This week was full of discoveries. The article "Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction" by
Jarek Krajka (http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krajka-WritingUsingNet.html) gave me some ideas on how to teach newspaper part of my classes. The problem is that our program is based on the textbook of 1989 where the emphasis is upon the upbringing of a Soviet person (and there is no Soviet Union for 10 years!).
That is why I was particularly interested in part # 9 "Newspaper report" as I am trying to update the program for my newspaper reading classes. The activities could develop critical thinking skills and help students undestand the newspaper vocabulary and style better.For example,I can use both tabloid and quality papers, which is rather important. Activities mentioned in the article ("analysing the style, language and the way of presentation of the topic in tabloid and quality British newspapers, writing about the same event in both tabloid (subjective, sensational) and quality (objective) fashion, making a tabloid story a quality story and vice versa") could help students really see the difference between different kinds of newspapers and learn first hand.
As for the other article about Extensive reading, it is consice and clear and gives ideas on how to organize and benefit from the book selection process. I think I would try to use some of the ideas next term with my new students. I started to use reading logs for extensive reading project this semester, and I reallly like it. I believe students benefit from it much more than from traditional form of check which was a report and vocabulary list, sometimes an oral PP presentation. And this kind of activity develops reading and writing skills greatly. The author of the article about extensive reading mentioned online poll. We tried this using tricider.com (http://tricider.com/en/brainstorming/84ot), which allows you not only to vote for and against but to put forward arguments as well. My idea was to set up a sort of consulting students' community where students advice others what to read.
I also liked several websites that I explored this week, particularly Adult learning activities (http://www.cdlponline.org/) , which I come across surfing the links on ESL Independent Study Lab by Michael Krauss (http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/toppicks.html). This web site is esay to use, logically organized and has different activities based on reading / listening material. The topics would be interetsting to adult learners. Some texts are available for listening as well.
To sum up, I woud quote words by R.L.Stevenson: "The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should be as happy as kings". It is so true for exploring online resources for teaching English.
Jarek Krajka (http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krajka-WritingUsingNet.html) gave me some ideas on how to teach newspaper part of my classes. The problem is that our program is based on the textbook of 1989 where the emphasis is upon the upbringing of a Soviet person (and there is no Soviet Union for 10 years!).
That is why I was particularly interested in part # 9 "Newspaper report" as I am trying to update the program for my newspaper reading classes. The activities could develop critical thinking skills and help students undestand the newspaper vocabulary and style better.For example,I can use both tabloid and quality papers, which is rather important. Activities mentioned in the article ("analysing the style, language and the way of presentation of the topic in tabloid and quality British newspapers, writing about the same event in both tabloid (subjective, sensational) and quality (objective) fashion, making a tabloid story a quality story and vice versa") could help students really see the difference between different kinds of newspapers and learn first hand.
As for the other article about Extensive reading, it is consice and clear and gives ideas on how to organize and benefit from the book selection process. I think I would try to use some of the ideas next term with my new students. I started to use reading logs for extensive reading project this semester, and I reallly like it. I believe students benefit from it much more than from traditional form of check which was a report and vocabulary list, sometimes an oral PP presentation. And this kind of activity develops reading and writing skills greatly. The author of the article about extensive reading mentioned online poll. We tried this using tricider.com (http://tricider.com/en/brainstorming/84ot), which allows you not only to vote for and against but to put forward arguments as well. My idea was to set up a sort of consulting students' community where students advice others what to read.
I also liked several websites that I explored this week, particularly Adult learning activities (http://www.cdlponline.org/) , which I come across surfing the links on ESL Independent Study Lab by Michael Krauss (http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/toppicks.html). This web site is esay to use, logically organized and has different activities based on reading / listening material. The topics would be interetsting to adult learners. Some texts are available for listening as well.
To sum up, I woud quote words by R.L.Stevenson: "The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should be as happy as kings". It is so true for exploring online resources for teaching English.
Hi Anastasia
ReplyDeleteReading newspaper indeed helps students in many ways especially in vocabulary building. It is good to know that you have been applying different strategies for learners' improvement. Wish you best of luck.