June 27, 2016

WEEK 10

DAILY LIVING - COMMUNITY SERVICES

TEACHING RESOURCES
Here are some game suggestions for the last day of class.
Two links for games in the classroom, maybe there are a few you don't know yet:
Games and Activities for the ESL/EFL classroom (from iteslj.org) 
10 Best Games (from gooverseas.com) 

This is a fun online link - JEOPARDY STYLE GAMES by grammar or vocabular topic.
Set up projector/tablet/speakers in class, devide students into groups - voila!
Online games (from eslgamesplus.com) 


GOOGLE HELP

Do you have questions about Google rosters, Google docs or lesson plan uploads?
Just let us know - we'll include those topics in our summer blogs (or email you back if it's urgent)




STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES "When we came here, we didn't have anybody here...we didn't know anything at all, so always even I was very shy and very not confident about talking to people in the streets..." - Alyona Glushchenkova, Former ESOL Student, now Library Information Assistant
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO: http://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/06/22/ep-35-library-stories

NYS TESOL announces the arrival of its Summer 2016 issue of Idiom, our quarterly online newsletter. 

The Summer 2016 is freely available without logging into our Members Only web site.  To access, please visithttp://idiom.nystesol.org or feel free to click on the articles below. Enjoy!

The Latest Edition of Idiom is available:
http://idiom.nystesol.org/Summer2016.html

NYS TESOL Seeking a Volunteer Indexer for Idiom (the professional newsletter of NYS TESOL)

New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (NYS TESOL) is an association of professionals concerned with the education of English language learners at all levels of public and private education in New York State. Our interests include classroom practices, research, program and curriculum development, employment, funding, and legislation.

NYS TESOL seeks a summer volunteer intern to work on a indexing project that involves cataloguing the last 40 years of articles from its professional printed newsletter, Idiom.

Idiom is currently a member’s only newsletter, containing approximately 20-25 articles per issue, and is circulated 4 times per year.

More information about this volunteer opportunity is available on our web site at http://www.nystesol.org/indexer-volunteer-position-NYSTESOL-june-14-2016.html

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

OCTOBER 2016

Second annual conference: Meeting Challenges, Exploring Solutions in the Adult ESOL Classroom This full-day conference, co-sponsored by The New School and the Literacy Assistance Center, will take place at The New School, 66 West 12th Street, New York City on Saturday, October 29th . DO YOU HAVE A PROPOSAL READY TO GO? We invite you to submit proposals for presentations, workshops and panel discussions of 45 or 90 minutes duration. Poster session proposals are also welcomed. Computers and projectors will be available. Submission Deadline is TODAY, June 27th, 2016 at 5 pm. To submit a proposal please click here:or paste this link into your browser http://goo.gl/forms/JOsSDIXMf6 For further information contact: Lesley Painter-Farrell painterl@newschool.edu Judy Trupin judyt@lacnyc.org

NOVEMBER 2016:

The spring cycle is almost over!

Here are a few tips for

OUTSIDE OF CLASS PRACTICE FOR STUDENTS

You all probably encourage your students to keep practicing during the break, here are a few suggestions to share with your students:

* keep a journal - in English :)

Write down just a few sentences about your day and how you are feeling. If you don't know a word in English, just write it in your native language. After a few weeks you'll be surprised to see that your writing has improved.

* Sing a song!

the-english-show.wikispaces.com offers a variety of different song genres, and videos with and without lyrics to sing along. 

* online quizzes

Go to Google.com. Depending on your level and focus, enter "ESL quiz beginner", "ESL quiz intermediate", "ESL quiz advanced" and "vocabulary," "tenses," "past tense," "articles", or anything else you want to practice. Try out a few different online quizzes (many will pop up).

* www.engvid.com

Your teacher during the break! Experienced ESL teachers give video lessons. Students can customize by level and topic.

Click "all lessons."

In the "English Lesson Finder" on the left, select level and topic(s) one or more teachers. With time, you'll find your favorite teacher on this site.

* practice dialogues

Especially useful for beginners, or for intermediate students who want to focus on pronunciation.

http://www.eslfast.com/easydialogs/

* Ventures Arcade

Maybe do some Arcade activities in your last class to remind students of this great resource.

* Duolingo

A good alternative to Rosetta Stone (although Duolingo, like most other apps, works with translation to and from the student's native language). 

Students set up an account on the computer or smartphone app (site language: i.e. Spanish, then check "I want to learn English)

This is our last blog post for this cycle!
We'll take a short break, then for the summer term we'll do something a little different: 

Publish our posts on FRIDAYS. 

We're interested to find out if that will be more useful and/or helpful for you.

SHOW US THE LOVE!

One of the only ways we can know if you like what we are doing is if you make a comment on our blog page. Like our blog? Are there topics you would like us to add? Please comment! 

Would you like to contribute something? A link, teaching tip, other? Any time!

Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

Have a great week and a great summer!!!

Elizabeth & Elke

June 20, 2016

WEEK 9

DAILY LIVING - COMMUNITY SERVICES

TEACHING RESOURCES

Don't forget that "oldie but goodie" website for lots of resources on daily living and community resources: worksheets, videos, photos, games and more. ELCIVICS.COM

From the TESOL blog: Many of you have large groups. This short article on the TESOL.org blog might be helpful: Best Practices in Teaching Large Classes


GOOGLE HELP

Set and Track Goals in Google Calendar
From the Free Technology for Teachers website, another useful tidbit about Google. This short article teaches us how to set up "goals" in our Google Calendars so we can track progress, even identify times to pursue those goals. 



ENGLISH ACCENT COACH

According to its website: "English Accent Coach is an online tool for developing English pronunciation skills - focusing on vowels and consonants...English Accent Coach allows you to learn English vowels and consonants using an interactive game approach. During play, you will hear syllables or words with English sounds and you must click on the symbol for the sound you hear." The website gives students a "report card" at the end so they can self-monitor. Check it out here: English Accent Coach

VENTURES RESOURCES

Have you used Presentation Plus yet? How is it going? Here are the notes from Cambridge, the publisher of Ventures, with some tips for classroom implementation and lesson plans. Ventures Presentation Plus Teacher's Notes

A NOTE FROM A COLLEAGUE:

To All NYPL Educators: I would like to share the mission statement of authors Rob Jenkins and Staci Johnson with you. "Our goal is to give students challenging opportunities to be successful in their language-learning experience so they develop confidence and become independent, lifelong learners." The spring cycle is just about coming to an end and there is no doubt that we have all worked very hard and had a successful academic year. Enjoy the upcoming summer! 

Regards from my New Dorp, Staten Island Level 1-2 students

Warm-ups for the Busy Teacher- 

This website has a ton of activities you can check out! 360 Free Warmers and Fillers

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Would you like to write something, with the hopes of getting published some day, but don't know where to start? Consider contributing to a book already scheduled for publication. Many of you may be familiar with the "New Ways in Teaching..." books. Currently, they are looking for lessons using music. For more details, go here:  Contributions for New Ways in Teaching With Music

NYS TESOL EVENT: “Tech in Ten” 

Wednesday June 22, 2016, 6-8 PM

Learn novel ideas for incorporating technology into your classes in this fast-paced and dynamic event! Each presenter has ten minutes to demonstrate a tech tool for ESL education, followed by a short Q&A. Learn, share and network at the reception after the presentations. 

Baruch College, CUNY - 55 Lexington Avenue
Location details in registration confirmation email
Advance Registration Due to Space Limitations
NYS TESOL Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
For more information, please contact nyc@nystesol.org

As we approach the end of the term, we'll publish one more blog post on 

Monday June 27. We'll take a short break, then for the summer term we'll do something a little different: publish our posts on FRIDAYS. 

We're interested to find out if that will be more useful and/or helpful for you.

SHOW US THE LOVE!

One of the only ways we can know if you like what we are doing is if you make a comment on our blog page. Like our blog? Are there topics you would like us to add? Please comment! 

Would you like to contribute something? A link, teaching tip, other? Any time!

Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

Have a great week!
Elizabeth & Elke

June 13, 2016

WEEK 8

DAILY LIVING - COMMUNITY SERVICES

TEACHING RESOURCES

This document from the Minnesota Literacy Council has a lot of resources. Whatever our theme is, there is a story here to fit. Please see the example snapshot below and have a look at the PDF!
PDF: ESL Story Bank

RUBRICS

Do you use them? I often encourage teachers to use them.
One example that comes to mind is when a student is giving a mini-presentation- what are the other students doing while the presenter is speaking?
They (listeners) could be rating the speaker's pronunciation- as you see in this picture.
The other point I wanted to make: rubrics don't have to be complicated. Choose three or four things to rate, and make the scoring simple- 0/1/2, for example.
Elizabeth

GOOGLE HELP

This week will feature a presentation I attended at the TESOL Convention in Baltimore in April. Titled "Google and Beyond," the presentation has useful information about using Google in the classroom, along with other apps that you might find interesting. 

This was one of the most useful seminars I attended. I'll share the Google Slide presentation here: Google and Beyond
Elizabeth

Share your warm-up activities here! This one comes from a colleague in Staten Island:

Missing Flashcard: All job flashcards are taped to the board and students close their eyes. One flashcard at a time is removed and the students open their eyes and guess the name of the missing job title (or whatever vocabulary you are reviewing). The first student to guess correctly comes up to the board and he/she removes the next flashcard, etc.

ROSETTA STONE NEWS

Please note-

We will not continue with Rosetta Stone next cycle.

Students who have private accounts will be able to use them until June 30, 2016.

We will be in touch in upcoming blogs and in the summer with information on how to use MANGO LANGUAGES, an English learning program on NYPL's website, and a few other online options.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - NYS TESOL CALLING!

An evening of short tech tips for the classroom! (St. Agnes teacher Neal Smith shared this)

$10 for NYS TESOL members, non-members $15

Tech in Ten! A NYS TESOL NYC Region Event Wed, June 22, 2016, 6-8pm Baruch College, CUNY, 55 Lexington Avenue

Tech in Ten!  A NYS TESOL NYC Region Event June 22, 2016- 6pm-8pm| Baruch College, CUNY Learn novel ideas for incorporating technology into your classes in this fast-paced and dynamic event! Each presenter has ten minutes to demonstrate a tech tool for ESL education, followed by a short Q&A. Learn, share and network at the reception after the presentations.   Advance Registration Due to Space Limitations NYS TESOL Members: $10 Non-Members: $15 For more information, please contact nyc@nystesol.org

TEACHER INTERVIEW 

10 QUESTIONS FOR: David Fobair

David teaches an NRS 3-5 class at the Melrose Library in the Bronx. 

BACKGROUND 1. Where are you from and what brought you to NY?  I’m a Midwesterner at heart.  I was born in a small town in Nebraska and raised in Minnesota.  I came to New York many years ago to study acting for a summer program at Circle In The Square. However, I liked New York so much I ended up staying here.  2. When did you decide you wanted to be an ESOL/Adult Literacy teacher?  Why?       Well, I considered teaching when I was in my early twenties while in college.  I even thought I’d teach English with the Peace Corps in Japan.  I wish I had followed that path.  Most likely, it would have connected me to my love of languages and teaching a lot sooner.  It was however, in 2010 that I decided to test the waters as an ESOL teacher.  I started volunteering and found that I liked teaching very much.  I completed a teaching certificate that year, and then I went to The New School and graduated with a MA TESOL in 2014.  3. Have you ever taught in another country? How has that shaped you as a person and as a teacher?   I have not taught in another country but always wanted to.  I have however studied Spanish in Peru, Costa Rica, and Spain, and French in France.  These experiences reinforced my love of languages. I love travelling. In India, 2014 TEACHING 4.            What is the biggest challenge and the most rewarding thing for you as an Educator?  You don’t become a teacher overnight.  When one observes a teacher it might look easy.  However, until you’ve taught you can only imagine how much education, training, and preparation it takes to be a proficient teacher.  One of the biggest challenges, but also one of the most rewarding, is to continue to grow, learn and improve as a teacher. 5.            Do you have any special story you would like to share about a student or a class?  I have learned so much from my students.  They have taught me as much or more than I could have imagined. I’m continually struck by their commitment to learn and for some, the struggles they have endured in order to have the opportunities that are often taken for granted. 6.            Is there any specialized English class you would like to teach? I would like to teach a project-based class.  I really like the idea of learning while creating.  In particular, I like digital storytelling where students write a short personal story and film it.  Through workshops, I’ve seen some of these projects and I’m always moved by the power of our individual stories.  Note to self, try to incorporate more small projects through-out the cycle!  J CLASSROOM TIPS 7.            How do you encourage students to practice English outside of class?  I really try to foster a sense of community in the classroom with the hope that students form lasting relationships.  Most of the time, I have students personalize the activities and share this information with their classmates. Students also discuss with each other the ways they study English outside of class.  They share tips in these discussions and talk about their favorite apps, internet links, books, TV shows, and other methods of studying.    I also provide suggestions and I have students set personal goals and create an action plan to obtain these goals. AND... 8.          What nobody knew...    I love popular culture.  I enjoy theater, films, especially indies and foreign films.  I love art, travel, but the best part for me is to share these experiences with a good friend or a new friend. 9.            What is your favorite place / activity in NYC?   Hmm, this is a hard one.  I live in Brooklyn Heights and I love my neighborhood.  I love the promenade, DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park, but I also like exploring all the boroughs.  Living in NYC we have the option of exploring something new almost anytime we have free time.  I recently explored a small part of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and found it fascinating. Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn 10.          What are you currently working on? I’m in the process of completing a personal and organizational coaching certificate at NYU.  I’m interested in performance and educational coaching.  I recently submitted a proposal to the TESOL 2017 International Convention about using coaching techniques in the classroom as tools to learn English.  I’d love to hear from others any thoughts or questions you have on the subject.   At the recent 2016 International TESOL Convention in Baltimore. I co-presented with Roshi Jolly a teaching training workshop entitled: "The Ideal L2 Self: Taking Vision into the Classroom."

SHOW US THE LOVE!

One of the only ways we can know if you like what we are doing is if you make a comment on our blog page. Like our blog? Are there topics you would like us to add? Please comment! 

Would you like to contribute something? 
A link, teaching tip, other? 
Are you ready for your interview? 
Any time :)

Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

Have a great week!
Elizabeth & Elke