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thomas_pynchon
Joined: 01 Jul 2014
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The Fifth Column
Joined: 11 Jun 2014
Posts: 331
Location: His habitude with lexical items protrudes not unlike a damaged pollex!!!
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 Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:24 am Post subject: |
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No, but I think that you have hit upon a revolutionary and motivating approach to education in Saudi Arabia!
Please post after you have implemented it and tell us how successful you are!
A mind-map! Revolutionary! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Just a warning TP... always assume Fifth's comments will be leaning towards sarcasm. 
Teaching in Gulf is rarely cutting edge, it is usually just basic ESL or ESP. I'd save these sorts of experimental ideas until you know the students and the system that you are teaching within... and your available technology.
VS |
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The Fifth Column
Joined: 11 Jun 2014
Posts: 331
Location: His habitude with lexical items protrudes not unlike a damaged pollex!!!
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:34 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Just a warning TP... always assume Fifth's comments will be leaning towards sarcasm.
VS |
Oh, fudge! An' I wuz lookin' for a revelation!  |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:10 am Post subject: Re: e-Portfolios for beginners |
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| thomas_pynchon wrote: |
I was looking at the following mind map which gave me some ideas for having SA students (CEFR level A1 or below) build very basic e-portfolios that would include assembling a personal website, selecting certain tools/apps/social media (which could be from the mind map below) to include and that we could work on together.
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How are you going to get them to do that without going to the administration and complaining? Saudis don't do any kind of work at all. Pleasant talk and providing amusement is what is expected. If you haven't experienced it you will find out shortly. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:28 am Post subject: Re: e-Portfolios for beginners |
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| plumpy nut wrote: |
| Saudis don't do any kind of work at all. Pleasant talk and providing amusement is what is expected. |
Pleasant talk and amusement? That seems to describe teaching in China, Plumpy. On the contrary, my Saudi students were required to write various types of essays, give presentations, participate in learner-centered group reading activities, and so on. |
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thomas_pynchon
Joined: 01 Jul 2014
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Its an IEP, 10 weeks, 24 contact hours/week with the same class. 16-18 students/class, age is 18-22 years old.
Each student has a computer, ipad, there are smart boards, and it is expected that we will be introducing/integrating tech into classes.
The mind map is just to give an overview (for me) of areas that could be explored.
So I'm hoping this would engage students using tech while providing an interesting way for them to engage with the content. I would be looking at very, very small increments of language use, and this would be one way to track and show that progression.
New Headway plus would be the actual text used for the course. |
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thomas_pynchon
Joined: 01 Jul 2014
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:46 am Post subject: |
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The thing that I am struggling with, is that it is 24 contact hours with the same class. Some fairly novel strategies will be required for this to work IMO, so this is just one idea.
I suggested in the initial interview a team teaching approach, not in the same class, but each teacher on a team of 6 for example, could each take a unit, and teach that unit to 6 different classes. This would reduce the work load on the teachers, and give them the opportunity to really nail the delivery and find out what works and what doesn't.
After one 10 week session (4/year), we could distil a set of best practices, and be able to support one another in the process. Its an American admin so this was not simply dismissed, but they did indicate that they would prefer just one teacher to go to in the case of any issues arising for a class. Don't ask me why... |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| With that level of tech available you could use Hot Potatoes in class and liven the subject matter up a bit. It's free to download, has a tutorial and is easy to learn to use. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| thomas_pynchon wrote: |
The thing that I am struggling with, is that it is 24 contact hours with the same class. Some fairly novel strategies will be required for this to work IMO, so this is just one idea.
I suggested in the initial interview a team teaching approach, not in the same class, but each teacher on a team of 6 for example, could each take a unit, and teach that unit to 6 different classes. This would reduce the work load on the teachers, and give them the opportunity to really nail the delivery and find out what works and what doesn't.
After one 10 week session (4/year), we could distil a set of best practices, and be able to support one another in the process. Its an American admin so this was not simply dismissed, but they did indicate that they would prefer just one teacher to go to in the case of any issues arising for a class. Don't ask me why... |
Those students will need 24 contact hours with the teacher, and yes, the same teacher, who gets to know them and vice versa. Moreover, studies have shown that team/co-teaching benefits the teachers but not the students toward improving their English. You'd need to acquaint yourself with the entire curriculum anyway, so get used to teaching longer than what you've been accustomed to in Thailand. It really shouldn't be a struggle if you're focusing on student-centered teaching strategies.
Keep in mind, these students have been "learning" English starting from about 6th grade, and yet, seven or so years later, their proficiency is still at CFR A1. It's fine to have some basic ideas for teaching and learning; however, I suggest you hold off building on them until you're actually in the position and a getting a true picture of the students' language abilities, classroom setup, teaching materials, coursebooks, technology, learning objectives, and the expectations leadership has of the teachers. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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CEFR? CFR? Aren't we talking about the CEF?
Anyhoo... the tech is there so that the institution can say that it's cutting edge. The people who call for it, order it, buy it and have it installed know zero about how it can be used in this context. But they know it makes them and their institution look good.
It's extremely unlikely here that the administrative load will enable any of it to be used in an effective pedagogic way. Add to that behavioural issues, class sizes and cultural constraints that counteract autonomy in the classroom and you'll find that the vast majority of students simply won't engage with this tech in a way that will actually benefit their English despite the huge effort you might put in to make it so.
IMHO, you need to seriously count the cost of this investment up front and be willing to simply write it off if nothing comes of it.
OTOH, it may well be the panacea for a few students who take to it. Or not. |
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