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IMPORTANT LINK TO ALL THAT HAS GONE BEFORE



=MARCH 31, 2010= If you paste or type an ESL student's work into the box, here (or have your students do so themselves), Microsoft says it will correct the errors. Once again it's Larry Ferlazzo who delivered the news. =MARCH 29, 2010= Here are the slides from today's presentation on vocabulary: [|basic vocab info.ppt] =MARCH 25, 2010= "Time is what stops history from happening all at once; time is the speed at which the past disappears ."  --David Mitchell, //Cloud Atlas [Haven't read it yet? Shame on you!] //  // In other words, join the rest of the European conformists and **put your clocks forward one hour on Sunday.** // =MARCH 24, 2010= Two items today:

The inimitable Larry Ferlazzo has posted an update to his "Scavenger Hunts and Webquests" page. A tailor-made webquest (or one already online and "borrowed" from another teacher) would be a great activity for our students during the torrid month of June.

Steve Neufeld, one of the forces behind the CELF would like our students in grades 7 to 12 to participate in some online vocabulary research. Interested/Inspiring/Cajoling teachers should see me for more information. =MARCH 16, 2010= Amazing. Absolutely amazing. //@The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book// by Terry Friedman contains a plethora of information and at least one project that is "close to our hearts." [HINT: Think very young CHILDREN and very energetic TEACHER .] =MARCH 14, 2010= VOCABULARY: These eight videos from Lexitronics address the sine qua non of what we're supposed to be doing. And I have just now added to our Vocabulary page an Excel file containing all the CELF words with lots of supplementary information. This should make it much easier to identify target vocabulary. =MARCH 13, 2010= "The New Writing Pedagogy -- Using Social Networking Tools to Keep Up With Students " shows the many benefits of having our students write online. Please read it and become enablers. =MARCH 6, 2010= Revisiting [] is like going back to your childhood home to find that, miraculously, everything has gotten even better than you remembered. The first ESL site I ever loved now has two hundred jumbled sentences, amazing reading comprehension activities, dictations, proverbs, and just about everything else a harried teacher could want -- all arranged by level and in Hot Potatoes! Great for homework and in-class activities. =MARCH 4, 2010= Some of us will read and discuss this recent //NY Times// article entitled "Building a Better Teacher" [mentioned by Larry Ferlazzo]. Those of us who do will surely benefit from the ensuing conversation. =MARCH 1, 2010= Thinking and language learning go together like........ Enjoy this wonderful site and share your views with our community. =FEBRUARY 26, 2010= This link will take you to one of the best articulated presentations of "the role of the teacher" that I've read in quite some time, a view very close to my own ideas about what each one of us needs to be doing. Please read it and share your thoughts. =FEBRUARY 25, 2010= Here is the link to the schedule for the Trinity GESE presentations on March 9, 10, & 11.

And fitting in rather nicely (if I do say so myself) with a part of last week's post about //TESA//, here's a link to a news report about research into the relationship between touch and performance. =FEBRUARY 23, 2010= The following message reached me yesterday. And since only two of us (you know who you are) will be attending this year's IATEFL conference in Harrowgate in April, I thought everyone could benefit from this pre-conference online event. == IATEFL LET SIG Virtual Pre-Conference Event ==

Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:01 am (PST)
Today's the last day of TESOL's EVO, but just in case anyone's not had their fill...

...you can always join the IATEFL Learning Technologies Special Interest Group's 'Virtual Pre-Conference Event' (VPCE) at @http://iatefl-ltsig.ning.com/

There are 6 weeks left before the 44th annual IATEFL conference in Harrogate, UK and in the run-up to the conference, the IATEFL LT SIG have decided to hold a 'Virtual Pre-Conference Event' (VPCE) - I'd like to invite all webheads to join in the fun.

The focus of the Pre-Conference Event this year at the IATEFL conference is to consider where we are in the field of learning technologies and language learning and where we might be going. Have we reached a time when learning technologies are a 'normalised' part of our practice or is there still some way to go? Are there any predictions we can make about the future?

We have asked three people - *Stephen Bax*, *Scott Thornbury* and *Mark Pegrum* - to help us on April 7th with short focused presentations during the day at various points to seed the debate. Stephen and Scott will be in Harrogate, Mark will be online.

Before then, the VPCE will be examining where we are now, with 6 weeks of discussions and practical ideas involving on how to use Web 2.0 tools in  your classroom.

Hope to see some of you there

Graham Stanley blogefl@gmail.com http://blog-efl.blogspot.com

=FEBRUARY 22, 2010= Vocabulary, where would we be without it? This amazing site will allow you to create word lists for your students and include a widget on their grou.ps page so that they can practice. Talk with Eda if you need help. =FEBRUARY 20, 2010= Here's the link to some highly recommended (and free) online training, especially relevant to Eda's "Using Moodle" sessions and our plans for how teachers will be utilizing terakkiDOTnet. In addition, the site itself contains links to a plethora of useful resources. =FEBRUARY 19, 2010= Messages and articles referring to //TESA (Teacher Expectations & Student Achievement)//, a popular professional development option in the USA, have been crossing my desktop recently. Perhaps we should arrange for a course, or, at least, refocus our attention via an ongoing discussion. Please explore [|the site] and reflect carefully on the information presented. =FEBRUARY 17, 2010= What with everyone (well, nearly everyone) actively pursuing professional development, we ought to arrange some peer-to-peer sessions so that we can share the wealth. How about scheduling some concurrent sessions for after class on the last Wednesday of each month? Volunteers willing to lead the March presentations are encouraged to come forward. =FEBRUARY 14, 2010= Who among us is not indebted in some way to Betty Azar? I highly recommend her web site -- especially the "Fun With Grammar" pdfs. =FEBRUARY 7, 2010= Here is a link to "@No Glamour Grammar ," a huge file of rather mechanical exercises with an answer key. Perhaps bits and pieces could turn up on worksheets, and students could check their own work. =JANUARY 30, 2010= Once again Larry Ferlazzo points us towards the answer: SweetSearch Biographies helps students and their teachers find accurate information about the famous and the infamous. =JANUARY 22, 2010=

=JANUARY 20, 2010= Here's a message from one of our former colleagues, Vesile Yilmaz. She hopes that teachers here, or elsewhere, will help her form a group so as to get a discounted price on an online course offered by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. =JANUARY 13, 2010,= Remember __Mad Libs__? Well this page has plenty of them; it comes with "parts of speech help," too. =JANUARY 10, 2010= Here's the link to an assortment of short, interesting real-life films. It seems as if there's a new group every week, but if you select a category from the side menu, you have access to the archives. Fascinating stuff. =JANUARY 7, 2010= I've just added a sidebar link to a page entitled "@Animals" since references to the non-human variety turn up frequently in all our grades. Now we can build of repository of annotated links to useful sites. Credit goes to Larry Ferlazzo for my first entry. =JANUARY 5, 2010= This post by Larry Ferlazzo with links to "visual data resources" seems to call out to teachers of academic writing and their students; plus, the topics are cross-disciplinary. =JANUARY 4, 2010= Here's a link to an intriguing site called //My Words.// I've just begun to explore its many features. In a section known as //The English Grammar Guide,// for example, there's an item asking for ten verbs that usually follow the noun "results." [Yes, the answers are available (via //Word Neighbors////,// a neat corpus link//)//.] There's even a browser toolbar that links to common reference sites and provides pronunciation and Google images for any word that's input. Definitely worth exploring,

After looking over some items on recent exams, I'm beginning to think that dear old Benjamin Bloom //et al// are being given short shrift. So, here are some example questions based on a text from a primary grades bilingual education program in the USA. Note that to properly answer some of the higher order questions, students must **acquire vocabulary and language structures**; luckily for our students, we're here to teach exactly those items.

DECEMBER 29, 2009
Here is a collection of prompts for writing (essays, primarily) and another collection of prompts to inspire short pieces of fiction.

DECEMBER 24, 2009
These sixy-six photos, once presented to our students, can be used in a myriad of ways. How about having each student pick a photo and write the "before-during-after story"?

And here's the best open source educational application I've seen to date. It -- along with Google Wave -- will likely be the talk of 2010.

DECEMBER 22, 2009
The victuals on the party list are so tempting that we will have to hold the party one day early or risk a riot -- see you on Tuesday, December 29.

Did you know that "TELIC" is American English for "CLIL"? Me neither. What a difference an ocean can make!

DECEMBER 21, 2009
[|This highly recommended video presentation] on the TED site features Bill Gates talking about mosquitos, malaria, and education. One of his main points has to do with the influence of GREAT teachers on learning.

DECEMBER 19, 2009
[|This] is the not so elusive link to StoryCorps, the photobooth that listens to and records people like you and me telling all those warm stories about what matters most. Construct some questions and you've got a humane activity for B1 and above.

DECEMBER 16, 2009
The amazing Larry Ferlazzo asks us -- once again this year -- [|to share on his blog] what we have learned over the past twelve months; this is a perfect opportunity to display our learning to, virtually, the entire virtual world, ne c'est pas?

And the amazing Nik Peachey has just announced the continuation of his open workshops on free web-based resources. [Guess who didn't even know that Turkey was a member of SEETA.]

==** SEETA Open Workshop on Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers **== === Posted by: "Nik Peachey" nik.peachey@btinternet.com nik7335 ===

Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:41 am (PST)
Over the last week I have been running an open workshop on free web based tools that teachers can use both inside and outside the classroom.

The workshop consists of a number of tasks which focus on investigating the use of different tools and then sharing ideas and impressions on forums. I'm running the workshop on behalf of the South Eastern Europe Teachers Association http://www.seeta.eu, but it is open to anyone who wants to register and attend as and when they want to and when they have time.

So far we have 150+ particpants registered and as there has been a lot of activity and many people still want to work through more tasks, I've agreed to extend the workshop into the new year, up until around 14th January 2010.

So, if you have some time and curiosity over the festive end of year season, please feel free to sign up, share ideas and particpate or just read through and lurk.

You can register at: http://www.seeta.eu

Best

Nik Peachey | Learning Technology Consultant, Writer, Trainer Teacher Development: http://nikpeachey.blogspot. com/ News and Tips: http://quickshout.blogspot. com/ Student Activities: http://daily-english- activities.blogspot.com/ On Social media: http://bloggingandsocialmedia. blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @http://twitter.com/NikPeachey

DECEMBER 15, 2009
We have a PARTY page on which you can note down the food and drink you will bring on December 30. Hurray!

DECEMBER 14, 2009
If the materials on this page -- [|"Teaching Literacy in English to K-5 English Learners"] -- are not required reading/viewing, then they ought to be. The entire site, focusing as it does on research-based practices, deserves your immediate attention.

DECEMBER 12, 2009
Why the proper use of language is always important:

6. Sic! ---Last Saturday, Margaret Chandler read about forthcoming exhibitions in the InsideArts section of The Mercury, Tasmania: "Alternative artists are to be hanged and the venue will be opposite the old Hobart Penitentiary." She intends to stick with traditional oil painting from now on. CNN's Political Ticker reported on 28 November about a basketball game that President Obama attended in support of his brother-in-law Craig Robinson: "Robinson, who coaches the Oregon State Beavers, was cheered on by the President, who snacked on popcorn, the FirstLady, Sasha, Malia and the girls' grandmother Marian Robinson." Thanks to Joel Gardner for that unsettling image.

This e-magazine is also available as an RSS feed, whose source isat http://www.worldwidewords.org/rss/newsletter.xml. Back issues are at http://www.worldwidewords.org/backissues/.

DECEMBER 11, 2009
Here's an important report : How do teenagers in the UK use technology and how does this use relate to their writing skills? And for those who prefer to take their news as highlights, [|here] 's a blog entry about the research. [BTW, the blog itself seems worth reading regularly.]

DECEMBER 10, 2009
How about some warmers [[|warmers.doc]] courtesy of the British Council now that the weather is becoming colder? Also from the British Council is the following link to MacMillan interactive webinars -- both live and archived. They are free; all you have to do is register. media type="custom" key="5004545"

DECEMBER 8, 2009
Although on this, our beloved wiki, it may seem to some as if French and German are not as important for our students as is English, it's more an issue of available resources than anything else. So, in honor of conjugations and those who love them, [|here's a useful site].

DECEMBER 7, 2009
This arrived today from [|the British Council]:

LearnEnglish Kids is the British Council's website for children around the world who are learning English as a second or foreign language. This site has free resources for children to use at home, either independently or with family members or friends. You can recommend activities from this site to children to do for homework, or during school holidays. It is also a useful resource to recommend to parents. You could also recommend the [|LearnEnglish Parents] website to parents. LearnEnglish Parents is the British Council's website for parents and carers of children who are learning English. The site has lots of free information and resources, and parents can register to download song files and tools to help with pronunciation. You may use any of the materials on LearnEnglish Kids in your classroom.

Teachers can find tips for using content from this site on the British Council/BBC website Teaching English on this page: []
 * In the games section you will find online games and activities about topics that feature in many textbooks and syllabuses.
 * In the listen and watch section you will find animated stories and songs especially written for children. Many of the stories and songs have worksheets that you can download and use in the classroom. You will also find videos, and online activities designed to practise listening skills.
 * In the read and write section you will find worksheets that you can download to help children develop their reading and writing skills. You may use these in the classroom. There are also activities in this section that are designed to encourage children to send written contributions to the site.
 * In the make section you will find online activities in which children can create something. There are also arts and crafts worksheets which you can download and use in the classroom. Watch the videos here of children making things.
 * In the explore section children can find help with using LearnEnglish Kids, and with learning English. They will also find a list of links to websites that are suitable for children learning English.

DECEMBER 5, 2009
[|THE EVO 2010 Sessions], which take place from January 11 through February 21, have been announced, with registration beginning on January 4, 2010. Professional development activities better than these are few and far between (and none are cheaper), so plan accordingly.

**Registration starts on January 4th** ||
 * < * **Click on the name of a session below** to view the complete sessiondescription.
 * **Join** a session by following the link to the online platform at the bottom of each description.

**> We __strongly recommend__ that you sign up for no more than two sessions. **


 * < **Sessions** ||  ||< **Moderators** ||   ||< **Brief Description** ||


 * < Adaptive Technology ||  ||< Eve Ribeiro ||   ||< This is a discussion-based session that will allow teachers to share how they use technology to adapt instruction to help struggling students with major and minor disabilities. It will familiarize teachers with user-friendly, easily available resources. ||

Becoming a Webhead ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dafne Gonzalez <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Teresa Almeida dÉca <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Maru del Campo <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jose A. Da Silva <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Helen Davies <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Anisoara Pop <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Fernanda Rodrígues <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Mbarek Akaddar <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sharon Betts <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Isabel Texeira <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Hala Fawzi <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Evelyn Izquierdo <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Larissa Olesova ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Webheads in Action is a nine-year-old community of practice of language teachers worldwide, coordinated by Vance Stevens. In the Becoming a Webhead workshop, which is an introduction to Webheads in Action, we **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">explore ** <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Web communication tools and **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">share ** <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the best ways of using them in our teaching practices, **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">engage ** <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with students in virtual classes, **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">collaborate ** <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">on projects, and **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">participate ** <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in conferences as audience and presenters. This collaboration takes place online, as we are all geographically apart. **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Would you like to join us? ** ||
 * < BaW-10

Gary Carkin Susan Hillyard Leslie Sapp Jessica Davis Fernanda Molla George Plautz Holly Dilatush ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Process drama** is a powerful language-learning tool because it involves all of the learners interactively all of the class time. Used for decades as a framework for reading, writing, and social studies classes in mainstream UK, Australian, and Canadian classrooms, process drama is now being utilized in second language classrooms worldwide because it provides stimuli for ongoing speaking, listening, reading, writing, and critical thinking opportunities while working within a dramatic context that evokes the use of intuition, imagination, and feeling. **But what is it exactly? And how do we implement it?**
 * < EVO_Drama_2010 ||  ||< Shin-Mei Kao

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> **<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In this six-week online workshop, we will examine what it is, how it works, and how to apply it in relation to language acquisition in a step-by-step manner. ** ||

Jim Edgar Stephen Roney ||  ||< These sessions will introduce instructors to simple tools and techniques used by their educational technology savvy peers to produce professional, functional and recyclable resources for teaching. All of the sessions have been used extensively in classes across the globe. Participants will be given the opportunity to share their experience with these tools. This collaboration takes place online. Would you like to join us? ||
 * = <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Digital Materials Preparation Techniques ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">John Allan

Dennis Oliver Alice Barr Ana Maria Menezes Cheryl Oakes Daniela Munca Jane Petring Mary Hillis Nina Liuylkun Susan Burg Kathy Epps Sasa Sirk Erika Cruvinel ||  ||< How can adding images to your in-class and online activities raise student interest? How can you help learners develop 21st century multiliteracy skills through active learning? In this six-week online workshop offered through the [|Electronic Village Online], participants will be introduced to various online image manipulation tools and will learn how to effectively incorporate these resources into their teaching practices. They will explore how images can be used in educational settings for photo sharing, storytelling, slideshows and comics creation, as well as understand how Creative Commons licensing can be beneficial for classroom use. By the end of the workshop, participants will have the chance to develop a plan to begin incorporating digital production into their lesson plans. ||
 * < Images4Education ||  ||< Carla Arena

Hana Prashker Sandra Rogers ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This session focuses on the use of the Internet in the young EFL learners' classroom: examples of activities, tips on selecting online activities, problem handling. ||
 * < Internet4ylsyllabus ||  ||< Joanna Rodiki Petrides

[|Jennifer Verschoor] Nina Liakos Dennis Oliver ||  ||< A multiliterate teacher understands the many ways that technology interacts and intertwines with academic and interpersonal life, and actively learns how to gain control over those aspects impacting teaching, social, and professional development. Multiliterate individuals are aware of the pitfalls inherent in technology while striving for empowerment through effective strategies for first discerning and then taking advantage of those aspects of changing technologies most appropriate to their situations. These strategies include managing, processing, and interpreting a constant influx of information, filtering what is useful, and then enhancing the learning environment with the most appropriate applications. ||
 * < Multiliteracies for Social Networking and Collaborative Learning Environments ||  ||< Vance Stevens

Michael Marzio Branka Marceta Jennifer Lebedev Cora Chen ||  ||< Are you looking for resources that will save your prep time, enhance your lessons, and expand teaching and learning beyond the classroom walls? Learn about these online treasure troves of multi-media content created for EFL/ESL teachers by fellow educators who share a passion for teaching, language learning, and video. ||
 * < My Video Classroom 2.0 ||  ||< Ryan Detwiler

Sherri Wright ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This session is a chance to delve into the world of games and the engagement that well-designed examples can bring. You'll first begin by <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #333399; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**considering games as a** **subset of technological tools** available to educators, and then move on to <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #333399; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**focus on the** **distinct characteristics** that make gaming a unique medium which affords particular advantages for language learning. == == <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There will a scheduled periods to <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #333399; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**play new multiplayer games online** with your fellow learners. Additionally, there will be opportunities to collectively think about <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #333399; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**integrating games with other forms of instruction**. Both synchronous (game play, chat sessions) and asynchronous (reading reviews and discussion) will span time and distance during the course of this session. ||
 * = Online Games for ESL/EFL ||  ||< Andy Blanco

Susan Burg ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In this workshop we’ll explore the world of Interactive Whiteboards: the pedagogy, the tools and resources supplied by the vendors, as well as the vast array of ready-made materials available online. We’ll be creating and sharing simple activities along the way, culminating with bigger pair/group projects.
 * < Smart Teaching with Interactive Whiteboards ||  ||< Anna Koorey

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> We will use the [|Yahoo Group] for introductions, tutorials and eventual doubts, this wiki for the session timeline, activities and group work, our virtual office at TappedIn for weekly chats. We will also be having synchronous presentations with guest speakers. ||

Graham Stanley Maria Pinto Nahir Aparicio Nergiz Kern Włodzimierz Sobkowiak ||  ||< In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in the use of virtual worlds for language teaching and for education in general. This session will take a broad look at the current situation by investigating how organisations and individuals have leveraged this platform for language teaching and learning. Participants are invited to learn more by becoming involved in field trips, talks and discussions. We will also be looking at a selection of different educational tools that can be used to help the teacher and learners. You will be encouraged to try your hand at teaching language in one of these environments. ||
 * = Teaching Languages in a Virtual World ||  ||< Dennis Newson

Jan Holland Heike Philp ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Real’ language travel is a tour package that comprises classroom lessons in a local school with field trips to sightseeing places in the surrounding area. Often or not it also includes homestay with a family. What a fun way to learn a language. This kind of language learning is immersive, sociable, interesting and exciting and often a great experience at the beginning of a deeper involvement with the language. If you can afford it! <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> In this EVO session we are seeking to replicate the concept of language travel to be conducted entirely with online resources, virtual classroom teaching, and a total immersive virtual environment, such as Second Life. We will learn hands-on how to use virtual classroom technology for teaching the language and how to explore virtual worlds for practising the language. ||
 * < Virtual Language Travel ||  ||< Holly Longstroth



<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Coordinator)
 * < <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Aiden Yeh**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Birmingham University, UK

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> aidenyeh-at-yahoo.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**JoAnn Miller** <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Co-Coordinator) <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Free Lance Consultant, Mexico City

<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">miller-at-room20.org ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Dafne González**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Past coordinator)

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Universidad Simon Bolivar Caracas, Venezuela

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> dygonza-at-yahoo.com ||

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Past coordinator)
 * < <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Elizabeth Hanson-Smith**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> California State University,Sacramento/Command Performance Language Institute, Sacramento, CA <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> ehansonsmi-at-yahoo.com ||  ||= <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Moira Hunter** <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> ESIEE & ENSAPM <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Paris, France

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> moira_hunter2005-at-yahoo.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Christine Bauer-Ramazani** <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Co-founder and Past coordinator) <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> St. Michael's College, Cochester, Vermont, USA

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> cbauer-ramazani-at-smcvt.edu ||


 * < <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="style3" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> **Carla Arena**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Casa Thomas Jefferson

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Binational Center

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Brasilia-DF, Brazil

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> carlaarena-at-gmail.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Vance Stevens**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (TESOL PDC liaison) <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Petroleum Institute

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Abu Dhabi, UAE <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> vancestev-at- gmail.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Susan Marandi**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Al-Zahra University <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Teheran, Iran

<span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> [|susanmarandi-at-yahoo.com] ||

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Collège Édouard-Montpetit <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Longueuil, Quebec <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Canada <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> japtring-at-gmail.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Rubena St. Louis**
 * < <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Jane Petring**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> slrubena2003-at-yahoo.com ||  ||< <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Laine Marshall**

<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Long Island University <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> New York, USA <span style="border-width: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> [|l]ainemarsh-at-optonline.net ||


 * <  ||   ||= <span style="border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[[image:http://evosessions.pbworks.com/FCKeditor/build-fck/editor/f/EVOlogo.gif height="156"]] ||   ||<   ||

DECEMBER 4, 2009
This just in from Raymond Kerr at the British Council: <span style="background-color: #f0ff00; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 89%; text-align: center;">Dear teachers, Please click on the link below to find out about our new art and English competition for children of all ages! Please pass this link to teachers in your schools, thank you!

[]

And there's this wonderful piece of news (via Stephen Downes):

Learning4Content Can't beat this: "Nellie Deutsch and Gladys Gahona would like to invite you to a free 5-day e-learning professional development workshop for educators who want to learn how to use WikiEducator and Moodle to share online content with students, create and facilitate online workshops, and collaborate online with their students and other educators (December 14-18)." This is the 33rd online workshop at WikiEducator. Nellie Deutsch and Gladys Gahona, WikiEducator, December 3, 2009 Link] [Tags: Academic Publications, Online Learning] Comment]

And it seems that education hasn't really changed much over the years -- it's still about understanding and using language; even the themes are the same (first Food, then Music). Take a look at this clip: [|still the same old story.swf]

And last but not least, ITI in Taksim is offering free one-hour workshops: [|ITI WORKSHOPS.pdf]

DECEMBER 3, 2009
A call to action. Reasons ([|within a Stephen Downes presentation in Barcelona] ): Why We Need To Implement Our Grou.ps ASAP.

Also via Stephen Downes, [|this link] to the Edutopia Lounge (you might even join the group). Have a look at the "Best Gifts For Teachers," for example, or [|this page], a must-read on "The (somewhat controversial) Waldorf Way."

DECEMBER 2, 2009
Not my very favorite company/organization by a long shot, but Cambridgeesol tries hard to be there when we need them. Register at [|this site] and join countless others who make use of all the free resources.

NOVEMBER 24, 2009
In honor of Teachers' Day (acaba), Nik Peachey has posted [|10 technology-related professional development tasks for teachers] ; they'd make fine additions to your e-portfolios.

NOVEMBER 19, 2009
[|Here] 's an interesting article from //Education Week// reporting that researchers are focusing their studies on how to help English-language learners develop oral language skills. Cited in the article is Dr. Catherine E. Snow of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her work on enriching the vocabulary of middle school students is the basis of the Word Generation project, posted recently on our Vocabulary page.

Speaking of speaking, our friendly British Council sent [|this link] today.

NOVEMBER 12, 2009
The one and only [|Larry Ferlazzo] has recently revealed that Calgary -- the one in Canada -- has a well kept secret (besides Calgary redeye, which deserves to be hidden away): the [|Calgary Academy Online Resources web site]. There -- once you register -- you have access to short story activities, clause activities, and so much more. There's even a science activity entitled "[|What Part of the Plant are we Eating Anyway?]"

Have you heard about [|Schooltube] ? All videos are created by students and approved by their teachers. So far, my favorite is the stop-motion skateboarding-of-the-future assignment.

NOVEMBER 5, 2009
I've added a new term, VOCABULARY, to the navigation sidebar, and have started a new page with an amazing piece of research entitled //The Common English Lexical Framework//. Because the document is likely to become the cornerstone of our lexical syllabus, everyone should become thoroughly familiar with it. Additional material relating to vocabulary will be added shortly, as well as links to and information about further development of our curriculm. Discussion of the CELF, which has, naturally, roots in and ties to the CEFR, should take place via the VOCABULARY page.

One a completely different note, our friendly British Council would like everyone to benefit from their Teaching English website with ELT Sharepoint. So, follow the directions ([|how_to_log_in.pdf]) and take part.

NOVEMBER 3, 2009
" Like all living forms, we flourish in certain conditions and shrivel in others. Great teachers, great parents and great leaders understand those conditions intuitively; poor ones don't. The answer is not to standardize education, but to personalize and customize it to the needs of each child and community. There is no alternative. There never was." -- from [|a recent interview with Sir Ken Robinson]

Please search [|the TED archives] or this wiki to (re)acquaint yourselves with the video of his now-famous presentation. Please be sure to share your comments with our community of practice.

OCTOBER 28, 2009
In line with our theme, I'm embedding a music widget, this one from PBS. Their graded [|Activity Packs] are wonderful and deserve your attention. media type="custom" key="4667889"

OCTOBER 27, 2009
There's been a lot of interest expressed in digital story-telling lately. [|This site] (cited by Nik Peachey, who has [|a different activity] based on it) seems to have many possible applications. For example, a teacher could make and save his/her selection of 5 pictures and the story about them -- many examples [|here]. Students could be directed to that story and would write and save their own stories based on the same set of pictures.

OCTOBER 26, 2009
Raymond Kerr, of the British Council here in Istanbul, certainly knows how to produce interesting newsletters. Here's a copy of the one I received today: From: Kerr, Raymond (Turkey) [mailto:Raymond.Kerr@britishcouncil.org.tr] Welcome to the TeachingEnglish newsletter. This week's content includes Tessa Woodward's latest article, and news of a new directory which you may find useful if you are a researcher.
 * Sent:** Monday, October 26, 2009 12:08 PM
 * Subject:** TeachingEnglish Newsletter 26 October 2009

Story writing – creative thinking Writing stories is an exciting and creative activity and yet students often seem resistant to undertaking this task. I think it is important to break the task down into small stages so students don't get discouraged, and place emphasis on the creative part. <span style="background-color: #fff900; color: black; display: block; font-size: 92.16%; text-align: left;">[]

How to be a trainer 'In the first article I wrote for this guest writer spot, I looked at all the basic questions we can ask about being an English language teacher trainer, educator or mentor. I chose the question for discussion, 'How do I know if I am ready to be a teacher trainer?' This time I would like to take the question, 'How can I do my job?'. <span style="background-color: #fff900; color: black; display: block; font-size: 92.16%; text-align: left;">[]

Directory of UK ELT Research 2005-08 Compiled by Shelagh Rixon and Richard Smith of Warwick University, the Directory of UK ELT Research 2005-08 contains information on 857 research outputs from 52 institutions. This covers books and chapters in books, articles in journals, conference papers, doctoral theses, and unpublished research, as well as funded projects. <span style="background-color: #fff900; color: black; display: block; font-size: 92.16%; text-align: left;">[]

What kind of training do teachers want? One of the wonderful things about a site like this is that if we, as teacher trainers, have a question we want to ask of our professional community, we can put it out on the 'cyber waves' and have the chance of getting responses from all over the world. __[]__

Time management Sometimes I find it difficult to manage time especially when teaching grammar. A good teacher always knows how to manage his time, but as far as I'm concerned, I wonder whether they have understood the lesson, that's why I tend to do a lot of drills and a lot of exercises; because of that, I lack time. What should I do? <span style="background-color: #fff900; color: black; display: block; font-size: 92.16%; text-align: left;">[] **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Raymond Kerr ** | Teacher Development Manager | ELT
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">T ** +90 (0)212 355 5610 +90 (0)212 355 5610 +90 (0)212 355 5610 +90 (0)212 355 5610 | **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">F ** +90 (0)212 355 5658 | **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">BCTN ** : 8523 5610
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">E ** raymond.kerr@britishcouncil.org.tr | **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">W ** []

OCTOBER 23, 2009
It's about time, don't you think? Clocks hereabouts, so I'm told, will soon be aching for your attention, and 4 AM on Sunday is the preferred time to give yours their autumnal adjustment.

Please identify the following. Add your own favorites, too.

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;">"That time of year thou mayst in me behold <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Upon those boughs which shake against the cold <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang."

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> "If your time to you <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Is worth savin' <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Then you better start swimmin' <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Or you'll sink like a stone <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> For the times they are a-changin'."

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> "Time that is intolerant <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Of the brave and the innocent, <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> And indifferent in a week <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> To a beautiful physique, <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Worships language and forgives <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 95%;"> Everyone by whom it lives..."

OCTOBER 22, 2009
Do you remember //Future Shock// and //The Third Wave//? Well, [|here] 's a very recent interview with Alvin Toffler, "the celebrated septuagenarian," in which he suggests shutting down the public education system and beginning again from scratch. Can't make an omelet with breaking eggs, I suppose.

OCTOBER 16, 2009
[|This link] will take you to many excellent free lecture videos on a variety of topics. Highly recommended for lycee and above. There's even one about justifiable cannibalism.

AND, from a listserve I belong to (email here to join) that's having a discussion about vocabulary learning, the following post from our guest expert, Batia Laufer:

<span style="background-color: #ffff00; border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">I agree with Martin and Mary that teachers who are native speakers are usually less aware of learners' problems. They are often surprised when I provide research evidence that some words are difficult to learn, some are confused with other words, and some are avoided. Martin's question 'how to teach vocabulary' cannot be answered in one message, or even 10 messages.... I'll try to outline some general principles 1. Expose learners to words (chunks of words) in spoken and written input 2.. Elicit words in communicative activities 3. Provide word-focused instruction - Practice words in isolation, minimal context (phrase/sentence), text context - Work on comprehension and on production (production in given contexts and in original contexts) - Work on recognition and on recall - Include simple exercises, e.g. matching two columns (at the beginning, or later for short revision); include complex exercises, e.g. discrimination between semantically similar words, using in original sentences - for "rich" instruction, depth of processing - I mentioned earlier the importance of recycling in exercises and of testing - I also mentioned that some vocabulary can be left to individual choice, but the frequent and useful words should be taught in class. - Technology is OK, but the principles of vocabulary exercises offered by computer programmes are not that different from what can be done on paper.

I classify vocabulary work into 3 main stages: - First encounters (exposure, brief explanation, simple exercises, some use) - Expansion and consolidation of knowledge adding info (collocations, difference from similar words, comparison with L1, complex exercises). This is not done in one lesson, but over time - Recycling and fluency short revisions, working with familiar word features, simple exercises

Batia

OCTOBER 15, 2009
[|Here]'s a story that will warm the very cockles of your heart. Please read it and comment. Your students might enjoy it, too.

We were visited yesterday by the examinations group from the British Council in Turkey. They may be looking for oral examiners for all of the Cambridge ESOL Examinations. If you are interested, please begin preparing your CVs. The British Council will train and certify you, and then offer paid work at various schools and centers. This is a WONDERFUL professional development opportunity, don't you think? As I get more information (e.g., where to send your CVs), I will post it here.

OCTOBER 14, 2009
Look what the Canadian government is giving away: [|HyperGrammar2]. (Do they know something we don't?) And there's even some editing help available in French, [|Le Bellerive].

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Get your fresh e-learning awards c/o European Schoolnet. But first you must register, [|here]. And there's more from European Schoolnet, cut from their email and pasted below for your delectation.


 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/header_en.jpg width="634" height="158" caption="European Schoolnet: transforming Education in Europe"]] ||


 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/blue_box_top.gif width="604" height="13"]] ||


 * ||  || **<span style="color: #0061b1; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">October 2009 ** ||

<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Since talking about environment also implies personal responsibility, we believe that this subject deserves a high priority in education. Teachers can play an active role in sensitising students when still young, raising their awareness on the importance of everyday choices and actions, and encouraging their commitment to help protecting natural resources. <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> This month's Teachers Newsletter offers you an insight on the latest projects, events and trends related to the needs of our planet by proposing a number of opportunities and resources to integrate environmental education across th curriculum. Through education we can strengthen young people's "green" conscience! <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> If you would like to contribute to the Teachers' Newsletter, feel free to write us at [|**teachers-newsletter@eun.org**] ||
 * ==<span style="color: #0463b1; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">FOCUS: Environment ==

== <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|INFO - FuturEnergia: Online debate on climate change] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|RESOURCE - Xperimania Science Ambassadors] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|EVENT - Join the STELLA final conference] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|INFO - Kids on the move to protect the global climate] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|RESOURCE - The Climate Mystery] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|RESOURCE - Elementary Globe] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|RESOURCE - Teaching Environment] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|INFO - Health "forgotten in climate talks"] == == <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|RESOURCE - You control climate change] == == <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|EVENT - YouthCaN Environmental Conference] == ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|INFO - Spark interest among students for a career in the chemical industry] == ==<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|INFO - Renewable Energy: European cooperation with Mediterranean and GCC countries] == || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Southern Mediterranean and Gulf regions have an important renewable energy potential, in particular for solar and wind energy sources, which could contribute to enhancing energy security through future potential exports of 'green electricity'. ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/blue_box_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/yellow_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/highlights.gif width="119" height="29" caption="Highlights"]] ==<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|"Let's make Earth a home we really want to live in" says Professor Jacqueline McGlade] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/jacqueline.jpg width="177" height="118"]] || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Can young people truly affect discussions and policies on climate change? Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, explains how young Europeans have the chance, power and responsibility to shape a better future for environment by taking initiatives for themselves and influencing world leaders to go green. [|Play video] ||   ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/yellow_border_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/news_from_eun.gif width="196" height="29"]] ==[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_phone.gif width="22" height="16"]]<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|CALL - NANOYOU: What do your student know about Nanotechnology?] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/nano.jpg width="68" height="46"]] || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The NANOYOU project has now launched an online survey to assess young people knowledge and perception of nanotechnologies, which have many applications from medicine to energy production. Taking the survey is an excellent way to introduce this important subject in your classroom. You can also register your school to participate as a pilot school within the project. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">On 25 September 2009, FuturEnergia hosted Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director at the European Environment Agency, as special guest of an online debate centered on climate change and the expectations for the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15). 13 schools from twelve countries shared their questions and proposals about our planet's situations. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">How about showing your students the "coolest" chemistry and physics tricks and getting new ideas for your science classes? This year, Xperimania sends science ambassadors into the classroom to demonstrate the fun side of science. Make your school one of their destinations! ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Science teachers, educators, researchers and school heads are invited to take part in the [|STELLA final conference] in Nancy, France, on 18 November 2009. The conference will focus on the presentation of interesting science education initiatives in Europe, stimulating discussion, exchange and brainstorming on how to make science education more attractive for young people. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The Zoom "Kids on the Move 2009" campaign encourages young people to make their daily journeys in an environmentally friendly way and discover how their participation can contribute to protecting and caring for the world's precious climate. ||  ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/news_across_europe.gif width="243" height="29" caption="News across Europe"]] ==[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_star.gif width="22" height="16"]]<span style="color: #336699; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;">[|EVENT - Climate Education Conference] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/cop.jpg width="68" height="46"]] || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The first inspiring climate education conference took place on 12 -14 October. The conference is part of the global summit on climate change ( [|COP15], Copenhagen, 7-9 December), which aspires to find a global agreement on the climate change convention after a long period of negotiations, The summit will be a shared platform for experts, researchers, civil society and NGOs. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Microsoft and Congin have launched The Climate Mystery, an online learning universe that combines education and entertainment to inform students, aged 13 -16, about global climate issues. From September to December, students can participate in real scenarios and taking their chances to face climate challenges. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Elementary Globe is designed to introduce younger students to the study of earth system science, including interrelated subjects such as weather, hydrology and soils. It offers a set of five modules to explain the subject in an easy and fun way. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Looking for more information to teach environmental topics in your classrooms? Teach-nology proposes lesson plans, tips, games and articles to make this subject attractive and clear for your students. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Doctors and environmentalists believe the impact of climate change on public health has been largely ignored by policymakers as global leaders step up talks ahead of December's Copenhagen summit. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The European Commission's campaign "You Control Climate Change" provides useful information about climate change and tips on what you can do to help bring it under control. The website is available in twenty-three official EU languages. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">On 24-26 April 2010 in New York City, USA, YouthCaN will organize a conference on environment, proposing activities and workshops for students. YouthCaN is a youth run organization that uses technology to inspire, connect and educate people worldwide about environmental issues. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Teachers and students are invited to join the ICIS Chemical Business Recruitment Campaign 2009 where they can find out about job opportunities in this sector and participate in discussions on chemical developments.

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OCTOBER 10, 2009
Precious memories! Last year, using dictation as both practice and test, we had a fair bit of success. This year, it's hard to say how dictation is being used. Why not read through [|this article] and join the crowd? Comments with examples will be greatly appreciated.

OCTOBER 1, 2009
One more -- for good measure; you might have your students work in groups to describe what's happening and to write out the dialogue. You can find many of these gems on Youtube -- uploaded this one rather than embed it to make your access simpler.



SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
Spoken mediation has once again found us. PLEASE find a way to use this with your students. The best "translation" should win a prize. Think Bombay TV. As our favorite informant wrote: <span style="background-color: #fff900; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">"I remember waiting for this guy for days to be on TV when I was a kid; it was part of a weekend show and we would act, pretend, make jokes about it all week... I am sure some of you will have the same feeling while watching him."



SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
Why do I enjoy reading [|Stephen Downes]? He knows a lot, thinks a lot, and speaks the unvarnished truth. In praise of guides I agree with all the good things that Doug Johnson has to say about guides. "Why does learning in school have to be so disagreeable to so many students and teachers when we all know learning itself can be about the most fun one can have under the right circumstances. Maybe a little more guiding and a little less 'teaching' might make even school a better place." Maybe so. But I note in passing that exactly the same actions undertaken by the guides, when on people who are not in the tour voluntarily, and have been forced to attend, **is called kidnapping**, and therein loses many of its charming properties. Doug Johnson, The Blue Skunk Blog, September 28, 2009 Link] [Tags: Schools] Comment] (emphasis mine)

SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
Here's a nifty visual to help make your class discussions more manageable -- even if you're "discussing" those dreaded frequency adverbs (wuh!): media type="custom" key="4457417" align="center"

SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
The justly lionized [|Larry Ferlazzo] has recently added [|this link] to a site full of webquests and scavenger hunts put together by a group of nine British museums. [|This one] at KS3 (grades 7, 8, and 9) seems to fit well with our writing aims and with the poetry competition. And with terakki.net set to go online this week, we'll have plenty of room for teacher-created webquests.

Also from Larry Ferlazzo, a link to this TED video referencing the landmark research between childhood self-control and success ın adulthood. Could we do this experiment with our four-year-olds and compare the results with their ÖSS results fifteen years from now? Turkish subtitles are available, so be sure to watch it again with a colleague.

media type="custom" key="4453275" width="160" height="160" align="center"

The original article is [|here]. [Please examine the statistics and the analyses thereof; I was taught to prefer original research to textbook summaries or "Sunday-supplement" tidbits, and to always check the math. IMHO one major difficulty with the plethora of examination results on which we are forced to base decisions is that the descriptive and inferential data are just not there; they're more like anecdotes from Ripley's Believe It Or Not.]

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
European Schoolnet has just sent out a newsletter with something in it for everyone. [German teachers, please check out Radiojojo!] I've cut and pasted the entire newsletter below, warts and all. Click and be transported. Feel free to subscribe if you haven't already done so.
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/header_en.jpg width="634" height="158" caption="European Schoolnet: transforming Education in Europe"]] ||


 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/blue_box_top.gif width="604" height="13"]] ||
 * || **September 2009** ||
 * == FOCUS: Professional Development and Creativity ==

Welcome to the new European Schoolnet's Teachers Newsletter. Each month we will focus on a specific theme to provide teachers with interesting ideas and information to implement in the classroom. As the new school year is getting started, this month's newsletter focuses on professional development and creativity. See how you can contribute to your own professional development as well as access a number of excellent resources to guide you throughout the 2009-2010 school year. Also, as 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, don't hesitate to push the boundaries in your teaching and set some new challenges for your pupils. Finally, if you would like to contribute to the Teachers' Newsletter, please write us at teachers-newsletter@eun.org ||  ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/blue_box_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/yellow_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/highlights.gif width="119" height="29" caption="Highlights"]]==[|Teachers can't stop learning!]== || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/paul1.jpg width="177" height="118"]] || Paul Holdsworth, from the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture, speaks about professional development in teaching. Investing in initial teachers' education, training courses, ICT skills and mobility seem to be crucial factors for facing today's challenges in the educational sector. [|Play video] ||

== [|CALL - eLearning Awards 2009 now launched] == == [|CALL - What does Creativity mean to you?] == == [|RESOURCE - Creative project kits] ==
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/yellow_border_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/news_from_eun.gif width="196" height="29"]]==[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_folder.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|RESOURCE - New European Schoolnet portal online] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/eun.gif width="68" height="46"]] || This school year opens with the launch of the new European Schoolnet portal. Harvesting a whole set of news, projects and resources, with an improved design and an increased usability, the new portal is the starting point in the field of education and ICT in Europe. ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/news_from_eun.gif width="196" height="29"]]==[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_folder.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|RESOURCE - New European Schoolnet portal online] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/eun.gif width="68" height="46"]] || This school year opens with the launch of the new European Schoolnet portal. Harvesting a whole set of news, projects and resources, with an improved design and an increased usability, the new portal is the starting point in the field of education and ICT in Europe. ||
 * European Schoolnet has now launched the eLearning Awards 2009 competition. Schools and teacher training institutions are now invited to submit entries. Deadline for submissions: 23 October 2009. ||
 * Teachers are invited to answer a questionnaire on creativity in teaching. Respondents have the opportunity to win a trip to the European Union's creativity conference in Stockholm in December. ||
 * To celebrate the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, eTwinning continues to promote fresh ideas and innovative approaches by providing kits and modules on the topic of creativity and learning. ||

[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_folder.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|RESOURCE - Teachers' handbook on how to use digital games in schools]
== [|INFO - Energy is our Future: Design Competition Winners] == == [|INFO - Development Youth Prize: Winners announced] ==
 * As part of European Schoolnet's "Digital Games in Schools" project, a new teachers' handbook on games is now available for teachers to see how such fun, digital resources can enhance learning. ||
 * European Schoolnet and PlasticsEurope are pleased to announce the winners of the Design Competition which was part of the "Energy is our Future" 2008-2009 school programme. ||
 * The members of the Grand Jury are pleased to reveal the finalists of the Development Youth Prize 2008 - 2009. ||  ||   ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_bottom.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_top.gif width="604" height="22"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/news_across_europe.gif width="243" height="29" caption="News across Europe"]]==[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_folder.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|RESOURCE - Learn English with MovieStar Planet] == || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/moviestar.gif width="68" height="46"]] || Pupils aged 10-15 can now experience a new, free virtual tool called MovieStar Planet to practice and improve their English skills in an unconventional way. ||

[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_folder.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|RESOURCE - Radiojojo]
== [|INFO - How to attract creative workers?] == == [|INFO - Switzerland on board for EU education, training and youth programmes] ==
 * The first non-for-profit German radio station dedicated to children by providing cultural and educational shows has now been launched. ||
 * Talent, technology and tolerance are the key factors to build a welcoming environment, says Richard Florida, Ambassador for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. ||
 * The European Commission has recently submitted a proposal which will allow Switzerland to join a number of European programmes, including 'Youth in Action' and the 'Lifelong Learning Programme'. ||

[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_star.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|EVENT - New Millenium Learning Conference (NML)]
== [|EVENT - World Innovation Days (WID)] ==
 * From 21-23 September, the NML conference will take place in Brussels, Belgium. The focus of the conference is new skills and competencies required for school-age learners. ||
 * From 28 September to 2 October, WID is holding an event to exchange best practices in relation to innovation and creativity. The event will take place in the Wielkopolska region in Poland. ||

[[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/picto_star.gif width="22" height="16"]] [|EVENT - World Space Week]
== [|EVENT - European e-Skills 2009 conference] == || How to unsubscribe? | Contact]]]] ||
 * From 4-10 October, "Space for Education" is the theme of 2009 edition on the Wolrd Space week, an initiative promoted by the UN and aimed to celebrate science and technologies. ||
 * On 20 November, "Fostering ICT Professionalism" will be the focus of e-skills conference organised by the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. ||  ||   ||
 * [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/gray_border_bottom.gif width="604" height="22" align="center"]] ||
 * || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/footer_left.jpg width="433" height="145" link="mailto:info@eun.org"]]
 * ^  || [[image:http://service.eun.org/teachers-newsletter/images/footer_right.gif width="171" height="106"]] ||   ||

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009
Arguably (and who amongst us doesn't like to argue?) the best 00:29:11 you can spend: a presentation entitled "Seven Skills Students Need for Their Future. It comes with a side order of slides, presented here first. media type="custom" key="4408429" media type="custom" key="4408343" align="center"

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
It seems as if beginners might enjoy a homework assignment based on [|this site].



SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
The results of the two pilot TKT exams have arrived. You are welcome to visit me this Wednesday, with or without an appointment, to get your scores.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
The British Council sent a [|link] to a great page with back-to-school activities and this [|Web20-Tools-for-Teachers.pdf] from Nik Peachey -- some new applications seem both fun and useful; plus he provides helpful hints. Even more from the British Council: a poetry competition for children.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
[All roads into and out of my neighborhood are blocked by debris -- at least they're no longer flooded.] Neyse. With electricity back on, the Internet takes me where I need to be.You have to read this and translate it into Turkish for those who don't know English. [|The new classroom is here].

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
If you are part of the writing group or if you wish you were or if you want a refresher course on all aspects of written English plus an introduction to Moodle. then check this out. Mr. Baack has been successfully leading free online writing workshops for years. Highly recommended.

Today's presentation (no narration) is here ([|final.ppt]). And that weird word can be understood [|here].

SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
One part of today's (unfortunately cancelled) presentation -- meant to serve as a prologue to Eda Karacelebi's Internet/Tech update -- would have been a look at Russell Stannard's introduction to Wolfram Alpha in ELT, but you can watch all four short screencasts on your own, [|here]. Raves and new uses can easily be shared via the discussion tab above.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
Nik Peachy has recently added (and/or I have just recently noticed) a new tab to [|his Netvibes page] with RSS feeds from a great many educational journals --- it's like having the information served to you on a virtual plate; all you have to do is choose, read, think, comment, and share.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
"...a most intriguing [|conclusion]: 'On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.'”

And here's something wonderful for the primary grades from the British Council: [|Developing Primary Resources.pdf]

AUGUST 30, 2009
İyi Bayramlar

Regarding the writing curriculum:

media type="custom" key="4285031"

AUGUST 26, 2009
The Itay Talgam video which we were unable to finish watching yesterday is [|here] (also available on youtube). The "final conductor" is definitely worth watching. Why not add your thoughts to a discussion? Other files and links from my presentation: [|Love Thy Neighbor] and [|here], [|Singup] (Alphabet Song and MORE),and [|Sections of the Orchestra]

AUGUST 24, 2009
The following are links to previous presentations on our program/curriculum. There is no sound to accompany them -- so use the voices in your head. Please (re)familiarize yourselves with the basic concepts before tomorrow's session. [|From August 2007] and [|The Story Continues.ppt] (from August, 2008)

AUGUST 19, 2009
From the irrepressible Dr, Helen Barrett ([|hurry here] ):

AUGUST 14. 2009
On Wednesday, September 2, all our English teachers will once again help CambridgeESOL by participating in a TKT pre-test. Two modules will be offered simultaneously: CLIL and KAL. I've ordered 30 copies of each pre-test; to ensure your place (there are 60 of us), you need to sign up in my office for the module you prefer as soon as possible. The following brief info is taken from an email from CambridgeESOL:

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Two new optional modules of the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) will be available from October 2008:

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">These will provide teachers with new opportunities for professional development and broaden their knowledge of teaching. They will form part of the portfolio of modules that can be taken as part of TKT.
 * <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
 * <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Knowledge About Language (KAL)

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">CLIL describes an evolving approach to teaching and learning where subjects are taught and studied through the medium of a non-native language. With this approach, it is the subject content which drives the language presented. There are many advantages to the CLIL approach: it develops confident learners and enhances academic cognitive processes and communication skills. CLIL encourages intercultural understanding and community values. <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> As a result of the global need for language learning, particularly for English, candidates who are teachers of other curriculum subjects as well as candidates who are language teachers can add ** TKT: CLIL ** to their existing qualifications. This will demonstrate their understanding of how to teach a broader range of subjects and enhance their career prospects.

<span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">KAL is a test of a candidate’s knowledge of the structures of the English language, the concepts behind language teaching theory, and the framework and terminology used in teaching English. This will be of benefit to any teachers working with language learning. To find out more information visit:


 * <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">[|__www.cambridgeesol.org/CLIL__]
 * <span style="background-color: #fff900; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">[|__www.cambridgeesol.org/KAL__]

AUGUST 11, 2009
I've posted here about [|Russell Stannard's excellent site] before, but this is more than just a reminder. He has recently put up two videos on using Moodle, an application that we will all soon be strongly encouraged to use. Please become acquainted with Moodle.

AUGUST 7, 2009
Via the inimitable Larry Ferlazzo's website, I learned about David Kapuler's "[|Blog Companion]," which contains a recent list of "Technology Tidbits." David's blog is clearly worth following as shown by this guest post, an annotated list of "[|25 Apps]." And while many of us are already familiar with many of these applications, it's good to revisit old favorites and then stumble upon new friends, isn't it?

The domain name "terakki.net" is ours. The site will soon be up and running and will become a way to centralize what we do, technologically speaking, and spur us on to greater accomplishments. //Excelsior!//

AUGUST 6, 2009
The article below crossed my screen earlier today. I've copied and pasted it from [|here] simply to save you a click. However, if you click on an image below, you can view it in full size. I think that "Communication & Collaboration" are central to everything we do here, followed closely by "Critical Thinking & Problem Solving" and "Creativity & Innovation." While "Research and Information Fluency," are increasingly important in today's hyper-linked world, let's start our focus on these skills in the second semester of Grade 7.

[|Another Stab at Making the 21st Century Classroom Concrete]
**By Tom** | August 5, 2009

We’re on revision 3 of our attempt to describe the 21st century classroom and to make it accessible and actionable for teachers. It’s really easy to say “21st Century Classroom,” it’s much harder to break it down and describe the components in a clear and concise way. We’ve taken three stabs at it and I think we’re getting pretty close. Figure it might be useful to someone. [|Round 1] was about 3 years ago. It was a good document but hampered by massive size and too much technology terminology. This hampered adoption pretty severely. [|Round 2] was last year and we swung pretty hard in the opposite direction. The focus was on leanness and the technology terminology was dropped. Technology was mentioned but it wasn’t very direct. Round 3 is embedded below. We kept it lean but added an individual statement about technology and changed the layout to better emphasize how a student’s role changes as the classroom progresses. We also dropped individual documents on assessment and organization believing that both elements are now covered in other components. These documents can serve several purposes. Our goal was to provide a place to codify our views on 21st century practice- to show the mix of pedagogical changes, 21st century themes and sound use of technology. This allowed for teachers to self-reflect and analyze their own practice. They could then work with their ITRT[|1] to choose a focus for the year and work on increasing their demonstrated skills in that area.

[|1] Instructional Technology Resource Teacher

AUGUST 4, 2009
Two nifty links to get the ball rolling this year: first, there's "[|EFL Teaching Recipes]," not precisely a cookbook, but satisfying nonetheless; then there's "[|Curriki]," which is broader in scope.

AUGUST 3, 2009
How quickly time flies! As we get ready to begin another academic year, let's all look back over our collective shoulders to where we have been. Here is a link to the RP/IM information from the CEFR -- please (re)acquaint yourselves with it prior to the start of the semester.

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