Why using games in the classroom?

There are many reasons why games should be used in the classroom. In today's post I will focus on the most relevant ones:
1) Games portrait real life. There are RULES, OBJECTIVES and OBSTACLES.
2) Games are voluntary.
3) Games offer choices.
4) Choices have consequences.
5) Consequences offer feedback.
6) Games offer freedom to experiment.
7) Games offer freedom to fail.
8) Games offer freedom to try on different identities.
9) Games offer freedom of effort.
10) In games, participants are involved in an imaginary situation, with explicit roles and implicit rules ( Vygotski)
11) Games lead to a greater degree of self-regulation, the participants actions being determined by the rules of the game. (Vygotski) .
12) When involved in games, participants' concentration and application to the task are much greater than in academically-directed activities contrived by the teacher.

Tapping into motivation in ESL classes

Hi there,

Motivation will be the topic of the week. I will write from the students' perspective.

Pay attention to these 3 models of students' motivation in class. Can you see how a student belongs to a group or the other?

* Deep learners respond well to the challenge of mastering a difficult and complex subject. These are intrinsically motivated students who are often a joy to teach!

• Strategic learners are motivated primarily by rewards. They react well to competition and the opportunity to best others. They often make good grades but won’t engage deeply with a subject unless there is a clear reward for doing so. They are sometimes called “bulimic learners,” learning as much as they need to do well on a test or exam and then promptly forgetting the material once the assessment is over.Handle strategic learners by avoiding appeals to competition. Appeal to their intrinsic interest in the subject at hand. Design your assignments (tests, papers, projects, etc.) so that deep engagement with the subject is necessary for success on the assignments. Do so by requiring students to apply, synthesize, or evaluate material instead of merely comprehending or memorizing material.
• Surface learners are often motivated by a desire to avoid failure. They typically avoid deep learning because it they see it as inherently risky behavior. They will often do what it takes to pass an exam or course, but they won’t choose to go beyond the minimum required for fear of failure.Handle surface learners by helping them gain confidence in their abilities to learn and perform. “Scaffold” course material and assignments by designing a series of activities or assignments that build on each other over time in complexity and challenge. Encourage these learners often and help them reflect on what they’ve learned and what they’ve accomplished.

Source: Ken Bain, What the Best College Teachers Do, Harvard University Press, 2004, pages 40-41.

How to write a formal letter for FCE?

Hi everyone!

As I said in my previous post, today I will talk about another type of writing commonly asked in FCE: FORMAL LETTER

Dear Mr/Ms (surname)  -  Dear Sir/Madam  -  Dear Sir or Madam,

Reason for writing

I am writing to …
I am writing with regard to …
I am writing on behalf of …

Asking questions

I would be grateful if …
I wonder if you could …
Could you …? Could you tell me something about …?
I would particularly like to know …
I would be interested in having more details about …

Referring to their letter

As you stated in your letter, …
Regarding … Concerning … With regard to …

Complaining

I am writing to complain about …
You said … but in fact what happened …
We were supposed to stay with British families whereas we actually stayed in a guest house.

Closing

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Please contact me if you have any further questions.

Signing off

Yours sincerely, (If you started with 'Dear + surname') or Yours faithfully, (If you started with 'Dear Sir/Madam') 

    First name + surname

How to write an ESSAY for FCE

Hi dear ones,

This week and the following one I will be writing about the types of text a student can be asked to write about in FCE test. Also I will share some key vocabulary to help you organize it. So today let's take a look at ESSAYS.

Essay

Making points

Many people feel that ...
First and foremost, ...
It is widely believed that ...
It would be ideal if ...
Another argument in favour is ...
It is clear from the facts that ...
The benefits of ... outweigh the disadvantages.
On the whole, I think ...

Contrasting points

On the other hand ...
Other people think ...
An opposing argument is ...
Giving opinions
I personally feel that ...
I find it hard to see why ...
I certainly don't believe that ...
It is difficult to believe that ...
I object to the cloning of animals.

Organising and linking your ideas

First of all, … Secondly, … In addition, …
Moreover, … Furthermore, …
So … As a result, … Therefore, …
However, … On the one hand…/On the other hand …
On the whole … While it is true to say …
Finally, … To summarise, … In conclusion

Formal Writing: forbidden words

Hi everyone,

We all know that formal writing is more strict than casual writing. Some  

vocabulary that is accepted in regular speech, have no room in formal writing. So take a look at this list and make sure you are not making any of these
1. Alot
2. Let's
3. Gonna
4. Wanna
5. Ain't
6. Could of
7. And etc.
8. Furthest
9. Its'
10. Cause (meaning because)

Using whatsapp as a tool for diverse grouping arrangements

Hi fellow colleagues,

You know how hard it is to separate those students who insist on always sitting together. So to give your lesson a more dynamic pace and student-centered interaction as advocated in CLT approach, I will share with you a paper-free and very simple way to group students in different settings.
Preparation before class: make whatsapp groups with your students.
In class give each student a number according to the number of students you have in class.
And now, use your imagination to create the grouping settings and share with your students.
I share below two ideas. One with numbers snd the other using Avengers characters.
I am sure your students will be very engaged and your lesson will be very dynamic .

Mirror Mirror Activity!

Hi dear teachers,

This week I was organizing some paper work and I came across an old notebook of mine. There I found a very nice activity I ysed to do with my students some 10 years ago. So I did it again and it was super cool!

A

Procedures
Before class place on the bottom of a box a mirror.
Tell students you are going to show them a picture of a popstar and ask them to say why you admire this person. As they are goung to see their reflection....it is very funny..then you call another student and so on until they found out the person in the picture are them. Super cool!