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This is a booklet of notes and ideas from the International IATEFL Slovenia conference 2014
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LITTLE IDEAS FOR GREAT
CHANGES
Little ideas from the 2014 International IATEFL Slovenia conference
SLOVENSKO DRUŠTVO UČITELJEV ANGLEŠKEGA JEZIKA IATEFL SLOVENIA
June 2014
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Teachers? Do we need them at all?
Jeremy Harmer advises to research deeper into what the students expect
from the teacher and how a teacher can achieve this. + A point to
remember is that we do need the teachers, we need them for different
reasons: as mentors or as allies. He also says the role of a teacher is in
targeting, pointing out..
We need teachers, if for no other
reason, then at least for helping
students direct their attention to the
language. And this is far from easy to
do, as we all know.
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What about the old(fashioned) teaching methods?
Photo taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa
We shouldn't dismiss ideas such as drilling, the use of mother tongue, teacher
explanations, etc. because they are no longer in fashion (mentioned by
Jeremy and Anthony) Some of these ideas were really good, or just need
slight adaptation to current needs.
Jeremy Harmer says "Don't use (reading aloud) to provoke failure, use it as a
life-enhancing activity!."
Routine and creativity should go hand in hand. The first one will make
students feel safe, the other one hopefully interested. One type of activity
(like magic cards, for instance) can be used as a starting or closing activity
for a period of time (one month, for example). Each time it is carried out by a
different student. (Silva Bratož, Mojca Žefran)
But, do we still need teachers?
Yes, OF COURSE!
Drilling is not out of date,
BUT!
it has to be done meaningfully!
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Mojca Žefran also suggests to get your students' attention with creative
introductory chants.
Drilling and repetition are OK if they are done in a meaningful way.
Telling it with a video?
Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by @sandymillin
Jamie Keddie presented his videotelling technique through the Love Story in
Milk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRt4lEXkDJs ) and taight us the
following expressions in the process:
Left on the shelf, from strength to strength and LPOPs
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Jamie Keddie's Video-telling technique says: dictate items for a narrative first
to help learners visualize the story!
FIRST create a story with the class and THEN show them the video! There is
more to teaching than just watching a video… (from Jamie keddie's
'Videotelling')
Teaching for life
Before you start using a website with your students (and a very good one to
use is British Council's Learnenglishteens) please take the time with your
students to go through the registration process. It will bring up a lot of
interesting and valuable issues as well as a lot of good value vocabulary.
Even selecting a password can be made into a valuable lesson. (from a
workshop with Sandra Vida)
The development of art and language went hand in hand in the past - why
shouldn't we include more art in our language teaching? (says Stefania
Ballotto)
Out of any story we can create a videotelling activity!
Smartphones are teacher's next best friend :)
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»How do I teach them what is appropriate content?«
"Is it safe for your gradmother?"
Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by @Raquel_EFl
When searching the internet or talking to you (or one another) or when giving
ideas which film to see ... a teacher asks if it's safe for their grandmother. That
means that it is appropriate for them to watch/say/do. (Edmund Dudley)
Points to remember….
Teenagers are distracted every 14 minutes and it takes 25 minutes to
get them back on track.
Don't give your students writing tasks just for homework as if they were a
waste of time. Practise writing in school too. (Edmund Dudley)
Exchange a few words with the student who lags behind the others
and leaves the classroom last. He's seeking your attention. (Edmund
Dudley)
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(as heard from Jermey Harmer)
Practice does not make perfect. Deliberate practice makes perfect!
Don't be stuck in the ancient techniques of teaching English!
"Sustained silent reading (SSR) produces the most beautiful silences on
Earth!" (Atsuko Takase)
Teachers should promote encouragement & enthusiasm in class. IF a
teacher is not positive, he/she can't expect students to be like that!
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Sometimes it is good to be reminded that students learn in different
ways and what the different ways to present a topic to cover all
learning styles are.
"Some people talk while sleep. Some teachers talk whille teenagers
feel like they want to fall asleep." (E. Dudley's talk)
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Please rememeber that 'Utterances repeated are also resignified'
Jeremy Harmer said.
Teenagers find it more difficult to read facial expressions.
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'Insanity = Doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting different results.' (unknown) - but said by Edmund Dudley.
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Discipline? What is that!?!
Call a disruptive student to stay behind after class, but DON'T tell them off.
Chat with them casually for 2 minutes instead. Repeat 10 times and they will
becone less disruptive. Success guaranteed. It is called the 2x10 strategy (one
student, 2 minutes, 10 consecutive lessons). By chatting with the same kid the
teacher gives the "difficult" child more attention, which is essentially what
they need and want.
(advice by Edmund Dudley)
This was supported by Jeremy Harmers quote of Sheryl Crow: " ...whatever
you give your attention to (is) what thrives".
Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by Roseli
Serra
He loves you, he'll marry you, he
won't, he would if he could but he
can't. (Beatrix Price)
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Always be critical first towards yourself and try to see the bigger picture.
Learning is often improvisation. That is why you have to learn to improvise.
(Mojca Belak)
Time for a bit of poetry
Sit up
Lean forward
Ask questions
Nod
Track the speaker
(by Edmund Dudley)
And above all:
Never think that you have learned everything. When you do that, you will stop
perfecting yourself. When you stop perfecting yourself, you will lose the will to
teach. When you lose the will to teach, you will produce generations of
passionless people.
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And some info…
I need to share this with you: we were doing the `oracle` activity at Mojca
Belak`s workshop and Barbara Dvornik asked us if she`d finally visit England
this summer. Our answer was: all-you-have-to-do-is-to-come-to-the-raffle-
party-this-evening-and-your-name-will-be-drown!
Guess what happened: she was the double lucky winner and got a 5 day trip
to London + a Pilgrim`s course!
Miracles do happen if you believe ;)
Mojca: »wow, this gives a completely new dimension to my activity!«
But
The most inspiration brought the poetry evening performed by Steve Bingham
& Jeremy Harmer! :) Such an emotional and fulfilling night, thank you all!! :)
And according to 2 first-time attendees… (and what the
rest of us knew all along…)
I attended the conference for the first time and I made a personal resolution:
I'll come every year.
Topolšica is the place to be 2015, 2016, 2017 ...
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Thank you to all who have contributed their notes fort his booklet:
Silva Bratož
Bernarda Kejžar
Katja Marenk
Marjorie Rosenberg
Vesna Gros
Sandra Vida
Dragica Banjac
Estera Deželak
Luka Lavrin
Danny Singh
Mojca Saje Kušar
Gita Šmid
Suzana
Klara Levstek
Anja
Marša
Sanja Čonjagić
Dubravka Lapčić
Nina Jerončič
and many more whi did not
share their names when
submitting their notes.
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