In today's class we learned something new about wiki. I'm interested in using wiki in my teaching situation afterwards. Some projects mentioned in Nikki's presentation are helpful. I like the idea of putting together a reading list for extensive reading. I've ever assigned my English-majored freshmen to finish reading at least an English novel in the first semester after class and read at least three more English novels or books in the second semester and hand in book reports at the end of each semester.After reviewing their book reports at the end of the first semester, I collected the names of some popular, interesting and comprehensible English novels and books based on students' reports. I then gave them the book list at the beginning of the second semester and advised them to read them or more of other books.
I now think it can be done by wiki. I can ask students to put together a reading list collaboratively using a wiki. Students can post the names of books they've read and make a brief comment of the books, including the author, the plot, and the review following the names of books. They are encouraged to rank each book they've read from 1 to 3 which stands for the meaning from "average" to "highly recommended" according to the level of difficulty, beauty of language, and appeal of the story. They can edit each other's review if they have different opinions on the same book. Thus students can have a broader choice of reading materials and get a gereral idea of what books their peers are reading and enjoying. So instead of me recommending them what to read after class, students are responsible for what they are to read outside classroom, they will be more independent in their management of study and hopefully, become autonomous language learner in the end.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Integrating task-based language teaching with chat and blog
Nikki's class about using technology can be integrated with Michelle's class about pedagogy in language teaching in some way. I'm considering using chat and blog in the task-based language teaching. When students are carrying out meaningful tasks with technolgy, they'll feel both confident and successful. For example, I can assign students a group task of making a survey of American values after learning a text about American values and concepts after class, they are required to make individual surveys from internet resources first, then chat to discuss American values from the most important to the least, 10 at most. After the chat, students can create their individual blogs and choose one of the American values to write a post to reflect their understanding on that. Next students can view each other's post and make comments. At last each group will choose one representative to give a 5-minute class report on some of the important American values. In this way, students are encouraged to read extensively and collect useful information on the topic, communicate with others authentically and think critically. I'd like to try this sometime in the next semester.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Ideas about how to use chatting in my class
I think chatting is especially useful for middle-school and high-school English classes, because, as I stated in my last post, it is useful for grammar and vocabulary teaching. In the college English classes, chatting can be used for teaching reading, and vocabulary as well. But I will not use it in class, instead, I'll use it after class, since it can be time-consuming. I'm thinking of assigning my students some tasks about group chatting after class about some questions related to the reading text we are learning in class. Group members can negotiate the time when they can all get access to their chat room and discuss about the questions together. I'll ask them to e-mail me their chat history to see how deep they can understand the text and how much involved each student is in the chat. In this way, students can learn cooperatively and at the same time, hopefully, enjoy their chatting. Some target words and phrases may be encouraged to use in their chatting in order to practice their usage.
Reactions to chatting
Chatting, with teachers' guide, can be very useful for grammer and vocabulary teaching. It can practise some drills, facilitate students' use of certain vocabulary, and arouse their interest and motivation to communicate with their classmates. However, on the other hand, it may be time-consuming; students might be distracted from concentrating on the instructors' directions and they might be obsessed with their chatting too much. What's worse, some students, esp. those from poor areas of China, might not be acquainted with computer operation, there might be problems for them to type words quickly enough to communicate effectively with other students, which might lead to comuunication breakdown from time to time. So instructors must control the activity to the extent that students both enjoy it and can learn something useful.
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