Winter break and others

Hi there!!

How are you? I hope you are great and enjoying the much deserved Winter Break, despite the rainy weather!

This is just a reminder:

You should read chapter 18, it is about Task Based Language Teaching, and you should make a chart summarizing the most important aspects: theory of language, theory of language learning, all the aspects of design and procedure. It is not to hand in but to share in class.

Also, for those of you who need to sit for the make up, remember it will be on August 24th.

Well, that's all for now... I let you continue resting!! :-)

Reminder!!

Hello!!

Please remember that tomorrow I will be absent. So, I will see you on June 8th.

IMPORTANT!!!

Hi there!!

Since you have let me know that you'd prefer the term test to be on June 16th (rather than on June 23rd), I have made a few adjustments. And, I need you to print (from this blog, check the pages on top) the questionnaire on CLT, chapter. We'll be using it on Friday.

Thanks!! See you on Friday!

Two more presentations

Hi there!!

Since I last wrote on the blog we've had two more classes and two more presentations. Before I briefly comment on them, let me remind you of the importance of reading the material carefully. Even if you have a group of classmates explain the topic to you, you must read the material and draw your own conclusions. Attending classes is also very important... those of you who witness your classmates' presentations (and often participate in them) have the chance to take in concepts far more effectively... unfortunately, there are some people who are missing most of the presentations...

The presentation on Tools, techniques and activities, delivered by Celeste, Evelyn, Eugenia, Rocío, Cecilia T. and Belén F., was very useful and entertaining. They prepared lovely slides with great effects with Powerpoint, and they organized themselves clearly and effectively around these slides. It was fun and memorable, which is highly desirable in a presentation (for example the Finding Nemo video and the dictation activities). There were several language and pronunciation mistakes, which we have already discussed with the members of the group. All in all, they did very well. Congrats!!!

And yesterday we had the presentation on Testing, delivered by Anabela, Lucía, Eva, Florencia,Valeria and Carina. The first thing I want to highlight is the excellent work this group did processesing and organizing the information from the three different texts they had... For all those classmates who were there yesterday, the presentation was of great help to process and study contents related to testing and assessing. Also, they included very original devices, such as a home made video on the topic The only weakness was that they were short of time. Still there were three classmates who anticipated my request and handed me their feedback. I think this feedback is straight to the point, so here it is: (thanks and well done Vanina, Majo and Daiana)

• excellent organization
• clear explanations with easy examples
• entertaining games; different kinds of games; original
• useful summaries to study
• nice pictures
• members of the group helped each otehr; cooperative, controlled the time
• much information summarized in a useful way.

So, girls... Congratulations!!

Next class we'll have a presentation on Educational Technology (I'm really looking forward to it... I'm sure we'll all learn a lot!).

Then, on November 6th, we'll have the Second Term Test. On November 13th another presentation on Educational Technology and on November 20th our last class (feedback, assessment, self assessment, etc, and make up if necessary).

So, have a wonderful weekend and... a few words of encouragement now we are so tired but also so near the end!!

Today... focus on language!!

Hello, hello!!

Today we had another presentation!! Majo, Daiana, Magalí, Vanina and Patricia delivered a class on Focusing on Language. They explained very important topics to consider like: correcting mistakes, testing, using L1, using cuisenaire rods, using dictionaries, etc.

The presentation was clear and dynamic. I'll give you detailed feedback next class! And please remember that all the students who attended the class are supposed to write some feedback for the girls (either send it to me by mail or hand it in next class).

Talking about next class, remember that you must read the material of the next presentation on Tools, Techniques and Activities.

Somthing very important I want to highlight is that you should attend classes and be on time. I've noticed that whenever there is a presentation a lot of people are absent. On the one hand, it is not fair on the presenters. On the other hand, you are missing very interesting and useful experiences... And please be on time because interrruptions do bother (now with the presentations more than ever).

Well... we'll meet again in two weeks.... let me wish you a...

Last class of June

Hi there!!

Today we had an unusual class: shorter, with people coming and going and your attention on what was to come... Still, I feel we managed to have a very profitable class!!

As we have said, and as every teacher knows, you may arrive at a class with a plan in mind only to realize that the conditions are not given to follow your plan.... Under those circumstances some teachers may decide to stick to their plan all the same... However, I believe that flexibility and adaptability are two essential conditions to be a good teacher. Also, I believe that it is crucially important to be coherent: one's actions should be in agreement with one's words...

So, today, after providing feedback on the results of the term test, we focused on what was in your minds. Fortunatelly for all of us, the topics were closely related to our subject, so we "killed two birds with a stone". You revised for your test and we started dealing with the Natural Approach. I hope you found it useful!!

Bear in mind that we are not having classes next Friday (July 3rd) but we are having classes on the following Friday (July 10th). For that day remember a) to bring your student's cards for me to sign, and b) to read the chapter on the Natural Approach and answer the questionnaire about it.

Also, those of you who need to sit for the make up test, remember it will be on July 17th.

Well, all that remains for me to say is...

Class before the term test

Hi there!!

Yesterday we had our last class before the term test... so we did a quick revision. We also dealt with chapter 14, on CLT.

Remember that for next class you have to study all the chapters we have discussed so far.

Here I leave you a link of a useful article on study strategies: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/learn-your-lesson-using-effective-study-strategies/?_r=0

Fuente: https://stricklit2.wikispaces.com/Study+Tools

Ok... have a great weekend and study hard!!

Reminder

Hello, hello!!

Remember to send the link to your quiz... most people have sent it (though you have not sent me the code to embed it in the blog...). Some people have not sent it yet...

You have to follow the link to your classmates' quizzes and do them! Suggestions and corrections are welcome.

Also, remember we'll be playing a game in class, based on the background of Audiolingualism. And you also have to read the short chapter on Whole Language...

See you later!!

More about audiolingualism

Hi there!!

On Friday we'll meet again, and we will discuss Audiolingualism. In this blog, there is plenty of material on this method. Check on your right, in the cloud of topics, click on "audiolingualism", and it will take you directly to previous entries on the topic...

And don't forget to bring materials to make posters!!

See you!!

Welcome!!

Hello everyone!!

Today we've had our first class, and we started getting to know one another. This is very important in order to create a positive atmosphere, which is one of the necessary requirements for any learning to take place, don't you think?

So, I hope you enjoyed the first class as much as I did... all of you...

Verónica, Magalí, Eugenia, Belén G., Belén F., Ariel, Evelyn, Laura, Eliana C., Anabela, Patricia, Yamila (Malén), Sandra, Vivian, Yanina, Macarena, Paula, Daiana, Celeste, Cecilia D., Cecilia T., Vanina, Julieta, Jazmín, Elena, Eliana F., Bárbara, Majo, Agustín, Natasha, Valeria, Rocío and Eva Luna....

Remember to get the material and to read chapter 1 (A History of Language Teaching). Also, please, remember to sit in the same places next time... it will help me a lot to learn your names in a more definite way!

Next class

Hi everyone!

The girls who are going to deliver the presentation on educational technology next Friday would like you to take a pendrive to class in case you are interested in keeping a copy of the presentation.

See you!!

Next stop.... 2nd term test

Hi everyone!

Last Friday we had the end of a presentation (the one on tools, activities and techniques) ad the presentation on Testing, which was very clear indeed.

Remember next Friday we'll have the Second Term Test: the topics included are:

• Syllabus Design
• Planning Lessons
• Classroom Management
• Focus on Language and
• Testing

So, study hard!

Quiz, class and reminder

Hi there!!

First of all, let me share the link to the quiz the first group prepared to help you go through the topic they presented. I recommend that you do it. Quiz on classroom management.

Second, let me remind you that in two weeks we'll be having the term test, so I suggest you start studying (if yo haven't started yet!). The topics included are all covered in the second part of the year except for the Natural Approach and TBLT.

Third, today we had two more presentations: one on Focus on Language and one (to be completed next Friday) on Tools, techniques and activities. Make sure you read the material on these topics and ask if you have any doubts.

Finally....

Presentations are on!!

Hi there!!

On Friday we had the first presentation. It was on Classroom Management.... one of the "hot" topics of our subject. Many important points were made; for example, what is included within the term "classroom management", what the different roles a teacher can fulfill are, the good and effective use of the board, etc.

Next Friday there are no classes,so on the following Friday we'll have two presentations (45 minutes long each) The first on Focus on Language and the second on Tools, techniques and activities, so please read the material on these topics.

See you in two weeks!! And remember to contact me if you have any doubts....

About the term test

Hi everyone!

Last Friday a lot of students were absent... remember you have to study for the term test we have on Friday. All the material we have discussed in class will be included in the test. The chapters on Natural Approach and TBLT will NOT be included.

Study hard and see you in three days!

Reminder

Hello everyone!!

Since last Friday there were no classes, I wanted to remind you that in two weeks we'll be having the First Term Test. So, it would be a good idea to start studying.... thus, on Friday you can ask me any questions you have...

Our second class

Hello everyone!

We've already had our second class. We worked on the chapter "History of Language Teaching". We divided the class into four groups and each group prepared a poster to share. The result was very interesting: four different perspectives on the same topic, each highlighting different aspects of the material read. Well done!

For next class you have to read chapter 2 on the nature of approaches and methods. You also have to work on the questionnaire that I will shortly upload in the "questionnaire" page of this blog. What's more, it would be ideal if you could complement your preparation for next class with some reading on the same topic from different sources: internet is a very valuable resource... let's profit from it!

Happy Easter and keep studying!

Hello everyone!

Remember that next Friday we'll be discussing chapter one, on the History of Language Teaching, and the questionnaire on it. If you were absent last class, you have a copy of the questionnaire in one of the upper lids.

Also, and not less important, have an excellent long weekend and very Happy Easter!!