Job Discussion Forums

[mdk]

Homework

If I were left to my own, I am sure I could have gotten the students going on homework - well, not all maybe, but at least most of them. At the last job I had at the great big language school, the curriculum was established by the exalted. I had no choice in setting homework.

Actually, the homework didn't seem that bad ... to me. The students weren't having any of it, however..they just didn't do it. 30 - end of story- full stop... Consultations with my senior teaching staff were very helpful (You'll just have to figure something out, mate)

I tried every which way I could think of, honest. So, that's the last time I work in that milieu.

You know lately I am remembering my old guitar teacher, Mr. Davis. He was the kind of teacher I admire. I am convinced that spoken language acquisition is a skill very similar to learning how to play, for example, the D minor seventh chord.

To continue the analogy, If it was apparent that I had not practiced during the week, Mr. Davis would stop the lesson and tell me to come back next week. It is amazing how that concentrates the attention of a motivated student. Mr. Davis, used to tell me that he had no interest in trying to teach students who were not motivated enough to practice. Life for him was too short for that.

[Glenski]

So, your "great big language school" was no help in training you how to teach (re: homework woes)? Geez. No homework done = no grade. Pretty simple. If the school wants to override you on that and somehow assign a score, let it. Why should you have to worry?

I'm growing weary of telling you how to teach. Yeah, you can give them a CD or tape and a worksheet, but that's pretty boring stuff. You have to figure out what it takes to jazz things up so that you motivate them. I can't sit here and tell you the precise ins and outs of that. Every teacher is different, but moreover, if you took the time to do some online research or join a professional organization that can support you with tons of teaching materials and ideas, you'll learn.

You never answered my question earlier, mdk. What sort of TEFL course did you go through, and what did you get out of it? Doesn't sound like much.

[fluffyhamster]

[Glenski]

fluffy,
Simple answer for you...because I am beginning to disbelieve a lot about the poster. If he has only taught for 7 months, fine, but now we have heard that perhaps it is 4 YEARS. So, just for the sake of discrepancy, I'm irked. (Note how I have refrained from the "troll" label, so far.)

Furthermore, if there really are 4 years of teaching here, they certainly don't show for it. That is a major concern for anyone who is in the teaching biz. I do see mdk as asking directly for teaching advice (on podcasting if nothing else), yet I also see very little in the way of self-help or research. And, many answers are right there with a few strokes of the keyboard.

I've tried to provide a lot of valuable information here, yet I don't see much in return. So, the eye-rolling is not for your benefit. It is to stir something in someone else.

[fluffyhamster]

Actually, I know what you mean, Glenski (I was reading back through mdk's other thread in between posting and seeing your response here, and note the discrepancy that you've mentioned). Still, I don't see the harm in asking if people are generally using podcasts, or into the new Belly-dancing method (TM) etc. ( )

[yaramaz]

Podcasts are just recordings in mp3 format, like CDs or cassettes but more high tech. How exactly might they be a blessing or a curse? They are what you make of them.

[gaijinalways]

I've used some podcasts from NPR when the topic was related to something I was teaching for an academic English class. It's true, basically a hightech recording. If most students had something capable of playing a podcast, it's possible to have students download it on their device and then listen to it for homework. NPR also has scripts for their programs, but of course you have to cough up some cash for most of them.

Glenski, I wanted to go to that CALL conference, got caught up that weekend. Pity as it was right down the street from where I live.

[Gordon]

I was at the CALL conference a few weeks past at Waseda university. Good conference, i like the CALL conferences more than the other JALT ones. There was a few sessions on podcasting which I went to, but it was mostly about how to set up and do your own podcasts for your students. Not too difficult, great sound for minimal costs. Good idea, but most of my English majors are technologically ignorant so wouldn't work well in my current setting.

[mdk]

[Glenski]

You, sir, are the one who is impertinent! I object to your use of the word kibbitzing to describe the plethora of invaluable information I have provided you. Nobody else has given you as much time and information.

How much online research have you done on your own?
How many of the resources that I've provided have you checked?
How many more names of people would you like other than the 200 that attended the JALT CALL conference (and whose information is freely available online)?

More to the point... just exactly how long have you been teaching ESL/EFL and where? No answer or any evasive answer counts as kibbitzing.

By the way, if you want to block people, call a moderator for help instead of announcing your intentions publicly. Have a little decorum.

[Teacher in Rome]

What's with all the arguing? This is a really interesting discussion, and I'm not sure why there's so much argy-bargy.

I'd be interested to hear of other people's use of podcasts in the classroom. (pros and cons etc)

[Glenski]

The "arguing" is over someone who claims to have worked as an ESL/EFL teacher for either 7 months or 4 years, yet doesn't have the motivation to look things up himself.

Just in case I get accused of not providing something useful in this post, here are more sites on podcasting. I'm not going to post any more. I've done far more than anyone here, without pay, and without much thanks. People have to learn to do things by themselves or take advantage of what info has been provided. The Internet has most of the answers you need about podcasting, and there are plenty of organizations out there. I strongly suggest that people join professional groups so that they can network with people in the know and have access to journals with published information. Some published articles are free online, but you will get more out of life by being a professional and paying for it.

http://www.eltpodcast.com/index.html
http://swik.net/tesol
http://www.oculture.com/2006/10/foreign_languag.html
http://pod-efl.wikispaces.com/
http://webpages.csus.edu/~hansonsm/Podcasting.html

[fluffyhamster]

I hate to say it, Glenski, but if you make many more posts like that then the title of 'Cafe Martyr' will pass from a certain somebody (remember Monterey, anyone) to you.