Friday, March 30, 2012

Relationships and Interests in the Classroom

what if the students had nothing to talk about the topic even in their native language.

"What do you think?" sounds like easy question but it's not to the person who may be given that question. It's still one of the uneasy questions to me. 

[HOW CAN WE CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, APPRECIATE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PEERS, AND WHERE ALL MEMBERS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT ENGAGING WITH DIFFICULT QUESTIONS?] 

11 comments:

  1. I am currently considering a Devil's Advocate activity for my high school conversational classes which could address these kinds of questions. First of all, students are prescribed an opinion on a chosen topic that they must defend. Secondly, students can learn from each other various ways to argue a point and how to question oppositional ideas. Thirdly, because the opinions are prescribed, there is a freedom to express ideas about difficult topics without judgement from others. Finally, when students are then asked to accept and defend the opposing side of the argument, they can understand the importance of respecting differing points of view. I'm planning to start on relatively easy, relevant topics e.g. high school students allowed permed hair at school or not, to get students comfortable with the format and to assess their language skills before teaching specific debating language and techniques and advancing on to students being able to discuss their own points of view on topics.

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  2. It's important how to start with greetings. When teacher know they are not intereted in the topic, it's better to start with their daily
    activities and concerns. For example "What did you eat as lunch? What did you do last night? etc,. And then they cannot help responding the questions.But still they are not intereted in the topic, I would change the topic into new topic which they want to talk or discuss.I think it is not important the topic but Ss' attending at the class.
    (it was possible to change the schedule in my class)

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  3. This question is not about the students’ psychological barrier such as shyness, fear, introverted personality… It’s about the cognitive and analytic thinking skill. We are not used to be asked “Why?” This thinking skill could not be developed only through the English class. Through the whole subjects at school, students should be exposed to “Why and how?” as well as “What?” Practice will make it better.

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  4. I think we(my generation are not familiar to debate or dicussion. However, our students are different from us. They can adjust to new concept and education well. We could try to let them involved in discussion, which they can express their opinion. One thing we should consider is to organize the flow of the class. If they don't have their opinion, we'd better teach the way they think and give more opportunities to speak up. Although I know making them think critically is very huge work, this current world doesn't need the banking system. We need organize the class in detail and reflect their interest. My opinion is not about teaching skill but mind. Sorry for not going further.

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  5. Before we discuss about one topic, I think we should ask 'yes/no' questions to students (especially, low level students) instead of 'wh-' questions. Even though they understand and have ideas about it, most of them have a hard time to express their ideas in English. However, if we ask 'yes/no' questions first and step up to 'wh-' questions, it is easier to express their thoughts and ideas for them.

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  6. My personal thought is that the relationship between students and teachers are important However, the participation of students, teachers and the relationship can make a positive result. Students focus attention for its students to the fact that is very difficult.
    Most of the symptoms that can occur in the classroom, it is important to note that students participate in classes. So far, it seems to me that so and so is a big problem.
    I tried to smile a lot in class and try to understand the minds of students, but this will make me harder. Practice and the actual situation is always different and can't deny anybody.
    The most important thing is practice.

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  7. To students get involved in a discussion class is not easy but there are ways for the classes.as a teacher who can make the creative environment, they should focus on not "why should i as a teacher care of this?" but "why should students care of this?" this means that if teachers concentrate on students` stance, they can make the ideal classes in which both of them can be satisfied, feeling comfortable.

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  8. This is definitely not an easy task to accomplish. It can be hard sometimes to find a topic that all students feel comfortable speaking about. I try and stress the point that there are no right and wrong answers when dealing with difficult topics. All students are entitled to their own opinions and it's not anybody's job in the class to judge them. This is of course much easier said than done as young learners can often be quite sensitive to the opinions of their classmates. I have had students cry my classes before because of comments made by others. I think that if the teacher is able to create an atmosphere where the students respect each other and feel comfortable then progress can be made.

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  9. First of all, I think that it is important to set up a comfortable atmosphere for discussion. So all opinions and comments deserve respect. Becuase they have their own values in itself. The discussion is still difficult for students in Korea. And the topic of discussion is decided as students' level. A teacher should approach to the topic related to the day-to-day happenings of students. In high level students' case, a teacher should prepare mildly serious topic with their desire. And I think it is very important for a teacher to explain why we discuss some issues and what they are worth for us. Students will feel responsible for attending discussion.

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  10. I reckon, we need to consider of characteristic of our students so firstly teacher need to setting up good rapport with their students and finding out student’s interesting such as K-pop or movie stars those kind of topic would bring their own opinions whether they like or not. i think that it could being with saying ‘yes or no’. And secondly as I consider of our nationality, most of Korean are not familiar having discussion freely. So teacher might need to demonstrate how to dealing with that. How to response other people’s opinions.

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  11. Asking one person’s ideas are not easy to for Asians which is not familiar to the classroom habitat factors. Most of middle school and high school students are used to adapt themselves the education systems where public all teachers should follow the Ministry of Education. There are about 40 students and teachers should finish textbook chapters which includes national curriculum required from teachers and students to do it. Therefore, in Korean situation I suggest that some steps for conducting students’ idea from my experience.
    1. Teachers should explain to the students what they have to do it about topic?
    2. Teachers should approach to the students closer and let them share next friends to talk freely.
    3. Then answer to the ideas.
    4. First of all, the questions might be short answers, yes or no.
    5. Then increase the answers make longer such as sentences. Then make paragraph.
    6. Teachers should not hurry to hear students voice, teachers should wait till the student answer back to the teachers. Not focus on the finishing the textbook or the plans. Don’t rush it.
    7. Make comfortable students feel free and teachers feel free too. The reason is that they open their mind when they feel very relax and have confidence.

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