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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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 Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:03 am Post subject: |
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What's the PASSWORD game that you mention?
I'd like to know more, please? |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
I once went to a talk by someone who used movie clips in his classes to create conversation. He made a good point by saying that when the teachers says 'today we're going to watch a movie', students think this is a way for them to switch off and passively watch the movie.
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That is a good idea! I think you could spend a lot of time doing lots of different activities with a movie. Stop it at some point and ask what the students think is going to happen next, ask them who their favorite character is and why, what they like and dislike, if they like the end of the movie, the list could go on forever. Another think I have done is to use old time radio shows. They tend to use straighforward vocabulary, speak slowly and the stories have to be good since there are no visuals to go with them. There are sound effects to provide clues. And they are in the public domain, so can easily be found online. I would love to have more ideas for my conversation club, thanks for the ones posted so far. |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
What's the PASSWORD game that you mention?
I'd like to know more, please? |
Oops, I guess my age is showing. It used to be a TV game show, but there is a board game also, but the basics are this: you have a category, words that start with CH, foods, words that rhyme with dog, etc., then you list 8 or 10 words that go with that category. One student takes the card, tells the others the category, then describes each word and the other students guess what it is. The boxed board game is fairly advanced, so you can make up cards yourself. I basically just fold an index card in half, write the category on the outside and the words on the inside. I have some on my computer that I can email anyone who wants them, just PM me your email address. A variation of that that I have also used, is to have the name of a person, a place, a hobby, a thing, etc. and have students ask questions to try to figure out who is it. You can focus on past tense usage by using people who are dead, or other verb tenses depending on what categories you choose. |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
COnsider too, that his first attempt at a thread on Conversation has converted into the differences betwen Mexicans and Indians, I think he has a fair point.
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Someone else pointed out in the other thread that responding to non-responses just keeps them going, so I am going to make an early new years resolution not to do that anymore, and maybe if we all did it, we could actually support and help each other and get ideas from each other. This is the best, most constructive thread in a looonnnnnggg time. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| TeresaLopez wrote: |
| gregd75 wrote: |
COnsider too, that his first attempt at a thread on Conversation has converted into the differences betwen Mexicans and Indians, I think he has a fair point.
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Someone else pointed out in the other thread that responding to non-responses just keeps them going, so I am going to make an early new years resolution not to do that anymore, and maybe if we all did it, we could actually support and help each other and get ideas from each other. This is the best, most constructive thread in a looonnnnnggg time. |
OK, I'll stop posting.  That will be my new year resolution. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| TeresaLopez wrote: |
| gregd75 wrote: |
What's the PASSWORD game that you mention?
I'd like to know more, please? |
Oops, I guess my age is showing. It used to be a TV game show, but there is a board game also, but the basics are this: you have a category, words that start with CH, foods, words that rhyme with dog, etc., then you list 8 or 10 words that go with that category. One student takes the card, tells the others the category, then describes each word and the other students guess what it is. The boxed board game is fairly advanced, so you can make up cards yourself. I basically just fold an index card in half, write the category on the outside and the words on the inside. I have some on my computer that I can email anyone who wants them, just PM me your email address. A variation of that that I have also used, is to have the name of a person, a place, a hobby, a thing, etc. and have students ask questions to try to figure out who is it. You can focus on past tense usage by using people who are dead, or other verb tenses depending on what categories you choose. |
Sounds pretty similar to the commercial board game "Taboo." There's another one called "Scattergories." Both of these are great and I highly encourage using them, either the actual board game or your custom made paper and pen one. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
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A game that I have used in conversation class is based on the UK game show 'CALL MY BLUFF'
So, you split into two teams. And the first part of the class involves research, the second part is the game where the winners take all!
You have one word and the team has to find out the correct definition of the word and then they must make up two fake definitions. The idea is to trick the opposite team into guessing the incorrect definition. If they choose the correct definition they get a point.
so the good thing is they work in a team, they have to research the words you give them, they have to discuss potential cunning tricks and then when they play they have to discuss what they think is correct and explain why they think its right. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Someone else pointed out in the other thread that responding to non-responses just keeps them going, so I am going to make an early new years resolution not to do that anymore, and maybe if we all did it, we could actually support and help each other and get ideas from each other. |
Amen to that! (I was going to to say Amen to a following post too, but that would contradict this Amen!!!  )
But... (to get back on track)
I agree with Teresa with the different learning styles suggestion. As a Spanish student I was happy to be stuffed with grammar, and then continue talking to myself, using the grammar, while I was driving home.
I have taken this into account in my new project, too, I'm pleased to say.
It is difficult with groups to attend to the needs of each individual student, but my idea is to have the teacher keep note of each student's progress and set extra-curricular assignments according to his particular style of learning, and his needs. After all, as I've said previously, the classroom is only a small part of the student's learning experience. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil_K wrote: |
I agree with Teresa with the different learning styles suggestion. As a Spanish student I was happy to be stuffed with grammar, and then continue talking to myself, using the grammar, while I was driving home.
I have taken this into account in my new project, too, I'm pleased to say.
It is difficult with groups to attend to the needs of each individual student, but my idea is to have the teacher keep note of each student's progress and set extra-curricular assignments according to his particular style of learning, and his needs. After all, as I've said previously, the classroom is only a small part of the student's learning experience. |
But what do students do outside the classroom? In my experience, next to nothing unless, like yourself, they are avid language learners. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| If those assignments are linked to the classwork, grades and overall ability to be able to continue with the course (I'm talking company classes here), I think we can encourage them to work outside class (I hesitate to use the expression "force"). As in all the problems we encounter, I believe it is better to try to find solutions rather than bemoan the problems. |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
[
But what do students do outside the classroom? In my experience, next to nothing unless, like yourself, they are avid language learners. |
Yes, I think that what they do outside the classroom probably determines how much/how quickly they learn faster than what they do inside the classroom. I have one student who is always looking for things to listen to/watch/read in English. He has a pretty big vocabulary and can write quite well, at least in part because of these activities. But, he has a hard time expressing himself orally. I have another student who will talk to anyone she gets a chance to talk to in English. She is not very self-conscious, which helps, but has made pretty rapid progress in the last 6 months. I have other students who come to class, do the homework, but don�t do much outside the classroom, even though I do a twice a month conversation class (free) and they don�t progress as quickly. I talk agree with whoever said if a student isn�t learning it�s the teacher�s fault. They can learn, and have book knowledge, but still not be able to talk, because they don�t make that extra effort to put that knowledge to use. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil_K wrote: |
| If those assignments are linked to the classwork, grades and overall ability to be able to continue with the course (I'm talking company classes here), I think we can encourage them to work outside class (I hesitate to use the expression "force"). As in all the problems we encounter, I believe it is better to try to find solutions rather than bemoan the problems. |
My experience with company classes has been very limited, but I'd be surprised if you could get most of the students in this kind of class to do anything resembling "homework". It's often a struggle to have most of them show up for class on a regular basis. I will be eager to read of any solutions you may find to this problem, and I say this sincerely, not cynically. Phil! |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil_K wrote: |
| If those assignments are linked to the classwork, grades and overall ability to be able to continue with the course (I'm talking company classes here), I think we can encourage them to work outside class (I hesitate to use the expression "force"). As in all the problems we encounter, I believe it is better to try to find solutions rather than bemoan the problems. |
I don't buy it, Phil. I have often been playing around with curriculum and possible business ventures and it would be good to talk to you one on one. I believe that a completely different business model is needed to draw attention and grow. Anything resembling homework will crash and burn, though. This is not a self-motivated, disciplined culture, focused on making progress. The truth is classes and activities have to be social while tying in form and substance. There are huge hurdles here, and I'm not sure about founding a business in Business English courses. We should talk more in depth about it. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2041
Location: A World of my Own
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I have obviously avoided saying exactly how that would work, but believe me, I'm not just tossing things into the air and seeing where they land, this is part of an integral plan. As I mentioned in a previous post, it best befits us to devise solutions and see how they work. The best way of learning is by doing. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| mejms wrote: |
| This is not a self-motivated, disciplined culture, focused on making progress. The truth is classes and activities have to be social while tying in form and substance. |
That's a rather broad statement. My private students certainly don't fit into that mold. They are adults with busy schedules and still find time to come to class for a couple of hours a week and even do homework on occasion! |
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