An online teacher resource: search, download, and upload materials to share

A wonderful free site. Difficult to describe what it is, or what it does ~ but if you are curious, go and take a look.

http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/view/SWhH8QsOtha6ElG2QhBBQ2~

If you can think of ways to integrate it into our classes, or have already used it in some way, please share your ideas & experiences as comments to this post.

This zip file contains an overview of the Reading Swap Shop, facilitated by Kay Irie on June 5, 2008, along with some of the materials presented. For more information about ideas and activities in the folder, please talk with the contributors listed below.

Kay Irie
Dan Jackson
Paul Joyce
Christine Wilby
Deborah Bollinger

Download Reading Swap Shop Folder

In his presentation on May 13, 2008 entitled, “A Discourse Approach to Teaching Reading/Writing,” Peter McDonald considered whether modern theoretical approaches to linguistic description can be effectively applied to the teaching of reading/writing at all levels.

This zip file contains Peter’s PowerPoint presentation and handout.

Download A Discourse Approach to Teaching Reading/Writing Folder

In the LTD lunch forum on April 23rd, Jim Sick presented some variations of the traditional dictation
activity. These materials are useful both as teaching activities and as easy to create
“ongoing” assessments. The activities can easily be adapted for use at any level.

The zip file below contains Jim’s PowerPoint presentation and handout.

Download Meaning-Focused Dictation Folder

The JALT Teacher Education SIG has arranged to host an interesting talk in Chiba at the end of this month. Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman shouldn’t need any introduction and this is a good chance to see her speak without having to make a trip to TESOL.

These details are re-posted from a JALT mailing list. Please contact the organizer directly for any additional information.

Who: Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman

What: “The Nature of Grammar in a Task-based Approach to Language Teaching”

When: Monday, June 30, 5:00-6:30

Where: Kanda University of International Studies
Makuhari, Chiba Presentation Room, Building 6

Free Admission to JALT Members

RSVP to Chris Stillwell: stillwel atmark kanda dot kuis dot ac dot jp to reserve a space.

ABSTRACT:
Using a task-based approach to language teaching can be very useful, provided that we don’t simply overlook grammar nor that we treat grammar as form alone. In this presentation, Dr. Larsen-Freeman will challenge some usual ways of thinking about grammar and suggest an alternative, grammaring, that can work well in a task-based programme.

Some of you may recall that there were two options for Moodle presented at the Retreat: An individual course for a single instructor and one group of students, and a Bulk Moodle course for everyone else who did not request a course of their own. That Bulk Moodle course has now arrived for Eigo IA and B Level 1. Look for laminated handouts around the part-time area, or download the handout here: Level 1 Moodle How To [PDF]

No ~ don’t call the decency police!

http://diddlefinger.com/

Is an interesting little site, which allows you to search for addresses in Japan in English.

I am sure you will find a use for it … Why not test it by looking for your own home?

These worksheets are intended as a trial. If you use them in your class, please remember that they are not in addition to the vocabulary requirement as stated in the Student Notes (30 words and sentences). They are to be used instead of this requirement or to replace part of it (Eg. 15 words and five worksheets). The workload on the students should remain the same, so as not to skew the grading process.

They are in ‘Beta’ form. Please give me any comments for improvement that you have if you use them on the class.

This batch consists of 6 worksheets and a brief overview. They cover vocabulary from Unites 1, 4 and 5 in Firsthand Success.

Different Approaches to Vocabulary

These are some short listening activities that can be used to introduce each unit or to provide extra practice. There are three types: gap-fill, correction, and re-ordering. There are also a variety of shorter, follow-up tasks, such as scrambled words, choose a summary, and complete the sentence.

Download the zip file below.

NOTE: this is a new zip file. The previous one contained a mistake in the Unit 2 supp file (there were 11 mistakes, not 10!)

ttunit1_8pdfs

Hi All,

In case you missed it in the email newsletter, here is the orientation schedule for this Saturday.

orientation-plan-spr-2008

Sandwiches from New Saffron!

I spent some time today backing up the site and upgrading the Wordpress software that makes it work. Still a few things to finish, as you can see. But, the day is done and time to take a break. More tomorrow.

In the meantime, keep poking around looking for stuff. It’s all still here, just looks a bit different.

These PowerPoint slides contain answers for the Level 3 Eigo IIB activity based on Lional Menashe’s guidelines.

Download answer key to “Guidelines on Plagiarism” activity.

For many people, the upcoming holiday will be their first experience of the new ID requirements for foreigners when entering Japan. It is possible to pre-register your passport and fingerprints. This will allow you to use manned automated gates (I know, there is an oxymoron in there, but it is the government) at Narita on re-entry. That might speed things up.

Download the obscure guidelines
Get the application form

On Wednesday, December 13th, I did an in-house presentation on the principles underlying an effective vocabulary learning programme. This session focused on such practical considerations as: how many words learners need; which words are important; and how new vocabulary can be remembered. The slides for the presentation are contained in this post. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Paul’s Vocab Workshop

For the group presentations here is a worksheet to help the students get organized. In their groups they can work out the order of their individual presentations and write down who will introduce and conclude their group’s efforts. Also they can plan their own part of the show with a list of points they intend to make and the illustrations, charts or slides they need to create or collect. It should help.final-presentation.doc

This PowerPoint file offers a simple way for students to check their answers on the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Quotation Marks Exercise in the Level 3 Binder.

Quotation Marks Exercise Answer Sheet

The lunch forum that was held on November 13 was a writing swap shop. Here are the activities and materials presented at the swap shop. For more information about these, please see the teachers listed below.

Peter Bellars
Deborah Bollinger
Damon Brewster
Alison von Dietze
Dan Jackson
Paul Joyce
Chihiro Tajima

writing swap shop folder 1

writing swap shop folder 2

On November 30th, I gave a workshop which demonstrated a couple of ways to make web-ready slideshows with voice narration. Here is a handout from the workshop which provides links to the software I used plus a couple of other alternatives. Click on the link to download the handout.

Making Slideshows Workshop Handout

Level 2 Reading teachers are due to give a minimum of five quizzes this semester. As well as the in-house quizzes that you can use with your classes, there are also a set of publisher tests. They are a little easier than the in-house ones, as vocabulary is not recycled from previous units.
unit-quizzes-for-totally-true-3.pdf
unit-quiz-answers-for-totally-true-3.pdf

Jim has made a great set of cards we use in the EAP course which suit this unit perfectly. They are of crazy inventions and there are six sets of A4 size cards. They can be found in an old green ‘Film Pouch’ box at the bottom of the folder shelf in the part time area.

Procedure:

• Put students into groups and have them answer two questions:

1. What is the invention for?

Example: I think it’s using when you have a cold.

2. Make up a product name.

Example: Tissue helmet.

• Collate answers on OHP or board.

I used this as an introduction to the unit and the students really enjoyed the humorous ideas presented.