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LITTLE IDEAS FOR GREAT

CHANGES

Little ideas from the 2014 International IATEFL Slovenia conference

SLOVENSKO DRUŠTVO UČITELJEV ANGLEŠKEGA JEZIKA IATEFL SLOVENIA

June 2014

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Teachers? Do we need them at all?

Jeremy Harmer advises to research deeper into what the students expect

from the teacher and how a teacher can achieve this. + A point to

remember is that we do need the teachers, we need them for different

reasons: as mentors or as allies. He also says the role of a teacher is in

targeting, pointing out..

We need teachers, if for no other

reason, then at least for helping

students direct their attention to the

language. And this is far from easy to

do, as we all know.

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What about the old(fashioned) teaching methods?

Photo taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa

We shouldn't dismiss ideas such as drilling, the use of mother tongue, teacher

explanations, etc. because they are no longer in fashion (mentioned by

Jeremy and Anthony) Some of these ideas were really good, or just need

slight adaptation to current needs.

Jeremy Harmer says "Don't use (reading aloud) to provoke failure, use it as a

life-enhancing activity!."

Routine and creativity should go hand in hand. The first one will make

students feel safe, the other one hopefully interested. One type of activity

(like magic cards, for instance) can be used as a starting or closing activity

for a period of time (one month, for example). Each time it is carried out by a

different student. (Silva Bratož, Mojca Žefran)

But, do we still need teachers?

Yes, OF COURSE!

Drilling is not out of date,

BUT!

it has to be done meaningfully!

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Mojca Žefran also suggests to get your students' attention with creative

introductory chants.

Drilling and repetition are OK if they are done in a meaningful way.

Telling it with a video?

Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by @sandymillin

Jamie Keddie presented his videotelling technique through the Love Story in

Milk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRt4lEXkDJs ) and taight us the

following expressions in the process:

Left on the shelf, from strength to strength and LPOPs

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Jamie Keddie's Video-telling technique says: dictate items for a narrative first

to help learners visualize the story!

FIRST create a story with the class and THEN show them the video! There is

more to teaching than just watching a video… (from Jamie keddie's

'Videotelling')

Teaching for life

Before you start using a website with your students (and a very good one to

use is British Council's Learnenglishteens) please take the time with your

students to go through the registration process. It will bring up a lot of

interesting and valuable issues as well as a lot of good value vocabulary.

Even selecting a password can be made into a valuable lesson. (from a

workshop with Sandra Vida)

The development of art and language went hand in hand in the past - why

shouldn't we include more art in our language teaching? (says Stefania

Ballotto)

Out of any story we can create a videotelling activity!

Smartphones are teacher's next best friend :)

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»How do I teach them what is appropriate content?«

"Is it safe for your gradmother?"

Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by @Raquel_EFl

When searching the internet or talking to you (or one another) or when giving

ideas which film to see ... a teacher asks if it's safe for their grandmother. That

means that it is appropriate for them to watch/say/do. (Edmund Dudley)

Points to remember….

Teenagers are distracted every 14 minutes and it takes 25 minutes to

get them back on track.

Don't give your students writing tasks just for homework as if they were a

waste of time. Practise writing in school too. (Edmund Dudley)

Exchange a few words with the student who lags behind the others

and leaves the classroom last. He's seeking your attention. (Edmund

Dudley)

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(as heard from Jermey Harmer)

Practice does not make perfect. Deliberate practice makes perfect!

Don't be stuck in the ancient techniques of teaching English!

"Sustained silent reading (SSR) produces the most beautiful silences on

Earth!" (Atsuko Takase)

Teachers should promote encouragement & enthusiasm in class. IF a

teacher is not positive, he/she can't expect students to be like that!

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Sometimes it is good to be reminded that students learn in different

ways and what the different ways to present a topic to cover all

learning styles are.

"Some people talk while sleep. Some teachers talk whille teenagers

feel like they want to fall asleep." (E. Dudley's talk)

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Please rememeber that 'Utterances repeated are also resignified'

Jeremy Harmer said.

Teenagers find it more difficult to read facial expressions.

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'Insanity = Doing the same thing over and over again and

expecting different results.' (unknown) - but said by Edmund Dudley.

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Discipline? What is that!?!

Call a disruptive student to stay behind after class, but DON'T tell them off.

Chat with them casually for 2 minutes instead. Repeat 10 times and they will

becone less disruptive. Success guaranteed. It is called the 2x10 strategy (one

student, 2 minutes, 10 consecutive lessons). By chatting with the same kid the

teacher gives the "difficult" child more attention, which is essentially what

they need and want.

(advice by Edmund Dudley)

This was supported by Jeremy Harmers quote of Sheryl Crow: " ...whatever

you give your attention to (is) what thrives".

Photo taken from http://flickr.com/eltpics by Roseli

Serra

He loves you, he'll marry you, he

won't, he would if he could but he

can't. (Beatrix Price)

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Always be critical first towards yourself and try to see the bigger picture.

Learning is often improvisation. That is why you have to learn to improvise.

(Mojca Belak)

Time for a bit of poetry

Sit up

Lean forward

Ask questions

Nod

Track the speaker

(by Edmund Dudley)

And above all:

Never think that you have learned everything. When you do that, you will stop

perfecting yourself. When you stop perfecting yourself, you will lose the will to

teach. When you lose the will to teach, you will produce generations of

passionless people.

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And some info…

I need to share this with you: we were doing the `oracle` activity at Mojca

Belak`s workshop and Barbara Dvornik asked us if she`d finally visit England

this summer. Our answer was: all-you-have-to-do-is-to-come-to-the-raffle-

party-this-evening-and-your-name-will-be-drown!

Guess what happened: she was the double lucky winner and got a 5 day trip

to London + a Pilgrim`s course!

Miracles do happen if you believe ;)

Mojca: »wow, this gives a completely new dimension to my activity!«

But

The most inspiration brought the poetry evening performed by Steve Bingham

& Jeremy Harmer! :) Such an emotional and fulfilling night, thank you all!! :)

And according to 2 first-time attendees… (and what the

rest of us knew all along…)

I attended the conference for the first time and I made a personal resolution:

I'll come every year.

Topolšica is the place to be 2015, 2016, 2017 ...

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Thank you to all who have contributed their notes fort his booklet:

Silva Bratož

Bernarda Kejžar

Katja Marenk

Marjorie Rosenberg

Vesna Gros

Sandra Vida

Dragica Banjac

Estera Deželak

Luka Lavrin

Danny Singh

Mojca Saje Kušar

Gita Šmid

Suzana

Klara Levstek

Anja

Marša

Sanja Čonjagić

Dubravka Lapčić

Nina Jerončič

and many more whi did not

share their names when

submitting their notes.