TEFL classes by videoconference are often related to high level students. How should our teaching change in order to grant successful and exciting learning experience to our students?
On debate: Elementary level students (P2T) have just completed S1 and are ready to move up. At this stage grading the language and adapting are still very necessary. How can we improve our teaching practice and material?
Conclusions:
- Keep instructions simple, as when teaching beginners.
- Create a list of basic instructions (like an SOS lesson – basic commands, that includes TL: pictures, image, scroll down, up, down, next, on the right, on the left, etc.)
- Attachments: fit in one screen, clear pictures, put numbers in the pictures. Create one document per each screen and name it after its function.
- Should we correct things that are not the objective of the activity? Yes, correct, but… think how necessary / relevant this is for this stage and without losing the main objective of the activity.
- Should we accept words in Spanish and translate (in case the teacher knows Spanish)? If they’re asking for confirmation we should accept, so students feel safe. But if they ask for translation, we have to think it might become part of the routine. Think of teachers that speak Spanish and teachers that don't speak Spanish and how they would struggle if students get used to translating.
- To test during next week:
After the Quick Questions, ask students the question: “What do you remember from last class/last week?” Before the Wrap up, ask: “What have you learnt today?”
The philosophy behind the classes: Understanding the difficulties that beginner and elementary level students face is essential in order to create effective activities for our TEFL classes by videoconference. Good attachments with clear images is a key factor as well as simple and well designed steps to guiding the class.
Open question: How much should we use the chat in our TEFL classes by videoconference when students don't understand?
Attendees: (in alphabetical order): Ana Garza, Ben Martínez, Emre Ozmen (guess star), Georgina Holt, Katixa González, Matthew Hammond, Pedro Pidal, Rafa Olivares, Xabier Oyarbide.
