“Only half of the activations in the brain were to do with the speech and language areas. The voice is not just coming from your lips. It’s coming from the whole body and you need to think about that when you’re trying to change aspects of it.” (more…)
“An American teenager was hitchhiking in Nigeria. A carload of locals passed him. The car screeched to a halt. The locals jumped out and promptly roughed up the visitor. Why? (more…)
Putting the seasonal cheer back into grammar (and putting the grammar back into Xmas)
Some of you might be thinking that the problem with Xmas today is an excess of commercialism or the lack of real religious feeling, but the way I see it the problem is an excess of worksheets teaching students vocabulary like “holly” that they will have forgotten by the same time next year (if they even understand the concept of holly anyway) and a lack of tie ins between those seasonal worksheets and everything else students do in the classroom. For those that agree with me that what is needed to make your Xmas complete is lots more grammar, here are some ideas on how to tie in your Xmas lessons with whatever grammar point you are studying at the time (the ideas should work with other major festivals and celebrations too)…
See below for not only shed loads of good grammar ideas in the continuation of this article, but also a whole stocking full of other ideas for Chrimbo-themed lessons for kids (from pre-school) to adults- “Christmastastic fun for all the family” (R)
According to this Daily Yomiuri article, 40% of new Japanese university students surveyed only reached the English level expected of 15 year olds! There is hope, though, and it comes from the fact that the university mentioned realises they have a crisis on their hands and has been forced to employ someone who can teach rather than just someone with a string of letters after their name. And she really does seem to know her public, because low level Japanese adult learners do love miming. They really can’t get enough of it, which is why I have a miming worksheets bonanza tried and tested in Japan over the years for you here:
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-air-travel-mimes-collocations/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-body-idioms-mimes-pictionary/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-food-and-drink-mimes-present-continuous-culture/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-medical-english-mimes/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-noises-mimes-linking-words/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-technical-english-mimes/
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/worksheet-travel-english-mimes-past-continuous/
So many uses for TPR, so little time…
As this is a family site (meaning only my family ever look at it), will not be including any ATPR* language learning videos. I have, though, found a classic TPRA* video that we can all enjoy in our various ways:
The best bit for me is the old random gaijin* at the end. Where did they find him- in the grave???
I laughed until I nearly cried, and then I stopped and thought- it’s a crazy idea, but it might just work! Would certainly get the attention of the notoriously tough salaryman market, anyway.
In the interests of complete fairness I should also say that crazy (genuis?) programmes like this do not come up on Japanese TV as often as you might think from watching exerpts abroad (you should see their favourite clips from British, Australian and American TV!). From the haircuts and air of slightly pervy innocence, this one almost certainly comes from the 80’s.
*ATPR (Adult Total Physical Response)- termed derived from the Japanese English expression AV- “Adult” videos, knudge knudge, wink wink, know what I mean?). An attempt at using the ultimate motivation to improve language learning through movement
TPR- Total physical response- Beginning students learn the language by responding only physically to verbal prompts until they feel ready to begin speaking themselves. Said to be similar to how a baby learns L1.
*TPRA (Total Physical Response for Adults)- using activities like the song “YMCA” with actions with classes such as Business English. This ultimate proof of English teaching technique is often used near the end of a TEFL career.
*Random gaijin- a foreign person who is only included in the advertisement/ party/ company roster etc. because during one meeting the boss said “We could use a gaijin”, and because no more details were given they just chose one at random