yu-yu

recent event☆

2007-06-15T21:19:00.000+09:00

Hello, everyone.

I think I'm gradually getting used to my job. I can sleep more longer than before, and now I can enjoy playing with my friends weekend.

On June 2 nd, We had a athletic meeting. Children were practicing of dance, footrace, opening ceremony and so on from early May. And we teachers were preparing everyday until late at night. I really felt that teachers are very tough. They work too much!! I can't work like them....

On the day, children were a little nervous but they did their best and enjoyed. I will not forget my first Undokai forever.

Now I think I want to go to Iwate if I can have some days-holiday
during children's summer vacation.

I like this picture very much. Nice smile!!! So I put this picture on the wall in front of my desk.
Everyone good luck!!

My life of May

2007-05-20T16:37:00.000+09:00

Hello, everyone. I will write about my life and work of this month.

☆ｆrom May 1 to 8☆
I visited to my students' house to talk with their parents.(家庭訪問）
I don't have my car, so I went to their house by my bycycle. I visited 6 or 7 houses a day. It was hard for me, but I found many interesting facts from the parents' talking.

Many parents said "please give homework to my child!" I was surprised because I gave homework to them almost everyday.... (^^;) They don't know that fact. Wow!

Many parents say "the most important thing is to be fine." But most of them worry about their children's study, too.

☆May 10☆
I had a 初任者研修. All of them who became teachers from this year met together. We were divided into some groups and did some activities together.
First, our group learned about sign language. A woman who uses sign language came to teach us, and we learned from her.
I can talk by using sign languages about name, hobby, and so on, now! We pretty enjoyed the activities.
Second, we experienced blind person's life.視力減退体験.(I am sorry I don't know the word in English.) We made pairs and a person put an eye mask on the eyes, and walked together. I knew that it is especially hard for people who can not see anything to ride an escalator.

I like 初任者研修, because I can make friends, and to talk with them make me relaxed.

☆May 14☆
　Mr.K came to our school. He is a teacher of another elementary school and came to our school almost once a week to see my classes and give me advices. He is called 拠点校指導教員. He was in my class almost all the day and write something as seeing my classes. I was a little nervous, but I think I have to get used to the situation, because he will come every week untill next March.

☆May 15☆
The parents visited our school, because the day was a 懇談会. 懇談会 means a meeting by a teacher and parents. I talked with them about "athletic meet" that will have on June 2nd.

Teachers' work is too busy and I was tired every day, so I go family home every weekend to be relaxed. I really want to recommend that to become a teacher near your family home if it is possible!!! It may be huge help for you★

Parents' visiting class

2007-04-22T23:47:00.000+09:00

I had a special class yesterday....
Because yesterday was "parents' visiting class"(参観日).

It was a big event for me, because it was the first day that I met students' parents, and showed my class for them.
In addition, the class I teached was math. It is a subject that I hate the most!!!
I don't know the reason why, but I can't understand math class and don't like math from a child...

It is unbelievable fact that my school does research into math education.(^^;)
But it is fact. I just have to do it!!!

Friday night, I came back home at 8.
I had still bothered about next day's class. I was very worried because I couldn't image the flow of the class.
It took some hours to make myself clear about the class, but I thought that everything may be OK!

The next day morning, I received an e-mail from C-chan, she had a same event the day.
She said "Yarushikanai" (やるしかない!!)

When we are worried about something, she always say this word!!
It is magic password for us. (^^)/

The class was over. Goody!!!!!

☆1st week☆

2007-04-15T18:06:00.000+09:00

My first week as a teacher was finished!!
I have been very busy everyday.... I have not known that teachers have lots of work to do but preparering for classes. But I could talk with my students everyday, play together, and know each other gradually. I am so happy! They are all very pretty!!!

I have 5 or 6 classes a day. I felt it is uneasy to do so many classes everyday,
because at a teacher training, I had only 9 classes a month.

But this 1st week made me notice a big fact☆ It was... NANTOKANARU!!
I think we all are 1st year as a teacher, so we don't have to worry about making mistakes.
We have to do only what we can do!

Yesterday I talked with two of "2006 Thai members" ,Chi-chan and Mr.O. (^o^)
We talked about each teacher's life. I knew they all hang in their work and do their best.
I could refleshed by talking with them. MINNA GANBATTERU!!
Now, I will prepare for this week's classes!!

I became a teacher!!

2007-04-06T20:49:00.000+09:00

Hello, everyone!!
Happy news!! I became an elementary school teacher finally!!
So I think I want to write about my life in my elementary school from today.

There are three reasons.
1. I want to record my life as a teacher.
2. I don't want to forget ENGLISH.
3.I want to keep in touch with my teacher Mr.Hall!!

I am sorry but, I will not be able to write weekdays, but I try to write as many as possible☆

Today, we had a 始業式. I was introdused to all of the children, so I was very very nervous!!
I can not remember what I said....(><)

After the ceremony, I went to my classroom and met my students for the first time.
They are 4th grade, 28 children.

Yesterday I wrote a message for them on the blackboard, but they did not know me and who wrote the message untill 始業式(o＾з＾o） It was a top secret!!!!

As soon as I entered the classroom, they asked me many many questions.
"Can you speak English?" (because, the principal introduced for children I was majoring in English.)
"Do you know our names?"
"What is your favorite food?"
"Can I call you Ayumi sensei?"
"Can you play with me during recess?"
　　　　　　・
　　　　　　・
　　　　　　・
　　　　　　・

I was surprised at the situation. But I was pretty happy!!
I think I can not forget TODAY forever.

About my thesis 3

2006-11-15T12:27:00.000+09:00

This week I've read some books about "elementary shcool English activities" and "picture books". I will make some lists about them.
I will compare what is written on these books with the real classes in elementary schools if I can interview or do questionnaire to teachers who has used picture books in their classes.

What I learned from books

2.How to use picture books effectively
from 『イラストでわかる小学校の英語活動５０選』、kazuaki Tsuido, 2001

・A teacher make a chance to make students say something as a teacher go on reading.
(for example, teacher ask some question before turning over the page.
ex. T:Who will come next? S:dog! cat! )

・When same expression is used many times, a teacher make students say lines(せりふ）.
(for example, by groups, whole together, individually...)

・A teacher sometimes change the words and read untrue stories , if the students listen the story many times.
It is excellent if students can notice the mistake and correct it.

・Playing CD "mood musics" as reading picture books.
This mood music make students' attention concentrated on the picture book.

3.The effects of using picture books in elementary school English activities
from『こんなふうに始めてみては？小学校英語』, Yuri Kuno,1999

・Students can get used to listening to the story in English.

・To develop students' listening abilities.

・To develop students' abilities to express what they mean.

・To develop students' abilities to find the "key word"(the words they have already known),
and understand the story from the key word.

・To have confidence that they can listen to the story in English and understand gradually.

・Students can expect the story from looking at pictures.(pictures can be good hints)

About my thesis part②

2006-11-08T13:12:00.000+09:00

This week I read some books and studied about picture book in elementary scool English activities. And I made some lists about this.

1. a list about how to choice the picture books

1.content
・to be fair
・universality
・to be compatible
・suitable for everyone
・correct information
・not a moral story
・not to have sex discrimination
・not to have racial discrimination
・to fit for children's growing stages

2.expression
・right length for children
・easy to read
・the sentences correspond with the pictures
・the same phrase are used many times
・easy phrase
・one picture, one sentence
・easy to imagine the story from the pictures
・beautiful picture

２．a list about how to use picture books

・teachers read picture books to children
・childen listen to the CD with looking at picture books
・make a story from the pictures (with ALT)
・make a picture book by themselves
・read in Japanese and put into English
・use 仕掛け絵本

3.unique points of using picture books

・children can imagine the story from the pictures
・get used to listening to English
・ability to listening to English
・ability to express what they think
・ability to guess from the words they have already knew
・enjoy English!!

About my thesis

2006-10-31T15:07:00.000+09:00

Reseach question
"How can we make effective use of picture books in English activities in elementary schools?"

How to reseach
1.reading books
2.questionnaire(I have not decided how to do it.)

Books I have read
"shougakkounoeigosidou" (English teaching in elementary schools),
Tuido Kazuaki, 1997

"kodomonieigowodouoshieruka" -Teaching English to children- ,
WendynA A scott/Lisbeth H Ytreberg, 2001

"konnafounihajimetemiteha shougakkoueigo" -English for Children:A Key to the World-,
Yuri Kuno, 1999

"dousuru?shougakkounoeigo" (How can we teach English in elementary schools?),
written by many teachers , 2000

"shougakkoudenazeeigo?"-gakkoueigokyouikuwokangaeru-,
Otsu Yukio/Torikai Kumiko, 2002

Back ground
"shougakkoueigokatudouniokerukyouzaikaihatsunikannsuruitikousatu"
-hyougenryokuwosodaterueigoehonnokoukatekinashiyounitsuite-, Tanabe Atsuko

"shougakkounojyugyoudetsukaerueigonokyouzai", Naoyama Yuko,2000

"shougakkouniokerueikaiwakatsudounokyouzainokufu", 満尾貞行, 2004,

☆Teacher's Test☆

2006-04-18T22:00:00.000+09:00

My study
I am studying for the examination to be an elementary school teacher. I have to study many subjects:
japanese, mathmatics, social studies, science, music, art and crafts, physical education, home economics, and so on.

And I have to study
・ the history of education
・ phychology of education
・regulations about education
・ways of education
・how to teach handycapped children
・general education etc.

We have many seminars every week.
・how to write a composition （Fri. 6:10~8:00 pm. or Sat.9:00~12:00 am.）
・phychology of education（Mon.6:00~7:40pm.)
・elementary school's subjets(Fri.4:30~6:00pm.)
・training in an interview etc.

Frame of mind
I want to be a teacher in Sapporo. Because I have many friends in Hokkaido and there are many teachers whom I respect. What is more, two of my best friends became teachers in Hokkaido this spring!! I would love to work with them. So I will do my BEST!!

☆English education at elementary schools☆

2006-02-28T21:24:00.000+09:00

I read the book "Why is English education needed at elementary schools?"(The real title is "Shougakkou de Naze Eigo? - Gakkou Eigo Kyouiku o Kangaeru") by Torikai Kumiko and Otsu Yukio.I am interested in the English education at a elementary school, so I enjoyed reading the book. I think this book has many important messages for us.

The two authors are opposing introducing the English education into elementaly schools.
Why are they opposing? They said there are some important points that explain the reason.

1.Early start is best ??

It is often said that it is good for us to start to study English as fast as we can. That is to say, children can master foreign languages more easier than adults. So to start the English education at elementaly schools is effective way.

But the author said this thinking cannot be applied to the English education at elementaly schools. Because the author said, if a child stayed a country that the target language are spoken as a mother tongue, the child could master the language easier than adult. But at elementary schools in Japan, children are surrounded by Japanese( language) , and when they are not in English class, they cannot hear English.

So the thinking that children can learn English if they study English few hours a week at elementaly schools is merely a illusion.

2.What is real Communicative competence??

It is also said that the purpose of English education at elementaly schools is to foster "commnicative competence".

The author said communicative competence include 4 competence.
　1. grammatical competence
　2. sociolinguistic competence
3. discourse competence
4. strategic competence

And the author said that it is possible for children to get these communicative competence if they start to study English from in junior high schools.

3.What should we do at elementaly schools??

The author said the most important thing is to lay the foundations of intercultural communication. So the Japanese education are most important.That includes the following.
1. To improve the sensibility to languages.
2. To speak what they think in Japanese.
3. To have a logical thinking.
4. To have a will to tell what they think. etc.

The author said anyway the most important thing at elementaly school is not the English education but the Japanese(mother tongue) education.
I agree with the idea. To do English activity is good, but to change English activity into English as a subject is ineffective, I think.

☆Teaching English in Thailand ☆

2006-01-30T22:46:00.000+09:00

I had a great experience in this winter. I and my friends went to Thailand on January 3rd and spent 10 days there. In thailand, we had stayed at a teacher's house, who teach English at the Bangsai Witthaya Secondary school, and we had a opportunity to teach English in the school. Now, I am going to write about my experience in teaching English in Thailand.

We had 3 to 5 classes a day in the secondary school (Grades 7 - 12). We had prepared many lesson-plans before going to Thailand, and we chose one of them before each class. And we had to arrange the lesson plan according to the level of each class on the spot because there were wide range of level among the classes. It was difficult for us to judge their level on the spot.

The lesson plans we taught were following.
1. Japanese culture ( geography, foods, sports etc.)
2. Japanese toys (Kendama, Otedama, Koma etc.)
3. Japanese seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter)
4. Telephone conversation (business telephone)

And we also chose "key sentences" in each class.
We changed the key sentences according to the level of the class even when we used same lesson plan.
For example, when we taught about Japanese seasons, we chose the sentence "Do you like summer?" as a key sentence in the low- level classes (that had students who was not good at English). And in the high-level classes, we chose the sentence "Which season do you like?"as a key sentence. We tried to use the key sentences many many times in the classes, so we did lots of activities that included the key sentences. This method worked well, I think.

And I found some differences between the English classes in Japan and in Thailand.
When I taught in Thai, I was surprised many students could speak English with fluency. And I had a chance to watch the English class that Thai teacher taught, then I found the reasons.
In the school, the teacher had taught English as phrases, so students remembered the phrases. In the class, they spent most of time in practicing the phrases. But in Japan, it is said that to teach grammer is important. It is a big difference between Japan and Thailand, I think.

I could learn lots of things from this experience, I had a very very good time!!
I would like to say "thank you" for all teachers in Thailand and In Japan who helped me.
Thank you very much!!!

☆TOEFL, TOEIC AND English Ability of Japanese☆

2005-12-16T00:31:00.000+09:00

I read this book(TOEFL, TOEIC AND English Ability of Japanese), and I am interested in this book very much!! This author said many interesting and good opinions. I could learn much from the book.

First, this author said "the score of these tests can't show a person's all English ability". She said it was impossible to guess our all ability by these tests!! I was interested in this opinion, because I think we tend to think that "high-score means high-ability."Actually I tend to think the person who got high-score in TOEFL test could speak English fluently, could write English sentences well, and so on. But the author said sometimes it is not right.

Second, this author said "it is the most important to have purposes when we challenge these tests."And she also said "these tests should be used for testing the result of own English study." I think it is an interesting idea. Because, I think, There are lots of people challenge these tests for qualifications or getting some good jobs. In these cases, getting high-score is their purpose.
But the author said it is an strange thinking. She said, first we should have a purpose, next we should study for the purpose, and lastly we can check our effort by these tests. I think it is a good thinking!!

。oO Supplement Oo 。

2005-11-06T17:30:00.000+09:00

I think the sentral part of the preschool is "play", whereas the sentral part of the elementary school is "study". So I had thought that the role of the teachers are different each other. But now I thought that the role of the preschool teachers, to make prompts(きっかけ） for childrens, is also important for elementary school teachers.Teachers in the elementary school can not only instruct students what to do directly, but also make prompts of students' study, I think. For example, teachers' interesting talk can be a good prompt, I think.

☆Teacher training in the preschool☆

2005-10-30T18:53:00.000+09:00

I have just finished my teacher training in the preschool. It was only 1 week, but I could learn lots of things from the experience.
Preschool is the start of school education. But I found there are many many differences between the preschool and the elementary school.So teachers' task in the preschool is widely different from the one of the elementary school.
The central part of the preschool is "Play". Children were playing from they came to the preschool to they went home. There are no class.
So it is one of the important task for the teachers to make prompt of children's play. Children begin their new play by themselves without teacher's advices. But if there were no prompt, it would be difficult for children to begin their new play. To make the prompt, teachers have to see childeren' s individual play and expect next day's play. And based on the expectations, teachers prepare many various material in the room and the outside to broaden their play.
It is uncertain expectations because children's play are change one after another, but it is essential to create a good play.
In contrast to the preschool, the central part of the elementary school is "Study" I think. It is a difference, but I think it is also important task for elementary school teachers to make prompt of students' study.

☆My Teacher Training☆

2005-10-08T11:46:00.000+09:00

I did my Teacher Training in Niou elementary school. And I was assigned to the 2 nensei's class. The first day of the teacher training, I was very nervous, so I was thinking many many things on my way to the school. I have a lot of worries and expectations.
The same day, I met my students for the first time. I was so nervous but their smiles eased my tension. They looked happy to see us, so I became very happy to see them, too!! And they called me"Ayumi sensei!!" It was my first experience.I felt happy again.
The second week, I started to give lessons. My first class was Japanese. I spent lots of time to prepare for the class, but I could not do all things that I want to do in the class. After the class, I felt there were much room for improvement in my class. But I could also feel the pleasure of teaching.
From the day I was very busy, but I thought "I'll stick it out! " because I loved my students. Childlen were always full of vitality. I was encouraged by their smiles many many times.
In the elementary school, we have to teach all subjects. It was a difficult job for me. Because, I had almost no knowledge of Music, Art, and so on. So I have to read many various books to teach them. It was hard, but it was also fun for me.
Before the teacher training, I had thought that a good teacher is a teacher who could teach well.And I had also thought that teacher should forward the class smoothly.
But my ideas are changed through the teacher training. Now I think that a good teacher is a teacher who could think about children first and foremost. I thought that to cherish children is most important for teachers. And I also think a teacher should have the patience to wait. Sometimes it takes long time for the children to answer the question. But teacher should wait. I think the teacher who can wait is a good teacher.
And I also realized that good class is not a smooth class but a class that all children are thinking.It was difficult to make all children understood, but I thought that we could have all children thinking. I think it is a good class.
I could learn lots of things from the teacher training. I am thanking all my students very much!! They are my treasure. Thank you for precious time☆

☆To the second year stodents☆

2005-08-04T12:20:00.000+09:00

Hello, the second year students!! Now i have finished English Teaching Methodologies Ⅱ and Ⅲ.So I would like yo explain the kind of works that you will have to do in these class and give some advices(^_^)

In the English Teaching Methodology Ⅱ, we used a textbook that all written in English. It was difficult for me and you will think so maybe. In this class, Mr.Hall gave us assignments before every class. The assignments consisted of some of questions. In order to answer them we need to read the textbook. Sometimes there will be some questions that you can't answer, but it is no ploblem! You will be able to have times for discuss with your group members in the next class. And Mr.Hall will give particular explanations for you. It may be difficult to understand all of the contents in the class.So I recommend you to read the contents again in the day if it were possible.
And you will have a good chance to teach English in this class. We went to the Nakano elementary school and taught English to the students. That will be a great experience for you!

Second, in English Teaching MetholodologyⅢ,we made own blogs and communicated with these blogs. First I didn't know "BLOG" ,so I was very confused to make it. If you were confused too, you could ask Mr.Hall or your friends how to do it. No ploblem!They will help you. If you got accustomed to using it, you would enjoy writting and reading them. I really enjoyed them!

And I would like to give you one more advice for you. I thought the second semester of Junior is very very busy.We had lots of reports and assignments everyweek, so it was hard to take times. So I reccomend you to do your assignments as fast as you can! If This week were busy, Next week might be more and more busy for you(>_<)
Anyway I could learn lots of things in these classes, and I enjoyed every class. I hope you will think so!! Good luck（＾０＾）☆☆

☆Reflection on Team Y's lesson☆

2005-07-04T17:14:00.000+09:00

♪Good points♪
First, I think the warm-up was good. They spoke loudly and clearly, and they used the lesson's key point sentences in the warm-up. I think it eas very good way.
Next, I think that how to use short play was also good.They did same short play twice, and between the two short play, they introduced new words. By this way, students could see the second short play with thinking the meanings, I think. It was effective way!!

♯Some suggestions for even better lesson♯
I thought Mr.Naim looked at the text book many times. And he seemed to be looking for the sentences which they are speaking. So I think they could use the text book more often.It might be a good help for Mr.Naim I think.
And in the practice part, Mr.Naim seemed to be confused to make sentenses from a piece of information. I thought it might be too difficult for him to make sentences by himself.

☆I felt, they took care of Mr.Naim very kindly. They are good teachers!! thank you.(^_^)

☆Reflection on KMKM's lesson☆

2005-07-04T16:40:00.000+09:00

♪good points♪
　First, the lesson was cheerful from beggining to end. I think teachers' performances made it possible. Their performances was execellent, so we could concentlate all the time. I think it is important for teachers to keep the class lively. They could do it!!
Next, there were lots of practice in their lesson. And they were well balanced, so we can practice English four skills effectively. It was good point .

♯Some suggestion for evev better lesson♯
　I think their speaking was a little fast. So Mr.Naim often seemed to be confused. They could speak more slowly and clearly ,I think. And when they practice how to say numbers, Mr.Naim seemed to need more time to practice, I felt. So they could take more time to introduce new material, I think.

I think KMKM's lesson was very thoughful.There were many many points that I want to imitate in the future. Thank you, KMKM's members!!

☆　Key Points of Teaching Grammar　☆

2005-06-27T17:01:00.000+09:00

Which of the Key Points for teaching grammar, ideas for introducing new grammar, ideas for practicing new grammar, and ideas for communicative activities were useful and why you thought so. Also, which ideas you did not think were useful and why you thought so.

★Key point for teaching grammar
I think a useful key point is "Good rules can help students". Because, I think English grammar is often too misleading for biginner English learners. For example, the differences of "many" and "much","few" and "little", and so on. It is difficult to sense the differences without "good rules"(many and few are used when the noun is concrete noun....) ,I think.

★Ideas for introducing new grammar
I think a useful idea for introducing new grammar is to use "Real things"and to use pictures. Because it is easier to understand the information from eyes than from only ears. And I think visual impressions are unforgettable!
But I didn't think "Use dolls" is a useful idea in junior high school. I think most of junior high school students are shy. So they might not be interested in the dolls, I think.

★Ideas for practicing new grammar
I think "Memory test" is a useful idea for practicing new grammar.Because, first it is interesting , so students will not be bored. And students can see only a picture in this activity, so students have to say not only the phrases (Is there～?), but also the names what they want to say(pencil, book, and so on) by themselves. I think it will be good practice for students.
　But I did not think "Pattern practice" is a useful idea. It may be a good practice, but I think it is too monotonous, so students might be bored with it.

★Ideas for communicative activities
I think "Find someone who...." is a useful idea for communicative activity. Because students can get many chances to talk with their classmates in this activity. So I think this activity can foster students' communicative abilities a lot. And in this activity, students can practice English speaking, listening, and writing at once. I think it is also good point.

☆DHC2's lesson☆

2005-06-22T15:09:00.000+09:00

good point
1.short play
I think the short play was very good!! They performed it with big movement. We often tend to be shy, but I think teachers should not to be shy in the class. I think they did good job!
2.practice
They were posting some pictures on the blackboard, and pointed them at random. So we could practice various patterns again and again. I think it was good way to practice.

suggestions for an even better lesson
I think the practice part was good but I also felt it was too long.
And I have something on my chest. After the class, Mr.Abdoreim asked us the meaning of "Do you play ～?" ,and so on. Plobably, he could pronunce them but he couldn't understand their meanings, I think. "All English class" is good, but it also good way to use Japanese(mother tongue) , I think.

DHC2 lesson was very good!! I learned a lot from the class. Thank you DHC2's members.

Reflection on my lesson (Team A's lesson)

2005-06-21T15:16:00.000+09:00

1.Warm-up
We tried to make Mr.Abdoreim feel relaxed and recall the last class in this part.
2.Review
We didn't have confidence that Mr. Abdoreim remember the content of the last class. So we decided to do a short play, again. And to make sure that he can recall "Good morning.","Good evening","I'm ～", and so on, we made himself do the short play. By his short play, we could see that he almost remember the content, so I feel relief!! I think, we could do this because our student is only one person. But if we must teach 40 students it was difficult to check students' memories....
3.Introduction of New Material
First,we did new short play, and ask Mr.Abdoreim "What do they say?" Really, we had never expected that Mr.Abdreim could understand the differences between "This is" and "That is" in this stage. But he could understand!!! It was great occurrence, but we were a little puzzled.... We were going to make him notice the differences gradually. Mr.Abdoreim is great person....(;^_^
4.Practice
☆pronunciation practice
I think we should say the sentences more loudly and more slowly. And I think we should also make students practice the words for example "pencil","eraser", and so on.
lastly
I think we should speak clearly during the class.

☆Team T's lesson☆

2005-06-07T11:57:00.000+09:00

Good　points!!
I think there were many good points.
First, I think it was good to teach both the morning greetings and the evening greetings. There were only the morning greetings on the textbook, but they show us the evening greetings, too. I think it could bloaden the width of the students' knowledge and the width of students' expression.
Next, I think teachers' voice were very clearly!! It was very good point! They spoke loudly and slowly. So, it was easy for us to hear.
Third, it was good to use Japanese soon after using English. I think it is important to use English in the English class, but "all English class" is very hard for beginners to understand. So it is effective way to use both English and Japanese, I think.

Some suggestions for an even better lesson
I think, in the part of Conclusion(Fill in the blanks) they could make students say the answers, or make two students do short play with the answer sentences. I think it could be a good review for the students, and for the teacher it could be a effective way to check the students' understanding.

I think team T did good job!!! I could learned lots of things from your lesson. Thank you, team T's members!!

☆Junior High School Grammar☆

2005-05-30T18:29:00.000+09:00

☆As a student☆
　I think the easiest grammar element is be動詞 . Because, in contrast 一般動詞,　there are only 3 verbs, so we have only to memorize few rules to use them.
Next the most difficult to understand is 現在完了. When I was a juniar high school student, I was troubled with it. I think there were some reasons. At first I could't understand the meaning of "現在完了". I studied and thought that 現在完了 means "What we have done yet."(すでにやり終えたこと？） But there were 継続用法, too.... So I was very confused.

☆As a teacher☆
　I have confidence in teaching 助動詞　can. I think it is simple to use it, because we don't have to change the form even when the subject is changed. And after the 助動詞　we have only to put the original form of the word. So I think it is easy to teach.
And the difficult element to teach are 現在完了 and 不定詞. 　Because there are lots of means, so it is difficult to teach how to translate them I think. I have almost understood them, but I don't have confidence to teach them to students perfectly.

Reflecton on Sniffle's Lesson

2005-05-23T17:05:00.000+09:00

Please write about what you paticularly liked about Sniffle's lesson and also a few things that they might try doing differently in the future.

I think Sniffle's lesson had some good points.
First, they started the lesson with short play. I think it was good, because I think the short play can attracts the students to the class.
Second, they repeated numbers again and again. I think it was good way, because by this way, students can hear the teacher's pronunciations again and again, and practice over and over. This repetation make students' input comprehensible, I think.
Finally, they used some pictures, for example the pictures of money. I think these pictures are effective in making input. And the pictures can attracts students' concentration, I think. So it was very good point to use pictures.

I also think Sniffle's lesson had some points to try doing differently in the fiture.
First I felt the "number lesson"(?) started suddenly. I think they could connect the short play and "number lesson" more deliberately(意識的に）.
Second I think they could use the handout more frequently. For example, there were a " price list" on the handout. I think they could use it, and students could practice some conversation with it. Of course it is important to memorize how to say numbers, but to try to use them in the conversation is also important I think.

I could enjoy the Sniffle's lesson and learn many things from this lesson. Thank you, Sniffle's!!

Working with Input

2005-05-16T16:47:00.000+09:00

☆ Which points of this lesson did you agree with or find helpful and why?
　I agree with the points that Familiar topics, Gestures, and Visuals make input comprehensible when using new vocabulary. I found it from my actual experience, Mr. Hall's Spanish lesson. The lesson's topic was about his family. The topic was very familiar with me, so I could guess the meaning of the words. I thought the topic made the input comprehensible.
Next are Visuals. I think pictures and charts are helpful when using new vocabulary because, in the Spanish lesson,the family tree made the input comprehensible I think.
I think when we learn new vocobulary it is effective to use our various senses, for example eyes, ears, hands, and so on. The visuals can give us many informations through our eyes. It is important to make input. And Gestures are also give some informations through the body. Through the gestures we can guess the meaning of the words which we don't know. It is very effective way, I think.

☆Which points of this lesson did you disagree or did not find helpful and why?
I don't agree with the point that "use students as example" are helpful. Because the "example students" couldn't see the differences , for example when the teacher talking about colors by using students' hair. And perhaps there are some students who are unwilling to be the example, I think. so I don't agree the point.

My first Spanish lesson

2005-05-03T08:48:00.000+09:00

1) How much of the presentation in Spanish did you understand? What made the input comprehensible and what could have been done to make the language easier to understand?
I think I could understand almost all of the lesson. At the beginning of the lesson, I couldn't understand what Mr. hall said, but gradually I became understood it.
I think What made the input comprehensible was the figure which Mr. Hall wrote on the blackboard and Mr. Hall's gestures. I could listen to his presentation as I looking at the figure and expecting the meaning of the words, because the figure was same as what we use in Japan when we explain our families, so it made me easier to understond the words what means families, I think.
And another point what made the input comprehensible was Mr.Hall's jesture, I think. He chaged his voice in places. It enabled me to identify that the word means man or woman.

2) Did you learn any new words or new grammar in Spanish?
Yes, I learned some new words and grammer. I had never learned Spanish, but I maybe can do simple family introduce now, I think.

3) How did you feel about being a beginning foreign language student?
At the beginning of the lesson, I felt a little nervous.　But　I gradually felt relaxed and could enjoy the lesson. I thought, the students who study English for the first time will feel nervous, too. So it is important for us (teachers) to make the students relaxed at first, I think. 　
And I found we can learn new language without special explanation in L1 language. I think, it is important to use imagination to guess the meaning of unknown words when we learn foreign language.

Questions to current English teachers

2005-04-26T14:45:00.000+09:00

What do you think about teaching English in the elementary school? And in the elementary school, what should we make a point of in the English classes?

☆my ideal teacher☆

2005-04-25T17:24:00.000+09:00

My favorite English teacher was Mr.Minuma, who was a teacher of preparatory school for university entrance examination. This teacher was my favorite because he knew lots of things, and he is very good at talking so I had never bored during his class. I was always looking forward　to his class. His lecture was not easy, but I think he taught for us true English. He said to us "English is not only memorization." I had thought that we had to memorize lots of things to study English. But he changed my thinking. I noticed that studying English is fun for me!!
And he gave various talks for us in spare moments from our class. His talk was always very fun. I thought he had a special power to attract the students. I really respect him.

As a teacher, my greatest strength will be easygoing character! Idon't worry about past things. Even if I feel sad or angry in my class, I will not worry for long time. I don't like worry about little thing!

My greatest weakness will be lack of patience, Ithink. I soon get tired of things. I was always defeated by my sleepiness, although I really know I have many things to do. It is my weakness.

2005-04-21T16:54:00.000+09:00

first post

2005-04-21T16:44:00.000+09:00