This Saturday will be our last workshop of the semester. We hope you can join us to discuss ways to track what students are actually learning in your classes, as well as to learn some vocabulary matching activities.
In addition, we will hold our chapter elections, so we would especially like to encourage our chapter members to attend. If you are interested in being part of the the chapter leadership for the next year, please contact the current president, Ingrid Zwaal.
If you need help finding the venue, or have questions about the workshop, please contact Ingrid at 010-3650-2957 or scottietoy@gmail.com.
See you on Saturday!
Presentation #1
Title: Measuring Progress
Abstract:
As a teacher, one of my biggest challenges is determining what and how my students are learning. They might have earned an A on every test, but, WHAT did they actually learn? Perhaps they already knew the material which I intended to teach before entering my class, and then simply recalled it for the exam. How can I measure their progress related to the material presented in my class? Perhaps, like me, you have wrestled with similar questions.
If final grades are assigned based on skill level, then students who started with a higher skill level have an automatic advantage. In an attempt to bridge (or at least identify) the gap between skill level and progress, I began developing and administering progress checks. Since 2013, I have been on a mission to develop a progress testing methodology that is applicable among students of various levels. One valuable byproduct of this experiment has been the identification of error patterns among beginning and intermediate university students in Jeonju. Pattern notification and management gives students a heightened awareness of the types of mistakes they typically make. I have observed that this level of awareness leads to increased self-correction and overall improvement.
Bio:
Originally a retail pharmacy manager and science teacher from California, Suzanne Bell moved to Jeonju, South Korea in 2011 to test her skills as an EFL instructor. After 18 months at a Hagwon, Suzanne accepted a full time position at Jeonju University where she currently teaches intermediate and advanced conversation, writing, and technical culinary English in the Department of Korean Cuisine. Before moving to Korea, she studied pattern management exclusively for pharmaceutical applications. Recently, Suzanne began integrating pattern management theories into her intermediate and advanced EFL speaking and writing classes. In addition, she is a co-founder of REACH Jeonju, which aims to raise awareness about human trafficking in South Korea and worldwide. Suzanne loves to cook and enjoys experimenting with new recipes.
Presentation #2
Title: Vocabulary Cha-Cha: Taking Matching Activities Up a Notch
Abstract:
As teachers, we often have our students do vocabulary matching activities. This usually means having two cards with matching words on them or with words and pictures. The student then needs to find the two cards which go together.
Done this way, it is a fine activity. But in this short presentation, I’ll share a few ways I have used which make this kind of activity more fun and more appropriate for older or higher-lever learners. Everyone should see something they will be able to use in their classrooms with minimal preparation time. I’ll also talk about the reasons behind and inspiration for this activity.
Bio:
Phil Owen got his start in the ESL/EFL field in graduate school at UCLA. Having subsequently taught in several programs in the States, he moved to Korea in 1999 to work at the Language Education Center of Kunsan National University. A year later, Phil joined the English Department as a visiting professor and has been there since. His interest is in practical, communicative, classroom activities.
Phil is a past national president of KOTESOL and past program chair for the KOTESOL International Conference.
