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I'm a big fan of quantum teaching and music is a significant element in this approach. I just use my phone and a bluetooth speaker

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'Do you understand?' Does it work?
Many of teachers use this phrase to check students understanding: 'Do you understand?'. When the students answer 'yes', does it mean a real yes they understand or just try to avoid further questions?

In fact, there are many other ways that the teachers can do to check students understanding. Personally, I will not use a question with two possible answers 'yes' or 'no' such as Do you understand? Instead, I will use other strategies.

This is what I did with my class yesterday: After reading an article about Butet Manurung (I do believe you know her, right?), I asked each student to pick one word from the text, find definition of the word, and give a reason why the word is significant. Later, I asked them to share the word with other students (in a group of 3). After that, the group will pick one word to be shared with the whole class.

This is only one example, there are tons of strategies that you can find in internet such as 3-2-1 strategy, peer instruction, four corners etc. Please find here the link to one website that give 21 ways to check for student understanding: https://bit.ly/2GPEY1Z

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Don't forget to share :)

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Writing Circle
My students learn about adjective/ physical traits today. After they knew the definition of the adjectives, they picked 10 words that representing them. They wrote a sentence for each word- validating and providing evidence for the chosen words. They all wrote in their personal laptop. Next activity, each student move (clockwise) from one laptop to another and gave comment to student’s sentences. They wrote ‘I agree because…’ or ‘I disagree because…’ It was fun and giving students the opportunity to know their friends better. (Note: You may replace laptop with paper). image source: https://bit.ly/2RV4P1B

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Padlet This is one of my favourite websites to use (as it is free and provide students an opportunity to collaborate). Padlet is a free, online "virtual wall" tool where users can express thoughts on topics of their choice. It's like a piece of paper, but on the Web. I ussually use padlet for branstorming and changing an oral discussion to written discussion. Please see a link for more ideas https://bit.ly/2gpu47o

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Infographic Can be used for several learning objectives: presenting idea in an interactive way, summary of a text, can be combined with oral presentation, etc... And definitely giving great visual for your class display. Many free websites available for your students to create infographics...

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collaborative learning As we are teaching second/ foreign language, we need to change an assumption that students are having the same level of skills. Learning second/ foreign language is a big challenge for some of our students (please look back at the time when you were a student/ uni student learning English). Therefore, we need to facilitate collaborative kearning to give an opportunity for them to work together and to support each other. It can be in pairs, a group of 3, small group etc. Collaborative learning teams are said to attain higher level thinking and preserve information for longer times than students working individually. Find more ideas here https://bit.ly/2EmwqAr

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The Importance of Games in ESL/EFL Class
Using games and fun activities in class is an important part of teaching ESL and EFL. Playing games is a fun way to help students make connections between words and grammar. These connections quicken the process of building language skills. These ESL games can help both native and foreign speakers of English improve their language ability. Playing games in class also helps to focus attention, improve interaction, increase energy levels and build confidence. Furthermore, shy or quiet students begin to open up and speak English when playing games in class. We are sure you will find our games section a useful tool in improving your students' English language ability. (Quote from an article). Full reading and samples of gameyou may find here https://bit.ly/2MPaHDO

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SEE THINK WONDER This is a reflection from Sophia's workshop yesterday. When we are teaching language, we must remember that we deliver the cultural context behind the language. Therefore, the language elements such as grammar, reading, speaking etc., can not be separated from the context. We can use this simple strategy to develop students' intercultural underatanding, as well as developing their language skills- and of course their critical thinking. For example, when we are teaching about 'birthday celebration', a teacher can find several images about how people around the world celebrating birthday. Post 3 things that students can discussed 'see- think- wonder': look at the images for sample. Have a great Sunday #dontforgettoshare

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21st Century Teacher*The national curriculum is expecting us to develop 21st century skills for our students. We expect them to be the 21st century learners. The remaining question might be, Are we the 21st century teacher?
What does a 21st-century teacher look like to you? You may have heard this popular buzzword thrown around your school or on the news, but do you know what a modern-day educator really looks like? Beyond the obvious of being up-to-date on the latest in technology, they can have the characteristics of a facilitator, a contributor, or even an integrator. Find the full article here https://bit.ly/2WDjsVP

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see-think-wonder I tried the strategy today. And it worked very well. My expat students are learning about 'Akses Pendidikan di Indonesia'. I divided them in group of 3. Each group got different image relating to the topic. They worked on the butcher paper. It's very interesting how they discussed about the context and tried to find vocabulary relating to the sentences they made. I believe you can apply this strategy to any topics you have in your English class as well.

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From 'Creative Games for the Language Class'
by Lee Su Kim

'There is a common perception that all learning should be serious and solemn in nature, and that if one is having fun and there is hilarity and laughter, then it is not really learning. This is a misconception. It is possible to learn a language as well as enjoy oneself at the same time. One of the best ways of doing this is through games.'

'There are many advantages of using games in the classroom:

1. Games are a welcome break from the usual routine of the language class.
2. They are motivating and challenging.
3. Learning a language requires a great deal of effort. Games help students to make and sustain the effort of learning.
4. Games provide language practice in the various skills- speaking, writing, listening and reading.
5. They encourage students to interact and communicate.
6. They create a meaningful context for language use.'  link: https://bit.ly/1XQqqmk

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Becoming Creative Teacher? It's a must.                                    One of the ways in becoming a creative  teaching is by  connecting with other teachers to get ideas and inspirations. That is the main reason we have this informal community in whatsapp group.

Although formal training will help you develop as a teacher, it's important to connect with others in your field. Inspiration can come from the big-name speakers and writers, but just as often, it comes from teachers like you and me.

It's never been easier to find inspiring teachers to follow on Facebook, Twitter and in the blogosphere. Follow and read their blogs, join a teacher’s association and attend talks and workshops live or online.

Inspiration rubs off and will create in you the desire to imitate these teachers in your daily teaching practices. read the full article here: https://bit.ly/29q3vMG

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group work Research shows that group work can have a very positive impact on learning outcomes for many reasons.  Group work essentially creates an environment where students "teach" and explain concepts to each other.  This reinforces the information provided by the instructor and also provides students the opportunity to "hear" or learn the material from a peer, who may be able to explain it in a way that makes more sense to the other students.  The concept of students working in groups also promotes a setting where collaboration and cooperation are valued and produce better results, teaching the students valuable life-long skills that are important in the professional workplace. find the full article here: https://bit.ly/2GaNkiN

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The use of smartphone in class Almost all students in middle school level has their own smartphone, which actually becoming an advantage, if we want to use this situation- integrate into our teaching activities. Despite the negative feedback about allowing students bring smartphone to school, I strongly believe that actually can be beneficial for students' learning to create more interactive and fun activities in class. One of my favourite applications is QR CODE. Participate in an on-campus scavenger hunt to locate QR codes that link to assignments via the teacher’s pre-made YouTube videos or other websites. This active lesson can be as intricate as time allows. However, teachers should not take on all the stress of creating the QR code-based mega-lesson. Students can create QR codes directly from their smartphones. Apps like Qrafter and Redlaser can help with creating and viewing quick response codes. For more ideas: https://bit.ly/2MS2vCs

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FEEDBACK At my school, annualy, each teacher will receive feedback from students. Please see below one of the written comments from my student: Students are treated respectfully, and we are given constant feedback on how we could improve. This is an authentic statement from the student, and I realize the important of feedback for their learning progress. In Visible Learning, John Hattie noted that feedback is “one of the most powerful influences on learning and achievement”, so if you’d like to increase student achievement in your classroom, feedback can be the key to making it happen. interested to know more? Read the full article here:  https://bit.ly/2WSneej

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Motivation There was one interesting question from one of the workshop participants, asking about why his students have lack of motivation in learning English. Actually there is no fix answer to this , but my personal answer would be reffering to myself as a teacher, how I deliever the lessons in class, what things that I should do to make the lessons interesting, have I created different activities to meet students need etc. Not all class work needs to be a game or a good time, but students who see school as a place where they can have fun will be more motivated to pay attention and do the work that’s required of them than those who regard it as a chore. Adding fun activities into your school day can help students who struggle to stay engaged and make the classroom a much more friendly place for all students. Read more about how to motive your students here https://bit.ly/2zLWNxB

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Enhancing Retention After getting a result of summative assessment, sometimes, we surprised with low scores in students' achievement, as many of them, just simply forget,  the content of the lessons we taught. The question: Have we varied our teaching strategies to make sure students have 'deep understanding' of the lesson  The more complete a student’s understanding, the less likely they are to ‘forget' Please look at the image for some activities that you can do in your class in enhancing retention.

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The Use of Images for Teaching Images can be an effective way of presenting abstract concepts or groups of data. Instructors have reported that their use of images in the classroom has led to increased student interactivity and discussion. Teaching with images can also help develop students’ visual literacy skills, which contributes to their overall critical thinking skills and lifelong learning. Find here for 50 practical ideas on how to use images for teaching https://bit.ly/2WTyvec

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Classroom seating arrangement Seating arrangements are very important to the classroom for interaction, atmosphere, and behavior. It is easy to take seating for granted, or only see the partial benefits it provides, but proper seating can be a useful tool to accomplish class objectives. Find more information here https://bit.ly/2RRBKmC

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LESSON CLOSURE How a lesson ends can affect a learner's ability to organize, evaluate, and store information presented in class. Although we give emphasis to hooking students' interest at the start of instruction, the end is often hurried and overlooked. These emergency landings leave students struggling to absorb newly acquired knowledge as they rush out the door to the drone of homework reminders and announcements. Teachers tend to subconsciously undervalue closure; as a result, they don't plan for it and miss out on the opportunity to collect rich learner feedback. READ 22 Powerful Closure Activities here https://edut.to/2dSC3qe

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15 Reflection Strategies To Help Students Retain What You Just Taught Them Find more here https://bit.ly/2fcYdWR

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Classroom Management To effectively manage a classroom, teachers must prioritize building relationships, leveraging time, and designing behavioral standards.

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Speaking Activities When it comes to classroom speaking activities, I try to give emphasis to real-life situation, authentic activities and meaningful tasks to promote communication. To develop this productive skill, students need intensive and constant practice. Find more ideas here https://bit.ly/2GpppB2

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No-Prep Games Running out of tricks? Here are some quick vocabulary activities for kids that every ESL/EFL teacher can rely on anytime of the day. They require little to no preparation and some can be given to kids and adult learners by adjusting the level of difficulty. find more here https://bit.ly/2tj9NX8

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Making Students Speak: MAP formula How to make the unmotivated or semi-motivated students speak? As a teacher and trainer, I too have faced the problem of passivity; my colleagues at different institutes in India and abroad have experienced it. We have discussed the issue and tried various strategies that have proved to be effective. I’ve devised a formula called “MAP formula” to make all students in a class speak without inhibition. MAP is the acronym for Motivate, Activate and Participate. Read more here https://bit.ly/2BCQw7r

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Grammar Books You may use these three books to teach grammar to your students- available with answer, the content is comprehensive, and start with the simple one. You may purchase the books at Palasari.

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Why we need to develop listening skills
'If someone is giving you a message or opinion, then of course you have to be able to understand it in order to respond.' (Brewster, Ellis, Girard).

Listening skills need to have a 'real-life' meaning, Donaldson says that children need 'purposes and intentions' which they can recognise and respond to in others 'these human intentions are the matrix in which the child's thinking is embedded.'
This implies that we need to carefully select materials and purposes for practising listening skills and that they need to have an authentic meaning to young learners. Read more here https://bit.ly/2BHAKrU

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Students speak more of their native language than English
The lower the students’ level or ages, the more probable it is that they will speak their native language most of the time. Some will even chat in pairs or small groups, completely oblivious to what is going on in class.

Solution:
Now, each ESL class is different, and they all have different goals, but no matter what their age or level, students must understand that they must at the very least try to speak as much English as they can, even if it is for simple greetings, requests or statements. For younger students, turn it into a game. Create a chart with the students’ names and give those who did not speak their native language throughout the class a star. Or create a point penalty system. Once a student reaches a certain number of points, they must do something in front of the class, like tell a story or answer questions from classmates. These might not work for older students. But... Find more here https://bit.ly/2NkgBwZ

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Why is speaking important?
_The goal of language is communication and the aim of speaking in a language context is to promote communicative efficiency; teachers want students to actually be able to use the language as correctly as possible and with a purpose. Students often value speaking more than the other skills of reading, writing and listening so motivation is not always as big of an issue, but what often happens is students feel more anxiety related to their oral production.  As speaking is interrelated with the other skills, its development results in the development of the others. One of the primary benefits of increased communicative competency is the resulting job, education and travel opportunities; it is always an asset to be able to communicate with other people._Read more here https://bit.ly/2NebXjS

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7 Infallible Tricks to Help ESL Students Remember New Vocabulary

7 Infallible Tricks to Help ESL Students Remember New Vocabulary
As we strive to help students improve English fluency, words are one of the basic buildings blocks.
They are the principal carriers of meaning in speech and without them, students simply can’t communicate. Introducing vocabulary to ESL students is usually not a problem. We try to elicit vocabulary as much as we can. Still, despite our best efforts, students don’t remember as many words as we’d like them to. Lots of new words are understood when introduced, but then disappear into oblivion. How can we help students remember (and use) more words? Try these tricks.

1. Always teach vocabulary in context
You’ve probably heard this again and again (especially from me!) but it can’t be emphasized enough. The first step in helping students remember vocabulary is teaching it in context.... Read more here https://bit.ly/2Xc9n2o

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Teach others
The key to subject mastery is teaching it to others. If you're able to accurately and correctly teach a subject to others, you'll have a very good mastery of the concepts, and superior retention and recall. According to the Learning Pyramid model, students are able to retain abou 90% of what they're able to teach to others. The most common form of teaching others is Peer Tutoring. However, the best place to teach others is in a study group. One of the main activities that should occur in an effective study group is peer to peer teaching, where each group member takes the opportunity to teach the other group members the course material being studied. Read more here https://bit.ly/2IpkO3o