August 2001
- issue 8/01
DEVELOPING
TEACHERS.COM Newsletter
Welcome to the August Newsletter
I found an interesting article
recently about the 'Fencemaster' & his one-man crusade
on behalf of cyclists in central London - more on this below
- & as part of the lesson plan, the Fencemaster has given
us permission to use the photos, & the text, from his
site, so we thought some ideas on using pictures & photos
might fit for the theme this month - catch the eye & reach
the brain! We had cuisenaire rods as a theme last December
so check out the site for lots on those. We'll look at other
visuals in future newsletter themes & the Weekly Tips
- still not subscribed? Get along to the site & fill in
the box with your e-mail address.
Apart from the theme, there are lots of teaching & computer
links, a fun warmer & some jobs advertised. There's a
very interesting link to Journal of the Imagination in Language
Learning and Teaching - great title - in the teaching links
section. It's a good time of year to post your CV for free
on the site, or an advert if you are looking for teachers
- get in touch if interested.
If you have a web site please
consider putting a link on it to Developing Teachers.com.
It really does help. If you would like an
image for your site.
Subscriptions & hits to
the site are growing - thank you if you have already told
colleagues about the Developing Teachers.com site & the
newsletters & please keep spreading the word.
Happy teaching!
**********
INDEX
1. THEME
2. THE SITE
3. WARMER
4. E-MAIL
COURSES
5. TEACHING
LINKS
6. JOBS
7. WEEKLY
TEACHING TIPS
8. TRAINING
COURSES
9. PS - Internet/computer-related
links
**********
1. THEME - catch the eye
& reach the brain
Firstly, some different visual
aids available to teachers: white/blackboard - pictures. posters
& photos - realia: objects brought in classroom/the classroom/the
teacher/the learner - phonemic chart - video - OHP (overhead
projector) - cuisenaire rods - board games - computers etc..
And a few reasons for using
visual aids:
help convey meaning
interest value
motivating
aid to memory
change of focus
change of pace
stimulate the imagination
outside topics become more 'real'
The good thing about visual
aids is that they are there to use so take up no preparation
time & they can be used at any stage of the lesson. That's
assuming you've got the ones you want as, on the contrary,
there's nothing more infuriating in not having 'that' picture.
It's always worth keeping your eye out and keep collecting
them. Nowadays with the internet it's much easier to find
pictures - there are some links later.
Here are a few ideas on using
pictures & photos:
- using a dramatic but unexplained
situation picture, stds discuss what happened, is happening,
might
happen.
- write a narrative.
- write a dialogue.
- write caption, slogan etc.
- using the pic as a springboard,
stds write one line and then hand on to next std to add the
next line to the dialogue or narrative to develop a written
chain story. At the end each std has a story in front of him
that has been made up by the whole class.
- on giving out the pic, the
stds arrange themselves in the same positions as the characters
in the pic and
on a sign from the teacher they carry on the action and dialogue
from the pic.
- dubbing: using a picture of
a person, stds brainstorm all questions they can think of
to ask him/her
(they could take notes on the questions). Then give the picture
to a student who becomes that person.
Stds then interview std. If other characters are involved
as a result of the questions then, as they come
up, assign them to another std who answers in that name -
similar to the Teaching Tip 'Come on in &
take a seat'.
- tch has one pic covered up
& very slowly uncovers it as stds make deductions about
the content. It
might/could/must/can't be.. etc
- think of ten different uses for the objects in the picture.
- interviews with characters
in the pic.
- std A has a pic & std B asks questions to discover content
of the pic.
- give a different pic to each
std, then in groups of four they work out connections between
their pics &
then they work out a story.
- to set up situations.
- to promote discussions.
- to use in non-linguistic tasks
in reading & listening activities e.g. order pics/choose
appropriate
pic/find differences between pic & text/add info to pic.
- to convey moods & attitudes.
- to teach specific language points e.g. pics of people doing
things to introduce verbs.
- brainstorm vocabulary.
- pics describing cultural aspects
of L2 culture - discussion.
- postcards, a selection at
hand is always useful e.g. for prompts in postcard writing,
as prompt in
roleplay.
- adverts: stds write own/give
ad a slogan.
- design the next in the series
if ads.
- warmers & games;
- spot the difference: std A
has pic & std B has same pic but for 10 differences. Without
looking at each others they discover the differences.
- memory: look at pic for one
minute, turn over and brainstorm what can remember.
- odd one out: std A has several
similar pics, chooses one, and std B asks questions to guess
which one he chose.
- doodles: stds doodle &
then try & explain each others.
----------------------------------
Here are a few links to enable
you to find the picture or photo you need:
http://www.clipart.com/
Lots & lots of links to free clip art sites.
http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/simage
I use this quite a lot for 'that' photo. Quick & I usually
find what I'm looking for.
http://images.google.com/
Having said that about AltaVista, it looks like I'm about
to change to Google - see comments in the PS section below.
http://www.freeimages.co.uk/
You have to sign up but they're still free.
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/freephotos/
From About.com - free photos.
http://www.gograph.com/
http://www.freegraphics.com/
http://free-stock-photos.com/
http://www.freephotos.f2s.com/
http://fstocki.tripod.com/index2.html
http://patrick.verdier.free.fr/
More free photos.
----------------------------------
To
the lesson I mentioned above about the Fencemaster.
I must admit we're being a bit
self-indulgent with this. The Fencemaster & his witty
site appeals to our sense of humour. Apologies if it's not
your cup of tea - or your students for that matter.
This is a classic example of English eccentricity at its best.
There is a cause that affects the individual & his/her
rights, the method of attack is harmless & it is recounted
in an amusing & friendly way. The Fencemaster is fast
becoming a cult figure on the net at large. The anti-Globalisation
movement will have nothing on this in times to come.
To give you an idea of the site,
here is an excerpt from his newsletter:
Newsletter #5 - 20-July-2001
Welcome and thanks for staying
with me even longer. Week five.
THE BILL
I cannot get over, in case you
didn't read it online, how pleasant the three policemen that
came to see me were. The landlady of the fence had, of course,
asked them to go and arrest me. I am generally cool about
policemen. To get on with them you have to try not to break
any laws, you even have to make sure you don't look like you
might be about to break any. The Fencefather-in-law was the
Metropolitan Police heavyweight boxing champion three years
running a while ago. I have to be careful.
The three officers that came
to see me (about the fence) were really very nice. But why
McGlashans couldn't pop across the road themselves to discuss
things, I don't know. The officers were shown into the boardroom,
which was a smart move as there are biscuits there, and they
really did seem to want to put their helmets on the fence.
I'm sure of it.
I had to give them my name.
I said 'Fencemaster', but suspected the larger of the large
officers was reaching for his CS gas, so gave out my normal
'street' name (or 'office' name). They also wanted my address,
so rather cleverly I thought; I gave them my real one. Your
Fencemaster was feeling pretty pleased with himself after
that start to the day. Oh yes.
MISERABLE GIT
A few sensitive souls were kind
enough to express concern when I appeared 'down' after the
attempt by the landlord earlier this week to have me arrested.
I have had free legal advice from some supporters who are
barristers, solicitors, even hardened dangerous criminals,
so I feel better now.
The highly tenuous book deal
I was foolishly pinning my hopes for future financial security
on fell at the first hurdle, as these things do. Probably
because I haven't actually written the book yet.
Fencemaster
Back to
the index
***********
2. THE SITE
There are some new articles
on the site this month.
'The
use of a process-oriented approach to facilitate the planning
and production stages of writing for adult students of English'
by Nicola Holmes with an
accompanying lesson plan.
Nicola looks at how process writing can be used successfully
in the classroom & proves her point with a comprehensive
lesson plan. In the appendix, there are some interesting examples
of first draft compositions, initial teacher feedback and
second drafts written after teacher and peer feedback.
'The
Present perfect (and the past simple)' by Sarn Rich.
This is an overview of current thinking about the present
perfect & practical classroom ideas. Sarn also offers
his own insights into this tricky tense & accompanies
it with a lesson plan.
If you've given a course or
seminar or have a lesson plan & would like to give it
a public airing then do send it to:
Contact
Page
ADVERTISING
If you are interested in advertising on the site or the Weekly
Teaching Tip & this Monthly Newsletter then please get
in touch at:
Contact
Page
**********
3. WARMER
This is a fun warmer that Joanne
Shipp did on a training course recently. You need some cards
with objects written on them - one sock, an empty CD case,
a kilo of heroin, one bicycle wheel ….. Hand one to each
student & put them into groups of 3 or 4. They then have
to choose someone in their group & try to persuade them
that they desperately need that thing. The student being persuaded
can resist & give arguments as to why they don't need
it. The others in the group then vote as to who should have
it. And so on until everyone has had a go at trying to persuade
someone. Lots of fun.
Thanks Joanne.
You must have a favourite warmer!
Send it in & we'll publish it here & put it in the
warmer list on the site.
Back to
the index
**********
4. E-MAIL COURSES
Maximise your time by getting
started on a
quality personalised teacher development course. Choose
as many modules as you want or take the whole course.
**********
5. LINKS FOR TEACHING
I received the following e-mail
last month:
'I edit the annual Journal of
the Imagination in Language Learning and Teaching. We have
just archived online the entire text of all the 86 articles
from Volumes 1 through 5. There is no charge for this material
- teachers anywhere can print it out. I think that this material
will be of considerable value to classroom teachers and teacher-trainers
in many countries.
You are most welcome to examine
the website via "Special Programs" on the New Jersey
City University (Jersey City, New Jersey, USA) homepage. The
complete address is http://www.njcu.edu/cill/index.html
The Journal is produced by the University's Center for the
Imagination in Language Learning. It is of interest to teachers
of language at all levels--kindergarten through college--as
well as to graduate students of education.
Volume 6 is current and is available
in book form from the address given in the site. Requests
by instructors for complimentary examination copies of that
volume will be honored.
Known and respected internationally, the Journal features
the work of scholars of the first rank from many countries
including the USA, as well as of writers who have not before
appeared in print.
The total number of articles
in these five issues would seem to qualify our publication
as a primary source of information on the relationship between
the imagination and language acquisition.
I enthusiastically encourage
you to pass along this notice to anyone who might be interested.
Sincerely,
Clyde Coreil, Editor
(enough said, ed.)
http://www.youreouttahere.com/
Celebrity obituaries galore
engagingly & personally written, care of Rory Borealus.
Material for the higher intermediate student & up.
http://montekristo.hypermart.net/about.html
Here's an interesting tool to
help you remember facts. You store what you want to remember
into a data file & you are shown the info at intervals.
One to pass on to your students.
http://www.rosettaproject.org
'The Rosetta Project is a global
collaboration of language specialists and native speakers
working to develop a contemporary version of the historic
Rosetta Stone. In this updated iteration, our goal is a meaningful
survey and near permanent archive of 1,000 languages. Our
intention is to create a unique platform for comparative linguistic
research and education as well as a functional linguistic
tool that might help in the recovery of lost languages in
unknown futures. '
http://www.logophilia.com/WordSpy/
'This Web site and its associated
mailing list are devoted to recently coined words, existing
words that have enjoyed a recent renaissance, and older words
that are now being used in new ways.
Each weekday, The Word Spy presents a new word, its definition,
and a citation (usually from a major newspaper or magazine)
that shows how people are using the word. You also get extra
goodies such as background on the word's formation, a list
of related words from The Word Spy database, quotations on
words and language, and more. Paul McFedries'
upsell, verb
To attempt to persuade a customer to purchase a more expensive
item.
"Theater staffs have developed the technique of 'upselling,'
or convincing patrons to buy larger sizes of popcorn and drinks
for a discount. Kathy Warning, UA's director of food services,
says she recommends trying to upsell to about half the customers."
-Dave McNary, "Popcorn Power," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
mouse wrist, noun
Pain in the wrist caused by excessive or improper use of a
computer mouse.
"By the end of the day, your eyes are red and your vision
a little blurry. Your secretary is complaining of neck pain,
and your graphic designer has a bad case of 'mouse wrist.'
You know you need to do something fast. It's time to 'ergonom-ize'
your office."
-Nancy Christie, "Ergonomic Office Products," Office
Solutions, July 1, 2000
http://www.logophilia.com/WordPlay/xword-companion.html
Also found at the above site
is this handy Crossword Companion. Just type in the letters
you know & a '?' for the letters you don't know &
it'll come back with possibilities.
http://www.logophilia.com/waw/
And another - Words about Words.
Back to
the index
**********
6. JOBS
Teachers
can post CVs on the site & employers
can post job adverts - both are free services at the moment.
Madrid, Spain - The Madrid
Business School is seeking experienced native teachers for
regular classes and/or shortcourses. Requirements: freelance
and diploma qualified. Various openings:
1 Part-time on fixed timetable
from October 2001 to June 2002 to teach groups of business
students
in preparation for the UCLES Business English Certificate
exams (we are an authorised
examining centre).
2 Teachers with a business background
for short courses in companies in specialist fields such as
finance, HR, sales.
3 Teachers for intensive courses
of general English.
If you are interested, please
send your CV to Departamento de Idiomas, CESMA, Escuela de
Negocios
Paseo de La Habana, 43, 28036 Madrid. Fax: 91 458 3802 E-mail:
idiomas@cesma.es
We are closed for the month of August but details can be sent
through and we will be in touch after 3.9.
Arahova, Greece - Qualified
teacher wanted to teach in the charming and popular ski resort
of Arahova, Greece from September to May. Arahova is ten kilometres
(approximately six miles) from Delphi. Accommodation is provided.
European nationals only. Reply by POST including a curriculum
vitae and a photograph to Mrs Sandra Hays-Papageorgiou, Arahova
Viotias, 32004, GREECE. For information regarding life in
Arahova and the surrounding area contact shelley.reeves@talk21.com.
Please write ARAHOVA in the subject line.
Reus, Spain - Teaching
General English to adults and children. The levels of the
classes range from complete beginners to CAE and may include
some Business English. 15-09-2001 until June 2002, beginning:
15 Sept. 2001. Contact: inlingua.reus@eresmas.com
Sales agent - Worldwide
agents for international EFL materials company. Good knowledge
of local market and TESL/ESL or teaching certification required.
In-company teaching and business English experience preferred.
Position begins ASAP. Apply by e-mail enclosing CV/resume
("not as an attachment") to info@instant-ideas.com.
***********
7. WEEKLY TEACHING TIPS
As always, free weekly practical
teaching tips by e-mail.
Sign up!
Back to
the index
***********
8. COURSES
Train in Spain - Courses running
in the near future at the British Language Centre in Madrid:
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ELT
- CELTA
Full-time four-week courses:
September, October & November
CAMBRIDGE DIPLOMA IN ELT - DELTA
Six month part-time course:
October '01 >> March '02
Reasonably priced accommodation
can be arranged for the duration of all courses.
You can see brief descriptions
of all of the current courses on the BLC web site http://www.cospa.es/blc/TED/ttframe.htm
The postal address of Teacher Education at the British Language
Centre is Calle Bravo Murillo 377, 2, 28020 Madrid, Spain.
The phone number is (00 34) 733 07 39 & the fax number
is (00 34) 91 314 5009.
The e-mail address is ted.blc@cospa.es
Back to
the index
**********
9. PS - Internet/computer-related
links 
I'm sure you want to know when
we last updated Developing Teachers.com, no? I learned this
trick the other day. Open a text file - NotePad or the equivalent
that you use & type in the following:
[InternetShortcut]
URL=javascript:alert(document.lastModified)
Then 'Save as' "last_modified.url"
- without the quotes - in c:\windows\favorites.
When you are at a site, click
on this in the favourites & it'll give you the date the
page was last modified. Magic.
http://images.google.com/
Talking of magic - back to Google
- my favourite search engine - & their lightning search
that seems like magic. They have now incorporated an image
search. The engine chooses pages of thumbnails from over 150
million images! Phew! Take a while to get through. When you
click on a thumbnail you're given a top frame of the picture
& the bottom frame is the site it's from. They just get
better at Google.
http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html
'Google Zeitgeist - Search patterns,
trends, and surprises according to Google
For both breaking news and obscure information alike, people
around the world search on Google at www.google.com. With
a bit of analysis, this flurry of searches often exposes interesting
trends, patterns, and surprises.
On a monthly, weekly, and sometimes daily basis, this Google
Zeitgeist page will be updated to reflect lists, graphs, and
other tidbits of information related to Google user search
behavior.'
http://www.wilders.org/free_tools.htm
Lots of free programmes to help
you & your computer stay safe.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/test-defenses.asp
Viruses are in the news again.
Here's a useful site that helps you discover if your system
is protected or not against malicious scripts. You can ask
for an e-mail to be sent to you containing a VBS attachment.
When you run it, it attempts to read your registry. It doesn't
do any harm though - it's just to see if it can get that far
without being detected. If it does get that far you need some
protection!
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/
If you're in the market for
a new computer or parts for your present one, check this site
out before going to buy. They give you the lowdown on just
about everything - & fellow geeks will help you out in
the forums. There's also a good tutorial on building your
own computer - for those dead times between lessons!
http://www.thunderbirdsonline.com/
I don't really know what this
is doing in the newsletter but this seemed a good enough place
as any to put it. Join Jeff, Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon,
Alan, Brains (a true geek hero) & Lady Penelope &
Parker on Tracy Island - it had everything! I always wondered
what happened to Mum but it seems she died prematurely, no
details given. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I
wouldn't bother.
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the Past Newsletters
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