Job Discussion Forums

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

I've talked with a few of you around the globe about weblinking classes...we'll be broadcasting another EFL class (conversation club, intermediate level) tonight from 5:30 to 7 PM Mexico City time (GMT -6).

PM me if anyone would like to participate in the class. This one is a trial run for actually linking up to other classrooms, though if you are only checking into it as a teacher from home or off-hours, no problem. Any and all are invited.

I think we broadcast during mid-morning in East Asia or late night in Europe.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Guy, I won't actually be teaching at that time. Is it possible to observe/lurk?

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

There's a PM sizzling in your inbox Dmb

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Guy,
A colleague of mine living in the USA is considering selling English courses to various mainstream schools where he used to work in Japan. What you have described here seems to be related. Can you describe what is needed in terms of computers and software to do this sort of thing?

Forget any marketing aspects, ok? That's his headache.

Also, if you could explain to me what weblinking classes are all about, I'd appreciate it. Either my colleague or I might want to observe as well.

Thanks, amigo.

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

Glenski...for the moment, we're trying to iron out the bugs and see what possibilities exist for bridging our TEFL broadcasts to other classrooms. I work some as a technical and employment advisor for a language center in Mexico City that would like me to put their EFL students (mostly uni-age) in touch online with similar groups of students around the world.

It would ultimately be a marketing tool for this school on a local level, but I'm personally interested in making this happen for the joy of seeing a tough project get off the ground.

This isn't to do or market online English classes...nothing of the sort. The idea is to use real time chat, audio, and video to bring groups of students together online to compete, exchange views, or work on conversation with other EFL learners with whom they would otherwise not have contact.

For the moment, we are practicing by using a yahoo chat room to feed live video and audio of conversation classes at the above mentioned language center in a broadcast format, meaning, anyone that logs on through yahoo messenger can see the video, hear the audio, and offer feedback through type-chat.

Once this gets worked out, we are looking at using either the same chat room in yahoo, or another web-based program such as Netmeeting in order get cameras and audio on both ends. Each class/group would need a fairly quick Internet connection, a computer, decent mic, webcam, and a common lesson plan coordinated between teachers.

We will be broadcasting (one way broadcast) another converation club tomorrow at 5:30 PM Mexico City time (GMT -6). You need yahoo messenger to locate the US chat room. Connection info is posted on our site at www.innovative-english.com/chat.htm although it's a bit cluttered at the moment.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

My alarm is set for 2 am to get up and watch.

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

Wakey, wakey, dmb...we're going to try it again, 5:30 to 7:00 PM

http://www.innovative-english.com/chat.htm