Review of Methods and Approaches

Hi there!!

How are you?

First of all, a brief summary of what last class was about. We dealt mainly with a revision of methods you studied on previous years. We also talked about the blog you have to create and about preferneces for how to work in class.

For next class you have to read the chapter by Cook on Second Language Learning and Teaching Styles. You also have to finish the chart with weaknesses and strengths of different methods, to discuss in class (not to hand in). Finally, you have to create your blog. Here I leave you a tutorial to complement what Matías explained to you on Thursday:

Whatever doubts you may have, we'll devote some class time to clearing them next Thursday. So don't worry!

2nd class

Hello, hello!!

How are you, my dear? I hope you are awesome!!

Last Thursday, apart from singing Happy Birthday to Hernán (I'm still not sure if he owes us a cake or we owe him...haha!), we discussed the concept of Language. It took longer than planned, but I think it was worth it because different concepts, ideas and doubts came up that deserved being attended to.

We worked partly in groups and partly with the class as a whole... I haven't asked you yet...what do you prefer? Individual work? Pair work? Group work? Class work? (please leave your comments below)

For homework you have to read the chapter by Yule on The Properties of Language and the syllabus, and you have to check Matías´ blog and the blog from my list The Wizarding World of English. In that way you can start thinking about what kind of space your blog will be...

4th year 2018

Hi there!!

Welcome to this new space we will be sharing for the next eight months!!!

Last Thursday we had our first class, during which we discussed some general aspects of the subject and we spent some time getting to know one another. I really enjoyed getting to know a little about you... you certainly seem to be a very funny and generous group!!! :-)

Please try to get the material from Milgraff for next week. The only thing missing there are five chapters on CLIL form the book "Uncovering CLIL" (chapters 1 to 5), which Ms Dominguez told me she would be giving you....

Well... I'm really looking forward to sharing this year with you!!

So...that's it!

Hi my dearest students!!!

On Thursday we had our last class...for some of you it was THE last class... I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

I just want to tell you that I have really enjoyed our year together....it has been a difficult year for me, as regards my private life, and it is really amazing that I got to enjoy Thursday evenings so much. So...Thanks!!!

And I want to wish you the very best in the next stage you are about to start...classes free!!!

The end is near....

Hi there!!!!

Just a line to remind you that you have until next Tuesday to finish the presentation on How to Teach Writing.... So far only two groups have shared their Googledocs with me...

Come on!! One last effort!!

Last but not least

More feedback

Here we have more!!


Feedback

and

Feedback

Feedback

Feedback

Hi mates we have read your short story “Groomed” and now we are going to provide

feedback on it. We are going to use the model of the ‘traffic light’.  We really liked the story, we are just going to comment on the aspects that we enjoyed more and those which we consider  can be improved.      

                                                      

Positive aspects:

• Catchy cover, good selection of imagery.
• Good use of repetition at the beginning of the first paragraph.
• We liked the way you presented the characters, you developed them gradually through the first page.
• Effective use of dialogues.
• Real to life theme.!! It is great how you could create a short story based on one of the most important and problematic topics of our society.
• MORAL: At the end of the story, you presented and transmitted a specific message to the reader… When we finished reading “Groomed”, we could appreciate that you wanted to show the reader how dangerous/ beneficial technology can be in our society. You left a clear ending/message in the last paragraph of the short story.        

Suggestions:

• The selection of pictures (except the first one) was a bit flat. Some of them did not reflect the mood of the story.
• Some adjectives were repeated several times. For example, the adjective ‘handsome’, maybe next time you can use synonyms to refer to the same word.
• Little use of visual, auditory and kinesthetic images. We expected to have a more detailed description of the place where she was kept and the way in which she was kidnaped.  
• A twist ending can give the reader a jolt. We were expecting something to happen in the end other than something “happy” but it was not the case. In a sense it was a bit predictable.

To bear in mind

• I would have liked to have a little more action towards the end.
• When she writes to this fictitious boy where she will meet him, it reads “12:30 am” but you can tell it’s really 12:30 pm.
• Also, Jane tells her mother she is going to be late because she will do some homework with a friend, but then when Summer asks Carol if her daughter is supposed to be home, Carol says that she is. That is a bit incoherent.

The story is overall well written, though a little flat. The action rises in a real pace but almost as soon as it hits the turning point it goes down again for the purpose of the moral.

The characters are very relatable and so is the scenario, which makes the story interesting from the point of view of its plausibility: this is something which could happen to any of us, and that makes us feel uneasy, which is a good characteristic to have in a short story. We also found it as a resource any teacher of english could use for a themed lesson since it is easy to read. Finally, although it was written collaboratively by four people with different tastes, you can hardly tell since the story maintains a general structure from beginning to end.

Well done!!!

Play...feedback and more!

Hi!!

How are you?? Just starting the weekend?? Way to go!!

Yesterday we did not have classes....because we had the fairy tale festival. In fact, many of you participated in the performance of Hamlet.... Congrats!! It was really good!!!

I have already received the feedback of one of the groups... I'm sure I'll receive the others during the weekend... I'll have a look and then we'll share in the blog.

I'll also be reading your blogs these days, since I've noticed many of you have posted....

Finally, next week we have a new workshop.... are you ready??

And remember you have to start with the presentations on "How to teach writing", based on your reading, and on your experiences as teachers, and as students and also reflecting on this experience of the assessment project. Do it in a Google doc and remember to share it with me.

Well, that's all for now....

Hi!!!

How are you??

Last Thursday we had another workshop... this time on Teaching Reading.... it was excellent!!! It was entertaining, original, enriching.... congratulations!!!!

This week you have to work on the feedback of one of the short stories, as part of the assessment project. I know you are tired... but there is so little left.... you can do it!!!

Remember to contact me if you have any doubts!!!