Compelling Conversations

Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics for ESL learners and teachers

Archive for November, 2009

INTESOL Conference on ESL Teachers and Technology Offers Practical Tips

Nov 14

Posted by Eric Roth in ESL, ESL worksheets, INTESOL, academic matters, adult education, teaching tips, technology and education | No Comments

From assigning audio journals and monitoring classroom conversations to videotaping mock interviews and analyzing YouTube videotapes, Indiana ESL teachers heard presenters share practical tips and favorite lessons at an outstanding INTESOL conference today.

Several INTESOL presenters also lead workshops and shared materials and techniques to incorporate the internet, radio, and other authentic materials into ESL classrooms. Further, several speakers – including keynote ESL guru Randall Davis – emphasized the need for appropriate technology and “less is more” when designing classroom lessons. As ever, we discussed ways that technology could help English classrooms become more student-centered and provide additional critical thinking activities. More English teachers, at least at this Indiana English Teachers convention seem eager to adopt practical classroom tools like videocameras, MP3 recordings, and websites. Another consistent theme: administrators need to spend more money on staff training and less on technical hardware to realize these technological tools!

On a personal note, both of my presentations were quite well-received with over 50 people attending my “Creating Autotelic Learners” presentation. Based on the number of questions and feedback forms, the presentations made a meaningful contribution. Guiding students toward becoming self-directed, or autotelic, learners seems natural, and these exercises provide students with a choice of topics.

Here are three handouts that I shared today INTESOL workshop. Use or lose.

Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com
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This I Believe Homework Worksheet
Links: This I Believe

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138

Please select one radio segment, based on a personal essay, and read by writers. Find a story that resonates with you. Listen carefully. Take notes. Fill out the worksheet below. You will be asked to share your selection with classmates in both a small group and the entire class.
Student:
This I Believe Title:
Author/Reader:
Length:
Who is the author?
What’s the main idea?
Why did you choose this podcast?
Did you hear any new words or phrases?
1.
2.
3.
Who do you imagine is the audience for this podcast? Why?
What is your reaction? Why?
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PRESENTATION
PEER REVIEW
TOPIC:
PEER:
GOOD TO SEE
POINTS TO WORK ON
BEST PART
WEAKEST PART
OBSERVATION TIPS
Please circle the appropriate overall rating 1-10 (10=BEST)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Getting Job Interview Advice from YouTube!
Student Name:
Class:
Teacher:
School:
Date:
Please find an YouTube videoclip that helps people successfully interview for jobs – in English – that you would like to share with your classmates. Watch the video, take notes, and review it for your classmates.
Video title:
Web address:
Length:
Creator:
Please describe the video.
What interview tips did the video provide?
Where do you think the video was produced? Why?
How practical did you find the advice? Why?
What was the strongest part? Why?
What was the weakest part? Why?
Who do think is the target audience for this video?
Why did you choose this video?
How would you rate this video 1-5 stars? Why?

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Conversation Tip 5: What has pleasantly surprised you today?

Nov 8

Posted by Eric Roth in Amazon, Compelling Conversations, Conversation Tips, ESL, English class, conversation starters | No Comments

What pleasantly surprised you today?

This question often causes people to pause, reflect, and change their dialogue. It gives us a chance to remember some moments of satisfaction, and reminds us that almost every day provides some unexpected moments. “What surprised you today” works too.

But I prefer adding the “pleasantly” to counter dialogues that can run to the negative. This positive question opens up room in a conversation for people to express gratitude for what has gone right – even in a difficult day. We bump into friends while shopping, see a new plant or flower in the yard, read something odd on the internet, or receive an unexpected call. As the ancient Latin proverb goes, “expect the unexpected.” Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.

What has pleasantly surprised you today? English teachers can use this question as a writing cue, during student-teacher conferences, or with co-workers. Students, especially at more competitive schools, can often feel great stress. Asking students about what is going right in their lives can help them focusing only on the negative. In fact, almost every one can use a gentle nudge toward away from stress and toward gratitude.

So what pleasantly surprised me today? I noticed a new review for Compelling Conversations on Amazon written from Europe. A satisfied customer in Milan, Italy – Siano Luigi “EMY” called Compelling Conversations “a great help!”. This English teacher and private tutor wrote, “I find this book to be a great help for conversation lessons. It’s full of questions/tips/quotes that help students to discuss together, in group or individually on all kinds of different topics.” Given my limited distribution globally, this warm review from far away counts as a pleasant surprise!

Gratitude, as ever, seems appropriate. Finding ways to increase our gratitude for our 21st lives makes emotional sense. Asking this simple question is my fifth conversation tip. Help build gratitude, and create better conversations.

What has pleasantly surprised you today?

Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com

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