Teaching and Learning Collaboratively

T. L. C.

Presented By

Elana Cheshin and Sarah Cove

Teaching and Learning Collaboratively (TLC)

In this short talk the speakers will share some of the benefits they have each experienced in

teaching and learning collaboratively within various EFL contexts. Both speakers are

experienced teachers, teacher trainers, and developers of EFL instructional materials.

Educators sometimes find themselves isolated in their classrooms, having to cope with multiple

challenges relating to classroom management, pedagogical issues, administrative and other

challenges. Our experience has repeatedly taught us that a little TLC (teaching/learning

collaboration) goes far in assisting educators in coping with challenges, and arriving at creative

solutions that are the results of such collaboration.

The power of synergy, where one plus one equals three, is something that all teachers and

learners can benefit from. Wherever there are people, there is the potential to collaborate and

harness this positive energy.

The speakers will share from their own separate personal experiences working collaboratively

with other teachers and with learners. They will also share their joint experiences as

collaborative partners in the development of EFL materials.

Suggestions for teaching and learning collaboratively on three parallel levels; teacher-teacher,

teacher-learner, and learner-learner will be discussed.

We all have much to gain through TLC!

1. TLC = _________________________________

2. Read these sentences. Work with a partner and paraphrase them.

A woman without her man is nothing.

____________________________________________________

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

____________________________________________________

Flying planes can be dangerous.

____________________________________________________

Visiting friends can be boring.

____________________________________________________

This story shows what evil men can do.

_________________________________________________________

Did you gain a different understanding of the sentences?

__________________________________________________________________

Did you reach a consensus about the meanings of the sentences?

___________________________________________________________________

How did you feel while working with a partner?

3. Complete these sentences:

When someone puts me down, I feel _____________________________

When someone shows confidence in me, I feel ______________________

When I show confidence in someone else, s/he feels _________________ and I

feel ________________________________.

4. Write a word under each picture.

_____________ _____________ _____________

5. Three levels of teaching and learning collaboratively:

Teacher-teacher

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

6. Write the answers to the questions you hear:

1. _______________________________

2. _______________________________

3. _______________________________

4. _______________________________

5. _______________________________

Now listen again and discuss the answers with a partner. Do you want to change

any of your answers?

How many did you get right? ___________

Teacher – learner

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Language experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hd0mMAwHuk

Think-aloud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4jEUs21ZiY&feature=related

Learner-learner

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Paired reading: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Q7Bkca_yw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0QwL0KzA-4

Peer assessment: (Link to an article)

http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/assessing/peereval.htm

Find the Smiley:

teach learn collaborate

talk

listen

clarify

Additional resources:

Teacher-Teacher Collaboration

What Is Teacher Collaboration and How Does it Relate to Other Current School

Practices? http://www.slc.sevier.org/tcollab.htm

Upgrading School Support Programs Through Collaboration: Resource Coordinating

Teams http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/news/worktogh/smhpart1.htm

Learner-Learner Collaboration

http://www.kaganonline.com/free_articles/dr_spencer_kagan/ASK06.php

http://www.myread.org/organisation.htm#coop

http://www.teachablemoment.org/high/groupwork.html

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/leadrshp/le0pet.htm

http://www.teachnology.com/currenttrends/cooperative_learning/