Visualising Ideas - Teaching English as a FOREIGN language to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. Language Teaching, Teacher Education & New Technologies. A CLIL TO CLIMB. On Being an Observer. In response to Dave Dodgson’s post which raised questions about the merits of common observation/feedback procedures in language schools, I thought I’d post one or two thoughts about the exact same thing – but from the other side of the coin, that of the observer.
I don’t claim to speak for all observers here, but this is the situation as I see it. I’m also talking about observing working teachers, rather than trainees on initial CELTA, for example. What’s the point of an observation? A younger me after having been observed for the first time ever during my CELTA. Couldn't have been that traumatic... Observations are there to help teachers develop. Observations of teachers are not there to tell people how to teach, to take a teacher’s lesson to bits, to criticise, to push a certain pedagogical agenda or to show off the observer’s supposed greater experience and knowledge. How should observations be organised? What should an observer look for? Feedback Is this good teaching? Some Observations on Observation.
It was 8.30pm on a slightly humid late spring evening.
After an all too short tea break, students were returning to their seats and readying themselves for the final leg of a long day of work and evening classes. The teacher too was feeling the strain of the dreaded ‘split shift’ having done the morning/afternoon intensive courses and then the late evening slot as well. Just as they were all ready to get back into reviewing the present continuous, a woman appeared at the door. “Sorry to interrupt, David,” said the DoS, for that is who she was, “but would you mind if I did that observation now?
I know we said Wednesday morning but I’ve just remembered I have a meeting then.” Not my old DoS obviously but Fringe fans will get the reference - Image by Godric Hufflepuff Such an ‘unexpected’ change of plans was not entirely surprising. Sure enough, my observer was sat with her eyes closed and her head gently nodding forwards. Ateacherswonderings's posterous - Home. On teaching, learning and language. A journée in language. Julie’s story: ELT Freelancing in France for over 30 years This past week I met Julie Cummings-Debrot, a freelancer with her own company here in Paris – for a cup of coffee and a chat about teaching in France, corporate training and how she’s incorporating blended learning into her courses.
We met at La Défense, the swanky financial district of Paris just after one of her lessons. We had a nice lil’ chat and afterwards I rode my lil’ folding bike back home to write up some notes to share Julie’s rich experience with us all here! Without further ado… So how long have you been (…) Posted in ELT | Tagged classroom, elearning, elt, English Addicts, esl, language, learning, linguistics, pay what you want, tefl, tesl, tesol |2 Comments 12 from 12 Blog challenge from @yearinthelifeof FIRST OFF, a warm congratulations to Vicky Loras on her 3rd year of blogging!!!
The Value of Knowledge Today is on the Decline What folks are saying about @EnglishAddicts Feedback is precious. Sandy Millin. Shaun Wilden's Blog. Teacher Training Blog. Learn English in a new way: Different student homework Do something different with your class.
Help your students to learn English in a new way. Show them that being open-minded can be fun, challenging and effective. Why not set a different type of homework for this weekend: learning English in a different/new way…. by DOING. It’s got to be better than a photocopy of some boring old grammar questions, hasn’t it? EXAMPLES: - reading an online English newspaper - watching an English language TV comedy - writing down everything you do for 1 hour (in English) - leave an internet comment in English on a YouTube video you watch - review an item online that you bought - think for 10 minutes only in English, etc. FEEDBACK: Get students to report back to the class next week on what they did… and how successful it was Teacher job opportunities #February 2014 Please see below for a good opportunity to teach English in the UK, Moscow, Korea and Japan. Posted in Jobs Tagged TEFL jobs Have a great lesson!
Kalinago English. Collablogatorium. Bcnpaul1's blog. Authentic Teaching. Unplugged and semi-unplugged, learner centred thoughts & ideas for language teachers. Jeremy Harmer's Blog. An A-Z of ELT.