Patapata's English Blog

11/16 My thesis

2007-11-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

Pre-test
○ Object： Junior high school students
○ Test： I make students test for writing for 10 minutes.
「あなたのクラスにALTのアン（Ann）先生が来ました。アン先生に自己紹介の手紙を書きましょう。」

Treatment
○ Object： Junior high school students
○ Preparation： To prepare a letter, introducing my self to the students.
○ In class：
1. I tell them a little about myself, my home, and family. The students understand the 　　　　　　　　　　summary of a letter when they listen to my speech.
2. I suggest that students write the same to me in a letter.
3. We discuss the points of writing a letter.

Dear
Greeting
・ About yourself
・ About school
・ About your family etc…
Complimentary close

4. Students write a letter.
○ After class：I will answer their letter as soon as possible.

Post-test
○ Object：Junior high school students
○ Test： I make students test for writing for 10 minutes.
　　　　　「あなたのクラスにALTのアン（Ann）先生が来ました。アン先生にあなたの家族や学校のことを紹介する手紙を書きましょう。」

My research plan for the summer 8/7

2007-08-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

I'm going to prepare for my research in this summer.

I have to...
1) define "communicative competence"
2) clarify the actual situation of children's communicative competences
3) look for articles which have opposite opinions
4) read books
5) study the differences between "activities" and "tasks"

I will update my blog when I finish tasks.

My thesis 5/23

2007-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a article called "English Language Teaching and Learner's Communicative Competence in Japan" by Shogo Kashiwase at Utsunomiya University. I think it is really useful article, because I'm considering the definition of "communication" now.

He investigated what communication is and what we should do to develop the competence of general communication in schools.
Human communication is realized through 5 senses: hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. Communication has 2 stages of encoding and decoding.
General communication is to exchange massages, information and intention. The messages are composed of complex bundle of feelings, attitude, beliefs and values. General communication is a package of signals, a total of actions.
Speech communication can send many variety of messages to other people. Speesh communication is supported and complemented by other channels of communication such as distance, place, timing, action, body movement, and so on.
He said Japanese people are required to develop the skill of general communication through all of the 5 perceptual senses, dynamics of general communication. English teaching for Japanese people is to develop their general communicative competence through English.

I still don't decide what communication is I am going to define, but I am sure general communication and speech communication he analyzed.

My thesis2 5/6

2007-05-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

1) My sentral question
What kind of activities help developed children's communication skill?

2)Summary of the article
Mr.Hall recommended me to read good books called "新学習指導要領にもとづく英語科教育法" by 望月昭彦.
He defined communication as exchanging something messages between more than two persons. It surely includes the decoding and the encoding. The kinds of mediums notify them are a sound, intonation, letters, an expression, a gesture, and so on. The content of message are ceremonial communication, informative communication and persuasive communication. In English classroom superficial greeting and conversation and para-communication activity is not communication. So it's important for students to cultivate "practical communication" at junior high and high school.

3) How does this article relate to my thesis?
I want to investigate into communication. If I do so, I have to define "communication". This book is wrriten about communication. When I will define "communication", this book help me.

Research question

2007-04-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

I'm interested in English education at elementary school. Last summer vacation I did practice teaching at elementary school. I taught 3rd grade students English. After the teaching, I had a question. This was "What English activities can children's communication skill be developed?".
I think that children can develop both English communication skill and Japanese communication skill by English activity. I want to research the relation between English activity in elementary school and communication skill, but I have to think over the research question.

Meeting 1

2007-04-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

Today we talked about our spring vacation and our goals of this year.

My spring vacation was very busy, but very exciting!! First, I got a driver's license. So I drove by my father's car from Kawai to Miyako. It took for an hour. I was very tired, because it was difficult for me to handle his car. Second, I helped my teachers to drow pictures for text book. The name of it is "Take it easy!". It was very hard, but I had a great experience! If you are interested in English education at elementary school, you should read this book. Besides you can find many pictures that I drew.
Nyanmage and Fantasista had a exciting vacation too. Nyanmage took part in ski game. That game was her final game. She enjoyed skiing. When she talked about it, her face was bright face. Fantasista went to Hanamaki hot spring with his friends. And he studied very hard for teacher's test. When I heard it, I think I have to study more and more!

I wrote my goals in this blog. However I write my goals again. First, I'm going to take the TOEIC test next month. I want to get high score. I have to study English for the test. I think it relates to improve my speaking skill. Second, next summer I will take the teacher's test for elementary school. I want to pass the test. Third, I want to write good thesis. Finally, I want to go to Fiji with my friends and make a good memory.
In this class I found that we have same goal. This is to pass the teacher's test. We're going to take different prefecture, but I want to encourage each other.

After the class we met Kumaken san. He recommended useful book for thesis to us. He told us this book. Thank you so much!!!

Goals of me in this year

2007-02-01T02:31:00.000-08:00

I have goals in this year. There are 3 goals.

①To pass the teacher's test
I want to be an elementary school teacher in Iwate. I have to pass the test to be a teacher. The test will be on July.

Now I am studying many things for the test. I have to study many subjects:
japanese, math, science, social atudy, physical education, music, and so on.
And I have to study......
the European history of education, Educational principle, regulation of education, and so on...
I have many chances to learn in this university;
My university has good classes and good seminers for the teacher's test.
I'm going to read many books to know many things and I will have chances to play with children.

I think a key for success will be studying them throughly and equally.

②To speak to everyone my opinions in English
Now I'm not good at speaking my ideas in English. When I speak in English, I'm afraid of mistakes. However as the Japanese proverb says, "mistakes is a key for success". I will speak English actively without being afraid. And I'm going to use new phrases which I don't use habitually.

③My thesis
I haven't decided about theme on my thesis yet, but I'm interested in children's eagerness to study and learn, the relationship between communication in Japanese and English activity at elementary school. I'm going to read many books about English education. And I want to solidify my ideas. I want to write it in order to be helpful to my future and other students.

In order to attain goals, I do my best!!!

Teaching Grammar

2006-07-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

I think it was most difficult for me to learn “Present Perfect Tense – Experience” as a student, because it is difficult to understand the difference between Present Perfect and Past. If I teach it now, I will do as follow.

1) Do the game as Warming-Up. For example, show the card written “be”. Students answer “been”. “write” changes “written”.
2) Put the picture to show the situation. And give a sentence “I have been to an amusement park.” Write the sentence on the board.
3) Explain the grammar. In addition explain the difference between Preset Perfect and Past.
Sample sentences: I have been to an amusement perk.
I went to an amusement park.
She has been to Tokyo Disney Land.
She went to Tokyo Disney Land.
4) Chorus repetition with the change of speed.
For example; T: I have been to an amusement park.
S: I have been to an amusement park.
T: She has been to Tokyo Disney Land.
S: She has been to Tokyo Disney Land.
5) Give other sentences. And write it on the board.
For example: Miwa has never been to an amusement park.
6) Chorus repetition with the change of speed.
For example: T: Miwa has never been to an amusement park.
S: Miwa has never been to an amusement park.
7) Hand out the sheets. Do the sheets. After students finish the sheets, check the answer and repeat.
For example: Q. Change the words in the ( ) to their proper form.
1. I have (be) to Kyoto.
2. I have never (eat) avocado.
3. She has (ride) on a Ferris wheel.
8) Give the sheets and change the sentences.
For example: I have been to an amusement park.
(She) She has been to an amusement park.
(America) She has been to America.
(never) She has never been to America.
(work in) She has never worked in America.
9) Do repetition.
For example: Show the sentence “I have been to an amusement park.”
T: She. S: She has been to an amusement park.
T: America. S: She has been to America.
T: Never. S: She has never been to America.
T: Work in. S: She has never worked in America.
10) Ask the students to write a sentence about each of the topics.
For example: a good thing that has happened, a bad thing that has happened and so on.
11) Practice to read these sentences. And ask the question.
12) Consolidate the class.

That’s all. Thank you.

To Japanese University students or ALTs

2006-07-11T02:44:00.000-07:00

I listened Mr.M's lecture in ETM3 class. I learned many things. So I tell you some importance based on Mr.M's lecture and my knowledge you will need to work at a Japanese junior high school.

1) Greeting
Japanese value polite attitude. So it is very important to greet steadily. Almost all of students greet visitors cheerfully in junior high school. If we don't greet students, they square up to us and they aren't hard to open theirself to us. When you will go to junior high school and see students, you should greet them with a smile at the first time.

2) Positive attitude
When most people introduse theirself in junior high school, they will say to students "Please speak to me!". However I think it's a negative attitude. You should speak to students. I think negative attitude relates to grasping the opportunity.

3) Responsibility
If you are practice teacher or you aren't hoom-room teacher, students think you are teacher. I think you are responsible for what you say and do as teacher and adult.

4) Smile
When I was junior high school students, my hoom-room tacher often didn't smile. I was afraid of him, because he seemed to be angry. On the other hand, my hoom-room teacher always smile at students when I was elementary school student. She was very popular with students, because I think smile soften student's anxieties. And "Laugh and graow fat." as the proverb goes.

5) Set the goal
Mr.M said to us that if we go to junior high school, we should set the goal with the view of students for three years. I think it is important for teacher to set the goal, because it develops that what we should do and we can make conscious classes.

Besides this you should not speak Japanese except explain difficult grammer and so on. And I think it is important for teacher to enjoy teaching!!!!! I hope you enjoy teaching in junior high school. Lastly, Mr.M, thank you so much for telling us.

Teaching Observation

2006-06-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 2 the demonstration lesson was hold at Diamond Junior High School. I couldn't go there, but I could watch video about two English lessons.

<2nd>

1. What was the goal of the class?
Making a report which introduce moai.

2. What activities did the students do to accomplish the goal?
The students answered some questions about moai, practiced the expressions for example stone statue(s), look at that~, people call it~, once, long time ago. Then they understood the points of writing a report, wrote a report with dictionary, textbook and an advertisement about Easter Isle. Next, switched paper side by side, read it, said comments, rewrote it and read out it. Finally, they evaluated themselves.

3. What was the role of the teacher?
The teacher taught them the points of writing a report, advised them how to write a report as he walked around their seats. First of all, he spoke English when he explained something in order that students had many cahances of listening English and enjoyed studying English.

4. From watching the teacher and students , did you receive any hints about how to have a successful English class?
I received many hints this class. First, realistic is effective. The teacher set for real situation when students wrote a report. If students write a report without the situation, student would feel boring and be easy to create it, I think. Second, good pronounciation is very important. The teacher's pronounciation was very good. Students could listen to good English. So I think it involved that students could pronounce English very well. And if teacher cannot pronounce English correctly, students could trust the teacher, I think. Finally, it is very good that the teacher focused on not only moai but also other culture. We tend to see big facts, but it is important to know other facts.

<3rd> I'm sorry I finished it halfway, but I couldn't watch the whole class.

1. What was the goal of the class?
Talking about "a foster program".

2. What activities did the students do to accomplish the goal?
First they answered the questions as review, for example "Have you ever been to Tokyo Disney Land?" and "Have you ever played baseball?". Next, they did pairworks and asked the questions. And then, they repeated sentences after the teacher, did shadowing, read it without looking textbook.

3.What was the role of the teacher?
The teacher asked students many questions, for example "Have you ever been to~?" and "What is a foster program?". He explained two pictures and conversation in English.

4. From watching the teacher and students, did you receive any hints about how to have a successful English class?
I received many hints from watching the teacher and students. First, a lot of methodes of reading aloud textbook is effective. The teacher used many methodes of it, for example sahadow reading, reading in a whispers, reading while glancing, reading without seeing textbook, repeating what the teacher said and so on. I think students don't feel boring and enjoy studying English by using many way of reading. Second, each of the students had many chance to speak English alone. Most student don't like to speak English alone in public, but they can have confidence in speaking English by giving many chances.

I wish I could go to Diamond Junior High School and see real classes. So I want to go there next time!

Thanks.

Reflection about my lesson

2006-05-29T00:47:00.001-07:00

I met group members to discuss how we would teach students "What do you have for ~?". We decided to focused on "Warm-up" and "Practice".

In our lesson, first we played the word game as warm-up. In this game one said favorite food and tossed ChokiChoki to someone...... Next we asked the question "Do you like~?" as review. And then, we wrote "Do you have for ~?" and "I have ~" on the blackboad. We read the textbook and got students to repeat it. We demonstrated that "What do you have~?" is useful phrase by the short play. We taught "breakfast, lunch and dinner" before we asked some students "What do you have for~?". After that, we played the game as practice. The pair asked the question about meals and answered it each other. Finally, we repeated the phrases.

I think the most successful parts of the lesson are "Practice", because students seemed to enjoy asking the question. However we should improve how to teach new words, because some sudents didn't seem to understand them. For example, we should have demonstrated them with colorful picture. And we should improve the way of repeating, because some students could not pronounce the phrases and understand them well. For example, we should have got students to repeat rhythmic as Mr.Hall did or used music. So I think that was the least successful parts of the lesson.

I want to try this lesson once again! If I can do, I would focus repeating and how to teach new words.

I had many improvement, but Ｉ enjoyed teaching this lesson. Mr.Hall, thank you so much for giving me a good chance.

An analysis of my language learning experience

2006-05-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

1) My most enjoyable language learning experience has been Conversation. Conversation is very fun for me. When I talk to someone, my brain works actively. Then I try to talk about something. I'm very glad to talk words.
Now I go to English conversation school. I know the fun of conversation in it.

2) My least enjoyable language learning experience has been Reading Silently. I usually translate from English into Japanese when I do so. When I read aloud, I can translate and understand more speedy than reading silently.

3) My most valuable language learning activity has been Rading Aloud and Repetition. I can memorize the sentences and understand the structure of sentence when I read aloud again and again. I think that Reading Aloud is very important, because reading aloud stimulates own ears and brain.

4) My least valuable language learning activity has been Translating. I think translating is good, but I have to have two way of thinking to improve my English skill. If it is possible, I have to have English thinking when I read English.

5) In general my language learning experience has been speaking, reading and listening. To improve my English skill I speak to many people and read aloud and listen English seriously. I want to touch at English as many times as possible.

6) What kind of influence do you think your language learning experience will have on your teaching?
　 If I teach students English, I use enjoyable activities. I think enjoyable activities are lively. I give them the chances of speaking. I have them repeat with gesture not to be boring.

How I learned English.

2006-04-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

I have learned English since I entered into junior high school. I tried many studies.

When I was junior high school student, I studied it with the text books mainly. I memorized words or phrases that were witten in the text books. I read the story again and again. I think that I studied English in junior high school to be acustomed to English.

I often write my jornal in English. After I finish it, my English teacher―Peter, in English conversation school― checks my jornal. I write many things―for example, my favorite food, my dream, my opinion about English education and so on. I couldn't write it soon, but now I can almost write it without dictionary.

I have an English and Japanese conversation with Phillipino woman every Tuesday. I want to speak English very well. She wants to speak Japanese very well. So we are teacher. She correct me immediately if I am mistaken.

I want to have many chances to touch English.

My introduction

2006-04-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

I'm PataPata. Welcome to my blog! Thank you for coming to it.

My home town is Miyako in Iwate prefecture. Miyako has a very beautiful beach-Jyodogahama. All of the rocks and sands are white! If you have a chance, come to Miyako. Now I live in Morioka. I moved from dormitory to new apartment. So I enjoy living to it.

I am Iwate univercity student and junior. I major in English and elementary school teaching. I love English!

I belong to the volunteering club. I play with handicapped children in my club. Last Saturday we did cherry blossom-viewing in Takamatsu no ike. We walked around the pond, had a lunch and did the games. So I enjoyed spending with children.

I'm looking forward to studying English in this lesson.