust too much that i know too much, i'll stop being interested in becoming a better speaker, writter or listener of the language.
So people let's be the best intermediate learners.
viernes, 10 de septiembre de 2010
Teaching accross age levels: children
For me every age level is difficult to teach giving that they all need to be treated differently like we spoke in class, but i preffer to teach children because i already had the experience with children and teenagers, and children are very intuitive, and if you are enthusiastic in the class, they are going to be as well, not as in the case with teens that don't care too much for the enthusiasm, but for how "cool" is the class.
Teaching children involves using all the aids possible to estimulate their senses; because, appart from getting them more interested in the topic, this will help them show their knowledge at home and anywhere outside the classroom, repeting the word or phrase they learned if they see the image, hear the sound, or feel what was thought in the classroom.
Teaching this youngsters might seem like an easy task because the topics to teach are: the colors, the animals, fruits and vegetables, etc. But is actually more complicated than that as we know. There will be children that will be more problematic than a teenager can be, or there will be situations where a child might cry, be traumatized, or get hurt physically and all those things make this age a rough path to go through. I know all this sounds really negative, but i'm not trying to scare you, i'm just pointing out things that everyone should be aware of.
Personaly, i love having children around. They bring life to the daily job of teaching, and is because they are so unpredictible, all they want to do is have fun, and this is something that us as teachers can use to make them learn; to make them think that all they are doing is having fun, when they are learning new things. Although, it is not as simple as it sounds, since this is all about creativity; but i know that if you really enjoy to move around, jump, play and be active, you will enjoy teaching little kids.
For me every age level is difficult to teach giving that they all need to be treated differently like we spoke in class, but i preffer to teach children because i already had the experience with children and teenagers, and children are very intuitive, and if you are enthusiastic in the class, they are going to be as well, not as in the case with teens that don't care too much for the enthusiasm, but for how "cool" is the class.
Teaching children involves using all the aids possible to estimulate their senses; because, appart from getting them more interested in the topic, this will help them show their knowledge at home and anywhere outside the classroom, repeting the word or phrase they learned if they see the image, hear the sound, or feel what was thought in the classroom.
Teaching this youngsters might seem like an easy task because the topics to teach are: the colors, the animals, fruits and vegetables, etc. But is actually more complicated than that as we know. There will be children that will be more problematic than a teenager can be, or there will be situations where a child might cry, be traumatized, or get hurt physically and all those things make this age a rough path to go through. I know all this sounds really negative, but i'm not trying to scare you, i'm just pointing out things that everyone should be aware of.
Personaly, i love having children around. They bring life to the daily job of teaching, and is because they are so unpredictible, all they want to do is have fun, and this is something that us as teachers can use to make them learn; to make them think that all they are doing is having fun, when they are learning new things. Although, it is not as simple as it sounds, since this is all about creativity; but i know that if you really enjoy to move around, jump, play and be active, you will enjoy teaching little kids.
martes, 31 de agosto de 2010
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