Job Discussion Forums

[gaijinalways]

I have been thinking about my options for this semester and am hoping to cut down on the number of copies I generate this term for my oral classes. One option is to dictate and have students generate some of the copies. Another is to have students copy off the board some worksheets I write out on the board. I could also have students download and print out copies from my website (I have done this in the past, though I'd need to generate new websites), though i did this for classes students missed. I am concerned that if many students don't print out the copies it might cause more chaos than the time savings it would generate.

My idea is for these classes is to be run with a certain balance focused on oral activities. I want to get students out of the text, but without generating lots of copies that I have to make. The main reason is I don't like taking the time to make copies (most of the masters I have, but I hate copying). Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to store copies at the unis I work at from year to year (well one place can, but it's limited). But I am also thinking I'd like to take a different approach to these lower level classes I have, and try and get students away from also using a support text if possible (i.e. worksheet, etc).

One thing I am considering is doing a lot more oral pair work, with me evaluating 6-8 people every week in one-on-ones. I wouldn't tell students when I am evaluating them (in other words, I want students to think it could be any time), but I would tell students that I would be doing it throughout the semester. My classes range in size from 21 to 33, so I am thinking I may be able to get enough oral grades as well as some written quizzes to make it possible to evaluate these clases.

Any other ideas out there? The textbooks I am using for these classes are Worldlink Book2, Fifty-Fifty Book 1, and Interchange Intro.

[ecocks]

the old standby since 1st grade - transparencies.

[gaijinalways]

Thanx, that is another option for avoiding making copies, though many of my rooms don't have an OHP. Could be more trouble than it's worth, but a possibility.

[ecocks]

Use a PC with a projector or an appropriate size screen.

Displaying one sentence at a time in a large font might work with the right setup and seating. Granted for more than 3-4 students probably iffy. Just trying to make do with the tools at hand.

[Glenski]

You have your own web site? Cool. How about using the school's server to create what is called an "enshu" folder. Essentially a common use folder, which could be set to read only or that allows students access only to their individual homework (not another student's)?

I agree with the use of PowerPoint and such, but if you ask them to produce from it something they hand in, you are still generating a paper chase for yourself. Perhaps less work handed in, but still something they have to write down.

Personal notebooks, whether as journals or vocabulary records.

Video tape pairs or groups for later evaluation.

[gaijinalways]

[naturegirl321]

Over heads
Power Point Presentations
Laminating

[Glenski]

gaijinalways,
You don't necessarily have to be a full-timer to have enshu folders. Have the school issue you an account like they do to part-timers where I work, and have them create the enshu folder.

As for labor intensiveness of video taping large groups, do it piecemeal, scheduling the videotaping during your class on days that it doesn't matter when they can miss 5-10 minutes. Relay teams. Who cares if you schedule actual rooms? They can speak anywhere it's relatively quiet. Hallway, elevator, toilet, etc.

[gaijinalways]

Interesting idea glenski, especially using the bathrooms. That might lead to some interesting questions from my boss .

I'll check about the enshu folder business, as right now I don't even have an email address thought the university (I turned them down as they are only accessible on the in-house server).

Naturegirl, we have the laminator, just haven't used it yet. Debating what and how many copies I want/need to laminate. Probably plan to do it for group work with one laminated copy per group. Now if I can only get them to not write on it...

[tanuki]

Heya gaijinalways

Here are a few thoughts:

Laminating

* This is a great idea. I love using laminated resources. But...

... don't go too wild!

And, you might well be thinking that this is an absurd warning to make, but just you wait... You start out thinking "Oh, yeah, I'll just laminate these cool pictures for this one class..." and then you turn around a few years later to find you've got a box that weighs a hundred kilos full of stuff you've only used twice.

My rule for laminating: ONLY if it does not take more time to do than it takes to DO that part of the lesson... AND... only as long as those cards can be used at least half-a-dozen times throughout the year (not necessarily for the same lesson, might I add).

There are, of course, special annual/calendar events that are worth going to a little bit of extra effort for, but on the whole that rule applies for me.


* Also, concerning the number of cards to prepare (and your concern about them writing on them, etc):

You don't need a set for each group. They're just PROMPTS usually, right? So if your pics are clear and simple and big enough and everyone can see them from where they're sitting, you only need to make ONE set and then get some magnets from the dollar-store, put the cards up on the whiteboard/blackboard, drill the dialogue from the prompts and set them forth to do it themselves and then make some kind of modified form of the dialogue from the frame you've given them.

If one set is not ideal, make 4 sets: one for each wall of the room--and just take some scotch tape or blu-tack to class. Saves you making more than you need to.

Notebooks

* The key thing that you'll probably want students taking away from most conversation-style lessons is the main vocab patterns, right?

Don't be afraid to simply allocate part of your lesson (as in block out 5-7 minutes in your plan!) for them to write down the key vocab in their notebooks. Any clown who turns up to class without a notebook can't be too serious about things.

And any "complaints" that this is "wasting time" are scarcely valid in my opinion. Just stand your ground and explain why you aren't going to write up everything on a handout and then photocopy and collate and schlep the stack across town and so on... (and why you aren't going to wipe their butts for them either).


Websites

* A website is a terrific idea--even if it's to deal with the whingers from the previous point. You can direct them to that week/day's lesson by writing the URL for the notes at the END of the lesson. If they are too lazy to go download it and print it off, ain't your problem, they've clearly got bigger issues that they need to overcome in life!

* Re: Geocities... forget that, man! Go register yourself a domain name at somewhere like Namecheap. Then go and get yourself some good hosting. I use this one. Namecheap also offer really cheap hosting now, but I haven't used it so I don't know if it's any good.

* If you don't want to do that, get what is basically the "new" version of GeoCities: a blog hosted by Wordpress.com (not org) or Blogger.

I haven't used Blogger. Lots of folks do.

I don't use Wordpress.com.

Instead, you can install Wordpress (the open-source, host-it-yourself version with support at ".org") from your cPanel on your hosting account in about 2 minutes and be up and running with a nice-looking theme in under 30!

(If you need any help, PM me)

Whether you go with Blogger or Wordpress, I strongly recommend hosting it yourself because then you have complete control over what you can and can't upload and all sorts of other things.

Wordpress is great because it's not just a blogging platform, it can be used very effectively as a CMS (content management system). You can configure the "Pages" and "Categories" (and use some plug-ins) to handle lots of neat things.

If you were a GeoCities-er, then you are probably okay with basic HTML and FTP, right? If not, you don't really need much HTML knowledge (and anything you need you can get for free here). And you can get a great free FTP program here.

This way you can...

-- post your lesson notes by date and title. Your students can search them easily.

-- upload your worksheets and pdfs for them to download. (You can even password protect certain posts, which might be ideal for a series of lessons where you don't want students in another class getting ahead of themselves)

-- circumvent all the academic protocol and paper-trail involved with getting write-access to the university's server. You can quite literally be up and running on your own site in an hour!

-- not have to worry about having to replicate all the work (not to mention all the meetings and protocol just referred to!) when you change from one place of employment to another because all your lesson notes are there, nicely archived and password protected for future classes completely irrespective of where you're working!


Superstars

You get your students involved by videotaping and audio recording them (even if it's with your mobile phone!) and uploading it to your site! That will make them want to visit!

You also run a poll (there are plenty of easy to use polling plug-ins for wordpress. There are also other things like this.)

You could whack a poll (or polls!) on your site and collect a running tally of the best video/audio/dialogue/performance/etc over the term (you could even have a leaderboard to rev them up!) with the purpose of awarding two prizes at the end of the term: one for YOUR pick (based on whatever academic criteria you set forth at the beginning of term (and on your blog!) and one for the most popular audience pick.

And so on...

There are just some things off the top of my head. I'm sure I'll think of others so I might come back and post again if I remember. As I said, PM me if you have any questions.

Tanuki
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EFL Teacher Training.com

[TheLongWayHome]

[Glenski]

gaijinalways,
The JALT Hokkaido group uses WordPress for its blog (which I edit). Feel free to take a peek to see what it offers, and by all means contact the webmaster for more info on it. I'd give you his name, but only in PM. He's a really great guy. He also knows a lot about Blogger.

[gaijinalways]

Guys, thanx again, lots of good ideas.

Tanuki, as to laminating, I am thinking more of certain worksheets and activity sheets that I use for about 13 of my lower level classes. I need about 20 copies of 1 set per class so that I can do it as pair work or small groups. I'm not really planning to laminate many pictures (maybe in the future). And yes, you have to consider the weight when you're bringing lot of laminations, something I don't think I want to start doing (I domn't want back problems) .

As to website planning, I'm considering it, though probably not for this semester (to use it, I mean). I would have to specifically think which worksheets to upload with titles, and I would need 3 different websites (with mostly the same content) for my 3 unis. To be honest, I'm not up to doing that before I leave to go on vacation, and once the semester gets rocking, it's not likely to happen. Definitely a future idea though! I like the idea of putting pics on it and video as well.

Glenski, will definitely take a look at that JALT Hokkaido website. I'm not very web savvy, but I enjoy using the Internet, so why not create something of my own, I just don't want to be too bogged down in the details of making it at the moment, definitely something I would need to think out. That also sounds like another presentation possibility.

Tanuki, cam I also get students to save work on my own website using the tools you suggested as I could with the 'enshu' folder idea that Glenski mentioned? For me, that's an interesting idea for my smaller classes, don't want to get too loaded down with reading student work with close to 400 students.

LWH, I have done that, but it can be time consuming. I tend to like to be part of the pair myself, easier for me to help in some cases and many students enjoy a chance to talk to me on occasion.