Podcast in my classroom

Right before I came to America, my friends gave me a ipod as a gift. Before that, I had not had any experiences to access podcasting. To use ipod, I searched how to download program and I could see emornous world of podcasting. Yet, that was just for me to enjoy podcasting world rather than thinking I could use for educational purpose.

I looked around many podcasting website and listened to samples. Then I found this website called PODBEAN.COM. They have many categories not only education, but also entertainment and religion, etc. One of the podcasting I like was Just Vocabulary. It introduces two vocabulary items at a time and explains definition and examples. However the words introduced are fairly difficult so it will be helpful for students to prepare TOEFL or GRE. What I like it about is that it doesn't teach many vocabulary at a time and it provides a various examples so students can notice the usage of the words. I think vocabulary is really important part in reading and listening for students, this podcast can help students to improve their vocabulary. Since the podcast is only for about five minutes I think I can play the podcast either at the beginning of the class or at the end of the class. In that way, students can learn two vocabulary every day.

Using Yackpack for Global Cooperation

In the process of participating in global cooperation, communicating with other people is the key, especially many websites emphasize that students need to develop intercultural competence through accomplishing several projects.
Yackpack can be a perfect tool for students to use to communicate other people who they can't reach easily due to the long physical distance. Even though the email can help to communicate in order to collect data from people who are from a certain culture, Yackpack can facilitate better communication. Since people can talk and exchange their knowledge and information, it would be helpful to complete the project in global cooperative projects.

Global Cooperation

1. The Global Schoolhouse

1) Overview

This is designed for students and teachers to colloborate one another in order to improve their learning process through technology. The project enalbes for them to learn language, communication skills and intercultural communication through exchange ideas and opinions. Although physical distance exists between different groups of students and teachers, they can use technology to lower the walls between them.

2) Special features

This pragram is supported and has partnership with famous people. In the video which introduces about GlobalSchoolNet, I could see a number of people who are famous in their field endorse this program such as Al Gore, Bill Gates and so on. This proves that the program has more validity and reliability to use.

3) How to use in classroom

One project draws my attention on the website. International School Cyber Fair! This is project that many groups of students compete globally. It is the event held every every and endorsed by White House. Every year, they have new theme such as "Empower and Unite(2007), Learn and Unite(2008), and Teach and Unite(2009).

If it's possible, I think it's good to participate in this fair with the students. Since we can take a look winners' final products on the website, we can show them to the students how to do it. Also there are a lot of information about the procedures. In the way of doing it, the students are able to learn their own communinty and global community as well.

If participating requires too much work for both students and teachers, it can be modified into smaller projects. What I mean is that the teacher takes motif from the Cyberfair and holds class cyber fair, so that the students can work on the smaller projects.

2. Epals

1) Overviews
This website is used many students and teachers to share their ideas. It emphasizes that the website is specifically designed to educational environment so it's safe to use in the classrooms.

2) Special Features
This website includes that translation function so it enables the students who has low English proficiency skill to communicate with other students all over the world.

3) How to use in classroom
This website can be useful in the classroom where students can learn each other and communicate with other students who are living in other countries using English. One of the reasons that I think it's beneficial in the language class is that students can actually use English to communicate with other people in the world.
The students can ask questions about a certain country's culture to people who are from that culture. Also they can discuss and express their opinion on the forum according to the topics they are interested in.

Video from Videopedia

Vesuvius' Eruption That Buried Pompeii

Personally, I am interested in History. Even though I don't know much about the history I like searching for the information related to history. While I was browsing this website I could see many categories of video. Then I got to the "Knowledge" category where I could find 'history' there. Then I saw this video and I came up with the idea abou how to use it in my classroom later.

2 years ago, I was teaching English at Private Language School and I taught several short reading books. One of the reading book was about Pompeii. It would have been great that I had showed my students this video. It could have helped students comprehend the reading book better and they might have been interested in the reading book more.

Like my example, there are many videoes that the teacher can use in their classrooms in Videopedia. Especailly, they can be used in Content-based Instruction setting.

Video from Teacher Tube

Using video is always effective, because students can focus more on the lesson and they can learn language in the context as well. I am a big fan of the website 'Youtube' and I didn't know there is a website called 'Teacher Tube'.
Thesedays, I am taking Practicum class and I have to go to real ESL class and teach them once a week. The topic is 'Cause and Effect' so I tried to find out some idea how to teach the topic using vedio. Then I found this video. I could use this video in my classroom and also I can create other materials based on the idea I got from this video.
Therefore, one of many usages of video in the classroom is that the teachers can gain ideas when they need to create materials or they are looking for other approach of teaching.

Following tweet....

I've spent some time to go through the long list of tweets from the people I follow. Most of the tweets are from EFL CLASSROOM blog and it's hard to understand who wrote it to whom. However, one think I found interesting is that I could read what my classmate wrote. She wrote how she is doing and what she wants to know. After I read some tweets and i tried to update about what I am doing and send some direct message to classmates. I am still learning how to use it and haven't gotten used to it yet, but I am willing to learn the new technology all the time.

Twitter: A tool for classroom???

Microblogging: Collaborative technology with a growing interest from users coming from different domains. (CAN WE USE TWITTER FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES? BY GABRIELA GROSSECK/CARMEN HOLOTESCU) I would like to start to state with the definition of the microblogging, since its concept is quite new to me. I have heard a lot about blogging and I also doing it now, but microblogging is a fairly new experience to me. That's why I want to make sure what it is.

I started having microblogging experience with joining Twitter. The first impression of the website Twitter is quite strange for me. What does it mean by strange? It seems like a chatting room. People were writing message and I didn't know what the message is for. I couldn't think of any use of the twitter in education at a first glance. However my view has started to change after I looked through the articles about the potential usage of Twitter and other microblogging in the classroom.

One thing popped in my head is that students may get interested in what is new to them. For example, I teach class which discussion is the big part of it. Even though the procedure of discussion may same, I can use a new tool to introduce the topic or I can have the students generate their thought through a new tool such as Twitter or microblogging. Although they can communicate through email, a new tool always draws students' attention.

In addition, I like the ideas I read in an article . It says that the Twitter can be used in various ways such as polling or continuing conversations. The ideas are for training teachers which fits to myself right now. I haven't' used twitter like the article presents but it's definitely possible and I would like to try it.

Also I think the second article(CAN WE USE TWITTER FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES? BY GABRIELA GROSSECK/CARMEN HOLOTESCU) I read points out a brilliant point. People cannot write more than 140 characters so writers need to summarize what they are going to say. So it may help students to practice summarizing skills. For example, the teacher can give a task for students to post a summary of what they read using Twitter.

I think I did judge the book by the cover at first. Yet looking at more closely and reading about it make me realize my judgment was wrong. I am glad I can have a chance to consider another tool for my future classroom.

Using Games in Language class.

I visited the wesite called "EFL classroom 2.0". There are lots of resources presented from different teachers and I can share with other teachers from different countries what they think it's beneficial resources.

Personally I like using games in language classroom, because it's a good way to practice what students learn in interesting way. There are a range of methods to use games such as board games, team games, and so forth, but using computer game is convenient for teachers and students with one click. So I thought the post on this website is interesting and good way to practice language. This particular game is designed based on the game show in America, "Jeopardy".

Also there are many other games for me as a teacher to use in my classroom in the future.

Today's Learner is.....

After reading the article and watch videoes, I came up with an interesting analogy to illustrate today's learner. A learner is like a farmer. The reason why I think this analogy is interesting is that Connectivism has been brought up along with the development of techonolgy, but I compare a learner to a farmer who may be far away from the computer techonolgy. I grew up in a farm and I helped my parents with working in the farm so I know pretty well how they work.

First of all what a farmer does is planting seeds and harvesting later but the farmer will gather much more produce than he plants. Planting seeds is like making network. If a learner constructs network(planting seeds), the learner will learn much more knowledge(harvesting farm produce). In Siemens' video Networking is the Learning(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpbkdeyFxZw&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=4), he mentioned that adding a nod to a network increases entire network exponentially.

In addtion, the farmer cannot gather produce unless the farmer does keep sound relationship with nature. This fact is connected to one of the principles of connectivism that is mentioned in the article. In the article, he wrote "Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning. " (Sienmens, G. 2005, Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age) Therefore the learner can learn more knowledge when they keep staying in the network and working on the network building.

EFL Classroom 2.0 - Social Networking Group

When I started searching for the group I would be interested in, I typed 'EFL' in the search engine because that's where I would like to be working in the future after graduation. Then I found out this group called "EFL Classroom 2.0". Its URL is http://eflclassroom.ning.com/index.php

This is really big networking group having lots of members and materials.

First of all, as a learner in English teaching and English language, there are a range of materials that I can use in order to improve my language skills. For example, in the homepage, there is "
Daily English Lesson" showing vocabulary and how it is used in the context.

In addition, as a teacher in EFL classroom, there is various materials regarding reading, listening, writing and speaking. Also the types of materials are various from videoes, reading materials, and so forth. Therefore I can gather some ideas from them or even I can use them in my classroom as well.

Lastly, I think I can get some advice from members whenever I have problems in my classroom. It's possible because there are teachers from different countries and have more experiences than me. Especially when I have multicultural classrooms I think I can find a member from a particulare country and ask heror him to get information about his or her culture.

Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-Moon is U.N. Secretary General and he is Korean.
Here is 10 Questions and Answers from TIME magazine.

Q1) Can the U.N. play a proactive role in th economic crisis we are witnessing right now?
Sekari Vaidy SUNNYVALE, CALIF.

A) The goal of the U.N. is to promote harmonious development throughout the world. We welcome industrialized countries' stimulus packages, but at the same time they should never lose sight of the plight of billions of other people, the poorest of the poor.

Q2) What can individuals do to halt the global climate crisis? Carl Sack, VANCOUVER

A) Climate change is the defining issue of our era. For individuals, changing life patterns is very important. Turning lights off when you go to bed. Using water in a sparing way. There are about 1.2 billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water.

Q3) Once he takes office, what's the first thing Barack Obama should do regarding foreign policy? Gilberto Coker OBREGON, MEXICO

A) I hope the next Administration will continue what the Bush Administration has been doing. I would like President-elect Obama to make the Middle East peace process a priority and take over the climate-change campaign, in which the U.S. has not been actively participating.

Q4)How will you take action on the ruling Burmese junta for crimes against humanity? Zam Kham SANTA MONICA, CALIF.

A) When Cyclone Nargis hit, I told them that while the international community was ready to provide humanitarian assistance, they must look to the future of their country through democratization. I'm willing to visit Myanmar again to urge them to accelerate the process and release all political prisoners--particularly Aung San Suu Kyi.

Q5) After the Mumbai attacks, would the U.N. intervene to prevent a total war between India and Pakistan? Arjun Gajulapalli NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.

A) While I urge that the perpetrators be brought to justice, at the same time this issue should not affect the relationship between India and Pakistan. Pakistan should fully cooperate in the investigation. And India should try to resolve this issue peacefully.

Q6) The U.N. has not been able to stop genocide in Sudan. It allowed Rwanda to happen. Why is it so hard for the international community to do the right thing for the people of these countries? Carlos Moran, ROCKVILLE, MD.

A) First of all, the U.N. has been doing its utmost to maintain peace and security in Sudan. It was tragic and regretful that the international community was not able to prevent the genocide in Rwanda. We must not repeat this. We must learn the lessons of history.

Q7) Now that President Bush is on his way out, do you think the U.N. should hold him accountable for the war in Iraq? Nikunj Sanghvi SUGARLAND, TEXAS

A) The U.S. and her people have made great sacrifices for the peace and security of Iraq; at the same time, the international community should support the Iraqi people so they can enjoy genuine freedom, peace and stability. Let's not discuss what happened in the past too much. We should learn from the past and do more for the future.

Q8) The U.N.'s legacy has been tainted in recent times. What are you doing to reform it? Azad Kariem, ARBIL, IRAQ

A) My goal is to make the U.N. more transparent, more accountable, more effective and efficient and professional. I think we have made significant progress in that regard.

Q9)Which previous U.N. Secretary-General inspires you the most? C.J. Cervantes, AUSTIN, TEXAS

A) In terms of mission and principles and the way he showed his commitment to peace and security, Dag Hammarskjöld has always been my role model. I would do anything in my power to preserve peace and protect human rights.

Q10) Will the U.N. have the same fate as the League of Nations? Warren Chan, KUALA LUMPUR

A) No, I don't believe so. If there were no U.N., I would have proposed we create one--in which we can discuss all the challenges, all the noble goals and ideals of humanity.

Three ways of of using blogs in classroom!!!

When I was studying English from middle school to university, the term 'blog' didn't even exist. Now, blog and blogging is a kind of common word, especially for the young. I think the early stage of blogging was for sharing information and having cyber version of life for some people, now it is used as a tool for teaching and learning languages.

The first way of using blog is for teacher to share information, knowledge and even materials. Through blogging, teachers can make community so that they can communicate even from long distance. So teachers are able to gather real time information and live experiences from all over the country, even all over the world. Also teachers can ask for advice and give advice regarding teaching or learning. In that way, teacher can expand their knowledge and skills on teaching.

Secondly, I can use blog with my students. In my practicum class, the professor showed me how to use blog with his students for reading class. He has his own blog and he also had students create their blogs in order to share one another's blogs. He posted assignment on the blog so that the students can visit and see. In addition, he also can check their homework and students are able to see their classmates work. It makes the teacher's job easier because the teacher doesn't have to make all the copies to share in the whole class. So it enables the teacher to save energy so that saved time and energy can be used for more productive ways such as preparing more materials or giving more detailed feedback.

Lastly, the blog can be used to build better rapport between the teacher and students. As I learned from the last semester, the better relationship between the teacher and students, the better learning process can be happened in the classroom. Through blog, the teacher and students can share their personal lives, they can get to know each other more. Therefore it can be a tool to learn one another better.

I am sure that there is more than three ways of using blog in learning and teaching process, I am really looking forward to reading my classmates' opinions too.

The First day of blogging

It was not my first time to have a blog, but it is my first time to blog.
Few years ago, I made my blog in Korean website but I never took care of it. So there's nothing on my blog. However, I am kind of excited to have a blog and going to post many materials about teaching. At the same time, I am happy to have community which means my classmates. I am really looking forward to blogging.