Motivating speaking activities for lower levels
Planning time has been shown to increase production in speaking tasks. Lower level learners often find it especially difficult to speak spontaneously, so these activities incorporate 'thinking time' during which learners can prepare for speaking by planning what they are going to say, and asking the teacher or using a dictionary to look up missing vocabulary. The following activities are relatively short, with minimal materials preparation time for the teacher. They are designed for use as a warmer or a filler in the middle or at the end of a class. 1. Definitions lists
Assessment: Lower Stakes, Raise Retention
Assessment is a hot-button issue in today's K-12 education landscape, especially when one places the word "standardized" in front. But not all tests and exams need raise hackles or blood pressure. Indeed, there is a certain kind of exam that has been shown to increase learning in the classroom without undue dread: low-stakes assessment. Retrieval-Enhanced Learning Henry Roediger III, professor of psychology at Washington University in St.
Bradley - Scaffolding Academic Learning for Second Language Learners
The Internet TESL Journal Karen Sue Bradley & Jack Alden Bradleykfksb00 [at] tamuk.eduTexas A&M University (Kingsville, Texas, USA) Introduction What is meant by the term scaffolding? "Scaffolding refers to providing contextual supports for meaning through the use of simplified language, teacher modeling, visuals and graphics, cooperative learning and hands-on learning" (Ovando, Collier, & Combs, 2003, p. 345).
Make It Count: Providing Feedback as Formative Assessment
Providing students with feedback on written work can, at times, feel like a burden. Dozens (perhaps even hundreds) of papers clutter your desk, and commenting on each is nearly impossible. Still, we know, both from our experiences and from research, that feedback is essential. John Hattie, Professor of Education and Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia, believes that feedback must be timely, relevant, and action-oriented. The good news, according to Hattie, is that "students want feedback just for them, just in time, and just helping nudge forward." To that end, he encourages us to "worry more about how students are receiving your feedback . . . than increasing how much you give."
Total physical response - TPR
Where is it from? How can I use it in class? When should I use it? Why should I use it in the classroom?
Evaluating speaking
For example, speakers need to pronounce individual sounds clearly, understand the functions of language, and follow the conventions of turn-taking. The second part of this article looks at whether these different elements can be evaluated formally, and what ways there are to do this. In the third part of this article we will look at how these competencies can be evaluated, with specific discussion of the IELTS speaking test. What speakers do Phonological features of speech Following the rules of language Paralinguistic devices Communicative functions Social meaning Conclusion What speakers do Speaking is a complex act with many different elements interacting to produce effective communication.
Motivating teenagers
I will link three practical classroom activities to the ideas of American Psychologist Carl Rogers. The ideas of Carl Rogers Types of motivation and teenagers Ways to improve motivation:Journals - empathy Using photos - authenticity Music - acceptance The ideas of Carl Rogers Rogers (1957) outlined 3 attitudinal qualities that a teacher, or in his words, a facilitator, should have to assist the learning process. They are empathy (seeing things from the students' viewpoint), authenticity (being yourself) and acceptance (of students' ideas and opinions). Types of motivation and teenagers It is widely agreed that motivation has a great effect on a student's capacity to learn. Motivation can be broken down into extrinsic and intrinsic forms.
Testing and assessment
It was all made worse by the fact that the chemistry teacher read the results to the whole class, from first to last place. My humiliation was complete. Students can have very negative reactions towards tests and it's no surprise when they too may have had experiences like this. Why testing doesn't work Reasons for testing Making testing more productive Learning from tests Alternatives to testing Conclusions Why testing doesn't work There are many arguments against using tests as a form of assessment:
Top ten time-management tips for teachers
I often hear teachers in staffrooms complaining about students who are late for lessons and claim they have no time to complete their homework tasks, and yet spend their waking hours on social media and binge-watching series after series on Netflix. Then there are teachers who sneer at me when I talk about CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and categorically tell me that they have time for no such thing. There is no doubt that time-management is a skill that we are not born with and like any other skill, takes time (ironic, I know!) to hone. In the recent issue of English Teaching professional (114), I took a brief look at how we could (and should) include the teaching of time management in our classes, and suggested that many teachers could do with some help in this area.
Council of Europe Language Policy Portal
Languages are a fundamental aspect of people’s lives and the democratic functioning of society. In response to the needs identified in or by its member states, the Council of Europe has been working over the past few decades to compile a set of resources made available to education authorities and professionals and benefiting all Europe’s citizens (see milestones). Some of the end products have been widely distributed beyond Europe. The objectives of the Language policy Programme form part of the broader role and goals of the Council of Europe (in the context of the European Cultural Convention), concerning in particular the rights of individuals, social inclusion and cohesion, intercultural understanding and equal access to quality education.
What to consider when teaching English in large classes
How many students do you teach? Do you feel that your classes are too big? Author and education consultant Jason Anderson looks at the issues and offers some potential solutions.
