What have you learnt from your first day? Friday 15th April 2011

Catrin from Wales (ES(O)L SIG)

By appropriate use of exciting ideas and on-line tools for use in the classroom, we can make our lessons more fun for our students.

Christiana from Nigeria (ES(O)L SIG)

I learnt something about students helping one another in the area of collaborative teaching.  They are bringing about a change in the other student’s behaviour and this makes teaching and learning very impactful.

Sylvia from Bulgaria (Associates’ Day)

I particularly liked the opportunity and willingness of all the teaching associate representatives to network.

Slaheddim from Tunisia (Assessment of Listening)

I have learnt many things about listening and how to test listening.  Speech has many features – ‘roughage’, pauses.  It’s not functional like writing.  We usually test comprehension but we should assess decoding skills.

(NB Note from Maureen:  ‘Roughage’ – I think this is same as vague language – but I will check.  I’m learning lots of new jargon.)

Houda from Tunisia (English for Specific Purposes)

Sharing experiences with other colleagues and learning from that.

Bouthcina (English for Specific Purposes)

A good variety of experience from different countries with a common interest in curriculum design and development.  Different views on designing an English course – contrasting and comparing English for Specific Purposes with English for Academic Purposes.

Fran from Israel (Associates’ Day)

I learnt many practical ideas -- how we can outreach and bring teachers into associations, information on marketing techniques.  It’s very well organised, very enjoyable and I’ve met teachers from all over the world.

Jane from Sicily (Young Learners and Teenagers)

I need to modify the activities I have seen in context for my work.  There are lots of wonderful ideas and activities but it is a challenge to adapt these ideas into a workable form.  There is a degree of participation, responsibility and engagement which my learners find difficult.

Maureen from Exeter (Roving Reporter)

I never realised that I would meet so many great people, learn so much and have a fantastic time!  I can’t wait for someone to post something on my Blog.