1. Here is one student video. It is about their school. This one doesn't have sub-headings but it might give you an idea.
2. Here is the site I found the video above. There are many videos shot by students on various subjects. If you have media player, you experience no problems watching the videos. If you don't, you can download the program on the same site.
24 Nisan 2009 Cuma
Listening Resources
Here is one site where you can improve your listening skills. It is about Terracota Warriors in China. It is really interesting and I hope one day I can see them, too... Listen to this young woman talking about her trip to China and then give me feedback about what you've listened.
Personality Test for 403
Here I found an interesting personality test. Also, here are my results.
1. Why don't you read my results and comment about it? (Do you agree with the results? Do you think they reflect my personality? etc..)
2. Do the test yourself and post it like I did so that we can comment about your results as well?
I'm looking forward to knowing you better fellas!
1. Why don't you read my results and comment about it? (Do you agree with the results? Do you think they reflect my personality? etc..)
2. Do the test yourself and post it like I did so that we can comment about your results as well?
I'm looking forward to knowing you better fellas!
22 Nisan 2009 Çarşamba
21 Nisan 2009 Salı
The Power of Faith
Fellow 403 students,
Do you like the picture? It was shot when I was on a secret mission at GodKnowsWhere... Those were tough times, believe me I know... I still have nightmares thinking about those times...
Why don't you also go to this site and create a new identity with a story? I am looking forward to hearing your stories and looking at your pictures! Cheers!
Talk the talk! Walk the walk! Blog the Blog!
This blogging thing has gone under my system and not only I but my students are also enjoying this world and exploring ourselves...
Following my fellow classmates' blogs also opens up the ways to new possibilities and knowledge which I find mesmerizing! If I'd had this motivation many years ago, I wouldn't have dropped out of my masters program, but back then and up to now I had no faith in ELT... There I said it, I got it out of my chest...But now, I belive in the power of what I'm learning and what I'm teaching my students... Restoring faith is such an essential part of what we're doing!
Following my fellow classmates' blogs also opens up the ways to new possibilities and knowledge which I find mesmerizing! If I'd had this motivation many years ago, I wouldn't have dropped out of my masters program, but back then and up to now I had no faith in ELT... There I said it, I got it out of my chest...But now, I belive in the power of what I'm learning and what I'm teaching my students... Restoring faith is such an essential part of what we're doing!
19 Nisan 2009 Pazar
For my 403 Troop!
Fellow students,
I need your ideas about a question. Could you please take a look at this site and write your ideas there? Password is 403403
When you all finish contributing, we will discuss this issue in detail in class. Thank you in advance!
Neslihan
I need your ideas about a question. Could you please take a look at this site and write your ideas there? Password is 403403
When you all finish contributing, we will discuss this issue in detail in class. Thank you in advance!
Neslihan
Sunday Buzz
Today's greatest surprise was Sibel and Kubilay's blogs.. They have taken it seriously and showed that there is more to them...
I believe as teachers, we develop stereotypes about students and somehow underestimate their personalities and intellectual backgrounds. (Actually, when intellectual background is concerned, I generally look down on my students based on my years of experience with them) However, when they are provided with sufficient and efficient guidance, they are more than willing to participate and there is always something you learn from them...
I believe as teachers, we develop stereotypes about students and somehow underestimate their personalities and intellectual backgrounds. (Actually, when intellectual background is concerned, I generally look down on my students based on my years of experience with them) However, when they are provided with sufficient and efficient guidance, they are more than willing to participate and there is always something you learn from them...
17 Nisan 2009 Cuma
Save the words and visuwords
Today, I had 3 hours in one of our smart classes. As I have mentioned before, I was planning to show my kids some sites Şirin had showed us.
What I have achieved today:
1. First, I asked them if they knew what a blog means and of course, they didn't. So, I showed them how to look for the definition of a blog on Google and showed my blog. As a result, they got the picture... I showed them www.blogger.com and had one of my students create his blog. That helped them to grasp the idea even better. After that, I assigned them to create their own blogs and send me their URLs until Sunday. They are also supposed to write at least one blog. They seemed really intrigued and to have enjoyed what they were experiencing.
2. I showed them www.savethewords.org. They all went crazy! They loved it! They really did empathize with the words and as an example two of my students adopted two words. They all made jokes about being a parent and by the end of three hours when I asked them about the words their friends adopted (and also my word, they all remembered! Their second assignment was to adopt a word and publish it on their blog.
3. After that came the www.visuwords.com.... I gave some background information about the establishment of the site (They love serious and scientific stories) and then showed examples of how to look for words on the site. They loved the idea and kept making me write words for the site to compose spidergrams and all.
I think they all had fun and most of all thought that what I've shown was beyond fun. We'll see the results and I will share the outcome with you all... Cheers!
What I have achieved today:
1. First, I asked them if they knew what a blog means and of course, they didn't. So, I showed them how to look for the definition of a blog on Google and showed my blog. As a result, they got the picture... I showed them www.blogger.com and had one of my students create his blog. That helped them to grasp the idea even better. After that, I assigned them to create their own blogs and send me their URLs until Sunday. They are also supposed to write at least one blog. They seemed really intrigued and to have enjoyed what they were experiencing.
2. I showed them www.savethewords.org. They all went crazy! They loved it! They really did empathize with the words and as an example two of my students adopted two words. They all made jokes about being a parent and by the end of three hours when I asked them about the words their friends adopted (and also my word, they all remembered! Their second assignment was to adopt a word and publish it on their blog.
3. After that came the www.visuwords.com.... I gave some background information about the establishment of the site (They love serious and scientific stories) and then showed examples of how to look for words on the site. They loved the idea and kept making me write words for the site to compose spidergrams and all.
I think they all had fun and most of all thought that what I've shown was beyond fun. We'll see the results and I will share the outcome with you all... Cheers!
16 Nisan 2009 Perşembe
Frustration and absolution
Monday was the beginning of our new term at school. In the first hour we all had to explain the new intermediater program we were to cover and give the list of the books we were to use throughout the term. This term for course book we are using Northstar IBT Toefl Intermediate and many other books that I may talk about later. But now all I want to talk about Northstar. I showed the book to may class, walking amongst them, exhibiting the cover of the book and kept saying "Northstar IBT TOEFL Intermediate" like I was doing a ritual. Then, I wrote the name of the book on the board, made them copy, checked their notebooks to see whether they copied correctly or not. Finally, they started to rebel and said "Please stop it, we get it!"
On Tuesday, out of 23 students, only 2 of them came to class with the right book. I sent the rest to xerox the first chapter of the book. Some came back with copies of High-Intermediate IBT and some with copies of Northstar Reading and Writing book. Only a few were able to accomplish this task correctly. Then, I snapped. I threw the ones with the wrong copies out, hoping that this harsh reaction would straighten them. Unfortunately, it did. I say unfortunately because only when I snap, are they willing and motivated to be responsible students.
However, with my class it is always too soon to jump to conclusions about their profile. I prepared them exam-oriented reading materials and asked them to do them for today. Except for 2 students they all did and they all did it quite successfully. Rhetorical questions, questions that make them predict and make inferences seem to be one of the few things that work with them. Today's sessions were fruitful both for them and me as they discussed and shared their ideas about the texts I have assigned them to read. That was really fun. In a nutshell, my students keep driving me crazy and making me happy concurrently. What a week!
On Tuesday, out of 23 students, only 2 of them came to class with the right book. I sent the rest to xerox the first chapter of the book. Some came back with copies of High-Intermediate IBT and some with copies of Northstar Reading and Writing book. Only a few were able to accomplish this task correctly. Then, I snapped. I threw the ones with the wrong copies out, hoping that this harsh reaction would straighten them. Unfortunately, it did. I say unfortunately because only when I snap, are they willing and motivated to be responsible students.
However, with my class it is always too soon to jump to conclusions about their profile. I prepared them exam-oriented reading materials and asked them to do them for today. Except for 2 students they all did and they all did it quite successfully. Rhetorical questions, questions that make them predict and make inferences seem to be one of the few things that work with them. Today's sessions were fruitful both for them and me as they discussed and shared their ideas about the texts I have assigned them to read. That was really fun. In a nutshell, my students keep driving me crazy and making me happy concurrently. What a week!
14 Nisan 2009 Salı
Stream of Consciousness/On visa in Digiland
It's been awhile since I stopped seeking knowledge. I feel refreshed now like a hamster which is unwilling to spin in circles... It's been a decent week with new acquaintances and a vast digital world lying ahead of me... How long has it been since I read an article about education? I don't remember... Mark Prensky's articles were quite awakening for me since I've come to terms with the changing and ever growing digital world. I refuse to be a digital immigrant though. Is it possible to upgrade myself as a digital native?
My new acquaintances are amazing! They are full of ideas and creativity... It makes me feel like I belong to a group for the first time in so many years...
Wiki is quite intiguing! I feel like an important teacher when I contribute...
I still have so much to uncover, to share, and to learn!
I used to blog for my stories and poems but this is the first time I am reflecting on my profession... This feels liberating.!
I still have to make a list of the websites Sirin posted on our forums. This will create a wave of innovation on my students....
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