A larger classroom----ePals

    

    EPals is a website that connects thousands of millions of students and teachers from all over the world to share content and ideas and collaborate on projects. There are numerous classrooms which are interacting by discussion boards, teacher monitored email, language translation tool. So it is easy for teachers to search for partner classrooms by language, age, culture and so on, and teachers can connect the classroom together so that classes communicate through a private work-space or video chat or email. It is really a good tool for teachers and students to practice foreign language skills as well as developing international friendships.

    As a matter of fact, I think it is difficult for me to setting up a classroom and post announcements, assignments, and other items for my students because there should be a large classroom containing more than 70 students. I can only suggest some students joining in and help the students who are interested in learning languages to connect with students from other countries or other regions.

   

 

    However, I also found a lot of interesting and thrilling activities that can be used in my future class. The first one is writing center. Writings is the toughest part for my students since they think that they have nothing special to share with others or they cannot express themselves freely. The writing center offers students quantities of pictures and videos that inspire students to write more with so many topics. Then I will encourage my students post their writings in the site and I think it is also a special experience for the students.  In addition, there are some interesting games and quizzes of which students and make use to examine their grammar and vocabulary. I can hold a competition using these quizzes and games, which must motivate my students a lot.

    The next activity is students’ culturepedia. First, it shows a lot of global folklore stories that can help the students know more about the culture from other countries.  I looked through many stories which are very interesting, and I am sure that my students will like them. However, I did not find Chinese folk stories in the site. Fortunately, we can add our own story which can make others know more about China. Second, I can pick up some stories to ask discuss about them. I saw a story named “ Let no one snatch their joys” which talks about the different fortune of two girls. One girl married very early to meet her grandmothers demand that her grandmother wished her marriage to take place before her death so that she could not go to school but stay at home to do housework. Another girl could go to school to get her further education and decided to change the situation of the female in her city. In China, there are many similar examples, so it is really a good topic for students to discuss and they can talk a lot about it. Moreover, we can share our ideas with the writer and exchange our views.

    

    Maybe there are some other good features that I did not find in this site. I think it is really a good tool for teachers since it not only provides abundant teaching sources for teachers to manage their class but also offers a chance for students to know more about the culture and peers from other countries, thus, motivating them to study harder.

Let's join Teachers for Interactive Language Learning (TILL)

    I join a social networking site named Teachers for Interactive Language Learning(TILL) which is a group on Google + Communities. This is a community for those who are interested in sharing opinions and experiences related to helping other acquire English as the second or an additional language. We can find adequate information such as video and recording about TESOL and TEFL. Moreover, there is plenty of valuable links and free app that can be found in this community.

    This community benefits me a lot. Through this community, I can get abundant experience and ideas about others who are interested in TESOL or TEFL and these approaches, methods, techniques and materials are good examples that I can apply to my future teaching. The free app can not only improve the teaching efficiency but also save a lot of money. On the other hand, I can share my own experience on this community and discuss with others by commenting on each other. Commenting is really useful for stimulating the interaction of  people in the community so that we can get new ideas and thoughts in this field.

    In my opinion, the community is not only can provide me with useful information about the second language teaching to broaden my horizon, it also help me get into good habit of using high technology to equip myself so that I can keeping learning rather than stay in my own small world to be a nerd.

Stay learning, stay touching

    Siemens (2005) introduced a new learning theory----connectivism to which we should attach importance at this digital age. Siemets considered that Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism are three old theories that separates learning process from the connection with the outside world.  Siemens said “Learning is a process that occurs within nebulous environments of shifting core elements – not entirely under the control of the individual.”  (Siemens, 2005. Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age). The new theory, connectivisim, puts individuals in the social context to get new knowledge. Learners are like an receiver prepared to receive signals in all directions. Living in this age when technology is highly developed, individuals have to change learning approaches and use new tools to adapt to the new environment. Internet is one of the most beneficial tools that people can make good use of. Individuals can express their thoughts, can exchange ideas with others, and can get new views through Internet , so that they can keep up with others.

    In the video----The network is the learning, Siemens emphasized the importance of learning skills. In his video, he stated: “The way we connected to other individuals is largely responsible for our ability to stay current with individuals.” In his examples, he talked about that  he could keep in close touch with his colleagues from all over the world through the Internet, and if there was something new in their field, they could share the information,  discuss and exchange their thoughts through some tools such as Blog, so that all people can get new theories in their field instantly. Because of the rapidly change of knowledge, what we know today may be out of date tomorrow.  The ability to stay current is more important than the knowledge we mastered. 

 I' d like to share some other videos from Siemens so that we can know more about his theory.

DIIGO and Pinterest, which one is your favorite?

    This week, I am very happy to know two useful tools Diigo and Pinterest which are helpful for our daily life as well as our recent study and future work.

    Diigo and Pinterest are multi-tools for personal knowledge management dramatically improve efficiency of our life and work. Much of our information consumption, either at home or at work, has shifted online. Internet provides us abundant resources, including every aspect such as health, shopping, career and so on. For some careless and unplanned person who cannot put things in order, too much information will make them in a mess. Diigo and Pinterest can not only help people save the useful websites but also sort them into categories. People can add tags and descriptions on it and follow others you are interested in. In addition, people can get related articles automatically when they click some related links. All of these simplify the procedures to finding information people need and save quantities of time.

    Diigo and pinterest have their own features.  Diigo can annotate websites with highlighting sticky notes and message the people I follow, thus, building up the interaction with them.As for Printerset, people can create and share the collections of visual boards which contains many pins. They can copy and paste from original article to appear in comments about site, which is very convenient and easy to operate. Also, others can post comments on my site so that I can get opinions and thoughts from others.

    Diigo and Pinterest are so useful that I will continue utilize them in the future and introduce them to others. As a matter of fact , I like Pinterest better since it contains more images and vivid pictures which can attract my attention to read more. Moreover, I can get information directly from the picture which can save a lot of time. In addition , I found it is easier to find resources on Pinterest. However, I hope everyone takes full advantage of these two tools.

Who dears to teach must never cease to learn

    The high developing technology changes our daily life as well as our education. As a 21st century teacher, what kind of challenges will we meet and what should we do to adjust ourselves to the changing world? To keep the traditional teaching method or to be creative?
    The video Educational change challenge summarizes what challenges all of us interested in education and how it is best accomplished today. Just as George Evans says:” Every student can learn, just not on the same day or the same way.” The young are more open faced with new technology so that many students are expert in Internet and show boundless enthusiasm about it. Thus, moving from a one-room schoolhouse to the one world school house is now a reality. The video come up with the question to the teachers:

   

    This video A vision of 21st Century Teachers gives us the answer to the teachers.

     In fact, we can take full advantage of this tool and create a platform, thus helping students to connect, communicate, collaborate, and create in an interactive technology-rich environment.We can encourage students to collaborate to create multimedia reports, such as posting their videos, soundtracks, photographs, essays in their study as well as in life. We can inspire students to interact in online projects with other students not only in our school but also across the country or even the world. We can build up their self-confidence so that even the shy ones can express their opinions freely. We can give students different experiences by providing different learning styles.

    To sum up, all of above not only takes us more time online to maintain a class website or research for learning resources but also requires us to do more with technology, critical thinking and so on. Even though we have started, we still have a lot to learn in the process of improving the efficiency of online teaching. 

A useful tool for teaching ---- Blog

    With the high-speed development of technology, it is necessary for teachers to make good use of some internet tools to simplify our teaching process and motivate students involved in the language, thus, improving our teaching efficiency. Blog is one of the useful tools that can help not only teachers but also students in many ways.

    First, blog is a versatile tool since it allows for photographs, images, videos and links etc. Teachers can utilize these advantages in their teaching. For example, teachers can post some videos, articles that are related to the class in advance and ask the students to watch before the class so they can have a discussion in the class. This can not only save a lot of time but also leave sufficient time for students to think so that they can well prepared for the class. In addition, teachers can post their opinions, thoughts and reflections on blog, and it is a great opportunity for other teachers and people who are interested in teaching to learn and discuss.

    Second, one of outstanding features of blog is its commenting capability, which makes blog a fantastic tool for collaboration. Teachers can organize the students as a group to discuss some topics and ask them publish their thoughts, which can help students exchange their ideas and learn more about the topics as well as create a good study atmosphere. As for students, if they are stuck with the study after class, they can post their problems and ask for help. Also, they can express their opinions and thoughts on what they learned in class which provide good feedback for teachers and teachers comments can clarify students and encourage them to study them harder.

    Anyway, blog is a useful tool for teachers and students of which we should take full advantage.

Performance Indicator ESL.E.2-4.2.1
Students learning English as a second language will use English for self-expression, artistic creation, and participation in popular culture. They will develop and use skills and strategies appropriate to their level of English proficiency to listen to, read, and respond to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances, relate texts and performances to their own lives and other works, and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent.

Performance Indicator LOTE.LA.2.1.B.B
Students read culturally authentic passage of Latin adapted from Latin authors  

My Chinese Students

Before my coming to America, I was a teacher of a senior high school called Xiantao NO.1 Middle school which was very beautiful.

This is the QiuZhen Square (means pursue the truth). Students do morning exercise every day on this square.

 Don't you think our school looks like a garden?

As senior high school students, they have a lot of work to do. Most of time, they have to study by themselves.  

Sometimes they work in groups.

If they have difficulty in study, they can ask teachers for help. In fact, most Chinese students are too shy to ask teacher for help. Fortunately, this situations is becoming better and better now. 

You know, Chinese students bear heavy burden of study. In order to be admitted to key universities, they have to study very hard. My students often get up at 6 am and go to bed after 11 pm.

The classroom is equipped with multimedia system so that it is convenient for teachers to give lessons.

The school offer a lot of sport equipment to the students to help them build up their body and relax themselves in their spare time.


 

They are my students and I really miss them.

 Taking pictures with some "fatter" students so that I can be "slimmer" . So considerate of them. :)