Hello hello!

Hellooooo!

How are you on this Sunday morning?!...I hope you are fine!!

In the last few classes we dealt  with learning styles, personality factors and mistakes and feedback. Those of you who have not read the material should definitely do it.

Next Thursday we are going to finish working on the material on mistakes and feedback and then we are going to work a little on teaching writing.

The following week we start with the workshops!

Remember that you have to post in your blog: you should post something related to feedback (an anecdote, a reflection, a video, an article...)

Well...see you on Thursday and

1. 

Planning and organizing our second term

Hello!!!

Here I am...back after some hectic weeks....

Here I am to remind you that for Thursday you have to read chapters 5 and 6 from the Douglas Brown book (on Learning Styles and Personality Factors).


Also, here I am to refresh groups and workshops:

• Teaching Strategies

Ayelén, Ivanna, Flor L., Celeste and Grace                                   19/9 or 26/9

• Teaching Vocabulary

Yami, Yami, Noelia, Majo and Nancy                                           26/9 or 3/10

• Teaching Receptive Skills: Reading and Listening

Haydée, Bárbara, Antonella, Belén and Natalia                            3/10 or 10/10

• Teaching Speaking and Teaching Pronunciation

Flor FB, Valeria, Paula, Camila and Sebastián                             10/10 or 17/10

Remember to check the material in the bunch....use that as a guide and feel free to add any material of your own.

Well, that is all for now...

Relax and enjoy the much deserved winter break!!!

Hi my dear students!!

Well...the most important thing to tell you this time is to rest and be happy!! This break is essential to not only survive the second part of the year but also profit from it...

I have been veeeery kind and have given you no homework, except for getting organized in groups of 4 or 5 for the workshops you will have to deliver and for the series of assessment tasks we will carry out in the second term....

Whatever doubts you have do not hesitate to contact me!

And if you can...keep your blogs alive during this month!!

Test, make up and homework

Hi there!!

How are you?... I am here...correcting term tests....

So just  a couple of things:

• Date of the make up: August 29th
• Homework for Thursday: Read chapter 10 by Douglas Brown: Theories of Second Language Acquisition

Well...I'll get back to correcting now...

FLA

Hello hello!!

How are you on this rainy day?? I hope you are great...resting, relaxing, eating tasty food...enjoying life!

About last class, we first discussed some very important general concepts about Fist Language Acquisition: why it is important for us to study the topic, which the different positions from which the topic can be studied are, and what the facts are that need to be explained by any theory of FLS.

 Afterwards, yougot together in groups with a very simple activity, which had as a secondary playful effect to introduce you to the Stroop effect. Once in groups, each group picked a card with a seciotn of the chapter they had to read, summarize and explain to the rest of the class.

On the 20th there are no classes... so you have plenty of time to re read the chapter to get a better undestanding of the P and P model. You also have to read the chapter "Baby born talking describes Heaven", by Steven Pinker.

Bear in mind that we will have one more class before the term test. So, we should get together on June 27th, and have the test on July 4th. If soemething happens on the 27th, then we will have the test on July 11th.

Well, that's all for the time being....remember to keep your blogs updated!!

Wrapping up on TBLT

Hi there!!

Last Thursday, while enjoying the tasty (I hope!) prize, we dealt with chapters 5 and 6 on TBLT. We still need to check the some of the answers on chapter 6... But we are almost there....

For next class you need to read chapter 3 by Cook, General Principles of Language Acquisition. Don't worry if there are things that you so not understand in the chapter...we'll discuss them together on Thursday!

For the time being, that's all I have to say....Oh! And...

Rapport above all!!

Hello my darlings!!

How are you?? How has your weekend been?...I hope great!!

Last Thursday we finished our game on chapter 3.... Here are the winners!!

Congrats!!! And don't think I don't remember I owe you!!

We had time to start dealing with chapter 5 on TBLT...for instance, we talked about the strong version of TBLT.

For next class, you have to read chapters 5 and 6 on TBLT.

Finally, remember the date for the first term test in July 4th.

Well...having kept you updated, I leave you now, wishing you an amazing week!!! And remember...

Ready for the new week?

Hi dears!! How are you? How was your weekend?...I hope it went great!

Last Thursday we had a very wet class... OMG! It really bucketted down!!

We dealt with TBLT, chapter 2...most importantly the six-steps-sequence and the seven principles. And we started our competition on chapter 3....but we just got started...so those of you who were absent can join in next Thursday!

For homework you have to think of a task and classify it in terms of macrofunction, microfunction and grammar, and you also have to do a six step sequence...both tasks you should post in your blogs!

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

Yesterday...

Hi there!!!

How are you?? Ready to start the weekend?? Let's relax, rest and enjoy!! We all deserve it!!

Well, yesterday we had an unusual class...but I hope it was of some use. All the situations we face can help us achieve personal growth. And remember: I'm here if you need me....

The originally planned class was...to get in groups by favorite colours...

Here are the groups according to the information YOU gave me:

• Black and more than one favorite colour: Yamila C., Nancy, Noelia, Emilce and Camila...
• Green and Pink: Lisandro, Grace, Bárbara, Natalia and Ayelén
• Blue: Paula, Flor K., Haydeé, Marina, Celeste, and Yamila S.
• Purple/Violet: Valeria, Majo, Flor FB, and Ivanna.
• Red: Belén, Flor L., Sebastián, and Antonella.

Mmmm...let me see...

Find the misplaced ones...

Well...anyway...We managed to do the activity on chapter 1 of TBLT.

Next class we will work on chapters 2 and 3...So, you must read chapter 3 and get ready for a competition!! For the competition, you must be organized into four groups...but this time YOU CHOOSE!!! Please, organize the groups beforehand.

 Moreover, remember you have until Wednesday to create your blog and share the link  in a comment in this post. So far, I have only two...(Bárbara´s and Vale's/Flor's). There is one that I cannot access...takeyourtimeteacher.blogspot.com....

Finally, I hope you have a great weekend!!!

Thursday class

Hi there!!

Last Thursday we worked in groups on SLA. A crazy thing happened: I prepared a grouping activity with cards related to different rock bands...and as it turned out, as you picked the cards, you ended up grouped exactly as you were sitting!!

You worked on a questionnaire, and each group had to deal with a different theory.

Also, we reached an agreement on how the second term is going to be assessed. We will have a combination of evaluating activities. We will have a traditional second term test, but including only a few topics. Then, there will be the workshops you will have to deliver. And also, there will be a collaborative task involving the use of technology.

For homework, you should post something in your blogs. Free entry.

Next class we will finish dealing with SLA; we will have the feedback on the assignments on FLA and if there is time we will start working on leatning stlyes.

Well, that is all for the time being...

Back to work!!

Hi there!!

How are you? Enjoying this sunny weekend? I hope so!!

On Thursday we started working on Second Language Acquisition. We brainstormed factors that play a role in the process and we highlighed the differences between FLA and SLA.

For next class you have to read chapter 10 by Brown on Theories of Second Language Acquisition,; you have to add an entry to your blog related to either FLA or SLA (or both) and you have to get organized into four groups of four for the workshops you'll be in charge of in this second term.

Please remember it is important to respect deadlines. Last class the assignment on FLA was due, but not everybody handed it in.

Well...that's all for the time being!!

Winter break and others

Hi there!!

How are you? Enjoying the Winter Break in this amazing weather??

Just a few lines to remind you of the essay you have to write on First Language Acquisition:

Write an essay explaining the P and P model and FLA. Please use your own words. Make sure to include explanations of what priniciples are, what parameters are, how it is that children acquire language and what the main arguments are to support this model.

Remember that you must also read Pinker's chapter "Baby born in talking describes Heaven", which will contribute information and examples for your essay.

The due date is August 16th.

Well... that's all... you can continue resting now!! See you soon!!

For next week...

Hi there!!

We've just had a class... with your presentations on the chapters on CLIL.

Next class we'll start with the presentation of group 5, and then we'll dive into First Language Acquisition.

So, for next class you must:

• make sure you have at least four entries in your blog (the introduction, something about the Four Methods and two free entries)
• Read chapter 3 by Cook on First Language Acquisition
• Write (to hand in) some feedback on the four mini presentations delivered so far: general feedback, not about each group. The idea is to start thinking about the presentations you will have to deliver in the second part of the year...so think about the things you liked and about suggestions you may have.

Well, I'm here in case you need me! Take care and...

TBLT

Hello!!

How are you? How is your weekend going?... I hope great!

Last Thursday we had the most interrupted ever class.... still, we managed to finish dealing with chpaters 1 and 2 of TBLT. And, as usual, we tried to relate the theory to the reality you, well we, encounter in classrooms.

Next class we'll start with a game to check the main concepts dealt with in chapter 3. And after that, you will start sharing the chapter summary and activity you prepared on CLIL.

Remember you have to post something in your blogs...a free post this time....

Well, see you soon!!

Hello!!!

How are you, dears? Enjoying this long, rainy weekend? I hope so!!

Last Thursday we continued with our review of and reflection on different methods and styles.

For next class you should read chapters 1 and 2 on Task Based Language Teaching, by Nunan, and you should post two entries in your blogs: an introduction and a video or link about the Four Methods we mentioned last Thursday.

Also, please remember we are not meeting next Thursday, since I will be absent. We are meeting again on May 10th.

And please, contact me about any doubts you may have (just leave a comment in the blog and I will receive an email!).

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!

Mistakes, feedback and others....

Hi!!

How are you? How is your weekend going?

On Thursday we worked on the chapter on Mistakes and Feedback. First, we did a grouping activity based on a classification of people difficult to cope with. We reflected s little on the different types of difficult people, and the idea is to try to think about how to deal with them... You should select two of the categories and write in your blogs about how you think you should deal with them.

Once you were organized in groups, you worked on a questionnaire....I walked around the class, trying to help clear doubts and clarify concepts.

We are next meeting on September 28th, since on  the 21st we have the day off. That day we are having the first workshop, the one about Teaching Strategies (direct and indirect), so you should read the two chapters on this topic.

I'll be correcting your presentations and providing feedback... so we'll be in touch!

And remember the deadline for the short stories of our assesment project is October 12th.

Needs Assessment

Hello!!

How are you on this rainy evening?? I'm guessing many of you felt really cozy at home and decided to stay that way... And since about half the students were absent, today we didn't do any grouping activity... you chose who to work with.

During the class you worked on a questionnaire on chapter 4 about Needs Assessment. During the last part of the class we shared some of the answers and personal appreciations on the topic. Next class we will continue working on this.

Homework for next class:

• prepare (individually or in small groups; you can choose) a tool to get information on your students' needs and interests. (use the examples from the "practice" section of the chapter to get some ideas). This task you have to hand in.
• post in your blog (free post; just remember what we have been saying about the quality of the posts)
• organize the groups for the second part of the year (for the presentations we need 5 groups:4 groups of 3 students and 1 group of four; for the assessment project we discussed last class, I need 4 groups of 4 students each)

Well, for now..

Results and homework

Hi there!!

Yesterday we had the First Term Test...from the exams I have read so far I can tell that many of you have been paying attention in class and have studied... good for all of us!!... I'll do my best to finish correcting for next class.

For next Thursday I need you to do two things:

• Read chapter 4 on Needs Assessment: Needs assessment in language programming: from theory to practice
• Post a reflection on your blog related to exam situations: it can be about pros and cons, about study strategies, about strategies to handle stress or about any related aspect that you want to.

In the meantime...