Do Opposite !

the post from http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2011/09/do-opposite.html?showComment=1316801867936#c8037091957038925497 is really interesting and fresh to me.

Shelly mentions that teachers need innovation which is from
just deciding NOT to do something.

i am training to be a good teacher for students. but, what it "good" means?
how can we be a "good" teacher?

it cannot be possible only following many teaching theories or practicing the same way every time when teaching.

sometimes, teacher can have an ability to do even opposite way of teaching.

like shelly mentions that " find yourself lecturing too much? don't lecture. having trouble with the wi-fi? take the kids out for a walk.", many different ways teacher can show and i, as a student being a teacher need to keep it in mind.

in our class purpose is how to use internet tools more effectively for second language classroom.

in this sense, we can use different tools which we have never tried in classroom that could be innovation to me who have never experienced using internet tools in my language classroom.

"stop giving the paper-assignment to your students, let them sit in front of the computer and talk with you outside of classroom, on the web, on your classroom blog."



http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/

New life with Technology.

Through this video, i can realize how quickly the technology came into our life and how strongly affect to our life in it.

Technology changed a lot of new ways of living in the world from abroad experience indirectly to easily communicate people far from our countries.

However, to live with this new and fast technology, we always have to struggle with it and learn and catch the new skills and information continuously everyday, that happens,since we born.

Albert Einstein said, "we can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Through technology, it made each person to be special and different more and more but depends on how to struggle with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch

Why technology in the L2 curriculum?

Mastering language cannot be completed in a short time. Second language learners need to put a lot of effort and time to speak the language fluently.

Especially, in EFL classroom, just a few hour lesson a day can never enough to learn and practice language in each student. Commins(1998) mentions that formal L2 teaching often unsuccessful because learners receive impoverished or insufficient input in the target language.

According to Robert J. Blake's Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning, he asserts that "technology could play a major role in enhancing L2 learners' contact with the target language, especially in the absense of study abroad."  I totally agree with it since i saw many people who try to learn languages through technology without going abroad and get a high score in TOEFL or another official English speaking test. EFL students hardly have a chance to talk with foreigners, so it is difficult for them to practice target language outside of the classroom.

Thus, teachers have to use technology to supply more lessons such as providing reading materials or having discussion in the classroom blogs. Besides, teachers have to help students to practice target language continuously using the internet tools by themselves.

Blake, Robert J.  & Dorothy M. Chun.  (2008)  Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning.  Washington, D.C. :Georgetown University Press

Internet Survival Tips for Students

To my students.

Using the internet is now indispensable in our daily lives.  I know most of you guys use the internet everyday, right? but, have you thought that other people can easily get your every imformation in the internet? whenever you use the internet, you have to be vary careful since the cyber space is not that safe as you think.

Here is the tips how to keep safe when you use the internet. pleas, keep them in your mind :)


1. You should not give any personal information to anyone in online, and you should not tell the information such as your full names, phone numbers, passwords, birthdates or years which people can abuse to make ID or other ways easily.

2. You should not add people who do not know on their buddy list. Those strangers could be an invasion of their privacy as well.

3. You do not have to answer emails from strangers. Even though they get emails, check the email address at first.

4. You should keep aware that nothing can be private on the internet even they make the posts keeping the password.

5. You should be careful when students post pictures of themselves. Some might be private information to their family or friends, and it can be spreadable as well.   

If you need more information about internet safety , go these websites :)

http://www.isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op&sub_id=media_tips.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/internet_safety.html

3 Ways to use blogs in teaching/ learning

*Standard : English language learners communicate for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes within the school setting.

1.  Blogging could be used for different learning style of students. Some students might be introvert, so they may be too shy to speak in classroom. In blogs, those students would feel more comfortable to share their ideas and opinions with other classmates. 

Besides, they would feel a sense of involvement and get motivated to learn. Students could build a good rapport with other peers.

 It is useful that teachers ask students to make comments or reply to articles or questions which teachers blogged ahead. Also, give students as assignment/homework so that everyone can participate in it. Teachers should give some comments to students’ writing.

* Standard : English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of language arts, mathematics, and  social studies.

2.  Teachers can help students to understand and learn the previous lesson. Through blogs, teachers can provide many resources related to the lesson.

For example, teachers post online readings for students to read and expand their knowledge. In some areas, especially science or mathematics, teachers can show visual material and photos as additional information so that students can more comprehend the theories and principles. Students could share their idea and opinion with other classmates about the readings and other resources. 

Some students might not fully understand the lesson during the class. So, they can write down questions, other students as well as teachers can answer them to help understanding of the lessons.

*Standard : English language learners communicate for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes within the school setting.

3.  Teachers can post students the class-related information such as calendars, events, homework, and other information. 

Students can check what the today’s assignment is right away and prepare other important events such as an exam. 

Not only students, but also parents can check what their students are learning through the notice. It is also helpful for students to organize their studying plan by schedule as well.

 

* This post is based on Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

(Pre K–12 English language proficiency standards framework in 2006)

Standard 1: English language learners communicate for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes within the school setting.

Standard 2: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of language arts.

Standard 3: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of mathematics.

Standard 4: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of science.

 Standard 5: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the area of social studies.