EFL Teachers' Room

earthquake

2011-03-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

I hope those who are living near Tokyo are OK. It looks like the quake hit Kanto areas harder than my area. Phew... it was a big and long earthquake. It is still continuously shaking a little here in Akita. We didn't have any damages in my house, but we had no light and no heating over a night. Oh, we couldn't use our cellphone either. Our electric power comes from our closest heat power plant, so they resumed the work a few hours ago after an inspection. (That's why I am writing now.) But the other areas, especially those places that were hit hard, have atomic power plants, so they have no electricity and no water.

Teacher's Time Out -- Bobby's version

2010-06-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is Bobby writing. Long time no see! I am going to tell you about a simple technique that is called “Teacher’s Time Out”. This idea was originally written by Valerie Benson in New Ways in Teaching Reading (this is one of the New Ways in TESOL series).

How do you “teach” vocabulary? Isn’t it frustrating when some students know the meaning of the words in the text and others don’t. Until last year, I often told my students to draw lines under the difficult words with pencils. Then I walked around my classroom with a pen and a notebook to write down the words. After that, I came back to the blackboard and explained the meaning of them.

Benson’s idea was eureka! to me this year. I noticed that I could automate the process by asking students to go to the blackboard to write the words. Before letting them go to the blackboard, I took time for them to ask the meaning to the other members of their group. By doing this, students benefitted by teaching each other, and at the same time I was able to specify the words they didn’t know.

Oh well, the result is so far so good. When I explained the meaning, I could choose Japanese equivalent of the unknown words or its English definition.

Sad news

2009-11-24T00:32:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

I'm sorry to post this very, very sad news. The following is the quote from Judy's email to me today. I don't want to believe the news, but this kind of news can't be a joke.

"Last week we were shocked to hear the news that Terri Menacker has passed away. We don't have a lot of information as to what happened--we only know that she was found in her home and the death is under investigation. I dislike being the bearer of this shocking news, but I thought you would want to know. Please feel free to pass this new along to other EFL teacher seminar participants. I know you all appreciated her tremendously and learned a lot from her. This is a great loss to the ESL community in Hawaii."

With profound sorrow,

Bobby

Wassup

2008-10-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

When I was looking for a funny commercial about Japanese canned coffee, I found a series of Bud commercial on YouTube. How do you like them?

Suntory Boss CM
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=hKeLrUC5KWg

Bud CM
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=UDTZCgsZGeA&feature=related

Enjoy!

Bobby

Professional Development Seminar 2008

2008-08-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Sorry for posting no messages for ages, but I can clearly recall everyone still now. Actually, I had a chance to talk with SuLing for four hours on an afternoon and talked about many of you. She remembers all the participant's name, face, what she/he did. She has awesome memory.

I wanted to let you know what happened in the seminar this year. The main event, I think, was going to the cave in the mountain. (Thank you, Terry, for driving the huge van.) We could go inside the tunnel which is the source of water in Hawaii. The activities were placed around the central theme of water. Those who couldn't come to Hawaii this year missed the chance of experiencing the exiting tour.

I hope you all keep having wonderful time in teaching and learning English. Oh, by the way, if you have time on the weekend of November 1-3, come to National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. You can enjoy JALT 2008. http://www.jalt.org/conference

OK. Take care. Don't catch cold. Aloha.

Bobby

I Took TOEIC Again

2008-04-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I hope all of you are having a great spring time now. Cold winter is over and I am enjoying cherry blossoms even here in Akita. Today I received my TOEIC score. It was a little better than the last year's. Pheeew...sweat! I didn't use any test preparation materials this year. The only exception was _Triple Moshi 2_ which is published from The Japan Times. However, I have read many different sort of books since last year. I feel extensive reading really works for improving our language competencies. OK. I hope I'll see you this summer at UH. Take care.

Bobby

2007-08-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. My name is Chihiro. I attended the EFL Teacher Training Seminar this summer for the first time. It was a very exciting and stimulating experience. I met Bobby, Shunichi, Yuki, and Jahee there. All of them were stimulating, too. I wish I had known the seminar when I was younger. But never too late to learn, I believe. Thank you for inviting me to this blog. (This is the first time I'm writing in a blog. )

The Theme is the "Theme"

2007-08-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

How are you doing? I am in UH Student Center now to write this message. Shun-ichi, Yuki, and I have been attending the seminar this year. (Chihiro and Jae is also here. I think I will introduce them to this blog soon.)The overall theme is "theme" this year: CBI (Content-Based Instruction) is used as the main theme, and the essence of CBI is not only in its being the combination of subjects and English instruction but also of in its being a "theme" or topic. So the idea is not just a combination of nuts and bolts but an organic combination of instructional elements. Don't understand? Come back next year and you'll learn what it means. I am sure that you will have a life-changing experience in learning in UH. Those who did not come missed a big chance of getting a very, very interesting lectures of Terry, SuLing, and Alice. Hey, come back to Hawaii next year.

OK. Take care, everyone. Have a good summer holidays! Aloha!

Bobby

Integrated Skills

2007-04-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm intending to take TOEFL test in the near future. Of course, I took TOEFL test several times in the past. you know that there is a major change of TOEFL test this year. It’s called TOEFL ibt which have no Grammar Test any more. TOEFL ibt focuses on Integrated Skills: Speaking, Writing. I understand that EFL teachers seminar at UH OUTREACH Manoa this year reacts to this change. Now I’m interested in the program now.
As for my classes, I ‘rebuilt ’ my principles of class to keep up with Integrated Skills. My class has been changed drastically: students should work on all the items with summarizing in writing or speaking. And all the classes I teach are carried on only English like Bobby’s classes.

Shunichi

I took TOEIC test!

2007-04-15T22:56:00.001-07:00

Hi friends!
How have you been doing lately? I took TOEIC test during my spring break and received the result today. The reason I am showing you my score is that I want most of you to use this chance of seeing my score as an opportunity to improve your English. Before taking the test, I studied for a few weeks for the test. You can read some useful advice for getting high scores in TOEIC in the following link. http://blog.bulknews.net/mt/archives/001853.html
Actually, I used some of these study habits. OK. Study harder!
Bobby

Happy New Year!!

2006-12-31T22:47:00.000-08:00

A Happy New Year!! Best wishes for your wonderful year.

ETJ expo

2006-12-05T03:38:00.000-08:00

Dear my friends,
Hi, everyone! It's December now, very very cold here!!
How have you been? Everyone's fine?
Last month I saw Satomi again at ETJ expo in Tokyo.
I was very glad to see my friend again even in Japan! Thank you, Satomi.
That was a great time. One class of the expo was similar to SuLing's poster session!
It's so important to keep studying and getting new ideas of teaching English.
I really think so.

P.S. I also tried Shadowing. I'd like to do it more next term.
See you!
From yogurt

Checking my English

2006-11-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone.
I'm searching for someone who can check my English in the research paper.

I hope he/she:
1) is majoring American literature
2) is studying in the doctor course or has already got PhD degree
3) lives in Japan (so as to give some reward smoothly to him/her)

If you know someone, please introduce him/her to me.

Earthquake

2006-10-16T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone.

I'm worrying about the staffs of NICE, Keita and other friends.
If you can use Internet, please let us know the situation in Hawaii.

More considerate toward Pair activities

2006-10-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

I had thought when students are to be in pairs, teacher should be more considerate to how to pair. I was sure that pairing a student with the person next to is the best thing for students because most college students take seats with their friends. As a result, we had a lot of male-male pairs and female-female pairs.
But this time I tried to mix gender, I mean, literally Pairing, or male-female. Then I was so surprised that ‘Maximizing interaction’ took place. It seemed that all college students have been waiting for the chance to talk to people of the opposite sex. A male student who is shy and always speaks with little intonation began to speak loud and clear when a female student asked him to speak louder.
Hey! How many times did I tell him “Speak louder”? How many times did I say about the importance of intonation in English?
Anyway, I found out he is not shy. I’m so glad.

Shunichi

I tried 'Shadowing'

2006-10-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I used shadowing in my classes which are preparation for TOEIC test.
First we ( all students and I) worked on grammar questions together and made sure of answer keys.
Secondly students were in pairs and picked up ten sentences. So one read out 5 sentences and the another did Shadowing. and then switched the role. All students have never done Shadowing before, but they liked Shadwoing so much and were really into it. I'm glad.

Shunichi

Schools

2006-10-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hi, my friends. Everybody is fine?
Tomorrow my school will start the second semester (because of the system of second semesters).

I want to try something new teaching methods next semester. And Bobby's idea is great!
I'd like to arrange it for my high school students. I should have bought Tim Murphy's books and DVDs at UH.
If possible I want to try to speak English in my classes though my students don't like it. (even in ALT's classes, they are silent. They are typical Japanese students.)

And then I have a question. I want to know American graduate schools. I'm just interested in them. Maybe they are quite different from Japanese graduate schools. Right?
Anytime and anything is OK, so please let me know!

See you,
From yogurt

Action Log format

2006-09-29T00:28:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I copied the following format in the Tim Murphey's book that I mentioned in my previous comment. (Sorry,you'll find the numbers that are squashed in this format.There are more spaces between them in the original.The figures were just under the words "Interesting", "Useful", and "Difficult". You know, this is an evaluation of the class by a student.)I hope you can modify it so that it becomes suitable for your classes. (I already changed some parts.)

Cheers,

Bobby

Get a B5 notebook. At the beginning of every class write at the top of the
page the date, your English target to speak (e.g. 80%) and who your partner is.
At the end of he class, write how much English you used (e.g.90%). After every
class, as soon as possible (so you remember well what happened), write a short
evaluation of the class: (1) List briefly the activities and evaluate them, and
(2)write a short comment about what impressed you in that class. Comment on
things you liked and could learn from or things you didn't like. Your feedback is
needed so that I can teach you better. I read your Action Logs and appreciate
your suggestions and will try to use them if possible. You can also take notes in
your logs!

Evaluate the activities in three categories, Interesting, Useful, and Difficult,
marking the extent of each using the following simple scale:

0=not al all; 1=not much; 2=OK; 3=good; 4=very good; 5=great!

An Example of an entry:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Spetember 14 (written Sept 14, 21:00)
English Target 75% English Used 80% Wow!

Today's partner: Yuki

(1) DID Interesting Useful Difficult
1. listened to a story 4 43
2. read a passage 0 1 5
3. discussion 3 3 4
4. teacher lecture34 2
5. had a quiz 2 2 2

(2) Comment:
I didn't understand some of the points in the reading: What is chunking?
Sometimes Mr. Murphy spoke too fast. Please speak slower. My partner today
was Yuki and it was fun to get to know her. We got a lot of homework, but it
looks like fun. I'm looking forward to the next classes. I'll prepare more for the
quizzes.
_____________________________________________________________________________

If you have anything else that you think the teacher should know (which
influenced your learning) please write about it. Please remember two things: (a)
Always put the date above the entry and the time when you wrote it in
parentheses. (b) Always use people's names when you refer to partners. Please
submit the Action Logs online at the end of every other week.

INPUT first for your English Skill

2006-09-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

If I remember correctly, in Terri's class, we've learned that "Extensive reading is for the solution of students whose language environment is non-English speaking."Lots of reading is helpful. Recently, I like reading Sidney Sheldon which is easy to read but lots of slang. I mean, these kinds of book are full of authentic dialogues.
For instance, "If she can't cut it, she's out." from Sidney Sheldon's NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. 'cut it' means 'make it''do well'.
Isn't this authentic?
The more INPUT, the more OUTPUT.

Shunichi

Autonomy and Responsibitily

2006-09-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your information, Bobby. I think that recent principles and methodology of TESOL focuses more on student autonomy. If I remember correctly, it was about 20 years ago when “New Innovated Method” like Suggestpedia or Silent Way were praised. Their principles are based on learners-centered and getting rid of learners’ stress as well. It seemed that these methods were the best and ‘like no others’. Although I’ve never tried these methods, I agreed to the point of getting rid of learners’ stress and I introduced the principle into my class.
So where has the stress gone?
It was ‘I’ who undertook all the stress and responsibility for the class. I believed this was the best way and my ideal was that students just only sit and were relaxed in class but finally I became suffering from ‘burnout’.

Thank God! EFL teachers seminar at UH this summer is my turning point. I’m going to transfer autonomy and responsibility onto students in class from now on. Student is not only a customer but also a producer of the class.

Shunichi

Action Log and Autonomous Learning

2006-09-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Thanks for keeping in touch. I’m sure all of you will be successful in the acquisition of English because you are all enthusiastic in learning. Don’t worry, even if you feel something is missing. You are on the right track. Just keep going.

I’ve been reading _Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classroom_ and watching Tim Murphy’s DVDs for the past few weeks, thinking about how to plan and carry out action log.

It took a bit while before I realize that keeping action log is a part of autonomous learning. Autonomous learning simply means that a learner has “freedom and ability to manage one’s own affairs, which entails the right to make decisions as well.” (Scharie & Szabo,p.4) So, the action log is supposed to be an activity that promotes learner’s autonomy. That’s the reason we’ll have to implement it repeatedly in our classes. Otherwise, students do not take responsibility for their own learning. I’ll tell you my negative experience.

I used a sheet of paper called “furikaeri shi-to” ( reflection log )in my classes last year. I just happened to find a format in an ELT journal and used it once without thinking about the meaning of reflection log and stopped using it. Thus, I lost the chance of developing responsibility in the attitude of my students last year.

The following is my plan of using action log in this semester: In the first class, I will probably use five to ten minutes to explain how to keep action log in a loose leaf. I’ll give them a feasible sample and have them write their own log within the class hour. From the next session, they’ll be asked to do it by themselves at home. I’ll check them once in a couple of weeks.

The books I’ve been reading are as follows: Dornyei & Murphey _Group Dynamics in the Language Classroom_ (Cambridge), Scharie & Szabo _Learner’s Autonomy_ (Cambridge), and Richards & Lockhart _Reflective Teaching in Second Language Classroom_ (Cambridge).

Cheers,

Bobby

How to improve your English skill ?

2006-09-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hi ! everyone. How are you doing ?
Recently I'm busy for preparing for the school festival. It's coming the end of this weekend.

While I was staying at Hawaii, I tried to keep speaking only in English, so I felt my English had been improved. But after coming back to Japan, I have only a few oppotunities to use English, so my English level is getting worse again.

What I do to keep my English is as below;

-watching English TV programs(sometimes with shadowing)
-going to Berlitz(but only once in a week)
-reading English books(but only ten-twenty mins in a day)

I bought some DVDs in Hawaii. I want to watch them with English subtitles, but I haven't done yet.

Now,what are you doing to keep or improve your English skill ? If you have a good idea, please share it.

Question about action log

2006-09-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone.

I'm planning to introduce the action log in my class, but I have one question.

The length of my class is 90 minutes, so the students can spned 5-10 minutes writing the log.
But in junior or senior highschool, they have 50 minutes. 5 minutes is so precious. How do teachers plan to do the action log?

Please share your opinions.

Reading Lesson

2006-09-09T02:46:00.000-07:00

Hi, friends, What's up?
Last week I met a new ALT. I was really looking forward to seeing and speaking English with her.
I had a little time to talk with her and felt so good!
I need to speak English everytime.

Anyway, my lessons are started. I planed lessons better than before.
Now I'm teaching reading program.
I tried them to read as fast as they could, and they answered a few questions like we did in SuLing's class.
Every students did very well, even some students who had low motivation.
If a student finished I said "Oh, one student has already finished." to class, "She also finished." "You did very quickly." something like that.
To give them compliments made everystudents motivated.
I did the same lesson in every classes and in one class, the chime rung, but they were still doing.
I was so happy.
I thought in English class, tempo is important.

I enjoy planning lessons, and I don't wanna do other work...

Term Exams Will Start.

2006-09-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. How have you been? I still miss Hawaii and of course you all!
Now so busy days have started. And my school will have term exams next week. So, last week we're busy teaching textbooks for the exams.
And so I have not started something new teaching method yet. Anyway I want to try something after the exams.

Recently there is another trouble which makes me busy. That is a student. After summer vacation, the student is very disobedient and breaking some school rules. That's very difficult age...

I'm sorry the second one is not related to EFL teaching. That's my complaint. Please don't care.
If you start something new in your classes, tell us in this blog.
See you.

From Yorgurt

You also Producer

2006-09-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

Bobby gave us a chance to blog in EFL teachers' room. Let's make the best of this, guys.
Do you remember? In student-centered class, students are not only customers but producers for the class.
You are one of the producers of EFL teachers' room. Let's post your blog and comments.
Am I right, Bobby?

Shunichi

Burnout. Be careful.

2006-09-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in the blog “personal determination” posted by Bobby, I found the article “Burnout a reality for many in clergy” in Honolulu Advertiser (2006.08.20).
its first paragraph are as follows:

“Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, hit the wall about two years ago. He went to see a psychiatrist, who told him he was on the road to emotional and mental breakdown.”

“Hit the wall” means “come up to the limitations or almost beyond one’s ability and exhausted” Although this article about a pastor, it ought to be a warning to us. There is a limit to everything.

What do you think about ‘Burnout’and teachers? How can we overcome?

Shunichi

We need 'Plan B'

2006-09-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

On the day of my peer teaching, in fact my printer was out of order, so I couldn't make handouts. I should have made them beforehand. but Alice told me I should not say about it during my peer teaching class because explaining my bad situation won't result in success in my class.
So I went onto 'Plan B.' I had the transcript of TOEIC listening put down on the blackboard by students. But next we were running out of time, then another Plan B that I picked up just only 2 questions out of five for jazz chants.

I believe that the teacher should have Plan B for your class just in case. What if all your stuff have been stolen just before your class?

Although I think my peer teaching was not success, i got a precious experience. anyway, thank you for your cooperation.

Shunichi

what's up, dude?

2006-08-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hi, guys. i'm Shunichi. Thanks a lot.
i'm afraid that it is difficult for us to keep 'English language environment' around us in Japan.
anyway, thanks again. keep in touch.

Shunichi

for the first time

2006-08-27T05:01:00.001-07:00

Hi Bobby,

I've never done a blog before. This is the first time in my life. Please let me know if I make a mistake using this blog.
During the seminar. I didn't have enought time to read the textbook and handouts. I still have homework about peer teaching because I was the final peer teaching presenter. I hope I will be able to do them soon.

See you,

Mariko

New Challenge

2006-08-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! (I feel great when you call me a friend instead of just a classmate or a student, don't you think so?) This is the first blog message of our new challege in the action log project. As you already konw, I am planning to use the action log in my classes from the next semester. Although I will stay focused on the action log as our main subject, I will welcome your questions or comments on other ESL/ESL matters. So let's get started!

Personal Determination

2006-04-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have trouble with my elder daughter now. As she became adolescent, she started hating me. I browsed through homepages and found that many fathers are disliked by their daughters, too. One of the reasons is that they are insensitive to their daughters’ feelings. In short, we have to change ourselves from a natural father to a man of better personality. I guess I should be more interested in literature and philosophy rather than worldly profits, sexual things, and so on. (Even though I always have paid attention to humanistic ideas, I should do so more intensely and use this personal crisis as a chance to refine my own self.) Fathers, if you want to have a better relationship with your daughters, you should make efforts to be respected, too.

What I am Doing Right Now

2006-02-22T17:59:00.000-08:00

Feb. 23
I have started revising my teaching plans since last week because all my classes are over now. How do I revise? Well, I cut and add activities; write more small tests and hand-outs; change the sequence of teaching, etc. We have six more weeks before the new semester starts. There's plenty of time to revise now.

Happy Christmas Holidays

2006-01-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

Jan. 3 Read Action Research whole day.

Jan. 2 Watched MTV whole day, dozing out occasionally.

Dec.31 Started reading a book called Action Research for Language Teachers.

Dec.30 Shoveled off the snow from the road in front of my house. Cooked rice cakes on the charcoal fire.

Dec.29 Gardeners came and put some nets by the trees in my back yard. While they were working, I enjoyed making a fire.

Dec.28 Went to an electronics shop with my daughters. My kids bought some game software.

Dec. 27 Visited Mijiro Seikokai Church in the morning. We flew back to Akita in the afternoon.

Dec. 26 Flew to Tokyo with my family. Stayed at Hilltop Hotel in Ochanomizu and went to Sansendo, Gaia, and Yodobashi Camera.

Dec. 25 Went to church for the celebration of Christmas. After the service, we went to Tsuchizaki Jusco and bought some fancy cakes.

Hard Rock and Heavy Snow

2005-12-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

Dec.18
I attended the Sunday service. Actually I am looking back and writing this on a church bench. The past week was a very tiring week because of the snow.
Dec.17
I bought a lot of rock and roll music tunes from the iTune music store. The tunes include Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, and Rock and Roll ( of Led Zeppelin). These tunes make me sentimental and happy. I wanted to buy I Love Rock and Roll, but it wasn’t available.
Dec.16
I went to teach writing. The topic was tortilla.
Dec.15
I gave a test in the listening skill class. Even though I told them to learn vocabulary, word order, and listening comprehension questions, some students took very bad scores. What can I do to improve their English skills? I must start thinking about it again, deeply.
Dec. 13
I shoveled the snow off the garage roof. I didn’t realize until last year that the snow melts on the roof and goes into the building if you don’t shovel it off.
Dec.12
It snowed so heavily that I left home at 6:00 am to go to work. Normally it's an hour's drive to get to my office, but you can’t guess how long it will take on a snowy day. Some students told me that it took twice as long as a normal day drive.

It's Getting Cold

2005-12-05T23:14:00.000-08:00

Nov. 21-Dec.5
While I was struggling to write an essay for the journal of our department, the snow started falling but it’s not falling so hard, so that I can still drive on the road easily. Compared to the past years, it came a little late. In January and February, we’ll have a lot of snow.
Nov.20
Together with other people from my neighborhood, I cleaned up the town where I live early in the morning. I went to see what my daughter was doing in the cram school during daytime.
Nov. 19
I edited and recorded for the mid-term test of my listening and speaking class.
Nov. 18
Just another day of teaching writing.
Nov. 17
Taught listening and speaking class. Made a mid-term test in the afternoon.
Nov.16
Talked with Jos for a long time.
Nov. 15
Taught integrated skills class.

I Met Hans Eek

2005-11-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

Nov. 14
During my writing class, I had an inspiration that I should teach my students how to be a more autonomous learner. After the mid-term test, I will teach them strategies and make them more autonomous.

Nov. 12
Attended the church committee meeting.

Nov. 11
It was a big day. I met Hans Eek, a Swedish architect who won a prize in the Aich World Expo, and worked as an interpreter for him in the International Science Forum in Akita Prefectural University. He talked about houses without heating. By building houses that are well-insulated, we can reduce the consumption of oil. I was really impressed.

Halloween Activity and Poster Project

2005-11-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Poster project
Oct.31
In the writing class, I used an activity that includes the cultural information about Halloween. I posted a piece of paper on the wall outside of the classroom. On that paper, I wrote questions like, “When is Halloween?” Each of the students from each group went out of the classroom to look at, memorize, and come back. This was a good warm up activity.

Nov. 1
In the integrated skills class, students worked on a poster presentation project. It was two weeks ago that I handed out essays that was collected from Time magazine and National Geographic magazine. (This means they are authentic English and a bit difficult for the students.) Today was the second day since each group started discussing about writing a poster. Fastest groups started writing on a big piece of paper, but most groups were still doing discussion. I thought they could finish writing a poster within one class hour. But all of them were still discussing the idea of what to write about. The lesson I learned from this experience is that it takes a lot of time for students to finish their work.

The Second and Third Week

2005-10-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Oct.12
In my integrated skills class, I used “concentration.” This game is normally a card game but I used the technique for learning words. Students enjoyed learning words, so I think it was successful to do this. After the game, I took a lot of time for my students to write and perform a skit using words and phrases from a boring textbook. Everybody I met said that teaching test taking skills is boring because there is nothing much to do. So I decided to take sentences out of a boring textbook and had my students write dialogues. They enjoyed writing and performing them.

Oct. 13
I was caught in a traffic jam in the morning and spent two hours in the car before I got to my classroom.

Oct. 14
In the writing class, I used information gap and AB stories. The AB stories is a kind of dictoglos. Each student in a group reads a different story and tell what happens in the story to a member of the group. The member tells the story to another member and the story telling goes on until it comes back to the original storyteller. I guess I need to find easier and more interesting stories for the students.

Oct. 15
My daughter is at a difficult age. Accordingly I have to use time and energy to take care of her. It’s a tough job but I must endure. Today I watched Ragrats Movie 2 on DVD with my family. The setting is in a Japanese theme park in Paris! After watching, I wrote a test for my listening class. We use J-Talk as a textbook in my university.

Oct.17
I started using a new textbook in the writing class. It was a bit more difficult for my students than I had expected. I assigned a few pages as a homework.

Oct. 18
Today I started a poster writing project in my integrated skills class. Each group of students will read an article, write a poster, make an explanation about the article, take notes of another group’s performance, and turn the reports to me.

Oct. 19
Jos came to teach in Hojyo today, so we had a good conversation on many topics. In the evening, I played a game with my younger daughter while my wife and the elder daughter went to a dentist. The name of the game is UpWords that is from the same company that makes Scrabble. Oh, dear I was lost…. This is the first time I was ever beaten by my younger daughter in any games. This experience made me want to learn more about playing word games.

Oct.20
According to Cambridge Dictionary of American English, depress means to cause a person to feel unhappy and without hope. Everybody sometimes feels depressed when we meet a hardship or an evil remark. Let’s get rid of the depression and be happy. You can do it if you forgive the person who are angry at. During lunch, I was able to talk about the meaning of some technical words for teaching English:recast, feedback,and scaffold.

Before and During Three Day Holidays

2005-10-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Oct.7
I used “Find Someone Who…” in the writing class. Students learn adjectives though this game. They have to find someone who is, for example, “scared.” I also had them write about their names.
Oct.8
While my elder daughter went out to play with her friends in the morning, my wife,younger daughter, and I went out for shopping. I spent the whole afternoon for putting tiny cards into envelopes so that we can sell them at our church bazaar. The bazaar will be held at the Holy Savior Church (Sukui-nushi kyokai)in Hodono, Akita City, on the twenty-third.
Oct. 9
Went to church in the morning. Relaxed in the afternoon.
Oct.10
Today is a national holiday. Few foreigners who are teaching English in Japan know that this day is Athletic Day. We celebrate this day as a rememberance of the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympic games that was held long time ago.
Visited my parents who are living a hundred kilometers away from Akita City. They grow vegetables so we always exchange their vegetables with something I purchase on the way to their house.

What I did for the First Class

2005-10-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

Oct.3
In my writing class that met for the first time in this semester, I used First Impression sheet. Before the activity, I had my students make a group of four and play a name game. After the introductory activities, I had them write an essay for thirty minutes. In the afternoon, I wrote comment on each essay.
Oct. 4
In my combined skills class, I used the same introductory activities as I used in the writing class. In the afternoon, we had a good conversation in English faculty meeting.

Caught up in the Routine Work

2005-09-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sept. 28
Woke up at 4 am as usual. Tried to connect to my university webmail site, but failed. Later I learned that I should have added "s" and make it look like https://. I went to Akita University and printed out the small tests for this semester. After coming back, I typed up the students list for this semester. I went out again to buy clear folders. Came back home again, cleaned the house, and took my younger daughter to piano lesson. Then a telephone came from Jos and I knew that he came back from California.
Sept. 29
Went to Honjyo campus and printed out the materials for this semester. In the afternoon, I went to Akita Prefectural University, Akita campus to attend a meeting. After the meeting, I gave Jos a ride and dropped him of near Akita station. Then I came home and took my elder daughter to cram school. The weather was wonderful today but I felt a little tired.Too much driving?

Let's Change Structural Materials into More Meaningful Tasks

2005-09-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't realize that people come to my site and put links to their own sneaky website. I just had to erase them. I welcome real comments but I don't like mechanical posting of commercial messages to my blog. Well, here are the things I’ve been doing for the past days.

September, 21
I was thinking about how to teach a textbook written for STEP test. This type of textbook is arranged in the order of testing patterns. For example, vocabulary quizzes in short sentences come first, vocabulary quizzes in long paragraphs come second, reading comprehension quizzes come third, and listening comprehension quizzes come last. I thought that students will learn more eagerly. if we could change the arrangement into something more meaningful. So I decided to choose the elements of vocabulary and grammar from each unit and change them into tasks.
September, 22
Three important principles to plan classroom tasks that I am preparing for the STEP textbook:
1. The task has to be open to all the students.
2. The task should be arranged in the order of daily routine.
3. Write or have students write stories or skits using the expressions contained in the textbook.
(On this day, I read some Batman comic books in my spare time.)
September, 23
National holiday ( the Autumn Equinox ). With my wife and children, I went to see my parents. I enjoyed mother’s dishes. Ohagi (rice cake and sweet azuki) is the special dish of this day.
September,24
I spent my morning for cleaning up windows, garage, and front porch. In the afternoon, I went to a toy store with younger daughter and bought a video of Kim Possible movie. The vocabulary was sometimes difficult in the video.
September, 25
We went to holy communion in the morning. I was just hanging around at home in the afternoon. We went to eat Japanese style Chinese restaurant in the evening.
September,26
Bought a firewire cable to connect my new Victor video camera and computer. I transferred the movie clip from the video camera to iBook using iMovie.

We must not Hate and Enjoy Hating

2005-09-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

I guess it’s natural that parents spend a lot of time and energy for raising children. But when your children start turning their back to you, you will be upset, and, a few moments later, try to reach your children's heart. In my case, last weekend was such an opportunity. On Saturday, I went to my children’s elementary school. I did some class observation with other parents and helped cleaning the classrooms. We were both very tired after school. Then, I had an argument with my elder daughter. At the base of the quarrel, there seemed to be some other things but the direct cause of argument was about her manner at the table. You know, young children are looking for opportunities to be independent but they don't really know how to behave politely. I am sure I was like her when I was in her age. I was vulnerable and never understood why my parents said I was selfish about something that I cannot recall now. Parents forgive children but they want their children to know that it's important to listen to adult's advice and stop being upset. "In essence," I told my daughter, "you have to read Mere Christianity looking for an advice. C.S. Lewis says, '…we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it.' I hope you understand and follow Lewis's advice."

Complicated (Avril Lavigne)

2005-09-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the following is a cloze format of "Complicated." If you would like to put them into one page, you should choose 'multiple column' under 'format' column in your MS Word, and copy and paste the following lyrics into your page. (Japanese equivalents: multiple column=dan-gumi, format=shoshiki) "Chill out" means to calm down. Did you know that?

COMPLICATED (A)
Avril Lavigne
Uh huh, life’s like this
Uh huh, uh huh, that’s the way it is
Cause life’s like this
Uh huh, uh huh that’s the way it is

_________ ________ whatcha yelling for?
Lay back it’s all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see
I like you the way you are
When we’re drivin’ in your car
and you’re talking to me one on one but you’ve become

Somebody else round everyone else
You’re watching your back like you can’t _____________
You’re trying to be cool you look like a ____________to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so ____________________?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you __________
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
___________ me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

You come over unannounced
dressed up like you’re somethin’ else
where you are and where it’s at you see
you’re making me
laugh out when you strike you ___________
take off all your preppy clothes
you know you’re not fooling _____________
when you’re become

Somebody else round everyone else
Watching your back, like you can’t _____________
Trying to be cool you look like a __________ to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so _______________?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated
Life’s like this you
and you fall you crawl and you ____________
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
_____________ me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

_________ _________ whatcha yelling for?
Lay back it’s all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see
Somebody else round everyone else
Watching your back, like you can’t _________
Trying to be cool you look like a _______ to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so ____________________?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you __________
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
___________ me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

Why you have to go and make things so ____________________?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you __________
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
___________ me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

COMPLICATED (B)
Avril Lavigne
Uh huh, life’s like this
Uh huh, uh huh, that’s the way it is
Cause life’s like this
Uh huh, uh huh that’s the way it is

Chill out whatcha yelling for?
________ ________ it’s all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see
I like you the way you are
When we’re drivin’ in your car
and you’re talking to me one on one but you’ve become

Somebody else round everyone else
You’re watching your ____________ like you can’t relax
You’re trying to be _________
you look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me_____________
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break
and you _________ what you get and you turn it into ___________
promise me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

You come over unannounced
dressed up like you’re somethin’ else
where you are and where it’s at you see
you’re making me
laugh out when you strike you pose
take off all your preppy ________
you know you’re not fooling anyone
when you’re __________

Somebody else round everyone else
Watching your ____________ like you can’t relax
You’re trying to be _________
you look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me frustrated
Life’s like this you
and you fall you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
and promise me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

Chill out whatcha yelling for?
________ ________ it’s all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see

Somebody else round everyone else
You’re watching your ____________ like you can’t relax
You’re trying to be _________
you look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me_____________
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break
and you _________ what you get and you turn it into ___________
promise me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else gets me_____________
Life’s like this you
You fall and you crawl and you break
and you _________ what you get and you turn it into ___________
promise me I’m never gonna find you fake it
no no no

Activities I am Planning to Use

2005-09-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

The following are the activities that I am planning to use in this semester.

Activity 1
Poster Writing: Students write about what they have learned

Activity 2
10 minutes activities:
- Check the Date (Take out a coin and talk about the past.)
- What’s in Your Wallet?
- Things in Common (Find five specific things in common. For example, chocolate ice cream.)
- Category ( For example, name five things that have ‘holes.’)
- Telephone

Activity 3
Concentration: Good for teaching STEP, TOEIC vocabulary.

Activity 4
Brainstorming: Good because anybody can say a few words.

Activity 5
AB Story: You need some interesting articles.

Activity 6
Cooperative Learning

Activity 7
Poster Writing: Students will write about some articles.

Activity 8
Extensive Reading

Activity 9
Timed Reading: Students will bring in a pleasure book.

Activity 10
Writing about a Song and peer feedback: Students will listen to some songs, too.

Activity 11
Academic Listening: They will listen when it’s purposeful.

Activity 12
Storytelling: Students will talk about themselves. Among the three things they say, one or two is right.

Activity 13
Chain-brainstorming: Students have to say something. They can pass, but they have to say something next time. If they can’t say anything, they are eliminated.

Activity 14
Board Game: Have them practice past tense. What I did yesterday. What I ate last night.

Activity 15
Topic Toss

I Came back from a Canoe Trip

2005-09-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

I came back from the annual canoe trip safely. Five years ago, I went to the trip by myself. I mean that I canoed down the Omono river by myself with a number of other people. As far as I remember, the first trip was the hardest. I had to face the wind that came from direction that I was going. I capsized my canoe at a bend where the water was running into a shrub. There were more than twenty people who came to the trip this year. There were scary bends and fast running water, but the scenes from the canoe were beautiful: water, blue sky, green trees, grasses, and birds.

Work, Manga, and Canoe

2005-09-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

On the 8th, I went over to my office to do some work: I attended a meeting, had lunch, started reading new textbooks, took photocopies of some articles, and took notes. On the 9th, I was mainly re-reading my notebook that I wrote during this summer at UH, Manoa. I also re-read English version of Nausicaa (Kazeno Tanino Naushika). The Eglish translation of this work is fabulous. I guess everyone who is interested in spoken English should read lots manga and see lots of cartoons. English teachers, don't be afraid. Manga and cartoons are good resourses of learning as Krashen said.
On the 10th and 11th, I am going to an annual canoe trip to the Omono river with my family. I have a red canoe in my garage.
Readers, you can see some pictures in the following site: http://www.bigsmile.jp

ブログはじめました

2005-09-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

今日は研究室に来てメールの返事を書いたり、教科書の予習をしたりしました。