Assignment for June 29th

Teaching through videos

Hi everybody, the assignment for next Monday consists of answering a couple of questions. Before answering, please take a look at these links and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDmESBJKMYw&feature=PlayList&p=A7F32E320BB41FA2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xTreaklNr8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XqDXt4GVyA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSq_u2XhUqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6W0mVxrvP4&feature=related

What do you think about teaching or reinforcing your teaching by using videos? Is it very difficult to get the infrastructure so as to do it in a school? Are schools willing to invest money on technology so as to make your classes more interactive, motivating and meaningful? Waiting for your posts. Best regards, Marcela.

Assignment for June 22nd

First semester evaluation

What is your evaluation of the first English IV semester? Do you consider that you have progressed or that you're stuck? What do you think about the activities we've had so far? Do you recommend other activities we could do in class? Have you been a good student? What can you do so as not to lose contact with the language during winter vacation? What factors have favored/ affected your learning?

Waiting for your posts. Best regards, Marcela.

Assignment for June 15th

Thesis

Are you already working on your thesis? What is your topic? Does it meet your needs and expectations? Does it reflect your interests? Is your thesis being written in English or in Spanish? What is the purpose of a thesis work? Is it better to work alone or in group? What are the difficulties of working on a thesis? How much of your time should be devoted to it?

Let me tell you that my thesis was written in English, I had to work with four other people, and it was on American literature. It took us one year and it was fairly easy to compile the info, but it was hard to put it together on paper, given that we were five. I would have preferred to have worked on Phonology or Linguistics, but Mr. Sandoval was the only teacher left available that semester, and I didn't want to wait a whole year to find available teachers to work with. Needless to say that American literature was not my cup of tea, so I didn't feel like I was giving the best of myself. The experience was OK, but next time I have to write a thesis, I will do it alone and on a linguistic topic. I'm looking forward to taking that second chance.

Waiting for your posts. Best regards, Marcela.

Assignment for June 8th

Children or adults?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching children? What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching teenagers/adults? Speak from different points of view, say, behavior, learning, time, expectations, and the like. Base your answers on what you have learned in Methodology and Linguistics. In this way, you may discover the kind of people you would like to work with in the future. Waiting for your posts. Best regards from your teacher, Marcela.

Assignment for June 1st

Teaching English

Thanks for posting. Don't stop doing it, since it's a fantastic way to exchange opinions, ideas and stimulate the use of English out of the classroom.

Let's go down to business. Most of you are already teaching. Please, mention the most difficult aspects of the teaching activity. Mind you that by aspects we mean linguistic, behavioral, environmental, or any other aspect that you consider should be changed in order to get the best from your students. What can we do to change these aspects? Read your classmates' posts and suggest them solutions or speak from your own experience or intuition. Best regards from your teacher, Marcela.

Assignment for May 25th

Oral presentations

What was the best oral presentation you saw during the first cycle? Give your arguments and consider all the elements evaluated in the peer evaluation rubric. Waiting for your posts. Best regards from your teacher, Marcela.