VERY IMPORTANT!

Hi there!!

As you probably know, the building where we usually have classes will be closed on Thursday. As we have our term test, I asked the secretary of the Institute, and she said we can use a classroom in the main building. So, we are meeting in school number 2 on Thursday for our term test.

Soon I will post the links to the rest of the feedback... but I wanted to tell you about the Thursday issue as soon as possible.

About this week

Hello my dear 4th!!

How have you spent your Winter Break? Are you ready to start again?

Well... in the case of my subject, you have one more free week...My daughter was operated on yesterday. She is doing very well, but we have to stay at home at least until next Tuesday. Therefore, I will be absent on Thursday.

Make sure to finish your writing on FLA. And also, start reading from our notes on Second Language Acquisition, since we'll be starting with the topic next week.

Take care and let me know if you have any doubts!!

So far... three blogs!!

Hi there!!

Three of you (Eugenia, Belén and Joaquín) have already created their blogs... Well done!!! You can see them in my list of blogs in the bottom right corner of this blog... check them and give them some feedback!

New homework

Hi there!!

How have you been?? I hope you are all doing great!!

Since we are not meeting until Thursday 20th, I would like you to read, apart from chapter 3 by Yule on the properties of language, chapter 13 by Cook called Learning and Teaching Styles.

If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to post a comment!!

IMPORTANT!!!

Hi there!!!

I wanted to let you know that today I am not going... I'm really sorry, but I have an ear infection.

If you want you can send me an email to find out the score of your test. See you next week!!!

A task for your blogs...

Hi there!!

           I have finished correcting your charts with task+macrofunction+microfunction+grammar contents.... some of them are really good, whereas there are others that are a bit confusing. We'll look into them in more detail next class. Meanwhile, I want you to think of another task.... but this time I want you to try to incorporate some technology into it. Think of all the technology that surrounds us, that is part of the lives of our students, and try to make the task related to that in some way. Maybe the task can be to create a twitter account, or to carry out a chat in facebook or a hangout with gmail... (these are just some ideas; do not feel limited or restricted by them). So, think of a new task and make the chart with macrofunction, microfunction ang grammar contents and.... post it in your blog.

          Apart from that, I need you to start checking your classmates' blogs as well as mine. To the right, in "My list" you have all the links. It is not a bad idea to add to your blog your own list of favorites....

      Please, do not freak out!! Take your time and let me know if you come across any difficulties!

http://www.m-learning.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4-Mobile-Apps-that-has-brou.jpg

Already in May!!

Hi there!!

Yesterday we met for another class. We started by finishing work on teaching styles. It was great to see that almost everyone did their homework!

Then you got in groups according to your ages and you worked on some activities on chapters 1 and 2 on Task Based Language Teaching. We managed to check the true/false activity on chapter 1, but we only had time to deal with the first question on chapter 2.

For next class you have to read chapter 3 on TBLT, you have to do the "reflect"task on page 31 (you have to think of a task and then think of its macrofunction, microfunction and grammar focus) and you have to create your blog (either individually on with a partner) and publish a "Welcome" entry. Then, post a comment in this blog sharing the website.

Also, bear in mind two dates: On May 19th there will be no classes at the Institute. Instead, we are invited to attend special activities to celebrate the Institute's Anniversary (please check  http://isfd55.bue.infd.edu.ar/sitio/index.cgi?wid_seccion=58). And, the date for the term test could be June 16th, or June 23rd... we'll confirm it in a couple of weeks.

Well...for now...

Take care and have a nice weekend!!

IMPORTANT!!!!!!

Hi there!!

I want to let you know that tomorrow I will be absent because my daughter is sick.

Still, those of you who are doing the practice lessons with Ms Dominguez should meet her at Die Engel at 6 pm, as we had arranged. Those of you who are not doing the practice lessons this year can go if you want, but it is not obligatory.

Also, check the blog in the next few days because I will share instructions for your blogs...

Take care and see you soon!!!

News...

Hi!!

Important: another change of plans! Sabrina, who was supposed to deliver her presentation, will be absent tomorrow. So please take your netbooks so we can work on stages 2 and 3 in class. If we have no wi fi, we can go somewhere else.

See you very soon!!

Hi again!!

Hello!!

Here there is some more information to take into account... (please also read the information published on  October 22nd)

I've already created the Google doc for you to make the presentation... the link is this

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hq9oQe1PuPrfB_vLvTIlufi7M-hThtdyUcaPWbLjlZY/edit#slide=id.p

but so far I have only been able to invite Daiana and Marisol to edit the document (check your gmail account girls and you'll find the invitation to edit). I need the other gmail accounts (Andy, Analía, Sabrina and Natalia). Remember all this is part of the term evaluation.

Also, we only have a few classes left and some more presentations to go....

• Sabrina November5th
• Daiana November 12th
• Marisol November 12th 

If we need to use part of our last class, November 19th, to finish with the presentations, we can do it. Just remember your presentation must not be longer than 90 minutes. Apart from the presentations, there are some other activities we must do.

And please do not hesitate to contact me about any doubts or queries....

Important about next class!!

Hello!!

As I had already anticipated to you, on Thursday I'll be absent. So, Sabrina will deliver her presentation on Thursday 22nd.

Take care and see you soon!!

Yesterday's class

Hello!!

Yesterday we had a very short class because then there was a celebration for Teachers' Day...

We finished dealing with SLA and we started focusing on Learning Styles. Remember I gave you an activity to do on Cook's chapter 8.

Also, we organized the presentations... remember the dates are "likely dates"...

• 1/10 Teaching Strategies and Vocabulary - Andrea (Oxford chapters 3 and 5, Cook chapter 3, Ur chapters 3 and 5)
• 8/10 Mistakes and Feedback - Natalia (Brown chapter 8, Ur chapter 17)
• 15/10 Teaching Receptive Skills - Sabrina (Cook chapter 7, Ur chapters 8 and 10)
• 22/10 Teaching Productive Skills - Daiana (Cook, chaper 5, Ur chapters 9 and 11)
• 29/10 Teaching Pronunciation - Marisol (Cook chapter 5)

Remember:

1. the presentations should be between 90 and 120 minutes long.
2. you must use visual aids (usins TIC devices is highly recommended)
3. you must present some theory and you must prepare practice for your classmates.
4. you don't need to explain all the theory from the chapters mentioned above; your classmates also have the material, and they must read it.
5. it's highly advisable to consult other sources
6. make your class/presentation interesting, lively, entertaining and memorable... do not just read from your slides...
7. let me know about any doubts you have... in advance!

Well done!!

Girls, those of you who took the test have done really well!! The scores go from 8 to 10!!

Today's class

Hello!!

Tonight we had our last class before the tem test. We dealt with chapters 3, 5 and 6 of TBLT.

Remember to study everything we have dealt with so far for the test. Also, be on the alert for news on a possible strike for next Thursday, and check the blog for news. Finally, several of you have to catch up with your homework... please do so soon.

Feedback on blogs...

Hello my dear students!!

I've spent a few hours visiting your blogs.... it's been fun!!

Some of you are keeping your blogs updated and frequently publish very interesting material... well done!!

Others just have one or two entries so far, so you need to become more active bloggers... come on! You can do it!

So far only two people have published the reflection you have to write... They are both very interesting so I recommend that those of you who still have to work on this read Daiana's and Marisol's words.

Now, I'll include a list of sentences from your blogs that need to be corrected. What I want you to do is to publish as comments the corrections you can make...

1. ·      Technology shortens our students span...
2. ·         We have to provide them with plenty opportunities to interact with each other.
3. ·        ....I put in practice with a beginner level.
4. ·         Argentinian speakers find very difficult to deal with some specific particles.
5. ·         ....these combination of sounds do not exist in Spanish
6. ·         It's really interesting starting the lesson ...
7. ·         If you have watched any of her videos you would probably be interested in buying one of her books.
8. ·         I don't know where it would take me....
9. ·       ....  teenagers who are building their identity sorrounded by technology impact
10. ·         Students' misbehaviour and lack of respect are relevant issues that cannot be avoided in any sense (meaning)
11. ·         Every group is different as well as each individual is different...

Do you miss me?

Hi!!

It's a pity we did not get together last Thursday... I did not let you know in advance what it was going to be like because we teachers did not know .... supposedly we were going to work together in our classroom...

Anyway...

Next Thursday we'll have two presentations (the one due last Thursday and the one due next Thursday). Then we'll work on TBLT. Make sure the presentations are not longer than 4o minutes each.

Also, I've been checking your blogs (I haven't finished yet...) and I can see that some of you have already embedded the Voki and others havent' done it yet. Please do it soon. Besides, there seems to be a problem with the website Sabrina shared... I can't see the blog. So, Sabrina, if you read this, please check and share with us the correct address.

Moreover, some of you have been posting things in your blogs... well done!!! Others haven't. Please start sharing materials... links, images, videos, etc...

And don't forget to do the two reflection tasks (the one with two tasks and macrofunctions and the six-step sequence for a final task.

Finally, here I share some links that Marisol and Cecilia recommended in their presentations:

http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en

https://allatc.wordpress.com/

http://lessonstream.org/

https://viralelt.wordpress.com/

http://film-english.com/

http://eslnotes.com/

http://www.filta.org.uk/

http://www.filmclub.org/

http://www.filmclub.org/

http://warmupsfollowups.blogspot.com.ar/

http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com.ar/

Well,

News...

Hello, hello!!

Yesterday we got together once again, and enjoyed a lovely presentation by Cecilia. She made us work and play and she shared useful and entertaining activities... Congrats!!

Then we finished dealing with chapter 1, TBLT and we almost finished discussing chapter 2. We still have to deal with the seven principles....

For next class you have to:

• Read (or re-read chapter3, TBLT)
• Do the reflection task on page 31 
• Do the reflection task on page 35

Also, let me tell you the result of the poll on the term test date.... the test will be on... ta-tan-ta-tan....

June 25th!!

And one more thing: pay attention for any news on next Thursday (there might be one of these special teacher meetings, in which case classes will be cancelled)...

Sixth class

Hi there, all of you!

Today we had a very nice presentation from Marisol on how films can help you to teach and learn English. The presentation included three very well chosen videos... Well done, Sunshine!

Then, we finished checking the work on Teaching and Learning Styles. And afterwards, students divided into two groups (according to their birthdays) and worked on chapter 1 TBLT.

For next class you should:

• read chapters 2 and 3 on TBLT
• make a Voki and post it in your blogs (click here)
• catch up with your homework if you have to...
• And... vote (by posting a comment below) on which date you prefer for the term test. The options are June 18th, June 25th or July 16th

Finally, especial congrats to Analía for her sweet and exciting news!!!

Blogging bloggers

Hi there!!

Today we had a lovely class at Hector's lovely place!!

First, Daiana delivered her interesting presentation on "warm ups and close ups". Then, over coffee, mate and sweet treats, we discussed how to create a blog.

For next class, you have to:

• Do previous homework (write a comment on your results of the survey about teaching styles, finish questionnaire on teaching and learning styles and read chapter 1 on TBLT)
• Read chapter 2 on TBLT
• Create your own blog and send me by mail the address (or publish it under this entry as a comment)
• In your blog, publish its first entry (a welcome message)

Here I send you a picture of where you'll find the way to make other pages, apart from the main page, appear in your blog (go to "design", "add gadget" and from the gadgets choose the one shown below)

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Our second class...

Hi again!!

Today we had our second class. We discussed different definitions of Language, Learning and Teaching. Afterwards, we revised the hierarchy of Methodology, Approach, Method, Procedure and Technique. And, last but not least, you started to work in groups (arranged according to each one's favorite colour) on a copy on Popular Methods.

Next class we'll continue working on this....

For next class you have to read:

• the syllabus
• chapter 3 by Yule on The properties of Language
• chapter 13 by Cook on Second Language Learning and Teaching Styles

We also organised the presentations... the dates are as follows:

• April 30th Hector, the Brave
• May 7th Daiana
• May 14th Marisol
• May 21st Cecilia
• May 28th the A duet, Andrea and Analía
• June 4th Sabrina
• June 11th, last but not least, Natalia

Please make sure that you got the dates right.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

(Source: http://www.sodahead.com/fun/happy-weekend-my-friends/question-4506437/)