Hi-Hello, Fellow EFL/ESL Instructors!
We are Josh Overcast and Liz Ekelund, both students in the new
Language Teaching Specialization Master’s Degree Program through the
University of Oregon. We are preparing to give a
presentation at our states TESOL conference and are asking for assistance and feedback from the ESL/EFL instructor community to make this presentation as good as possible.
The title of our presentation is “10 pounds or less: an ultralight
resource kit for the outbound EFL instructor.” While English language
advertising and Internet access now reach many corners of the world,
we have heard EFL instructors continue to lament, “if I had just
brought that one book of real newspaper article activities with me…”
Our goal with this presentation is to develop a lightweight,
“ready-to-go” travel packet of authentic English language material
for those preparing to teach in more remote regions where such realia
might be scarce or even nonexistent. We also plan to develop a series
of activities for the authentic material included with the packet, so
that with the resource kit in hand even the most novice EFL
instructor can hit the ground running.
This is a noncommercial project which we believe will benefit new
teachers in the field. Again, any comments we receive from you will
be extremely helpful in developing the presentation. We are new to
teaching, as well, and need all the help we can get! Please take a
moment to answer the questions below and provide feedback on your
experiences teaching in areas where authentic English language
materials were at a premium. Also, if you know anyone who has taught
abroad and may be able to contribute some EFL wisdom for this
project, please forward them this email.
We look forward to being able to collate your responses by
Wednesday, October 13. We appreciate your help and thank you for the
contributions!
Sincerely, Liz Ekelund and Josh Overcast
University of Oregon Dept. of Linguistics
LTS MA Program
Please answer the following questions. Do feel free to elaborate as
much (or as little) as you like!
1. In which foreign country(ies) have you taught English? When?
2. Was English common/visible to the general populace (e.g., in
advertising)?
3. Was English language printed mass media available (newspapers,
magazines, etc.)? Was it expensive for the average citizen?
4. Was Internet access available? Was Internet access expensive for
the average citizen?
5. What other English language resources were available?
6. What activities did you use in the classroom that
utilized/required authentic material?
7. If you were returning to this same location to teach again, what
three items of English language realia would you take with you to use
in the classroom?
8. Any other comments or recommendations you may have.
Thank you for your time!
Can anyone help a fellow language teacher??
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
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Liz in Oregon
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 3:38 am
- Location: Eugene, Oregon
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woodcutter
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
These days, I no longer take postcards or brochures concerning the Norfolk broads or Norwich cathedral, because nobody is all that interested in that kind of stuff, whatever the books say! I do take enough British money in different denominations to play about with though.
I feel it is better to concern yourself with taking re-usable materials which might often be useful across a range of classes, such as a game of scrabble or something.
I feel it is better to concern yourself with taking re-usable materials which might often be useful across a range of classes, such as a game of scrabble or something.
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Duncan Powrie
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 3:33 pm
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woodcutter
- Posts: 1303
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:14 am
- Location: London
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Duncan Powrie
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 3:33 pm
Well, their questionnaire is indeed more for the benefit of people going to places such as Rwanda! They want feedback from "veterans" who've been to such places, so that novices can benefit from the collected wisdom.
Our goal with this presentation is to develop a lightweight,
“ready-to-go” travel packet of authentic English language material
for those preparing to teach in more remote regions where such realia
might be scarce or even nonexistent.
Please take a moment to answer the questions below and provide feedback on your experiences teaching in areas where authentic English language materials were at a premium.
In answer....
Hey Liz!
In answer to your questions....
1. In which foreign country(ies) have you taught English? When?
Spain. From 1986 to the present.
2. Was English common/visible to the general populace (e.g., in
advertising)?
In the late '80s not so much. Now-a-days it is everywhere, dual television broadcasts, DVDs, product lables, advertising, newspapers and magazines in the public library, internet, etc....
3. Was English language printed mass media available (newspapers,
magazines, etc.)? Was it expensive for the average citizen?
The English press is more expensive and not as available as the Spanish press, though if you live in Barcelna or Madrid you can find both in nearly all newsstands. Now-a-days you can find English press in the public library if they have enough budget, at least "Time" or "Newsweek".
4. Was Internet access available? Was Internet access expensive for
the average citizen?
Spain is a little behind other countries in Europe, though recently the telephone company and private cable companies have doubled our access speed free as a way of getting more people to connect. Even so, I would guess that most people look at pages in Spanish rather than in English. I've met very few who have tried to use internet as a study tool (there are always the cut-and-paste things kids do when asked to produce a piece of written work) despite the many useful links I offer them in class. It is a bit expensive, round about $40 a month, plus whatever your phone service costs you (local calls are not usually free).
5. What other English language resources were available?
None.
6. What activities did you use in the classroom that
utilized/required authentic material?
None.
7. If you were returning to this same location to teach again, what
three items of English language realia would you take with you to use
in the classroom?
None. Whatever I would take with me can be found represented in any Language book, though the examples might not be realea, they are representative.
8. Any other comments or recommendations you may have.
The materials I brought with me did weigh in at less than ten pounds. I simply brought three complete grammar/structure exercise books and a file folder with some articles and comics. A friend often mailed me things from the American press. I have tried to use this realea in class and have found it pretty useless. It is a curiosity for the students but is rapidly outdated. Things have changed since the late '80s, at least in Spain, and English language material is available here so it is not necessary to bring it along and pay extra luggage fees. It's a bit like bringing peanut butter to Spain, there is no "Jiff" here available in every supermarket, but you finally get over the craving and get used to the food they do have, which is quite good as well. If you need peanut butter you grind your own with the "batidora" and suddenly realize what a pasty substance it is and how much better it is for your jaw-line if you chew the peanuts yourself. Travel light, bring your favorite teacher-oriented book, your work will be what you can do, not what you can show.
peace,
revel.
[/i]
In answer to your questions....
1. In which foreign country(ies) have you taught English? When?
Spain. From 1986 to the present.
2. Was English common/visible to the general populace (e.g., in
advertising)?
In the late '80s not so much. Now-a-days it is everywhere, dual television broadcasts, DVDs, product lables, advertising, newspapers and magazines in the public library, internet, etc....
3. Was English language printed mass media available (newspapers,
magazines, etc.)? Was it expensive for the average citizen?
The English press is more expensive and not as available as the Spanish press, though if you live in Barcelna or Madrid you can find both in nearly all newsstands. Now-a-days you can find English press in the public library if they have enough budget, at least "Time" or "Newsweek".
4. Was Internet access available? Was Internet access expensive for
the average citizen?
Spain is a little behind other countries in Europe, though recently the telephone company and private cable companies have doubled our access speed free as a way of getting more people to connect. Even so, I would guess that most people look at pages in Spanish rather than in English. I've met very few who have tried to use internet as a study tool (there are always the cut-and-paste things kids do when asked to produce a piece of written work) despite the many useful links I offer them in class. It is a bit expensive, round about $40 a month, plus whatever your phone service costs you (local calls are not usually free).
5. What other English language resources were available?
None.
6. What activities did you use in the classroom that
utilized/required authentic material?
None.
7. If you were returning to this same location to teach again, what
three items of English language realia would you take with you to use
in the classroom?
None. Whatever I would take with me can be found represented in any Language book, though the examples might not be realea, they are representative.
8. Any other comments or recommendations you may have.
The materials I brought with me did weigh in at less than ten pounds. I simply brought three complete grammar/structure exercise books and a file folder with some articles and comics. A friend often mailed me things from the American press. I have tried to use this realea in class and have found it pretty useless. It is a curiosity for the students but is rapidly outdated. Things have changed since the late '80s, at least in Spain, and English language material is available here so it is not necessary to bring it along and pay extra luggage fees. It's a bit like bringing peanut butter to Spain, there is no "Jiff" here available in every supermarket, but you finally get over the craving and get used to the food they do have, which is quite good as well. If you need peanut butter you grind your own with the "batidora" and suddenly realize what a pasty substance it is and how much better it is for your jaw-line if you chew the peanuts yourself. Travel light, bring your favorite teacher-oriented book, your work will be what you can do, not what you can show.
peace,
revel.
[/i]
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Sally Olsen
- Posts: 1322
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Canada,France, Brazil, Japan, Mongolia, Greenland, Canada, Mongolia, Ethiopia next
Great idea. I hope that you print out what you discover.
Most countries I have been in didn't have a Thesaurus but you can usually get a dictionary.I brought decorations for holidays because you rarely get North American holiday decorations. I also brought finger puppets for the younger grades. I took along posters of various things just to give them an idea of what a poster could look like - I like the ones with inspirational sayings but cheap dollar store calendars are also good for that and give you pictures as well and a chance to write something in the date box and so on. I took along a ton of stickers. I also bought a lap top computer and a digital camera and used those extensively for everything that I couldn't bring along even when I didn't have Internet access. I brought a can opener because I never found one that I really liked. I also brought along a month's supply of my favourite candy until I could find something I liked. I brought pictures of my family doing various activities for initial introductions. I usually visited the comic store and got the free comic samples. I brought chalk in Mongolia because I think their chalk is toxic. I also brought along a can of blackboard paint.
That might take up a lot of your 10 pounds - maybe we can up it to 10 kilos? I brought along Twister, basic Bingo games, Upwords which is kind of like scrabble), samples of Snakes and Ladders Games made by other kids. I went to my Member of Parliament and they gave me small Canadian flags and pins and I brought my change and sample of bills to copy for money lessons and Monopoly - you can make that gameboard with local businesses. I always use Animal Balloons in the second class so had a good supply of those plus a pump. I even brought a parachute for playing games with the canopy but that would take you over your 10 kilos for sure. You can pack everything in a hockey bag, smile and talk your way through a lot of airline baggage handlers. You might want to take pens if you have a favourite. Bring along your good humour, a flexible attitude and love of learning.
Most countries I have been in didn't have a Thesaurus but you can usually get a dictionary.I brought decorations for holidays because you rarely get North American holiday decorations. I also brought finger puppets for the younger grades. I took along posters of various things just to give them an idea of what a poster could look like - I like the ones with inspirational sayings but cheap dollar store calendars are also good for that and give you pictures as well and a chance to write something in the date box and so on. I took along a ton of stickers. I also bought a lap top computer and a digital camera and used those extensively for everything that I couldn't bring along even when I didn't have Internet access. I brought a can opener because I never found one that I really liked. I also brought along a month's supply of my favourite candy until I could find something I liked. I brought pictures of my family doing various activities for initial introductions. I usually visited the comic store and got the free comic samples. I brought chalk in Mongolia because I think their chalk is toxic. I also brought along a can of blackboard paint.
That might take up a lot of your 10 pounds - maybe we can up it to 10 kilos? I brought along Twister, basic Bingo games, Upwords which is kind of like scrabble), samples of Snakes and Ladders Games made by other kids. I went to my Member of Parliament and they gave me small Canadian flags and pins and I brought my change and sample of bills to copy for money lessons and Monopoly - you can make that gameboard with local businesses. I always use Animal Balloons in the second class so had a good supply of those plus a pump. I even brought a parachute for playing games with the canopy but that would take you over your 10 kilos for sure. You can pack everything in a hockey bag, smile and talk your way through a lot of airline baggage handlers. You might want to take pens if you have a favourite. Bring along your good humour, a flexible attitude and love of learning.