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Fri, 03/27/2009 - 08:13
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:02
#2
Just followed the tweets for the Prensky plenary - that was great to follow from Nice!
Just realised in "real time" why live blogging is great !!
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 19:50
#3
Helen,
Dennis
Thanks so much for publishing that link. I recognise the program and believe it was sent as it was written. I think there could have been more, on Twitter, but that should have hit #iatefl Twitter. (See Twitter button at top of page).
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 20:07
#4
DO check 'home' of this site frequently. That is where you will be brought up to date with what is available as audio, video.
There are already lots of interviews and one of the opening plenaries. Look, too, in the columns on the right-hand side.
I'm probably dropping my original plan of short reports on two sessions per day because so many recordings are being made available, that such a plan seems redundant.
There is little doubt that Prensky's views excited those who were present. For the moment, the tweets of his talk on Twitter/IATEFL Twitter are the best record. A recording of Gavin Dudeney's interview with Prensky is promised.
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 22:23
#5
Hello, everyone,
I just finished watching the video recording of Elana Shohany's plenary. What can I say?! She touched on so many important issues, but what I consider close to my heart and I am happy to see that I am not alone in my belief, is bi-linguilism and multi- linguism in the classroom.
I have been taught in the University, as a young teacher, that I must always use the target language in the classroom; use meta-language if need be, but.....no Bulgarian, only English. Even then I felt uncomforbale about such extremities. Yes, I do use English most of the time in class, but......if I have to explain something more complicated in grammar or introduce a new game, I have no qualms about switching to Bulgarian.
When I came to China, I was put in a situation where the theory about 100% usage of the target language in the classroom was really put to the test. I didn't speak any Chinese and the students didn't speak any Bulgarian, so we had only one alternative and that was to use English. Well, I certainly gave it my all. I spoke baby English, because that was the appropriate meta-language level, a drew pictures, used flashcards, very expressive body language and mimics and....I still needed the assistance of my Chinese-English colleagues from time to time, more often than not, to explain the rules of a game, or some important explanation, etc. now that I have acquired some Chinese I rarely need that assistance, but I still feel the need to use the mother language of the students to lighten up things a little bit.
In one of the other forums , I think, I wrote about group work and the use of the target language during group discussions. In my opinion, if the students use both the target language and their mother language, skipping from one to the other spontaneously, until they finally agree on the final presentation of the group in English, the goal of the exercise will be achieved without the pressure or limitations of forcibly using only the target language. Elana showed a recepie for cookies, written by a student, which was half in English , half in Hebrew and according to her it was still evaluated pretty highly, because it was well structured, the writter had used as much of his knowledge as possible, it had accomplished the task of telling you how to make the cookies and so forth. In other words, it was evaluated for it's merits not for it's shortcomings.
I would really like to know what other colleagues think about the more liberal/stricter attitude towards using only the target language in the classroom.
best, Iskra
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 13:41
#6
Yes, I saw Elana Shohany's plenary last night too. First of all, it made me feel better about my status of a non-native speaker teacher of English and I found really interesting the observations she made from watching the languages used in public space or the country polices unnaturally imposed on immigrants. I also agree that the more languages we can speak, the more effective learners we become, and the greater understanding of the knowledge we have.
The example of a cookery recipe half in English and half in Hebrew left me thinking though. No doubts, it was a well done job, fully understandable to some people, but would it be comprehensible to me, since I'm not a Hebrew speaker? I've got a cookery book at home, with some nice exotic recipies, totally in English but not very well translated and I have problems any time I read it and try to follow the instructions from there.
Iskra, I also have the feeling that if I didn't insist on my students using English in class (they're intermediate+ so can make use of something they've learnt so far without much pain), they would use L1 all the time during group work. And I will never forget my first years of learning English when L1 was generally allowed for more difficult explanations, yes, I could understand English grammar and I passed all the exams, got to university to study English but could hardly speak this language then. So, as a teacher myself now, I believe it's best when we encourage the students to use it for practice as frequently as possible, being models ourselves, grading the language or using gestures but rather avoiding L1.
Anna
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 14:59
#7
Hi, Ana,
I think it all boils down to should the teacher be forcing or provoking, motivating the target language usage. Naturally, the higher the level, the more conscious the process of learning is. When I was teaching intermediate students, of course, I expected them to use the target language. These students, however, were 16 and older. Sometimes the topics provided in the text books were not very interesting and thought provoking, so I always tried to look around for issues close to their hearts. I 've had some really bad failures and some very good lessons. I remember one time my students had to argue a point, I don't remember the topic, but noone seemed to have an opinion on the subject:(:((: It was a nightmare. I kept trying this way and that way to get the discussion going and it just wasn't happening. That was baaaad! After the lesson I kept going over and over what had happened and tried to analyse what I had done wrong. Well, after a while, I could see a couple of things I needed to change):):): Anyway, the higher tolerance towards bi-lingualism in the classroom was ment for lower level and younger students. In my opinion, the younger the student , the less forced the process of learning and using the new knoledge should be. In my experience, students in grades 5, 6, 7 do really well in groups using both languages. I start them off gently in grade 5 and by the time they get to grade 7 they write plays in English and perform them at the school's English show. In my school in Bulgaria that was a tradition and it was an event everybody was eager to participate in):):): When they were writing the play and I was editing it and later at rehearsals, the students were speaking English for 45 minutes straight and they couldn't wait for the next one... So, there you go- target language willingly, successfully and happily used.
best, Iskra
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 07:51
#8
Iskra. Delighted to hear you saw the video of Shohany's presentation. Will get back to you on my opinion but must go off to today's sessions. Greetings from Cardiff.
Dennis
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 19:39
#9
Hello, everyone,
I just finished watching the British Council's "Voices for Diversity and Equal opportunities" live session. It was fantastic! Here I am , sitting in my study in China, listening to a discussion going on in Cardiff, with the opportunity to ask questions! The quality was excellent. The sound wobbled a couple of times but nothing serious.
As to the content of the discussion: I liked the way the colleagues put forth the problems in plain language. There is a lot in injustuce out there and we are the ones that have to fight against it every day.
I have been an English language teacher for many years and I had never heard the expression "native speaker" or "not native speaker" until I came to China. After I applied for the job, I was granted an interview over the phone with my prospective employer and 2 hours later I was informed through the MSN that I had been approved. That seemed quite normal to me. When I arrived in China , however, I came across quite a number of people, both Chinese and not Chinese, who expressed unpleasant surprise at the fact that I was permited to work as an English teacher when I was neither American, nor Canadian, nor British, nor from any of the native English speaking countries. Furthermore, two years ago I wanted to move to Shanghai because my daughter needed to go to a better school and I applied for a job at the same agency that got me the first one. Within 2 days I received a refusal on the grounds that I was not "an English speaking national passport holder", therefore, I was not a native speaker.
In the first 2 years of my being at my present school, I felt their lack of trust in my abilities. I had to fight to prove that I am a good teacher. I involved the school in three international projects. We even won the Best International Award on the FACT WORLD "Chemistry in Our Life" poster competition in 2006, together with my former Bulgarian school. My students have won every Oral English Championship in the city for 5 consecutive years. I have "survived" the arrival and the departure of several other foreign teachers. Needles to say, they were holders of the correct passport. However, none of them were, in fact, teachers and they had no idea what to do with primary school students. Well, after having the opportunity to observe and compare, first hand, who worked how, I am happy to say that, today, I have the respect and the trust of my colleagues and the school's administration. It wasn't easy, though, especially the first year, I nearly left then, but something in me refused to leave with my tail tucked between my legs):))::):)
Here, in our city, I met two other English teachers from Uzbekistan, a young married couple. They are both university graduates with diplomas in English Filology and they are TEFL holders as well. Their English is excellent and they are very good professionals. I guess we should all be grateful that the person who is in charge of hiring foreign teachers for this region is more open minded than the standard Chinese recruiting agency and at least gave us the opportunity to prove that we are just as good as the "native speaker" teachers.
best, Iskra
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 20:50
#10
Hello, everyone,
It's me again. It's 3:45AM out here in China, but I can't go to bed. Not when there is so much fun going on at the other end of the world and I can be a part of it:):)):Just finished watching the first half of Pecha Kucha Evening - great!!!
It's informative, yet funny and light hearted. Dennis, I saw you on the Second life medley::):)
Looking forward to the second half.
bye for now,
iskra
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:32
#11
Iskra.
So pleased vou ae enjoying Cardiff Online
----
I seriously hope we can come back to the issue of native/non-native EFL teachers next week - and other matters that have been brought up here.
I hope youhave found, recent recordings, the YLT Open Forum, and the interview with Wendy Arnold.
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 11:19
#12
Just watched the interview with Scott Thornbury. He is not "young learners", but I believe him to be one of the leading lights in TEFL.
I suspect his new book:
Teaching Unplugged, Dogme in English Language Teaching, Luke Meddingss and Scott Thornbury, Delta Teacher Development Series,ISBN 978 1 905085 19 4 (2009) will be a much read book.
Dennis
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 19:22
#13
Hi,Dennis,
Thank you for pointing out the YLT Open Forum for me. I don't know why, but it takes me a long time to open a video recording (this one took me about 4 hours)((:(:(.However, I am very happy I waited, because I learned so much. I have applied for subscription to the YLT Yahoogroup and want to become an IATEFL YLT Individual member. I will have to nagotiate the payment with my son, however, because the cards I have here in China cannot be used for international transfer of money. I think I can solve that problem by Monday.
Now I have to try and see Wendy's interview.
best, iskra
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 19:37
#14
Hi, everyone,
Just another thought. I heard a lady from the audience at the Open Form suggest a workshop or a discussion about new and interesting ways of teaching spelling. I think it's a good idea.
What do you think?
best, iskra
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:09
#15
Iskra,
What excellent news. If there is anything I can do to help with your decision to join IATEFL and the YLTSIG, just let me know.
By Monday I'll be home again, and should be able to give longer answers than I am mentioning at the moment.
Dennis
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 12:50
#16
Great news Iskra !
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 18:31
#17
HiHi, guys,
I need a little help out here):):):
I have just made the payment and have been informed that is was successful. What happens now? Do I get an e-mail informing me that I am a member? How do I get a user name and password for the YLT site? I am so happy!!!
best, iskra
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 19:44
#18
Iskra,
It may take a few days - all the IATEFL staff are at the Annual Conference and won't be going back until Sunday. Soon after that when the office is back to normal you will hear from a member of staff. Usually it's very quick, but at conference it can take a little longer...
Gavin
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 07:27
#19
Thank, Gavin,
I am so happy, that I am a little impatient!
best, iskra
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 07:54
#20
Iskra, you can get to the public parts of the YLT site immediately:
You gain access to the forbidden parts :-) when you have a membership number to quote to the webmaster, Chris Etchells. I think his address is on the site, if not write to me at:
Wendy and Helen and I are members. We'll look after you. Marvellous to have you with us. I have already told the committee.
And thanks, Gavin, the man that is so busy he always finds time to help.
Dennis
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 17:35
#21
Hi All,
I'm also thinking of joining you, have already visited the public site. Is the fee paid monthly or annually?
Anna
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 17:39
#22
That's good news Anna !
Dennis is probably the expert here - but I know he's travelling back to Germany. I paid my sum yearly with one sig included.
bye for now
Helen
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 10:26
#23
Iskra,
The person you heard on the video proposing a discussion on interesting ways of teaching spelling was Caroline Linse - an American, a specialist in the teaching of young children, at present teaching at a university in Northern Ireland - and a member of the YLTSIG committee.
I shall mention to Gavin and the Cardiff Online your four-hour patient download! I don't know, but the chances are it was caused by the local system.
-----
Anna,
I'm pretty certain that the subscription to IATEFL has to be paid in one go. I do hope that that is possible for you and that you will still be able to join us.
Dennis
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 22:56
#24
Thanks,
so I can afford it, glad to hear that :-)
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 18:44
#25
Hi, Dennis,
I am sure that it's the local server, because it's the same with watching the news online and everything. Well, at least I do get to see them. Unfortunatelly, China announced that they are shuting sown U TUBe and they did. Now I have to upload my clips on another platform. My daughter's friends from Bulgaria told me of a good Bulgarian one and now I am using that.
Thanks, Iskra
Tue, 04/07/2009 - 04:24
#26
Iskra.
Friends on lists who come from Turkey and the Arab Emirates have similar problems with banned services. It helps being on lists because people share experience and solutions.
Have you got access to YLT yet? You can join the discussion list with no difficulty because we made it open at Cardiff - there is a special members only area for access to materials etc.
If you and Anna like to send me your email address to:
(Mark your message in the subject line YLTSIG)
I can enroll you at once. You can be on the list in time for the discussion on CLIL revisited from 20 - 24 April with Keith Kelly, John Clegg and Jean Brewster, and for the rest of the discussion/presentation program (YLTSIG Online) once a month for the rest of this year - and in 2010.
Greetings,
Dennis
Most strange. Since the conference began I am the only person writing to this forum - though I am actually at the conference.
If you REALLY want to keep up with what is happening, see the Twitter button Some people are going into sessions complete with laptop and sending off instaneous impressions, comments, quotes.
Dennis