Friday class

Hello there!!!!

On Friday we had a new class: the first presentation. The topic was Classroom Management, and the people in charge were Verónica, Paula and Macarena.

They delivered a very good presentation.... Congratulations, girls!!!

I already gave them some feedback... and now, I will transcribe some of the comments that the rest of the class wrote for them:

Positive Aspects:

• great organization
• useful ideas
• clear and precise explanations
• enjoyable videos
• interesting activities
• excellent ending (Minions video)
• straight to the point presenters
• additional material
• good interaciton among the members of the group
• tidy slides and overall presentation
• planned in detail
• creative

Aspects to Improve

• more activities would have been useful
• timing (they were in a hurry at the end)
• TTT (again: more activities should have been implemented)
• participation should be more even among the different members of the group
• balance of slides: some were full of words and others only had pictures
• some ideas were not clearly explained

What I've just shared is a summary of your comments.... I agree with most of them, but not with all... Still, most of you succeeded in providing good, clear and enriching feedback (which, by the way, is one of the topics for the next presentation). Bear in mind all the suggestions for the presentations coming next!!

Remember for next class you have to read the material on Focusing on Language...

Some great assignments ready to share

Hi my dear students!!

I've been correcting your assignments on The Natural Approach and TBLT. Some groups did really wonderful work!!! Others will have to work a little harder...

Here I want to share the links to some documents that are ready and awesome!!!

TBLT excellent account!!!

The Natural Approach Great presentation!!!

Chart with both approaches

Another group's chart

Summary

Another summmary

Have a look at the work of the other groups... it will be an enriching experience!!

Intense class

Hello, hello!!

Today we had a new class. We spent the first part of the class organizing the presentations you have to deliver in the second part of the year.

Here I include some information

1. 25/9  Classroom Management Verónica, Vivian, Paula and Macarena
2. 2/10 Focusing on Language Magalí, Vanina, Daiana, Majo and Patricia
3. 9/10 Tools, techniques and activities Rocío, Cecilia T., Eugenia, Belén F., Evelyn and Celeste
4. 16/10 Testing Lucía, Anabella, Carina, Florencia, Eva and Valeria
5. 23/10  (and probably also 6/11)Educational Technology Jazmín, Bárbara, Ariel, Belén, Natasha and Agustín 
6. and  Cecilia D., Marcela, Julieta and Eliana

Remember some tips to bear in mind:

• The presentation should be approximately 1 hour long.
• You must use visual aids, preferably technological (presentation with powerpoint or some other application).
• Bear in mind that we have no internet connection, so if you want to share a video or anything else, you should have it in your computer. Also, if you want to share a video, which would be great, it shouldn't be too long.
• All the members of the group should have equal participation.
• You have to use the material from the course, but you don't have to explain everything (your classmates also have to read the material). Focus on the most important concepts.
• You must include at least one activity for the audience to do.
• It must be interesting ans appealing for the audience. (esp since we meet on Friday evenings!!)
• You can complement the material from the course with other sources.
• During the presentation, you are not supposed to read from the slides. The slides are there to get the attention of the audience and to help you remember key words and concepts. But you must face the audience and speak spontaneously.
• Follow the 7X7 rule: each slide should not have more than seven lines or more than seven words per line.
• I strongly recommend that you read the material soon, so you can organize in groups better. DO NOT separate the chapter among the members of the group before you read the material.

We are meeting again on Friday 18th. (Next week I'm in an examination board and the following it's Teacher's Day). For next class you have to finish the questionnaire on Planning Lessons and Courses. (not to hand in).

Well, my dear students... now I let you relax and start your weekend!!

Back to classes!

Hi everyone!!

              Today we met again after five weeks!! In class we worked on Syllabus Design and the Diseño Curricular. You worked in groups on a questionnaire and then, all together, we corrected the first five questions.

             For next class you have to:

• finish the questionnaire on Syllabus Design (not to hand in, but to discuss in class)
• read the notes on Planning lessons and courses
• print from the blog the questionnaire on Planning lessons and courses
• finish and print to hand in the assignment on Natural Approach and Task Based Language Teaching
• get in groups of 5 or 6 (there must be a total of 5 groups)

               Also, bear in mind that on Friday 4th September we'll not have classes since that day there will be some examination boards. Moreover, we've already set the date for the second term test: October 30th.

      Next class, apart from dealing with the material mentioned above, we'll organize the group presentations you have to deliver (that's what the groups are for). We'll divide topics, set aside likely dates and I'll give you some guidelines.

        Now I leave you to start your weekends and rest!!

Hw and holidays!!!

Hi everyone!!

Last Friday we finally finished our loooong (and, I hope, very interesting)  first unit. We discussed the last of the approaches we are going to study this year: TBLT.

First, we did a  grouping activity. Then you worked in groups making up True/False statements about different sections of the chapter. Finally, we shared the statements and highlighted key ideas of TBLT.

For the second class after the holidays you have to finish a summary of chapters 15 and 18. You can do this in whatever format you want (text, chart, slide presentation, etc). You have to do it in groups of not more than six students and you have to use Google Drive documents and share it with me...

If you have any doubts... just leave a comment below!!

July 10th

Hi everyone!!

Today we had an interesting class!! We discussed The Natural Approach, and different issues came up (some of you shared experiences, we pondered on deep questionings, such as what the language of thought is).

For next Friday remember:

• we have the make up test
• you have to read the chapter on TBLT (ch18)
• you have to get organised into groups of up to six students
• those of you who do not have a gmail account should create one

Well, that's all folks!!

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!!

And... another one!

4th Quiz