First Time TeachingBy Michelle Wardman

Workshop Agenda

1. Why are we here? Warm-up activity & Overview of Workshopa) group formation: please form a “full table”b) think, pair, and share re: why here? same reason or different?

2. Being Resourceful: everyday objects put to good usea) DVD clip: share ideas with same group as beforeb) Music clip: share ideas with same groupc) 5 other everyday objects – brainstorm ideasd) tips on setting up pair and group work

3. The Importance of Asking for & Giving Feedback

4. ESL/EFL work: Considerations for LINC and beyond

5. Top 10 lists for Future Reference; Professional Development

6. Q & A (From 2:30 to 2:45 pm)

2. Being Resourceful: everyday objects put to good use

1. Oprah DVD clip # 1: share ideas with same group as before

How would you use this clip in your own classroom? Think of more than 1 possible use

Be ready to share your ideas.-------------------------------------------------------------------------

When using any DVD clip, consider:

a) Rate of speech and enunciation of speaker(s)b) How “authentic” is language used?c) Relevance of subject matter to your studentsd) Your role as ‘cultural informant’

2. The Oprah Clip: 3 minutes of endless “teachable” moments

How I might use this clip:

Themes a) customer-service (roles, titles, expressions, etc.)

b) practical jokes (April Fools’ Day) c) personality traits (aggressive, calm, diplomatic, etc.) d) emotional states (stressed, irritated, embarrassed, relieved)

Listening comprehension a) beginner – greetings, basic comprehension Qs b) intermediate – idioms, present perfect, reported speech, etc. c) advanced – nuanced Qs, advanced listening Qs, dictogloss.

To set up Role-Plays, Use as a Writing Prompt, etc.

2. Being Resourceful: everyday objects put to good use

2. Music clip: share ideas with same group

How would you use this song in your own classroom? Think of more than 1 possible use

Be ready to share your ideas.---------------------------------------------------------------------------

When choosing a song to play in class, consider:

a) The mood the song is likely to evoke (affective filter)b) Rate of speech and enunciation of singerc) Relevance of subject matter to learnerd) Your Rationale for using the song: resist sharing “favs” and instead focus on lexical, grammatical or 4 skills purpose

Being Resourceful: 5 everyday Objects

Your group objective:

Re-form your group.Brainstorm uses for 3 or more of the following resources:Be ready to share your ideas

1. A daily newspaper (Ex: The Globe and Mail)

2. The board game Scrabble

3. Youtube.com (the internet site)

4. Monopoly money (from the board game)

5. BINGO grid (but not necessarily for numbers)

Reflecting on Pair and Group Work . . .

Tips for Group & Pair Work:

Keep the following tips in mind whenever you ask students to complete a task.

1.Give a clear objective. Use words economically. Be specific but brief. Instead of “OK, so what I would like everyone to do now is to find a partner” try: “OK everyone, find yourself a partner!” Students need to know when they’ve completed the task you have asked of them. Otherwise: blank faces and “What are we doing?” or “I love your shirt! Where did you get it?” will ensue.

2. Set time limit (not set in stone) to establish added focus.

3. Monitor students’ progress.

4. Get feedback from students re: task completed (in-depth or brief)

3. The Importance of Asking for & Giving Feedback

Types of feedback 1) hot 2) cold 3) positive and ‘constructive’

Why give feedback?

Can act as a barometer for Sts re: where they are “at” Can give Sts the encouragement they need to persevere Reflects the “real world” (ex: work performance reviews) Sts will tell you when they wished you had but didn’t (end of term) Asking for feedback

Elicit informal, brief feedback (make it a regular practice) Provide opportunity for end of term feedback (simple exit survey) Explain to Sts why you value / need their feedback

4. ESL/EFL work: Considerations for LINC and beyond

1. Private Language Schools (ESL)

2. LINC (ESL) and ELT (ESL)

3. EAP, IEP, summer Explore at College and University (ESL)

4. Overseas (EFL)

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CONTEXT is key to any teaching situation.

Ex: Grammar translation used with LINC 1 seniors

Top 10 Lists. . .

“Top 10” lists for Future Reference:

Here are my Top 10 Teaching Tips:

1. Steal, Steal, Steal.

2. Be Flexible.

3. Be Sensitive.

“If I had known my father might die, I would go to the hospital” contains an grammatical error. Will you correct it?

4. Reduce T-T Time.

5. Keep classes Student-Centered

6. Be Accountable.

7. Seek out Challenges.

8. Keep it Real. Be Yourself.

9. Find your Strength.

10. Study a Second Language

My “Top 10” Favourite ESL Books:

The following list is far from exhaustive. Think of it as a starting point. . .

1. Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

2. Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener

3. Keep Talking by Fredericke Klippel

4. Pair Work 2 by Peter Watcyn-Jones

5. Grammar Connections (1,2,3) by S. Thibaudeau & L. Berish

6. Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy

7. Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Azar

8. Vocabulary in Use by Raymond Murphy

9. Word for Word Picture Dictionary (great for beginners)

10. Oxford Picture Dictionary (bilingual reference)

My “Top 10” Favourite ESL Websites:

1. www.bogglesworldesl.comLots of theme-based lesson plans to use as is or

‘tweak’ to fit context. Business ESL, puzzles, & more ESL links.

2. www.puzzlemaker.comCreate your very own puzzles online & then

print for your Sts. Great for all ages. Ideal as a vocabulary review tool.

3. www.rong-chang.com Great general ESL resource. My favourite:

click on pronunciation, scroll down to ‘Online English Pronunciation’ by Okanagen University. Very interactive;

your Sts can try the exercises anytime.

4. www.eslcafe.comAn oldie. Some links outdated = requires

patience. Try quizzes & phrasal verbs on main site. Great for overseas job postings.

6. www.breakingnewsenglish.comMore lessons that are ready to go!

7. www.free-english.comLots of fun, free resources for all levels.

8. www.cbc.caA great resource to get articles for advanced learners. Cut & paste, shorten & adjust to create fill-in-blank exercises, etc.

9.www.youtube.comGreat way to bring the outside world into your classroom. Esp. useful for inter – to advancedSts. Just need time to select appropriate clips.

10. www.hunter.cuny.edu/~tesl-l/Questions? Join TESL-L and see what 32,293folks in 172 countries have to say.

. . . And don’t forget the wonder of Google. Ex: search “gerunds review quiz”

5. Professional DevelopmentBecome a reflective practitioner (what worked? what didn’t? why? keep notes)

Reflect on and develop your teaching philosophy.Be ready to articulate it.Attend conferences. Read grammars, journals, & browse online sites. Start a Teacher Development Group (TDG). Take a Spanish course, etc.

Why bother? gives you a competitive edge against recent graduates who may be more technologically savvy than you. A good Director will ask you about your teaching philosophy, favourite grammar books, and may ask for a sample of your work. can re-energize and inspire you can help you to build a sense of community

Common Pitfalls: Beware of the two-year and onward “slump” Beware of co-workers who complain, are disenchanted, etc.

Q & A (Always wait a minimum of 5 seconds & explain your strategy to Sts)