This week we started talking about technology
aids to engage students in large groups. We were given many ideas to do that.
By the way, they can be effective with small groups as well. Second we had to
develop a power point activity. I felt myself like a child discovering a new
world with my attempt of watching tutorials and doing it myself. I learned a
lot. The thing about this course I most like is that we can put in practice
what we learn.
The main task at the blog this week is to
describe the activity we have been working with our students. Just to refresh
your minds I decided to work with a group of students who are at the basic
level and attend classes on Fridays. Most of them are teenagers. They come to
school once a week and have three hours of class. Last Friday (May 11) I gave
them a paper with a name of a classmate. Then I asked them to stand up and ask
their classmates what they were wearing. In case they did not know the name of
all of them they could ask their names as well. Next, I let them take some notes
for two minutes. Their homework was to describe online what the person they had
the name was wearing and what he/she looked like without writing or saying his/her
name. In addition, they had to ask who the person was in way that the other
students could try to guess. This activity is to emphasize the present
continuous and appearance. There are two students who are in their forties in
the group. They came to me and told me that they did not know how to deal with
blogs and I told them to come during my coordination time in the morning in a
way that I could help them to post their work. There were fifteen students last
class, but I sent emails to 19 students.
On Monday morning I created the blog sent them e-mails with the link and told them that they had until today (May 18) to post their compositions. It was a thrilling beginning of week. I was really anxious because until Wednesday no one had posted anything. But on Wednesday morning the two ladies I mentioned before came to school to ask me to help them to post their compositions. I was really happy to help them. Finally, at least two students posted. I was somehow relieved. Then yesterday, other ten students posted their writings and posted some comments trying to guess, according to the descriptions, who the classmate was.
I can say that I am very happy with the result
so far. Sometimes, not all the students hand in compositions and that can
happen in an online activity as well.
You can check their work at the blog and the
link is:
Olá Marcia,
ResponderExcluirTudo bem? (Are you well?)
I went to your class blog and I must congratulate you on it.
Your first writing idea is great. You made them participate and actually write in English. That is great.
Many times we must overlook their errors so that they won't feel so controlled. When they feel free and not constricted to being evaluated they usually feel more motivated in their activities. That's how I get my students to do their speaking. I don't correct them in the beginning so that they can come out of their shells and expose themselves to the rest of class and their teacher. Somehow, they feel more interested and develop their English Speaking skills so much more.
I'm very happy for you and your blog.
Mena