Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie

Maybe it is just me, but every time I click on an EFL video I cringe at the spectacle that purports to be a lesson. Even worse are promo videos flogging whatever sleek 'new' method the 'director' has concocted to lure students into parting with readies for a quickie learning programme.

Aren't there any decent classroom videos out there on the Internet? I know it is hard to put one together, but it can be done. Surely we can do better than this rogue's gallery?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUSubqJKT0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKi763tzYmI&playnext=1&videos=8EYwPnvMBC4&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh%2Bdiv-1r-3-HM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dNEKmIZXH0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmcfoLV4Ek&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmcfoLV4Ek&feature=related

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

Sasha, have you ever seen an EF video?! Shocked

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:51 am Post subject:

Wow Sasha, those are definitely skew-whiffy!

A few observations, if I may:

Clips 1&2: A bit like Joe McElderry (recent X-Factor "winner") channeling Jim Carey. Loud, irritating, patronizing crapola. Confused

Clip 3, I'm thinking 0:50~especially 1:07 here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmbFpNOZIc would work wonders on AJ Hoge. Smile

Clip 4 (BTW, "5" is identical link) has more in terms of input, but shouldn't all those s(he)'s really be (s)he's?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I wonder if there's not a lot of willingness to share content on You tube for free...

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:44 am Post subject:

Or perhaps there just isn't much in terms of ELT AV that would be worth paying good money for, Guy? Surprised

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:56 am Post subject:

Ah! Double posted link. My PC has been acting up - delayed reaction to basic commands like copy and paste. Must have picked up a virus from all those dodgy promo videos I have viewed.

In any case, I suspect that most vids are so poor on account of the fact that quite a few non-teacher skills are needed to produce a proper document of a lesson. Don't know if most of us have them.

And video lessons, I think, share similar drawbacks to electronic whiteboards. Great bells and whistles, but not much more than just high-tech versions of traditional blackboards and paper photocopies.

However, one distinguishing feature brought in by this new tech is the free reign it allows for anyone who wishes to indulge in shameless self-promotion a la the Director of Effortless English, or to be the centre of attention, like the dude from Canada. Can anyone imagine a more teacher-centred approach taken by the random examples above? I suspect that their lessons are typically lecture-style any way, but perhaps the camera vastly increases that tendency? A case of the camera adding ten pounds - but of verbal diarrhoea...