Time
for Resolutions – and that is just what #ELTchat
was thinking about in our second discussion of the New Year. We were joined by quite
a few of our fantastic world-wide members, and some new contributors, who were
very welcome. Everyone found the evening super- whoop-motivational (@vickyloras).
I think this quote summed it up well: @shaznosel: what I
love is the fact that we have dreams in a period when most people have no hope –
to the future generations!
The discussion followed three distinct threads:
self-development, professional development and the development of colleagues.
I
started off by resolving to get more of my colleagues and trainees involved. I
will be happy to report back my success, but ideas will also be gratefully received.
Interestingly, Marisa finished on a similar point. @cioccas and @Yohimar would both
like to work on mentoring other teachers.
Conferences
@janetbianchini
and @vickyloras wanted to attend webinars and present at a few. This was echoed
by @esolcourses, who added that she would also like to do more conferences face to face. @ Marisa_C is addicted to meeting us in the
flesh and would like to do it more often. Many people expressed their eagerness
for going to IATEFL Glasgow and being able to catch up with their PLN. @evab2001
will be presenting at IATEFL for the first time, and would like to aim for an
online presentation this year too. Janet is also thinking about moderating an
EVO session next year.
@Wiktor_K
and @leoselivan are also doing presentations and looking forward to meeting up.
@USCTeacher
was interested in which platform to use and Marisa suggested Blackboard
illuminate or WiziQ, mentioning that the former was more expensive. He said
that they wanted to create better/free internet resources for teachers
everywhere. They have recently launched @teachdotcom
@Marisa_C
told us that she was moderating sessions for EVO in Second Life. This sparked
the discovery that others were also preparing to do various EVO sessions for
CPD.
Study
@cioccas,
@Yohimar and @pjgallantry chose training and studying as their resolutions. All
of them were full of enthusiasm for all they wanted to do this year. This was
an overriding theme- enthusiasm! Everyone was willing the others to do well
with their resolutions.
@Yohimar is planning to complete a CELTA course, while
@cioccas has a Master of Online Ed to finish. @pjgallantry
plans to finish his Dip. and publish his research. Good luck to all of
you.
@janetbianchini
resolved to spend less time online or
at least to avoid being “content-fried”. @divyabrochier thought that a 3-day
social media detox each month would suffice.
@mattledding
popped his head in briefly- he was celebrating the birth of new baby Gabriela, to
tell us about his resolution: action research of habits – see if theories of
pronunciation as a superhabit is valid. I think that one needs some
clarification. Matt?
Blogging
was mentioned too….
@vickyloras
and @mscro1 resolved to blog as much, if not more than 2011 and to read and
comment more. @mscro1 wants to have the time and confidence, although she has
plenty of ideas, and Marisa suggested that it comes from doing, and not
thinking too much about it. @evab2001 and @sueannan would like to try to update
their blogs more often. @janetbianchini has the good goal of keeping her blog
going, as she enjoys the writing. @Yohimar would like to start blogging about
teaching. @Marisa_C would like to find time to write more, especially on her
discourse blog. @cioccas said that she spent too much time thinking and not commenting
on others’ posts.
@evab2001
also wants to read more books, not just blog posts. This struck a chord with @voigto
who would like to use more literature in class and find time to read
inspirational books. He would also like to contact authors for Q/A sessions.
This was applauded by @Write_To_Learn.
@Marisa_C
would like to finish the book she is writing for kiddies, and @janetbianchini
would also like to write an e-book/digital story such as her last one.
And then there was MOODLE…
@Marisa_C
wants to work on her moodle skills, especially how to build one.@vickyloras
agreed, as she is taking part in a course this year. @sueannan would like to
put together a programme for online tutoring and discovered that @Marisa_C was
working on her blended delta. @shaunwilden will be approached for moodle expert
help and we would all like a future ELTchat on the subject. @evab2001 would
like to learn about moodle too. @KeramidaM
is interested in working on e-learning platforms.
@shaznosel
learned how to use moodle as a student and @leoselivan offered his help to any
of us who needed it.
In the Classroom…
@sueannan
would like to make her lessons more learner-centred, as would @mkofab.
@dreadnought001
hopes to listen to students more and turn off the IWB for at least 5mins per
lesson.
@KeramidaM
wants to have time for more creative activities. @mscro1
is going to teach her son to make comics online.
@evab2001
wants to find ways to motivate her young students.
Things to improve:
@esolcourses Time management, this was seen as a
useful resolution!
@Yohimar new methods for research
skills
@mkofab teacher talking time
@Marisa_C saying
NO sometimes
and @cioccas
@Marisa_C sleeping less but feeling more restedJ. Not sure
if this is possible!
@evab2001 more ME time
@esolcourses to manage work/life balance better
@divyabrochier
not talking the minute everyone
is in the room
and @eannegrenoble
@voigto teaching methods: modelling,
bilingual techniques, TBL
Learning a Language
This
one was interesting. @AnneSinclair1 and @hartle thought it was great to be in
the learner’s shoes. @Marisa_C started by saying that she would like to learn a
language, although she was picky about the teacher. @AnneSinclair1 and Marisa
had had similar experiences of trying to tell the teacher how to do their job. One
solution was to do it on Second Life, where there are some interesting teachers.
@Marisa_C also wants to do some more teaching and training in 2nd
life this year.
@cioccas
thought that this would be a good way to ease into learning about 2nd
Life.
@vickyloras
is going to improve her German and brush up her French, as is @evab2001.
@mscro1
would really like to refresh her German too. @MarianSteiner plans to continue
his French lessons, while spying on his teacher’s methods. LOL
@Marisa_C
asked for volunteers to teach her German. She also offered to teach one hour per
week of Modern Greek in 2nd life. She also tried to co-opt @vickyloras
into doing the same, which seemed to meet with a positive answer.
@cioccas
decided that Vietnamese would be more useful. @Wiktor_K is going to
learn Welsh. @designerlessons is
planning to improve his Spanish
@hartle
particularly liked @pjgallantry’s wish to win the lottery – good luck with that
one!
On
a final note @Marisa_C wants to shake some teachers out of their complacency
and lack of professionalism. @designerlessons and @vickyloras agreed that
teachers need to be learning and developing all the time so they can stay
effective and engaging. @janetbianchini would love to introduce blog writing to
the teachers she teaches. @sueannan and @Marisa_C thought they might be able to
introduce the idea on their respective TT courses as a reflective tool.
LINKS
@cioccas:
Anyone want to come to Australia in July? http://t.co/d5cpmjxV
www.bbc.co.uk/ languages/Germansteps a 12-week online programme to learn German.
Marisa’s
2009 resolutions http://t.co/d9ec17su
@tonygurr:
So, you want to be an ELT Teacher Trainer http://t.co/sw2nnRZ1
@Wiktor_K:for
writing regularly http://t.co/sRNjbc1f
Motivating
young learners with video http://t.co/jgPKAIVU
@USCTeacher:
check out these 3 words http://t.co/voOn6shz
We
agreed to look back in six/ twelve months to see where we are at – will we
still be, as Marisa says: @Marisa_C you all know how I feel about it – if you
think about it we’re just a small island of loonies in an ocean of
indifference.
Or will we have managed to get our colleagues on board. The jury is still out on that for now………..
Or will we have managed to get our colleagues on board. The jury is still out on that for now………..
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