The Minimal Pair: Recent Episodes
Stephanie Axe and Jean Dempsey
Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: I Can't Be Bothered with VowelsEpisode no: 016Date: Recorded on 09/04/14Topics in Language LearningLanguage snobbery1. English is spoken in many countries – so which is the “right” English? * English has official/special status in 75 countries (2 billion speakers) * Numbers and their implications: more non-native speakers than native speakers (probably…) * ESL students from English-speaking countries: what does that say about us (the ESL programs)? 2. Grammar snobbery * There’s a time and a place to get it right (formal vs. informal English) * Prescriptive grammar vs. descriptive grammar * Privileges: education, class, race, L1 vs. L2, ability * Language evolution 3. Sources: * LinkedIn Group: English Skills and Language: Discussion: “India is the single largest English speaking population on Earth. Do you agree?” (discussion started by GB Singh, 8/18/14) * “FAQs The English Language” – British Council (http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-faq-the-english-language.htm) * “Why Grammar Snobbery Has No Place in the Movement,” from 5/2/14 (http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/05/grammar-snobbery/)
[20:50]MethodologyPowerPoint1. PowerPoint, taboo? 2. Pros * Visual aid – especially helpful to visual learners * Keeping the lesson on track/organized * Accessible (can be saved in Bb and referred back to later) * Interactive (sometimes… depends on who made it!) * Student use 3. Cons * One-way learning/teacher-centered classroom * Inhibits organic discussion * Visual pollution/over-saturation of slides * “Overly formal” vibe * Over-simplifies the material (reduces critical thinking) 4. Tips * Guy Kawasaki’s 10, 20, 30 rule – 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font * Keeping it simple – but not simplifying the material * Make it interactive (to avoid “one-way learning) * Spice it up! * Set expectations (i.e., students shouldn’t just sit and copy from the slides) * Take breaks 5. Sources: * “Does PowerPoint Help or Hinder Learning?” by Maryellen Weimer, PhD in Teaching Professor Blog (http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/does-powerpoint-help-or-hinder-learning/) * Blog post from Guy Kawasaki, December 30, 2005 (blog.guykawasaki.com)
[41:35]Adjunct AnticsValuing Adjuncts1. The downside of being an adjunct * Lower pay * No retirement plan or benefits * No job certainty/guarantee * No/less input to department decisions 2. “Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act” * Student debt is a problem for most people, but adjuncts (who have less job certainty and low pay) have an especially hard time paying off their loans * 2007 – Congress created PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness), to offer loan forgiveness to people in public and non-profit sectors * Many adjuncts don’t qualify for PSLF because you have to work an average of 30 hours a week/year, and adjuncts don’t always get enough hours * The Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act would allow adjuncts to access PSLF, regardless of hours worked 3. Sources: * “Adjunct faculty exploring unionization,” by Koran Addo, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/adjunct-faculty-exploring-unionization/article_5691bb7b-08b7-5f36-9e48-c52544c840c8.html) * “Big News: Sen. Dick Durbin Introduces Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act,” from Adjunct Action (http://adjunctaction.org/2014/07/big-news-sen-dick-durbin-introduces-adjunct-faculty-loan-fairness-act/)
Show Notes: The Minimal PairTitle: A Slogan is BornEpisode no: 015Date: Recorded on 8/12/14Topics in Language LearningAlways “on”1. What do we mean by “on”? 2. When is it hard to be “on”? 3. How do we stay “on” in challenging situations? * Take a deep breath! * Set the timer * Fake it ‘til you make it * Remember, you’re human * Call in reinforcements * Don’t be afraid to say no
[17:20]MethodologyBreathing new life into a course1. Why is it necessary? 2. How do you know it’s time? 3. What should you do? 4. What should you not do? 5. Did it work?
[28:10]Adjunct Antics…Getting ready for a new semester1. Coordinating your schedule 2. Waiting for classes to “make” 3. Last minute changes 4. Creating a syllabus/schedule 5. Gathering materials 6. Getting familiar with new systems/schools
SHOUT OUTS: Program coordinators and department secretaries…and adjuncts, of course!! Especially to Julie Heyer, for her cheerful disposition, positive attitude, and suggesting our slogan “keep it minimal.”
Show Notes: The Minimal PairTitle: What is the last P in PARSNIP?Episode no: 014Date: Recorded on 8/7/14Topics in Language LearningEFL vs. ESL1. What’s the difference? * EFL – English as a Foreign Language is taught to a mostly homogenous group of ELLs in a non-English speaking country * ESL – English as a Second Language is taught to any group of ELLs, primarily immigrants, in an English speaking country) 2. Objectives * EFL + Less urgency/ irrelevant to daily routine – speakers don’t need English in their everyday lives + Topical– literature, cinema, art, culture, conversation, etc. are all courses that could be offered * ESL + More urgency/practical – speakers need to use English to survive, so they’re less concerned with technicalities + Holistic – communication skills, reading, writing, ESP, “big picture”/long-term purposes 3. Our experiences… 4. Planning/preparation: * EFL + Focus on practice, especially speaking, pronunciation, and conversation + Exposure to authentic English + Reasons/motivation * ESL + Hands on/suitable for immediate needs + Explicit cultural instruction + Integration 5. Sources: * Oxford University Press, English Language Teaching Global Blog, article by Kate Bell – oupeltglobalblog.com * Teaching ESL to Adults – www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com
[19:00]MethodologyAudio learners1. Identifying auditory learners * Good memory for conversations, jokes, music, lyrics, etc. * Enjoy discussion, debate, conversation, listening to music, etc. * Sing/hum/whistle to themselves * Prefer oral presentations to written reports * May read slowly and/or have trouble interpreting graphs, maps, charts, etc. 2. Teaching Tips * Beginning + Read directions aloud (while projecting them on the board or providing a handout) + Paraphrase/restate directions, especially difficult words + Allow students to record lectures + Word association/verbal mapping + Reading aloud (alone or with someone) + Books on tape + Mnemonic devices, like PARSNIP (stay tuned!) * Intermediate + Assigning oral presentations to supplement written work + Incorporating music and videos to supplement reading/lecture + Allow students to record lectures + Word association/verbal mapping + Reading groups to share/supplement written journals * Advanced + Assigning oral presentations to supplement written work + “What questions do you have?” (rather than “Do you have any questions?”) + Ask them questions, too + Encourage active participation so students get a variety of input from people with different backgrounds, levels of fluency, accents, etc. + Listening to/creating podcasts 3. Source: * The Study Gurus, “Study Advice for Auditory Learners,” article by Clare – www.thestudygurus.com
[38:57]Culturally speaking…Taboo topics1. PARSNIP * Politics * Alcohol * Religion * Sex * Narcotics * –isms * What does the last P in PARSNIP stand for? 2. Tips for teachers – countdown:
- Raising cultural awareness4. Know your audience3. Warm, but not hot (let them discuss something without it getting too heated)2. R-E-S-P-E-C-T1. Keep it neutral3. Source:
- LinkedIn Group, TESOL International Association, discussion started by Anes Abdelrahim Mohamed on July 4th
The Minimal Pair: Episode 013Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Tweet Me in St. LouieEpisode no: 013Date: Recorded on 7/2/14 & 7/6/14Topics in Language LearningTechnology in the classroom1. Digital divide * What is it? * Effects students and teachers * Challenging classroom roles * How do tech skills help make students and teachers more marketable? 2. Tech controversy * Is technology replacing teaching? * When Sugata Mitra gave slum kids a computer, they learned how to use it on their own… * Should the Internet be included in curricula? * Why ask students to leave their devices outside? Are we excluding the Internet from classrooms? * Is this controversy fueling the digital divide? 3. Sources: * http://eltchat.org/wordpress/summary/sugata-mitra-and-the-future-of-teaching-an-eltchat-summary 090414/?utm_content=buffer3dce3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer * http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/technology.shtml * http://www.usnews.com/education/technology-in-the-classroom * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/technology-in-the-classroom/ * http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html
[19:45]MethodologyTwitter1. What is Web 2.0? 2. When should a teacher use it? 3. What issues exist? 4. Suggestions for new users?
Thanks again to Nate Soelberg for talking to us about Twitter!! You can reach him at @MrNatethteacher Until next time, keep it minimal…and TWEET ME IN ST. LOUIE!
The Minimal Pair: Episode 012Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: “Where can I get a Brazilian wax?”Episode no: 012Date: Recorded on 6/25/14Topics in Language LearningEnglish for Specific Purposes1. Sources: * http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/elp-esp * http://iteslj.org/Articles/Gatehouse-ESP.html * http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/teaching-english-for-specific-purposes-esp.html 2. What is it? How is it different from ESL? (from UsingEnglish.com) * Types of learners * Types of instruction * Learner motivation 3. What are “specific purposes”? * Business * Law * Architecture * Engineering * Medicine * Tourism * Restaurant industry 4. Instructor responsibilities (from UsingEnglish.com) and challenges * Setting goals * Learning environment * Evaluating students * Who is qualified to teach it? + Is a TESL certification enough? + Do instructors with content specific backgrounds (like an MBA or J.D.) have an advantage?
[19:10]MethodologyAuthentic situations1. Online presence * Email * Social media 2. Students who are new to the country and dealing with lots of “real-world” issues * Finding housing * Setting up utilities * Figuring out public transportation; getting cars and driver’s licenses * Getting acquainted with a new city: what to do, where to go for fun, etc. * Overlooked things: where to get a haircut, how American pharmacies work, etc. * Remaining approachable; validating their challenges 3. Having authentic situations in ESP classes * Product pitch * Writing emails + Good news vs. bad news + Requests & reminders * Job interviews * “Water-cooler” conversation skills 4. Book recommendation: Americans at Work: A Guide to the Can-Do People (by Craig Storti)
[36:15]Culturally speaking…High-context vs. low-context cultures1. Sources: * http://www.marin.edu/buscom/index_files/Page605.htm * Worldwide ERC
- What’s the difference?
- High-context – indirect (Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America)
- Less likely to share thoughts and feelings
- Stress expressed non-verbally or accidentally
- Conversation is monotone (lack of inflection and enthusiasm)
- Communication is indirect (evasive, talking around the point, tactful, ambiguous)
- Conflict (harmony valued)
- Low-context – direct (North America, most of Western Europe)
- More open with thoughts and feelings
- Don’t hide stress/tension
- Conversation is enthusiastic
- Communication is direct (precise, blunt, to the point)
- Conflict is a means of expressing (and having pride for) personal opinion
- High-context – indirect (Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America)
- Tips for teachers
- Make students aware of the difference (validate both)
- Be specific with directions for assignments (putting it on paper helps indirect communicators)
- Modeling being direct (i.e. through teacher feedback)
- Prefacing authentic situations with a discussion about being direct vs. indirect
- Encouraging classroom participation (challenging for indirect communicators)
- Students who want to tell the teacher how to teach
Click here to listen to The Minimal Pair: Episode 011Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!Episode no: 011Date: Recorded on 5/29/14Topics in Language LearningClassroom Management1. Source: The English Skills Learning Center blog: “Tips on Classroom Management for Adult ELL classes” http://www.eslcenter.org/about-us/blog/103-tips-on-classroom-management-for-adult-ell-classes 2. Classroom management—what and why? * Challenges of teaching different age groups and cultural backgrounds in the same classroom * Challenges of “mixed classrooms”—English and ESL * Different college settings (Community college, 4 year college, grad school) 3. The 7 tips the English Skills Center blog shares in their article, and how we implement them in the classroom: * Make class expectations clear and realistic and stick to them * Be consistent: set class routines that students can become familiar with * Find a balance between being your students’ teacher and being their friend (respected vs. approachable) * Work to engage all the students while teaching. Don’t base the pace of an entire class on one or two students * Use interactive activities and open-ended questions as a chance to check student comprehension * Ask for student feedback and incorporate it as appropriate for everyone * Recognize that some discipline concerns need to be addressed immediately, while others are better done individually after class 4. Plus, 3 more tips (from us) for an even 10! * Follow the “golden rule”—treat students with the same respect you expect from them * Don’t shame students into submission, participation, etc. (Brene Brown) * Address different learning styles (in addition to pace) in order to reach everyone
[18:04]MethodologyVisual learners 1. FYI: listen to future episodes for similar segments about audio learners and kinesthetic learners! 2. Source: Adam Simpson’s blog, “Teach them English,” http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2014/05/using-infographics-to-teach-language-the-why-how-and-where/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter 3. Beginning English * Picto-wikis * Infographic * Timeline of events in a story * Illustrating student work * Diagrams: Venn diagrams, columns, thought-webs * Building blocks of English writing (bottom of pyramid) 4. Intermediate English * Building blocks of English writing (top of pyramid) * Outlining essays (outline as a “blueprint”) * Videos (i.e. “School House Rock” for Grammar) * Powerpoints (a picture is worth a thousand words—being succinct; animations—giving students a chance to answer first) * Presentations (posters, Powerpoints, passed objects, etc.) * Graffiti 5. Advanced English * Research presentations (Powerpoint and beyond) * Videos (for the student and by the student) * Including pictures in wikis (literal and abstract) * Picture outline (a picture for each point)
[32:40]Culturally speaking…English-only debate1. Immigration issue * Preserving L1/living in predominantly L1 communities * Learning the spoken language of new country and letting go of L1 * Actively integrating both in daily life 2. Language and identity * First-generation Americans * Kids caught between cultures * 3rd culture kids * Role reversal in immigrant families 3. Multilingual countries * The linguistic divide can cause political/cultural tension (i.e. Quebec) * Language status (English vs. anything in the U.S.) * Countries that were formally colonized and the linguistic implication 4. English as the official language of the U.S. * The U.S. does not have an official language * English’s status in the U.S. as the “unofficial official language” * Should the U.S. have an official language? + What should it be? + Should/could there be more than one? + Is this an issue to be decided at a state or federal level?
Check us out on twitter, FB, gmailKeep it minimal!
Click here to listen to The Minimal Pair: Episode 010Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Don't Box Them InEpisode no: 010Date: Recorded on 5/30/14Topics in Language LearningIntroverts/Passive Learning1. Sources: * “Passive Learners vs. Introverts—A comment,” by Naomi Epstein (from the blog Visualizing Ideas) * #ELTChat Summary from May 7th 2014—“How we deal with passive learners,” compiled by Lizzie Pinard 2. Talking points from both sources and our experiences: * Distinction between “introverts” and “passive learners” + Introverts didn’t raise their hands, but were clearly listening; rather than conforming to the expected learning behavior, they adapt their own + Passive learners seem completely disengaged from the lesson; often don’t know what’s going on, when things are due, and how to complete assignments * Motivation + Students who have to be there vs. students who want to be there + Age and life experience as factors in student beahvior * Avoiding labels, targeting the problem + “Introvert” and “passive” are not mutually exclusive + Not important to argue over definitions or positive & negative connotations of each + More important to focus on the behaviors inherent to both/all kinds of learners and how to make space for them in the classroom 3. Our tips: * Introverts + Variety of activities (i.e. speaking vs. writing) + Take it slow (build up to oral participation & give them time to think before responding) + Partner work (gives them a space to build confidence) * Passive Learners + Meeting them where they are (trying to get them to see it from their perspective) + Academic contract + Frequent conferences * How our tips support distinguishing between the two,… * …but don’t “box them in!”
[24:30]MethodologyJournaling1. What * Informal assessment * Homework/in-class 2. Who * Academic English students * Listening & pronunciation students * Grammar? 3. Why * Reading comprehension * Summarizing, paraphrasing, & plagiarism * Vocabulary building * Description, Analysis, Self-reflection * Real world participation incentive * Progress monitoring 4. When & Where * At home vs. in class * Before reading vs. after * Testing situations * Extra credit 5. How * Side-by-side * Quote-paraphrase-reflect * Vocabulary * Listening comp. * Group work * STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) journals * Daily reflections
[45:20]Culturally speaking…Cross-cultural communication 1. Source: DFA Intercultural Global Solutions, LLC http://dfaintercultural.com/top-10-tips-for-communicating-with-anyone-in-the-world/ 2. What are Dean Foster’s tips and how do we use them in the classroom?
Take your time – Ask the other speaker to slow down – Keep it simple – Don’t be afraid to ask for help – Avoid baseball English – Skip the acronyms – Don’t ask yes/no questions – Get rid of double negatives – Talk to more than one person – Start formal – Pay attention to the non-verbal – Be respectful, be interested, & be humble SHOUT OUTS: #ELTchat and everyone who participated in the conversation, especially Naomi Epstein and Lizzie Pinard)YOU our listeners! Thanks!Adjunct Action!Keep it minimal!
The Minimal Pair: Episode 009
Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: DO Talk to StrangersEpisode no: 009Date: Recorded on 5/16/14Topics in Language LearningTutoring/student support 1. Inspired by the article “Minimalist Tutoring: Making Students Do All the Work,” by Jeff Brooks of Seattle Pacific University (https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iposMnhBlTZIKhZ_s2gpgtfnd5-XV_nBRabuv44o3w/edit?hl=en_US) 2. Talking points: * Teaching students to fish * Improve the student, not the paper * Helping vs. editing * Goal of writing a paper? * Student ownership (both of their writing and their mistakes) 3. “Basic Minimalist Tutoring” Tips: * Sit beside the student * Have the student be closer to the paper than you are * Position yourself so that it’s not convenient to try to write on the paper; don’t bring a pen * Have the student read the paper (so they’re not excluded) 4. “Advanced Minimalist Tutoring” Tips: * Concentrate on the paper’s strengths * Ask “leading questions” * Give the student a task, leave him/her alone, come back to check in 5. “Defensive Minimalist Tutoring” Tips: * Imitate student body language to show deference * Be honest: “This is your paper, not mine!”
[23:00]MethodologySmall talk Our experiences… * Why should we teach it? * “Making space for English”—shout out to Anna Loseva * The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine * How can we incorporate it into our classrooms? * 5 Tips for Students: 1. Do* talk to strangers 2. Keep it light 3. Being engaged 4. Closing the conversation 5. Reflect
[40:40]Culturally speaking…Group work Why group work? * How do we determine groups? Factors to consider and why*: skill level, confidence/personality, age, gender, language background, religious/cultural background… * The importance of teaching students how to be students in an American classroom
SHOUT OUTS: Jeff Brooks of Seattle Pacific University & Anna Loseva @AnnLoseva
The Minimal Pair: Episode 008 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: The Little Episode That CouldEpisode no: 008Date: Recorded on 5/8/14Introduction: So, it’s finals time…how are you holding up?Topics in Language LearningStudents’ perception of their own performance: 1. Students who think they are doing fine/don’t seem worried, but are failing 2. Students who are doing fine, but constantly worry about their grades 3. Students who wait until the very end of the semester to ask what they can do about their grade 4. Students who didn’t do the original work, but want extra credit 5. Students reactions to final grades
[17:04]MethodologyHow to deal with a test/writing prompt that doesn’t go as planned…1. The test takes longer than anticipated 1. Give them extra time? 2. But what if another class is coming in…? 2. The test results were lower than expected: was it too challenging? How to decide: 1. Look at scores overall: did everyone do poorly? 2. Look at individual scores: did anyone do drastically worse than they did on previous tests? 3. Adjusting scores for tests that were deemed disastrous 4. Avoiding the same mistakes in the future/gauging the length of time and level of difficulty of future tests
[32:27]Adjunct AnticsCareer Adjunct?1. Being an adjunct wasn’t meant to be a career, yet that’s what it is for many people 2. Feeling like a second-class citizen 3. Unions: the solution? Or part of the problem?
SHOUT OUTS: Dan Clark, thanks for listening and giving us positive feedback on the quality of our recording—it means a lot, coming from a fellow pod-caster (First World Podcast). Also, I have a HUGE shout out to Stephanie, for figuring out our microphone problem so that we could record tonight, against all odds. This truly was the “little episode that could.”
The Minimal Pair: Episode 007Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: The Ball is PrettyEpisode no: 007Date: 4/21/14Topics in Language LearningStudent attendance & making up work1. Importance of coming to class, especially in a second-language classroom 2. Reasons for absences; where do we draw the line? 3. Attendance policy 4. Homework that’s due on the day that class is missed 5. Making up what was missed (including assessments)
[20:18]MethodologyOn the lighter side: fun things we’ve done and would like to do!1. Games 1. Ice-breaker 2. Mad libs 3. The Minimal Pair game 4. Taboo 5. Simon Says… 6. “Speed” vocabulary 7. BINGO 2. Music 1. “School House Rocks” 2. Conditionals & modals, YouTube compilations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBIawQGe-881. Azar song lessons: http://www.azargrammar.com/materials/uueg/UUEG_SongLessons.html 1. Count & non-count nouns (My Favorite Things) 2. Conditionals (If I Had a Hammer or Octupus’ Garden) 2. Vocabulary cloze
- Role play/dramatizations
- Lower Academic English
- Point-of-View
- Pronunciation
[38:28]Adjunct Antics/Culturally speaking…When worlds collide: varied perspectives in the classroom1. Modals: “should/shouldn’t” discussion 2. “Food for thought”: how sharing food opened a discussion on cultural differences 3. “Diversity theme” in a diverse classroom 4. Culturally informed opinions about lecture topics
Keep it minimal!
The Minimal Pair: Episode 006
Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: “You don’t know what you don’t know…”Episode no: 006Date recorded: 4/14/14Topics in Language LearningTaking care of ourselves as teachers…* Thursday’s TESOL presentation (that we regrettably were unable to attend): “Keeping ESL Teachers from Becoming Their Own Worst Enemies,” George Plautz, Korrin Ebira, Naomi Lee * Stack of Marking (Balance), by Thomas Starkey http://stackofmarking.wordpress.com * 5 tips for finding balance/what we do now and what we’re going to do… 5. Exercise4. Quiet time3. Set boundaries w/ students2. Let it go!1. Sacred Time [PAUSE][19:05]MethodologyPlagiarism, Paraphrasing, and Citation * Why is it important? 1. Academic Integrity 2. Culturalism 3. Reading comprehension * How do we teach it? 1. The “why” and the “when” 2. Resources: Purdue OWL, Easybib 3. Modeling paraphrasing w/o looking & paraphrasing vs. “translating”
[PAUSE][35:31]“Culturally speaking…”* Introducing our new segment (to alternate w/ “Adjunct Antics”) * “You don’t know what you don’t know…” 1. How are you a student? 1. Classroom dynamic 2. Group work 3. Questioning authority 4. Asking questions 2. Student-teacher relationships 1. Addressing each other 2. Invitations for outside interaction 3. Giving/receiving presents
SHOUT OUTS: Brad Bawtinheimer @BradELT and Allison Roba (thanks for listening!)
Keep it minimal!
The Minimal Pair: Episode 005Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: TESOL Recap & ReviewEpisode no: 5Date: 4/6/14Introduction: Overview of our trip to Portland and our experience at TESOL 2014Shared highlight:Congrats to Amy Roither, our colleague from St. Louis Community College, who gave a stellar presentation on student-created podcastsThursday 3/27, 11:30—Hear Me Now! Improving Academic Skills with Student-Created Podcasts (Amy Roither)Stephanie’s highlights:Thursday 3/27, 10:30am—Mentor Text2: Scaffolding Reading Instruction for Community College ESL (Dr. Sarina C. Molina)Thursday 3/27, 1:00pm—Flipping the ESL Classroom: Promoting Student Interaction, Engagement, & Learning (Danielle Petersen, Caitlin Hamstra, Alisha Fisher)Thursday 3/27, 4pm—“Reading to Write” to Sustain University-Level Writing”(Lori Giles and Kimberly McGrath Moreira)Thursday 3/27, 3:00pm—Teaching Spoken English: Content and Methodology(John Campbell-Larsen)Saturday 3/29, 11:30am—Using Twitter, Storytelling, and Screencasting Apps to Reimagine Your Classroom etc. (Abby Porter and Nathan Soelberg)Meeting Jennifer ESLJean’s highlights:Thursday 3/27, 10:30am—Inquiry-Based ESL Grammar (Darrin Divers)Thursday 3/27, 2:00pm—Fostering Presentation Competence: Instituting a Comprehensive Presentation Curriculum (Kaitlin Gram and Elizabeth Gould)Thursday 3/27, 3:00pm—Second Language Writing Assessment—Exploring the Future (Sarah Snyder and Deborah Crusan)Friday 3/28, 10:30am—Students as Teachers: Exploring Peer-to-Peer Teaching (Rosie Verratti and Nancy Hutchison)
Friday 3/28, 4:00pm—Book Clubs in the Classroom: Developing a Culture of Literacy (Heather Satrom, Sadi Sahbazian, and Jona Colson)
The Minimal Pair: Episode 004Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Less is MoreEpisode no: 004Date recorded: 3/24/14Topics in Language Learning: TESOL 2014Top prioritiesGrammarAcademic writingClassroom flippingPronunciation ListeningTechnology in the classroomCultural/social issuesHow do we hope this translates to the classroom? What do we hope to gain?Stephanie: “I hope to…”“…have more dynamic sessions in grammar.”“…walk away with more reading strategies.”“…see practical uses of flipping the classroom.”Jean: “I hope to…”“…gain confidence as a grammar teacher.”“…find new ways to incorporate technology in the classroom.”“…give more effective feedback.”Sessions to see:Hear Me Now! Improving Academic Skills with Student Created Podcasts (Amy Roither) Thursday at 11:30Using Twitter, Storytelling, and Screencasting Apps to Reimagine your Classroom (Nathan Soelberg, w/ Abby Porter) Saturday at 11:30(TESOL in Focus) Becoming a U.S. Citizen: The Naturalization Process (Christine Pool, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USA)[PAUSE]Methodology: FeedbackLess is more (Quality over quantity)Students: write less, edit more (especially in grammar classes)Teachers: mark less, but give more explanation/strategiesRubricsHow do we make them? How do we determine categories?Are they more for us or more for students?Do we share them with students?Feedback on free writes & less formal assignmentsPositive feedback vs. negative: finding a balanceGrade grubbing[PAUSE]Adjunct Antics: UnionsNPR, All Things Considered: “Part-time Professors Demand Higher Pay; Will Colleges Listen?” by Claudio Sanchez (aired on 2/3/14 at 4 pm)76% of all college instructors are part-timePublished poet w/ Master’s Degree has been an adjunct for 20 years; the most she’s ever made in a year? $21,000 One sold her plasma; another moon-lights in a deliInstitutions avoid hiring full-time tenured professors because they believe the cost of education would go up between 30-40% and the public would not accept thisAdjuncts average $25-$27,000 per yearOne adjunct figured she made about $8 an hourSEIU (Service Employees International Union)22% of adjuncts (nationwide) are now in unionsInside Higher Ed. “Union Raises for Adjuncts” by Colleen Flaherty 7/26/13“Kezar said research comparing the working conditions of unionized and non-unionized adjuncts shows that those with collective bargaining power have better salaries and benefits and are more likely to have paid office hours, opportunities for paid professional development and guaranteed participation in governance and other faculty domains.” Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/26/adjunct-union-contracts-ensure-real-gains-including-better-pay#ixzz2ww63ccXh “Adjuncts with union representation also were more likely to have access to certain health and retirement benefits and had greater access to institutional support. For example, 18 percent of adjuncts on unionized campuses said they were paid for course cancellations, compared to 10 percent of their non-union peers. Fifteen percent of unionized campus adjuncts had paid office hours, compared to 4 percent of other adjuncts, and 20 percent union adjuncts said they had some kind of job security – something only 4 percent of their non-union counterparts reported enjoying.” Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/26/adjunct-union-contracts-ensure-real-gains-including-better-pay#ixzz2ww5ph9DW SHOUT OUTS: Amy Roither and Nathan Soelberg and @NewbieCELTATESOL COUNT DOWN: 2 days
Keep it minimal!
The Minimal Pair: Episode 003
Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: When Saying Yes is Saying NoEpisode no: 003Date: 03/12/2014Topics in Language Learning: L1/L2 LiteracyInterrupted educationFrequent displacementRefugee campsChild laborersUsing multiple languages (simultaneously or sequentially)Countries that have been colonized (native vs. official language)Frequent displacement (learning a new language with each move)Shared L1 (help or hinder?)Language gaps (in one or more language)Consequences: how do each of these things affect classroom dynamic?[PAUSE]Methodology: Using video in the language learningHomework:Listening & Pronunciation Journals“Listening Journals”In-classLectures (from textbook, TED, and videos on demand)Read book, then watch movie (i.e. Girl with a Pearl Earring)Videos that correspond with semester theme (i.e. Waiting for Superman, Sicko!, Clarkston special report, Luma speaking,…)Grammar, Parts of Speech Review with “School House Rocks”Presentation skills class: watch lectures (YouTube, Jennifer ESL, TED, etc.) to critique “attention-getter,” mechanics, emphasis & building redundancy, thought groups, etc.Assessment“Live Journals”Lecture/note-taking tests (build schema, review vocabulary, make predictions, listen twice, answer comprehension questions)Presentation skills: videotaping their speeches to listen to later and uploading to Dropbox for them to listen/practice at home…[PAUSE]Adjunct Antics: Schedule issuesCoordinating schedules between different campusesDifferent coordinators contact us about “next semester” at different points in the “current semester,” so it’s hard to plan/commit“Saying yes is saying no”Maximizing income by choosing classes by credit hour, school, etc.Scheduling classes at different times at different schools (allowing time for travel)Classes makingPicking classes strategically: which is most likely to make? Why?Saying no to one class because you have committed to another, only to have that one get canceled (then you have nothing!)Saying yes to too much, assuming something won’t make, and ending up overloadedPreparing for a class, only to have it get canceledScrambling to plan a class at the last minute because someone gave it up or they had to open another section to meet registration needsTESOL COUNT DOWN: Two Weeks!Keep it minimal!Keywords:
ESL, ELT, TESOL, English as a second language, The Minimal Pair, L1, L2, literacy, edtech, technology in the classroom, CALL, videos, adjuncts, scheduling
The Minimal Pair: Episode 2
Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Midterms ComethEpisode no: 002Date: February 24, 2014Introduction: Hello and thanks for listening. This is Episode 2 of The Minimal Pair, recorded on Monday February 14th, 2014 in St. Louis, MO.Believe it or not, the semester is almost halfway over! I don’t know about you, but between MLK Day, President’s Day, and all the snow days, I’m feeling the pressure to get everything covered in time!Topics in Language LearningMidterms * What kinds of classes we have… * What we do for midterm assessment (in each class)… * What’s worked and what hasn’t… * Conferences (how effective are they?) * Midterm grades * Time management at midterm and other strategies to get stuff done!
[PAUSE]MethodologyVocabulary* Teaching vocab. in different kinds of classes (reading/writing vs. listening/speaking) + Intermediate-level journals (word, POS, definition) vs. advanced-level class journals (word, POS, definition, sentence) + Listening and note-taking vocab. logs and tests (matching, writing sentences, fill-in the blank) to target different learning types + Advanced-level Essay prep: complete the chart by finding examples of how the character is…list of adjectives) * Parts of Speech & word form issues
[PAUSE]Adjunct AnticsResources* Access to course materials * Curriculum design & collaboration (Dropbox, shared syllabi, BB forum) * Different libraries * Blackboard, email, grade input, etc. is different everywhere
SHOUT OUTS: English Expressions & Rolls off the TongueTESOL COUNT DOWN: 30 days until we leave!Keep it minimal!