English courses / websites

MIT open course ware : http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/anthropology/21a-231j-gender-sexuality-and-society-spring-2006/
This course seeks to examine how people experience gender - what it means to be a man or a woman - and sexuality in a variety of historical and cultural contexts.

UTAH state university : http://ocw.usu.edu/instructional-technology-learning-sciences/blogs-wikis-new-media-for-learning/index.html
This course is designed to help you understand and effectively use a variety of "web 2.0" technologies including blogs, RSS, wikis, social bookmarking tools, photo sharing tools, mapping tools, audio and video podcasts, and screencasts.

The Open University : http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/y177.htm
This course has much to offer. It introduces concepts and debates within the social sciences, covering topics like families; culture; global markets; migrant labour; community; and social movements. You’ll learn through the use of case studies and activities, and no previous knowledge of the subject is needed.

An open mind...

With the globalization and technology, we notice how the exchange of information is something essential in our society. Nowadays, you can stay in home and learn something using internet with a technology gadget (computer, notebook, cell phone, iPad, etc.). You don’t need the help of someone in order to learn about something. This is a great aspect related to the use of internet in the last century. For this reason, there are many universities and institutes that provide classes through websites or virtual platforms in where students don’t need the help, guidance and support of a teacher. Nevertheless, I think that people need to learn things with the assistance of someone.

In my opinion, even though in our society exists technological resources that help people to learn and communicate through long distances, it is important that people learn face to face. In other words, they should learn through interaction with others in a classroom or a place where they share with people and teachers. I know that people have all the information that they want to find in the internet. However, I believe that the relationships, experiences and emotional factors that people share (face to face) in a classroom play an essential impact on students’ learning. That’s why, teachers are important and they shouldn’t be replaced by the technology. In my opinion, the technology and internet are tools that help teachers’ work but these elements shouldn’t replace teachers.

I’m aware that internet and the websites in which people can study and learn are very useful and effectives for the students that are motivated for learning. Nevertheless, they lost a great opportunity of learning of a teacher and their classmates. This last point is so important because it is connected with interaction and cooperative learning. These aspects are essential in students’ learning and teachers cannot forget that.

To sum up, the article shows us the importance of sharing knowledge inside and outside the classroom. We share knowledge outside the classroom with the internet. That’s why it is important to use the internet in an appropriate way in order to focus its use on education. With the educational websites (Universities, schools, organizations, etc.) the education is everywhere and everybody can have access. In this point, teachers are so important because they need to know how to use this information in their classroom in order to create new ways of teaching. With the technology, learning is everywhere and teachers need to include technology in their classes because it is a powerful opportunity for new teaching strategies and new opportunity for learning.

Class Research Observation

Teacher talk and students interaction

2. Group Lesson 6 (Tania, Ingrid, Lissette)

3. Write a “field note” observation account of the topic as it can be observed in the videos:

- Teachers use the technology in order to motivate students

- Very good powerpoint

- Teachers use flashcards in the keywords

- Body language and eye contact while they gives the instructions

- Teachers’ mimics are very important during explanations and examples

4. Interpret your field notes into an academic analysis of the observations.

In my opinion, this group did a very good job in their teaching. It supposes that they are working with little kids. For this reason, the use of technology with image and colors are very important in order to catch students’ attention. Another important thing is related to flashcards and body language. With these two aspects, they gave very clear instructions and examples. As a consequence, we could notice that there were an excellent interaction between teachers and students. Thus, they achieved what is very important in a language class. It was students’ participation. Finally, we could say that their lesson and steps (pre – while- post) were very well developed. Indeed, they achieved that students were motivated and were active participants of the class.

5. Formulate conclusions based on your observations and your analysis. Were you able to arrive at empirically valid and robust conclusions based on your observations? Explain why or why not?

I think that in the class, our classmates achieved something that is very important in a language class. It is what we called good class environment. If teachers want to catch students’ attention and participation, it is essential that they create a good rapport with the students and also they create a good learning environment in the classroom. In this case, the use of technology, teachers talk, flashcards, body language and mimics got those aspects. With these features, you increase students’ confidence. As a result, they start to participate in the activities.

Website analysis

We were surfing in many websites related to how to learn a foreign or second language. The common thing that we realized about them was that they are very connected with the grammar translation method. This method is also known like the Classical Method. The Grammar Translation Method is focused on grammatical rules, memorization of vocabulary and of various adjectives and conjugations, translation of texts, doing written exercises.

The website http://www.101languages.net/vietnamese/vowels.html ,in which people can learn Vietnamese, we realize that it uses many elements associated with the grammar translation method. For instances, a lot of vocabulary of the website is taught in forms of lists of isolated words. There is no context for the words that people will learn. Also in this website you can find a lot of links connected with drills, grammar rules and vocabulary. For these reasons, I think this website is focused on Grammar Translation Method. Thus, the website teaches language through rules, words and phrases that are not taught in a real context.

MLA Format