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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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 Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:52 pm Post subject: whoops |
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Allright, allright. I forgot I was surrounded by linguists. The fact is I didn't have anything to say and said something anyway.
This is my first go on this or any forum. I enjoy it and wanted to continue. I only wish that I could write something clever or perhaps write more cleverly.
How many English teachers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Last edited by Sweetsee on Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:15 pm Post subject: How many |
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Dear Sweetsee,
Just one. He/She holds up the light bulb and the universe revolves around him/her.
or
Only one - but it takes two hours to write the lesson plan on how to screw in light bulbs, an hour to screw in the bulb and an hour to test it.
or
Only one at home - but at least four on school time.
Regards,
John |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:20 pm Post subject: good |
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That's what I'm talking about  !
A good laugh in the morning to get this hump day started!
How about the rest of you? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Sweetsea,
Yikes, you actually want MORE?
OK.
Only one if it's a light bulb, but two if it's a heavy one.
or
How many English teachers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
At least two, but if the bulb's big enough you could probably fit another couple in. And if it's really big, you could have an orgy in there.
Regards,
John |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:47 pm Post subject: lessons |
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| You encourage students to create their own dialogues and what do you say to the ones who have written exactly what was in the text. Do you hope that upon hearing the other original works they will be encouraged to do the same? Do you give them a situation and hope they take the ball and run with it? |
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king kakipi
Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 353
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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How about a rule banning the editing of Opening Posts?!
Yours faithfully,
Confused!  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Sweetsee,
I can't speak for others, but I have had a lot of trouble following some of your messages. You talk about night school in one message, and about being an ALT in another message, sometimes perhaps in the same post.
I think most of the responses you got were pretty professional. What you write is sometimes hard to understand, and that's ok for a beginner (we were ALL there), but you really have to make your points clearer.
If you can address some of your questions to specific people, that would help. I think the following message was directed at me, but I'm not sure:
| Quote: |
| You encourage students to create their own dialogues and what do you say to the ones who have written exactly what was in the text. Do you hope that upon hearing the other original works they will be encouraged to do the same? Do you give them a situation and hope they take the ball and run with it? |
One small section of one of my high school classes spent a couple of weeks creating original skits. That was where they had to create a dialog, using grammar that they had previously been taught. Students were given clear guidelines to follow (how long the skit had to be, a choice of 3 topics, a list of the grammar), plus a schedule and plenty of in-class writing time.
I don't know what you meant by "what do you say to the ones who have written exactly what was in the text?" These were all original conversations full of mistakes and fun. Nobody copied anything out of a textbook. There simply wasn't enough material in the text to copy anyway.
Some skits were very good, despite mistakes in the grammar. Some were good because they were funny, or creative, or dramatic, etc. Some were pitiful attempts just to satisfy the teachers by putting words on paper. We'd asked students to memorize as much as possible and deducted points for students who had to read from their scripts. We also deducted points for skits in which speaking was not shared equally.
In another class (2nd year students), we taught them how to prepare original speeches and present them.
In another class (3rd year students), there were several projects involving groups making oral presentations, all from original dialogues. Some of the projects involved making TV commercials, showing small talk situations, giving compliments, presenting survey results, doing biographies on famous people, or describing results of scavenger hunts. I've been doing that class for 3 years, so I have a fair amount of experience in teaching students how to speak without repeating dialogs from text. However, I also currently teach a pitiful series of classes this year in which students do regurgitate dialogs, and I'd have to say it is the most miserable class I've taught to date (and their test results prove its worthlessness, but I'm forced to teach it).
Don't be overwhelmed or intimidated by people who know how to use the quote boxes. Just practice things like that yourself, or cut and paste the conversations you wish to refer to. I'd be happy to teach you in private message how to do some of those things.
You never did answer one of my questions, but perhaps it got buried in the mass of responses. I'll reiterate.
Exactly what is your teaching situation? Are you a JET ALT? Are you an ALT hired through a board of education? Do you have a side job? Where?
People here actually do their best to help others. I've been on this board for over 6 years, and except for some rare cases, people stay on track and don't flame others. In fact, only in the last year or so has this site begun using the Newbie forum; it is considered somewhat of a safe haven for anyone to post newbie questions. Flamers are cautioned not to post hastily there. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 1:09 am Post subject: glenski |
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Glenski wrote:
Exactly what is your teaching situation? Are you a JET ALT? Are you an ALT hired through a board of education? Do you have a side job? Where? [/b]
Glenski you are the man! I saw you had posted a reply to me and before I opened it I thought, oh no  , he's gonna let me have it. But of course you set me straight again.
Please define: flamer (and what's the opposite?)
I am a fulltime private girls high school ALT minus the assistant part. I teach OC1 to 5 first year classes, co-homeroom a second year class which includes 4 lessons a week of English conversation, 2 lessons a week with a 3rd year class, 2 lessons a week with a 3rd year group of 9, ESS club once a week and assistant boys basketball coach. (recently began enrolling boys) In all I have 21 lessons a week.
I teach a 2 hour intermediate class at a leading Japanese audio maker.
And I am an ALT at a Tokyo public night school. Very, very laid back.
I started at eikaiwa and picked up a public school job, then another and spent 9 years as an ALT at public school and eikaiwa together.
I love my job but I want to be a better teacher.
I have a lesson plan and I am driving into Tokyo to teach and hit balls. Is it imparitive to have everyone's attention and participation in the classroom. If they were high school students, no prob. They are older now and...chime time.
Sorry and cheers, |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 2:40 am Post subject: |
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I hope you won't be offended Sweetsee, but for someone who has been teaching here for 9 years, you seem to be asking some pretty rudimentary questions. I am surprised, as I'll bet many others are, to hear you have been here that long and still asking basic methodology teaching questions.
I am glad that you are not too proud to be asking them though. Good for you. |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 3:17 am Post subject: Re: lessons |
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| Sweetsee wrote: |
| You encourage students to create their own dialogues and what do you say to the ones who have written exactly what was in the text. Do you hope that upon hearing the other original works they will be encouraged to do the same? Do you give them a situation and hope they take the ball and run with it? |
Just ask them to close their books. If they need to see certain grammar structures or vocabulary, you could leave them on the board, but there's no need for them to have the original text in front of them, is there?
And check in on each pair to see what they're writing.
d |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 3:39 am Post subject: reply |
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Thanks D.
I am trying to get them to create any one of a zillion possible dialogues that they could have with students from our sister school in New Zealand when they visit for 5 days in October.
Slow going but have seen improvement in second day. Five students will be hosting students at their home.
Gordon, it's more like 12 years and every day is a new beginning.
Cheers |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:22 am Post subject: |
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If NZ students are coming to visit, why don't you get them to write to each other, if you haven't already done so by now.
12 Years in Japan! You are a martyr.  I don't think I could ever stay that long. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 5:13 am Post subject: reply |
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Do you mean ask the class to write a letter to the students as a group?
Write a ficticious letter?
Give me some specifics.
It will be 15 years July 7th. Never been happier.
Tell me about method. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 5:30 am Post subject: |
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No I mean get in contact with the teacher in NZ and match your students up with the NZ students (boys with boys and girls with girls preferably). They can be pen pals and get to know each other before they come to Japan.
This way many of the barriers can be broken down before they meet and most Japanese students are more comfortable writing than speaking. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Gordon, that's a great idea.
I will do it.
What about in the mean time?
I am asking them to make up conversations. As you said, they are more comfortable writing but they do it and then when I ask them if they can perform it they say no, yet they are fine with sitting there and doing nothing once they have finished as opposed to practicing. So, when I see that they have finished I ask them to change the situation and create another.
Do you teach HS? What do you do in class?
A lot more writing than speaking at the moment but I |
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