Let's teach this summer without using the Educator's English book. Instead, let's use the Chinese textbooks.
If this not a good idea be sure to comment. If we decide that this is a good idea, we can develop teaching plans based upon these texts.
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Yes, I think this is a good idea. It will help us better understand what the trainees have to work with.
ReplyDeleteA more than good idea, it's a very good idea. I actually thought we'd already decided that. Oh well, I'm blonde.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with this idea. There are some good techniques in the summer curriculum, but it is definitely important to meet the needs of the trainees in using the New Nat'l Curriculum and their textbooks. Ah...Qiao Ling, what fond memories (dating back to 1992 for me!) I am enjoying all that I'm learning about the "Go For It" textbook!
ReplyDeleteNever used "Go For It," but always open to new and better ideas. Is it definite that we don't bring our textbook? How about our old Handbook. Will we be using that? It has some pretty good stuff in it.
ReplyDeleteThe votes are coming in. So far, we have heard from four team members.
ReplyDeleteIf we agree, we will not order the EE books. I'd like to stop the presses soon. So far, we have four votes indicating NO EE BOOKS.
ReplyDeleteI think using their books would be most hopeful to them. I may need help understanding the objectives because I have never used Chinese texts.
ReplyDeleteLet's use the Grade Eight Go For It! textbook, the second level. There are two eighth grade texts. This is the one designed for the second half of junior middle school grade two, or eighth grade. The one I have is purple. There are ten units. I have a Teachers' Book as well as the Students' Book.
ReplyDeleteWho has a copy of either of these books?
Who has the audio tapes or CD's?
I would like a copy of whatever I can get my hands on. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll need a copy, don't need a teachers book.
ReplyDeleteHi folks. Cathy and I have both taught some "model" lessons using the Gor for it! textbooks. The objectives are quite clear and there is little direct grammar teaching in the text. There is a grammar focus and from I have seen, each unit includes this grammar focus. They are nice textbooks and look very modern. I believe our trainees will benefit from us simply using the textbooks and teaching the lessons the way they are designed, first. Then, maybe we can provide a few "out of the box lessons" based on the textbook if we think it is appropriate. Anyway, the textbooks are fine and are professionally done. They are good EFL textbooks.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of the Ningxia teachers in the three locations will already have the textbook we have selected? (Grade Eight, Level Two) We want everyone to have one, but I don't want to set things in motion to buy boxes of books that we won't need. Patrick and Cathy, might you venture a guess?
ReplyDeleteDo they use the Teachers' Book?
I haven't seen a teacher's book! I've only seen the teachers using the student textbook. That's a good question to ask a Chinese teacher. I'll try to ask that this week in my observations. Are all of our trainees going to be junior middle school teachers? If we told them ahead of time to bring a specific textbook, I think they would find a way to get it.
ReplyDeleteDave, I think your choice is good, but I don't have any idea about the number of books. I've also only seen the teachers using tapes...not CD's. I'll try to ask about that, too, this week.
One of the things I've noticed in observation is that the Grade 7 lessons have good task-based activities, but the teachers never really get around to them. I've heard teachers say, "they really can't talk freely yet because they don't have enough knowledge." I want to investigate this further. Would it be possible to use a 7th grade book, too? I observed Grade 7, 2nd semester, last week. The students could repeat phrases and imitate the teacher well, but in a 45 min. class, there was maybe 5 minutes used in pair or group work, and even then I heard many students using Chinese to complete the task. It was also their first year of exposure to English. I wonder what the differences are in their levels when they've actually had English in the primary grades?
Here's a thought. If we are working with primary teachers, it would be good to use one of their textbooks, jr. m.s. use the grade 8 book you mentioned, sr. m.s. use one of their textbooks. Once we choose the textbook to focus on for each level, we make sure we have copies for ourselves. The trainees could bring a textbook of their choice. That way we would have more variety in the presentations that the teachers make in utilizing the methodologies we teach. And we have a textbook to work from together as trainers.
ReplyDeleteHere is a question: What is the English textbook for primary school? I have not heard from anyone, and I keep meaning to ask the English teachers at the primary school where my daughter attends. I (or my wife) will do that soon. My wife has been going to the primary school and has been doing English activities for the students, 3rd and 4th grade. They seem to follow her even though there are 100 students in each class. The activities my wife does are mostly TPR as they follow her sing. For example, she has done "heads, shoulders, knees and toes." The students and teachers like this a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou can see the cover of one of the primary textbooks in the Our Plan post on this blog. Click on it to expand the image. Ma Hong helped me find a set of these books last July in Yinchuan.
ReplyDeleteHi all. I have now seen a teacher's book and the student's book. I asked a middle school teacher (grade 1) if she used the teacher's book to help her prepare for her lessons. She said she seldom used it because some of the ideas are not appropriate for the students. I was impressed with the teacher's class and use of Task-based activities. So far, Cathy and I have both observed three different teachers at the Hui middle school, and I think overall we have seen some good things. I saw an excellent class (high school, grade 1) yesterday. It was very communicative and impressive.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if teachers teach middle school, they will have the "Go for it!" textbooks. I also saw the high school textbooks and they are also nicely done and communicative in nature.
We are seeking to get a copy of our teaching textbook for every student. We could reduce the number we have to buy if we knew how many could/would bring a copy with them. We may not know until the opening day. Cathy had an intriguing idea. If they brought other textbooks, they could apply what they are learning in the others.
ReplyDeleteI could make a phone call and try and find out. There is a young lady who works Yinchuan witht the foreign experts bureau (LiNa). Do you remember her Dave? Anyway, she might be able to give us an answer. Yes, if the trainees brought their textbooks, they could begin to transfer ideas we teach/talk about to their other courses. We could also answer their questions about their textbooks during our informal times.
ReplyDeleteWe will purchase copies of the student textbooks for all of our students. Give grace a round of applause! We might/probably will use them for the Yinchuan program and then collect them to use in the two three-week programs. We are getting copies of the teachers' books for us. Even though Ningxia teachers may not use them, we can have them as resources. The books for those in the U.S. will be arriving the last week of May with Joy and Charlie Brainer. They are making a quick trip for daughter Michelle's college graduation. I will mail copies out.
ReplyDeleteGrace will be sending me a set of the recordings. I will put them on the iPods.
iPods
ReplyDeleteIn 2008 we had our first experience with iPods for playing narrations and other audio teaching files. We will do that again this year. ELIC has purchased a set so that we each have one. We will again use our small battery operated portable speakers. I sleuthed and bargained and found them on eBay and Craig's List. (JBL On Tour) This arrangement affords us a lot of flexibility and saves us from tracking down and hassling with CD players.
We also use the iPod. for our cultural programs. The ones we have are third and fourth generation iPod Nanos, 4 gig and 8 gig.
Let me know what you want to add to the iPods. They can hold audio tracks, video programs/movies/clips, and photos.
I like to ruminate. (No jokes please!) If some one could post a list of the topics in the text we'll be using I would be very thankful. That way the topics will always be in the back of my mind. It will help me as I think about what to bring etc. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteUnit 1:"Will peoeple have robots?"- opinions- make predictions.
ReplyDeleteUnit 2: "What should I do?" - advice- talk about problems.
Unit 3: "What were you doint when the UFO arrived?"- interesting events- tell a story.
Unit 4: "He said I was hard-working."- telling a story- report what someone said.
Unit 5: "If you go to the party you'll have a great time!"- decision making- talking about consequences.
Unit 6: "How long have you been collecting shells?"- hobbies- talk about how long you've been doing something.
Unit 7: "Would you mind turning down the music?"- complaints- make requests, apologize.
Unit 8: "Why don't you get her a scarf?"- gift giving- compare qualities, give advice.
Unit 9: "Have you ever been to an amusement park?"- fun places- talk about past experiences.
Unit 10: "It's a nice day, isn't it?"- small talk- tag questions
Unit 3--we could change the topic to "What were you doing with the earthquake arrived?" Then simply use the unit to help make the lesson more applicable and allow for students to not only discuss their present dealings, but also practice their English with relevency. ? what do you think? It's ok to say "no--that won't work." lol.
ReplyDeleteI love all of the topics in this book! So many areas to open up student/teacher learning! Relevant--
ReplyDelete