ELTMag Edited by Jill Hadfield

I just came into contact with the ELTMag through my LinkedIn connection with Jill Hadfield. I really like this new magazine because of their aim to share ideas at a global scale to 'counterbalance a largely Eurocentric bias' as they say. The articles on this first issue are also interesting and I think it is a great way of keeping abreast as a teacher and trainer myself. I particularly like Briony Beaven's article on ideas for feedback!

Here's a link to the online PDF version: http://www.unitec.ac.nz/toolbox_items/eltmag_oct2011.pdf and deleting the final bits in the URL will take yu to the unitec.ac.nz site - lots of info if you're interested in studying in NZ!

Enjoy reading it!

Robert

BBC's Skillswise rocks!

Francesca Pelli a CELTA tutor, colleague and friend told me about this site and voila', here we are.  I think it's just wonderful. There are so many things that can be used not only but the average English learner but also and especially I'd say by our CELTA trainees.  I spent a few hours browsing and looking through it today and it is addictive. I've got lots of ideas now of how to incorporate work from in on to our CELTA pre course work. I particularly like the reading activities which are very well designed and in line with standard s-centred methodology.  Great job BBC!  An excellent tool for tutors and learners alike!

Here's a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english

GLOGSTER EDU

I posted about Glogster in Feb 2010 when I first came into contact with this wonderful tool. Since then I have slowly but steadily created Glogsters for my trainees on University of Cambridge CELTA and YL Extension to CELTA courses and the response has been very positive.  Glogster is now turning entirely to education so they're asking users to migrate their accounts to the new Glogster EDU.  I had a quick look at the features and it's definitely safer as it'll be more secure, private and tailored for students and educators.

SO... if you don't have a Glogster account, get one now.  It's free for educators and it's an absolutely fantastic tool.  I like it because whenever preparing a Glogster, it helps me re-elaborate the information I want trainees/teachers to see in a a different, more involving, interesting way.  I really enjoy it and believe it provides a good opportunity to give our students input in a variety of ways!

Here's a link: http://edu.glogster.com/what-is-glogster-edu/#five

New look!

It'd been almost 2 years since I started blogging and it's wonderful to see how many more options there are now to make your blog look really cool. It was about time too for me to give mine a new look so here it is! The new/added features are more user friendly too. Well done to Blogger!!

My favourite new feature is under the design tab - the template designer and all the customising options available.

If you're new to blogging, why not have a look and play around with the different tabs? A blog is a reat way to keep learning!



I'm back!!!

Hello,

It's been over a month now since I last posted and so I'm now back. It's been a busy period with lots of assessments taking place over the summer and the corresponding travelling to be done, but all good stuff. Our next CELTA course starts on Oct 3rd so I'll be posting new tools, ideas and reviews on what I'll be doing with my trainees on the course.

Stay tuned!

Robert

The New Sounds Application Rocks!

I've been playing with the new Sounds Application for over a week now and I think it rocks! I've been making notes on the ideas that I've had while playing with it and here are some of them:

CHART - it can be used with trainees and students to introduce them to individual sounds. I have done this already with both groups using my iPad and iPod touch and the feedback was very positive. I've had them work in two groups as I only have these two devices. After a self discovery activity that heightens their awareness of their oral cavity and makes them think of the place and manner of articulation, I gave them 3 to 5 words and asked them to try and locate the sound in the chart. They enjoyed it and had fun.

WORDLIST - This could be used as an answer key to a phonemic treasure hunt. A list of selected words featuring specific sounds can be given to ss to first try and write in phonemic script and then check against the list.

PRACTICE - I really like the options given here. You can read, write or listen to phonemic script. You can choose which phoneme to practise with and how many questions 10, 25 or 50. It's really addictive and fun! I started practising the sounds I had most difficulty with when transcribing and I can say I feel a lot more confident now!

I'd like to try this as soon as we're back at school. I'd like to divide the class into 3 groups - read, listen and write and give them the same words to either write, listen to or read in phonemic script and see what happens in feedback. I'm already asking trainees at selection interview whether they have an iPad or an iPhone or iPod touch. Unfortunately, they're still rather expensive and so not many people have them. I'll keep using my iPad and iPod touch. I just got an iPhone so I'll be able to use the three in the sessions!!! Yay!!!

Ok, more ideas to come, so stay put! I gotta go back to playing with my Sounds App. Have you got one? You don't? What r u waiting for????

To Moodle or not to Moodle?

I just finished a Moodle Starter course with TheConsultants-e.com and I must say that I'm very impressed! Not because of the quality of the training offer by them because this is my third course with them and I KNOW as a matter of fact that they're the best, but because I learnt so much over the 8 weeks! I should've done the course before!!!! Anyways, the way to go now is, I humbly believe, Moodle! More and more of our students are telling us they have no time and ask whether we have an online version of the courses we offer here at school. Up until now we had said no, but things are changing and this is because of the course I did!

I have completed 3 courses now using Moodle as the chosen platform and I'm in love with it. I'm now writing a course on Legal English for the school but this time as a teacher I can clearly see the benefit of all those activities we did on the previous courses where I was a trainee! It's really exciting to see how things fall into place when you mnake informed decisions which show pedagogy leads technology and you use it to enhance leanring!

Moodle away!

Robert