Episodes

  • No 19 [Bitesize Tools] Student Self-Study Tools
    Nov 20 2022

    In today's episode, I'm going to discuss three tools to introduce to your students, including a note on the process of getting students to take on self-study tools into their study routines.

    References & Resources:

    https://hinative.com/

    https://youglish.com/

    https://www.losethevery.com/#

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    16 mins
  • No 18 [Bitesize Activities] Awareness Raising Activities
    Nov 13 2022

    Planning what to teach and teaching it often isn't enough for our students. You might baulk at that statement - us teachers are busy enough!

    That's true. But nevertheless, we might not be doing right by our students if we don't also train them in the strategies required for effective and efficient language learning. 

    However, even that might not be enough ..

    Students need also to be aware of what, how, and why they are doing what they're doing. 

    Metacognition refers to the process of thinking about one's thinking, and it is this that we need to help the students to develop in order for them to be better able to self-regulate their actions.

    References:

    Paul Nation's Four Strands:
    https://www.victoria.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1626123/2012-Yamamoto-Four-strands.pdf

    What I did this week to improve my English:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j5keEDOScv4rMIirN5m6ES096XMvH1Lq?usp=sharing

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    22 mins
  • No 17 [Bitesize Pedagogy] Cumulative Learning
    Nov 6 2022

    The problem with the ways that language is taught is that it doesn't build upon what was taught before.

    Cumulative learning refers to the cognitive process whereby the knowledge and skills we accumulate go on to become the building blocks for all subsequent cognitive development.

    In this episode, I also discriminate between CL and what I term "Cumulative Review".

    References:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mVN5TbhJEwjosZlxtXNPNs79s32ucmr-?usp=sharing

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    24 mins
  • No 16 [Bitesize Activities] Five Hacks to Make Pair Work & Group Work More Effective
    Oct 29 2022

    In today's episode, I'll be talking about five ways in which you can make pair work and group work more effective in your classrooms. 

    These are:

    1. "Gossip"
    2. "What did you put for number 1?" (Peer-checking)
    3. "It was nice speaking to you" (Polite conversation enders)
    4. "What percentage did you speak English?" (Awareness building of student talk time)
    5. Student administration time

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    16 mins
  • No 15 [Bitesize Pedagogy] Inquiry-Based Learning
    Oct 24 2022

    In today's episode, I'll be looking at Inquiry-Based Learning and its benefits for language learning.

    References:

    https://xqsuperschool.org/rethinktogether/what-is-inquiry-based-learning-ibl/


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    31 mins
  • No 14 [Bitesize Pedagogy] CLIL
    Oct 15 2022

    In this episode we'll be looking at CLIL: Content and Language Integrated Learning. I'll be talking about what CLIL is, why it's in vogue, the different variations of CLIL, and considerations when making CLIL lessons and syllabi.

    References:

    What is CLIL?
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_and_language_integrated_learning

    The 4 C's
    https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1295190.pdf

    Hard & Soft CLIL
    https://sciendo.com/pdf/10.1515/atd-2015-0018#:~:text=Hard%20CLIL%20means%20that%20the,put%20on%20learning%20the%20language.

    Professor Donna Brinton
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_M._Brinton

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    22 mins
  • No 13 [Bitesize Pedagogy] Cooperative Learning
    Oct 9 2022

    In today's episode, we'll look at cooperative learning in the classroom, including its benefits and the principles that ought to operate behind it. Special thanks to Professor George Jacobs for the lecture.

    References:

    Temple University Distinguished Lecture Series:

    https://www.tuj.ac.jp/grad-ed/events/2022/1008/cooperative-learning-theory-practice-and-research

    Bloom's Taxonomy:

    https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/

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    18 mins
  • No 12 [Bitesize Quotes] Important Reminders to Language Learners
    Oct 4 2022

    I'm back!

    In today's episode, I'll be taking a look at two famous quotes about sticking it out and embracing failure and mistakes.

    References:

    Quote 1:
    https://quotefancy.com/quote/790482/Dalai-Lama-XIV-The-only-way-to-fail-is-to-quit

    Quote 2:
    https://quotefancy.com/quote/1526342/Kat-Lomb-Language-is-the-only-thing-worth-knowing-even-poorly

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    8 mins