Second presentation and other issues - IMPORTANT

Hi there!!

Today we had our second presentation. Eugenia, Florencia and Nadia presented "Teaching receptive skills; teaching listening and reading", which is a very interesting and important topic. Please remember to send me your feedback for the girls by mail.

Other news: I'll most likely be absent on Thursday 13th, which makes our next class the last class before the term test. Here are the topics that will be included:

• Learning styles
• Personality factors
• Mistakes and feedback
• Teaching strategies
• Teaching receptive skills, teaching listening and reading
• Teaching writing

Also, the dates of the remaining presentations would be:

6-10 (no changes here)	Teaching productive skills; Teaching writing	Mauro Héctor
27-10	Teaching speaking and Teaching pronunciation	Mercedes Paula Johana
10-11	Teaching vocabulary	Verónica Claudia Cintia M. Jéssica

Well, let me know if you have any doubts!

Planning lessons

Hello!!

Yesterday we had our first spring class. We were supposed to have a presentation, but as it often happens in teaching (and not just in teaching) unexpected things came up...

So, we had a class on planning lessons and sequences of lessons. It was great to see that you know many things about it!! Still, I hope that you found yestersay's class enriching!

Next week we do have a presentation (God willing) on Teaching receptive skills (Cook chapter 7 and Ur chapters 8 and 10).

Also, please remember to send me your feedback on the presentation we had last class.... it is important that you do!!

Here I share with you the info on "Coping with difficult people" that we used as a grouping activity yesterday:

1.       The Sherman Tanks                        G. They are abusive, abrupt, intimidating,   

                       arrogant and impatient

2.       The Complainers                           F. These people grumble all the time but

   never try to do anything to solve the problems they complain about. They find fault with everything and always imply that “someone” is responsible.

3.       The Clams                                    D. They are silent and unresponsive. Just when you

need  an answer you get a few words, or just one  word – or a grant.

4.       The Super- Agreeables                 A. They always say nice things to your face even if

they do something different behind your back.  They are difficult people because they make you believe they agree with you even when they don’t. They need to be popular all the time.

5.       The Balloons                                C. They are phonies. They speak with great

Authority on subjects about which they know nothing.

6.       The Negativists                             E. They are always pessimistic about everything.

They are convinced that failure is inevitable and often manage to persuade those around them that this is true.

7.       The Indecisives                            B. These people do not just delay the decision

making process but avoid it altogether.

Finally, I know you are tired (we are already in the last days of September!!) but...

Presentation and feedback

Hi there!!

The girls that delivered their presentation on Teaching Strategies are very generous and are sharing their presentation with us.... Thanks!!!

By the way, Marina, Cintia, Victoria and Jimena: I have shared a Google presentation with you.... please check it!!!

First presentation: teaching strategies

Hi everyone!

Yesterday we had our first group presentation. Marina, Cintia M., Victoria and Jimena presented "Teaching strategies" (both direct and indirect). They thoroughly went through all the strategies that Rebecca Oxford discusses in her book. They explained and exemplified.

Remember it is advisable to read the material on which your classmates are going to deliver a presentation. That way you can both participate and clear your doubts. (in this blog you have a chart with topics and dates)

Also remember that I need you to write some feedback on the girls' presentation and send it to me by mail. I will add your feedback (anonymously) to my feedback.

Well, that's all for now...

Learner language, mistakes and feedback

Hello hello!!

Yesterday we started the class by sharing some ideas on Myers Briggs character type and motivation. Then you got into groups by picking cards of words associated to sources of errors. And then you worked in groups on a questionnaire on the two chapters you had to read. I went around the class checking to see if there were any doubts, and at the end of the class we rounded up some ideas on the topic.

I also finished delivering feedback on the presentations and on the blogs.

Next class we have the first presentation, on teaching strategies, so you should read Rebecca Oxford's chapters 3 and 5. And try to arrive on time to contribute to a proper organization of the class.

Reminder

Hi again!!

I just wanted to remind you that you should....

• check the presentations of the other groups and leave comments
• keep posting new entries in your blogs (many of you have been a little bit lazy lately!)

Also, it is a good idea to keep checking your classmates' blogs. Some people are posting VERY interesting material!!

And, since we are talking about the blogs, remember that it is fine to post videos, phrases, links, etc, but it is far better if that goes together with some words from you, explaining the contents of what you are sharing or the reasons why you are sharing it. Merely pasting a few charts or pictures does not make good quality blogging, don't you think?

Finally, let me wish you ...

Personality factors

Hi!!!

Yesterday we dealt with Personality Factors: anxiety, inhibition, self esteem, extroversion, risk taking and empathy. The class was a little bit odd.... firstly, as several people arrrived late, we couldn't start the class in the most organized way; and secondly (and happily) it was a class full of giggles! Still, we could share ideas on the relevance of these personality factors in the learning process.

Next class we will start by briefly discussing the Myers-Briggs character type and motivation, which we did not have time to deal with yesterday, and then we will work on learner language, mistakes and feedback. You have to read two chapters: Brown chapter 8 "Cross linguistic influence and learner language" and Ur chapter 17 "Giving feedback".

Meanwhile, remember to keep working on your blogs!!

And now, yes....