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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 15, 2016 11:27:57 GMT 9
Hello guys, I got selected by gyomu Gyomu to give a talk on the teaching language classes and I would also like to receive everyone else's input on this matter in preparing my presentation! If you have ever taught a language class please let me know your experience here!!!! (英会話 totally counts too)1. Who is the audience for your class? 2. How often was the class (once off, a few weeks long etc)? 3. What was the objective of the class (omotenashi, conversational, etc)? 4. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better? 5. What materials did you use? 6. What did you feel proudest of doing? Please also add any other comments you might have too! This would be a great help! (I would be preparing all these in July, so all comments reached before mid-July would be of a great help. I am also thinking of personally emailing all current CIRs that are likely to be involved in this from the database so if you already contributed here, just let me know!) Thank you so much in advance! (tagging people i know who already do language courses marudate dosanko)
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Post by dosanko on Jun 15, 2016 11:31:07 GMT 9
If 英会話 doesn't count, I've never...taught one....??? (Except for ESL, back in Canada) My language classes are 英会話 classes...
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Post by Caic on Jun 15, 2016 11:33:10 GMT 9
I did OMOTENASI YEIGO for SYOUTENGAI peoples before.. I'm not sure if this counts
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 15, 2016 11:33:40 GMT 9
If 英会話 doesn't count, I've never...taught one....??? (Except for ESL, back in Canada) My language classes are 英会話 classes... oh is that so? Hm, but they ARE classes right? Not like, 'lets all sit in a circle and speak English' right? I attended your Korean CIRs class once, so I figured, it would be similar? (I plan to ask her in the future for the opinion too once I finish some other 急ぎ work)
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 15, 2016 11:34:18 GMT 9
I did OMOTENASI YEIGO for SYOUTENGAI peoples before.. I'm not sure if this counts Yes please. And on that note, just share your experiences guys! The newbies at orientation would appreciate any kind of advice I feel!!! Thank you!
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Post by dosanko on Jun 15, 2016 11:44:09 GMT 9
If 英会話 doesn't count, I've never...taught one....??? (Except for ESL, back in Canada) My language classes are 英会話 classes... oh is that so? Hm, but they ARE classes right? Not like, 'lets all sit in a circle and speak English' right? I attended your Korean CIRs class once, so I figured, it would be similar? (I plan to ask her in the future for the opinion too once I finish some other 急ぎ work) No, it's definitely different from your "Let's Talk" series. I teach 英会話講座, not literally 英語で会話ing. Conversational English clases, I guess. I currently teach a business-themed series. I'll get back to you with answers to those questions sometime soon!
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Post by telly on Jun 15, 2016 11:44:14 GMT 9
Is this for Tokyo Orientation? I have done that presentation twice and if you want, I can give you some stuff that has been approved by CLIAR twice.
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Post by snell_mouse on Jun 15, 2016 11:47:24 GMT 9
Mine were also 英会話...but.
1. Who is the audience for your class? 市の職員、中級レベル以上 - I chose 中級 so they could all already speak and there would be less pressure for me to teach things properly
2. How often was the class (once off, a few weeks long etc)? Once every two weeks, for 2 hours in the evening
3. What was the objective of the class (omotenashi, conversational, etc)? Uh...improve English? Wasn't very clear haha
4. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better? Sometimes it was hard to make people talk, but overall it was pretty casual.
5. What materials did you use? I made my own worksheets about things like word stress, katakana English vs. native English, minimal pair trees with sounds that Japanese speakers often have trouble with, etc. We also did one debate where I found an article on the internet and had them read it/prepare arguments.
6. What did you feel proudest of doing? ...actually doing it? Haha. I didn't really want to do it but my supervisor urged me to try it so I did and it wasn't awful?
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Post by dosanko on Jun 15, 2016 11:47:46 GMT 9
Also むちゃRABU❤ I can just relay that to my Chinese and Korean CIRs so you don't have to ask them all individually.
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 15, 2016 11:51:22 GMT 9
Is this for Tokyo Orientation? I have done that presentation twice and if you want, I can give you some stuff that has been approved by CLIAR twice. YES and YESYou are the bestest senpai!!!!!!! I will DM you my work email!!!
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 15, 2016 11:52:12 GMT 9
Also むちゃRABU❤ I can just relay that to my Chinese and Korean CIRs so you don't have to ask them all individually. okay if you can get them to answer the questions above then, that would HELP <3 <3 do you want my work email? i can DM you so you guys can email me the answers! or you can post them here anything!
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Post by dosanko on Jun 15, 2016 11:58:59 GMT 9
Also むちゃRABU❤ I can just relay that to my Chinese and Korean CIRs so you don't have to ask them all individually. okay if you can get them to answer the questions above then, that would HELP <3 <3 do you want my work email? i can DM you so you guys can email me the answers! or you can post them here anything! Please do send me your work e-mail. I will forward the answers to your work e-mail
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Post by King Quailbee on Jun 15, 2016 12:00:12 GMT 9
I have taught general community English classes, exchange student English classes, and Saturday kid classes.
General Community (September to March) 1. General community. Our youngest student was 12, oldest student in their 70s. 2. Class was held once a week with a beginner and intermediate section for a total of 2 hours. 3. Objective was conversational, but I also implemented reading and writing as homework (So the main four skills: Listening, reading, writing, and speaking). 4. One problem I faced was figuring out the levels of everyone. Even though I did a placement test, the beginner class began to have some students from the intermediate come in (just because they wanted extra practice). I at first thought this was a good thing, but over time, I noticed that some beginner students were not getting enough attention and started to be more shy about speaking because the intermediate students would be more willing to volunteer answers or dialogue. For this, I know I will make it so that you can only attend the level that you get in (unless if there is a significant time conflict). Another problem I faced was just figuring out the materials for every week (with a grammar point or theme or whatnot). I dealt with my brainstorming black holes by doing every two weeks a free open space for students to present about something happening with them. But then some students started doing talks that were way too 専門的 like making coal or whatever...so no one would be able to understand without the vocabulary. So the last month of the classes, I made it have a general free talk theme (i.e. Let's talk about movies, families, etc.) What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better? 5. I used a general English conversation book that had grammar points. It was useful, but over time I started to use it less in the intermediate class because it was a little too beginner level. 6. This was my first English class to teach so I made a lot of little mistakes along the way, but I am glad that some of my beginner students who absolutely had no English background behind them were able to figure things out as well as use English with me.
Exchange Student (June-July) 1. It is for 中学3年生 who are chosen to go to our sister city in August. Their parents/guardians are able to attend as well, but only one has been attending so far. 2. Twice a week for 1 hour 3. Conversational as well as learning about American customs and being an exchange student. I also give them reading homework that gives historical context to some of the places we are going to visit (i.e. Chicago - Chicago's World Fair and Great Chicago Fire). The reading is difficult (it is at a native speaker's elementary student level), but I want to familiarize them with certain words as well as stories so they can better appreciate the places when we visit them. 4. I have only started it. I took the mistakes I made from the previous class and made a general textbook for them using my super pred's materials so that way I would have a plan every class without trying to struggle for ideas. Only problem that I am currently having is they are still a bit shy (but I'm getting them out of it, by randomly calling and making partner conversations and whatnot), but I do have a pair who keeps talking to each other (they go to the same school). Last night's session I slightly teased them (they can handle it, I wouldn't do it to a different pair). So I am probably going to next time make them sit randomly instead of free seating. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better? 5. Created a textbook for each theme (Health, Transportation, Talking about our town, etc.) with a dialogue, grammar point, and phrase bank. My super pred made a textbook, but I felt some space was wasted on certain things so I touched it up and added some other themes as well. 6. It hasn't finished yet, but because the kids are interested, it's not so difficult in getting them to work on things. I am still figuring out the order of how to ask on them - I wish there was more quick production of words, but I'm finding I should let them have time to discuss with a partner.
(Kids continued after lunch)
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Post by telly on Jun 15, 2016 12:07:47 GMT 9
Well, in any case, here goes noting:
1. Who is the audience for your class?
I have two classes, one for beginners that has a pretty large span of age groups, from JHS student to granny, with differing language abilities. Another was planned as a discussion group, but quickly turned into a culture class in German.
2. How often was the class (once off, a few weeks long etc)?
The beginner class is once a week, usually starting from around October (ending in late February) and then April (ending in early September or late August) again. The culture class is once a month.
3. What was the objective of the class (omotenashi, conversational, etc)?
The beginner class followed a textbook I had, but I used material from other stuff as well. It was rather broad. The culture class was supposed to be conversational, but the students just were not able to sustain that.
4. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better?
Many. Not enough participation, too big of a difference in language ability among students, too many students, too few students...
5. What materials did you use?
Textbooks where I used sample sentences and explanations, the internet for example sentences.
6. What did you feel proudest of doing?
No one died.
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Post by Ividia on Jun 15, 2016 16:06:26 GMT 9
むちゃRABU❤ for you!!! 1. Who is the audience for your class?
My class is for people in the Water Services Department (around 10 people each year). 2. How often was the class (once off, a few weeks long etc)?The class runs every two weeks for about 3 months each year. Each class is an hour and a half long, and myself and other CIR alternate who teaches which month (because the other one of us is in second office). 3. What was the objective of the class (omotenashi, conversational, etc)?There is a JICA exchange project where trainees from other countries visit Japan to study the pipes and uh...water service things. The participants of the class want to be able to talk to the trainees (i.e., conversational English - small talk topics, making invitations, giving directions, etc. have been covered) and to be able to talk about their work (i.e. explain what exactly they work as, what they are in charge of, and prepare to give presentations about specific water service-y topics) 4. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better?- I do not know much about water services so dealing with the specialist vocabulary was really hard. I couldn't very well teach words I'd never heard of (do you, for example, know what a "flocculator" is in England? The difference between "cleaning" and "purifying" water?) - As you might be able to guess from the above description, the class is a fairly high level class. These students need to be ready at the end of the three months to make presentations about specialist topics in English and hold a conversation with people from diverse countries with diverse accents and ways of speaking English. For the first two years I took this, I had a very responsive class that was up to this standard. This year, I'm having massive problems because the participants have all changed (due to JINJI IDOU), including the organiser, and the level is just...not up to what the material is supposed to be. They don't understand my instructions in English and aren't properly following the class content (they also don't RESPOND when I ask them if they understand so idek) and can barely string together a self-introduction...and yet I'm supposed to be teaching them in English about how to describe leak detection :/ tldr the expectations of the class and the level of the participants is wildly different - We are currently TRYING to make things better haha, so I will get back to you on that. 5. What materials did you use?Worksheets that I made when worksheets were necessary, but there is a focus on conversation and activities that get the class to speak because it is a predominantly practical class. Also the presentations and materials that they would be using in the programme, and vocab lists provided by the water services division on specialist vocab (thankfully hue). 6. What did you feel proudest of doing?This class I do not yet feel proud (haha) because I don't feel like the class is participating or following and I am unsure that the class is useful and it needs improvements :/ In previous years, I was proudest of the participants by the end of the class - they were confident enough to chat with me, to use the specialist terminology and to describe their job and give opinions on things. They told me they felt confident about the trainees coming and their English ability to communicate with them, and this made me very pleased. Also I drew a p awesome map for some activities, I was proud of that :3
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 23, 2016 11:27:03 GMT 9
Ividia Ividia Ividia pls? Also, Researcher Irish? Help? Also addtional questions for everyone: What websites etc would you usually use or consider useful for prep if any? (I have a list from telly for now thanks telly)
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 23, 2016 11:27:29 GMT 9
clair needs me to submit stuff by next week so help ;_;
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Post by Ividia on Jun 23, 2016 11:29:09 GMT 9
Ividia Ividia Ividia pls? Also, Researcher Irish? Help? Also addtional questions for everyone: What websites etc would you usually use or consider useful for prep if any? (I have a list from telly for now thanks telly) whoops, sorry, I keep forgetting because I don't usually open the forums at home Will write on my hand for you
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Post by King Quailbee on Jun 23, 2016 13:05:21 GMT 9
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Post by King Quailbee on Jun 23, 2016 13:11:24 GMT 9
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 27, 2016 11:39:22 GMT 9
Guys follow up question!! King Quailbee Ividia dosankoWhat is the general timeline of things leading up to your class? So like, when in advance did you get the 依頼 or did you plan it yourself (im assuming the former)? How long did it take you to compile materials? How long do you think you NEED? That's all! THANK YOU.
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 27, 2016 11:40:33 GMT 9
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Post by King Quailbee on Jun 27, 2016 13:19:09 GMT 9
What is the general timeline of things leading up to your class? So like, when in advance did you get the 依頼 or did you plan it yourself (im assuming the former)? How long did it take you to compile materials? How long do you think you NEED? For my sister city exchange class, I knew that it was going to happen when I first got here when I went through some of my pred's documents. I only started to prepare for the class in mid-April and finished the materials by mid-May. I was referencing materials from a previous text made by super pred and then adding in my own twist to the materials (i.e. areas for cultural notes) as well as having reading comprehension homework (so had to gather materials about our sister city/state/where we were going/historical context stuff). After finishing up this textbook and figuring out my general lesson plans, I only really have to prepare the day of if I need anything specific (like photos of food or places). I originally was going to make huge vocab flash cards, but I found that we didn't have much time to do that type of review so vocab flash cards will probably occur at the last review session... Saturday English School (for kids) was requested to me about a month before it happened; unfortunately, there was no uchiawase before the day I was supposed to join (!?) and we got a call in the office about it the day before...my KACHO was P.O'd. But now that I have been moved into the BOE with more of a direct communication, I found out about the Saturday kid's school about a month before it started. Had an uchiawase about two weeks beforehand discussing about the registration numbers as well as being able to meet with co-teacher about what to do to change things up. We have had only two sessions and already things have been ずれている from the original plan (due to unfortunate circumstance where they scheduled our first class on the same day as a 参観日 for the 1st year students so we had like 20 students not come ) But I have a general idea of what will happen until early October as well as the schedule of when classes will meet until early December. My co-teacher and I have a better idea from last year, so when we meet we usually discuss plans for the next class as well as anything to change up. For just one class, due to materials and the fact that kids like flashcards and games and posters, we need a week to prepare. For my weekly adult Eikaiwa classes, I would prepare for about two days before it happened. I didn't make a schedule. but that was because I didn't know yet what the level of my students were going to be like (so I didn't know at what point of the grammar textbook to hop in). I think the thing that has been really helpful is making a general outline for at least three months in advance. The sister city exchange classes have been incredibly smooth, despite having a day where it was cancelled due to heavy rain and storms. I think this was all due to having at least a month of prep in advance. Same for the Saturday kid classes, even though that one will be a bit more difficult due to the huge number of students as well as kids not attending sometimes (there are probably 8 kids who haven't attended both sessions so far this new year and I really don't want to hold the other kids behind so early in the new year). Adult Eikaiwa was like an experiment of what would work, so when the next year starts for it (probably late September), I will try to make a general schedule.
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 27, 2016 14:27:33 GMT 9
6. What did you feel proudest of doing? ...actually doing it? Haha. I didn't really want to do it but my supervisor urged me to try it so I did and it wasn't awful? snell I would to ask, when you actually did it (at your soup's urging) did you do a 起案書 or was it like jsut something you discussed with your 上司 and you decided a time etc (this would mean 代休 etc right so you must have had to discuss this too) and then it happened? how long did this discussion process take and how long until it actually happened?
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Post by dosanko on Jun 28, 2016 9:43:34 GMT 9
Guys follow up question!! King Quailbee Ividia dosankoWhat is the general timeline of things leading up to your class? So like, when in advance did you get the 依頼 or did you plan it yourself (im assuming the former)? How long did it take you to compile materials? How long do you think you NEED? That's all! THANK YOU. The CIRs here are expected to do a weekly language classes. No 依頼 or anything, that's just part of our routine job. When we start it and when we end it, when we decide to call out for participants, what topics, themes, etc. that's all up to each of us. An example of my routine: Call out for participants in Sept; Do classes Oct - Mar (Call out for participants again in January, usually) Call out for participants in April; Do classes May - July No classes August/Sept usually because it's impossible with my workload. As for the materials, I do it every week...I usually do it on the day of, haha. Takes me a couple to a few hours per class, depending on what I'm doing that day.
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Post by 🎄🌰🌰Yoosting on an open 🔥🎄 on Jun 28, 2016 13:10:19 GMT 9
I'm literally giving my first English-communication class today. I'll also give my first Dutch language class in a few weeks. Will report my findings ;)
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 29, 2016 11:45:22 GMT 9
I did OMOTENASI YEIGO for SYOUTENGAI peoples before.. I'm not sure if this counts Hi. Can I ask questions? 1 - what PR methods did it use? 2 - how effective was it? 3 - how did you solve the problems?
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 29, 2016 11:46:53 GMT 9
Well, in any case, here goes noting: 4. What problems did you face? Did you feel there was anything you could have done better? Many. Not enough participation, too big of a difference in language ability among students, too many students, too few students... telly, re: above, how did you solve it? mind sharing a few QUICK TIPS about how to salvage a situation of not enough participation? too many students I think it'll just be over in like a flash hue. but too little... time moves by so slowly...
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Post by Caic on Jun 29, 2016 13:07:58 GMT 9
I did OMOTENASI YEIGO for SYOUTENGAI peoples before.. I'm not sure if this counts Hi. Can I ask questions? 1 - what PR methods did it use? 2 - how effective was it? 3 - how did you solve the problems? I don't understand these questions. If you call me tomorrow, i have nothing on all day and we can chat about it
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Jun 29, 2016 13:21:58 GMT 9
Hi. Can I ask questions? 1 - what PR methods did it use? 2 - how effective was it? 3 - how did you solve the problems? I don't understand these questions. If you call me tomorrow, i have nothing on all day and we can chat about it Haha you mind if I call you now? (idk if your details are in the database? I dont think I saw it) I need to give in the materials by Friday so I wanna assess what I have by today and start assembling everything tomorrow.. I got really good materials from the Niseko CIR and the CIR in Hachinohe in Aomori. Gonna get King Quailbee to send me some stuff too. sembei was also super useful!! So at the moment, I haev quite a bit of material to work with, I just don't mind a wee more haha.
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