Comments for Autonoblogger http://www.autonoblogger.com EFL for fluency and autonomy, in a Japanese college Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:08:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on How comprehensible must comprehensible input be? by autonoblogger http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/how-comprehensible-must-comprehensible-input-be/comment-page-1/#comment-682 autonoblogger Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:08:59 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1256#comment-682 Jeremy, thanks. You can contact me directly, but also check out www.tprs.jp and sign up (free). This was created for the 2010 TPRS workshop in Shimabara, Kyushu (the 2011 one is happening as we speak), and so has a bunch of TPRS teachers-in-Japan on it. A few teach at university. We are in the minority, tho, so it's always good to hear from someone in the same situation. With regard to the "Does?" student, for much of the class, he wasn't paying attention at all, then at the end he comes up and fires this PhD-level question at me! Like "what does 'the' mean?" My guess was he was asking questions out of a kind of nervousness. Jeremy, thanks. You can contact me directly, but also check out http://www.tprs.jp and sign up (free). This was created for the 2010 TPRS workshop in Shimabara, Kyushu (the 2011 one is happening as we speak), and so has a bunch of TPRS teachers-in-Japan on it. A few teach at university. We are in the minority, tho, so it’s always good to hear from someone in the same situation.

With regard to the “Does?” student, for much of the class, he wasn’t paying attention at all, then at the end he comes up and fires this PhD-level question at me! Like “what does ‘the’ mean?”
My guess was he was asking questions out of a kind of nervousness.

]]> Comment on How comprehensible must comprehensible input be? by autonoblogger http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/how-comprehensible-must-comprehensible-input-be/comment-page-1/#comment-681 autonoblogger Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:02:56 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1256#comment-681 Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. Sorry I took so long to approve your comment! I got side-tracked... 2nd semester (in Japan) begins tomorrow. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. Sorry I took so long to approve your comment! I got side-tracked…
2nd semester (in Japan) begins tomorrow.

]]> Comment on How comprehensible must comprehensible input be? by Jeremy http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/how-comprehensible-must-comprehensible-input-be/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Jeremy Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:34:49 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1256#comment-680 Hey, interesting blog. I've been trying to find some info on using TPRS with university students, but it's not easy. I've got a similar problem with a low-level student. She never had English and it's clear she doesn't understand most of what I say, but she's in with higher level students (this class is an elective, so it covers the bottom half of the levels) who get impatient and disengage if the feel class isn't moving at their pace. Perhaps it helps to figure out where the student is getting stuck. On 'does', maybe they're thinking it's the main verb and they get confused. I know for myself I make assumptions about language and base everything off that. If that assumption is wrong, everything built off it is less than useless -- it's harmful. I'm new to TPRS and would be interested in conversing with you about how to use it in university/college-level English. Hey, interesting blog. I’ve been trying to find some info on using TPRS with university students, but it’s not easy.

I’ve got a similar problem with a low-level student. She never had English and it’s clear she doesn’t understand most of what I say, but she’s in with higher level students (this class is an elective, so it covers the bottom half of the levels) who get impatient and disengage if the feel class isn’t moving at their pace.

Perhaps it helps to figure out where the student is getting stuck. On ‘does’, maybe they’re thinking it’s the main verb and they get confused. I know for myself I make assumptions about language and base everything off that. If that assumption is wrong, everything built off it is less than useless — it’s harmful.

I’m new to TPRS and would be interested in conversing with you about how to use it in university/college-level English.

]]> Comment on How comprehensible must comprehensible input be? by Laurie Clarcq http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/how-comprehensible-must-comprehensible-input-be/comment-page-1/#comment-679 Laurie Clarcq Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:38:52 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1256#comment-679 Hmmm great questions. Some thoughts... Do these students know the "game" of TPRS? If they are new to this type of instruction, then you are right....they are confused. My guess is that they would like to do the right thing, but are not sure what it is. They are nervous and unsure and their behavior reflects that. They are not used to being held responsible every second for 100% comprehension and they are not really sure why you want it. It will take patience, explanation and practice. I wonder if there are any youtube clips you could show them.... I am sure that your "does" boy doesn't understand the meaning of "does" in an English question because it doesn't have a meaning. It has a function. Maybe you could ask him (in Japanese) What does the word "does" tell us in this sentence? (ewww it even sounds horrible in English) Answer?: It tells us this is a question. Why is the word "does" in this sentence? Answer?: The sentence is a question. What word must can be added in English when we form a question? Answer?: Does Is there a translation for it? Answer?: No, it simply a word used to form questions. These are your students, and only you can decide if the class is comprehensible enough for them. I can only offer this: I've never heard a stellar TPRS teacher worry that their class was too comprehensible. Slow. Narrow. Deep. Connected to the students. It sure ain't easy....and I'm sure I'm not as good at it as I could be....but when I've seen it done, I've never seen it fail. with love, Laurie Hmmm great questions. Some thoughts…

Do these students know the “game” of TPRS? If they are new to this type of instruction, then you are right….they are confused. My guess is that they would like to do the right thing, but are not sure what it is. They are nervous and unsure and their behavior reflects that. They are not used to being held responsible every second for 100% comprehension and they are not really sure why you want it. It will take patience, explanation and practice. I wonder if there are any youtube clips you could show them….

I am sure that your “does” boy doesn’t understand the meaning of “does” in an English question because it doesn’t have a meaning. It has a function. Maybe you could ask him (in Japanese) What does the word “does” tell us in this sentence? (ewww it even sounds horrible in English) Answer?: It tells us this is a question. Why is the word “does” in this sentence? Answer?: The sentence is a question. What word must can be added in English when we form a question? Answer?: Does Is there a translation for it? Answer?: No, it simply a word used to form questions.

These are your students, and only you can decide if the class is comprehensible enough for them. I can only offer this: I’ve never heard a stellar TPRS teacher worry that their class was too comprehensible. Slow. Narrow. Deep. Connected to the students. It sure ain’t easy….and I’m sure I’m not as good at it as I could be….but when I’ve seen it done, I’ve never seen it fail.

with love,
Laurie

]]> Comment on Academic Writing by Helen Bredson http://www.autonoblogger.com/edtech/academic-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-676 Helen Bredson Sun, 19 Jun 2011 09:43:48 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=836#comment-676 Really great and useful things. I often use dictionaries, spell checkers and thesauruses. And most of all I like online versions of them, because they avaliable anywhere, where I can get Internet access, like <a href="http://www.synonymsfor.com/" rel="nofollow">synonyms dictionary</a>. And it's possible because I always traveling and working on my small notebook, so these apps are great in different cases too. Really great and useful things. I often use dictionaries, spell checkers and thesauruses. And most of all I like online versions of them, because they avaliable anywhere, where I can get Internet access, like synonyms dictionary.
And it’s possible because I always traveling and working on my small notebook, so these apps are great in different cases too.

]]> Comment on Automatic Language Growth – a variant of Krashen’s Natural Approach by Speak in corus with Italians! | Speak Italian Magically! http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/automatic-language-growth-a-variant-of-krashens-natural-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-671 Speak in corus with Italians! | Speak Italian Magically! Fri, 13 May 2011 07:00:07 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1175#comment-671 [...] Well, now I can tell you what I think about it. It is true that in many Italian courses held in Italy, you are asked to start and speak right at the very first day…For instance a thing that you will usually learn in an Italian course is how to introduce yourself…So, COME TI CHIAMI? MI CHIAMO ANTONIO;-).  This is what usually happens in a communicative approach to language learning. Is it useful to do it? Yes and no. Yes, because this way you will go home and be able to say a few sentences right after the very first lesson. No, because before speaking properly you are supposed to listen to a right amount of comprehensible input. And that’s why I suggest, if you use the Speak Italian Magically course, to follow the steps I suggest and to speak only in step five, after you have listened to the same adventure several times and in different days (maybe also right before going to bed). Then at that point it would be useful to start and speak in chorus with the Italian only version of the adventure, while reading the text at the same time. This speak in chorus “thing” was used in schools in the past, but very little nowadays. It makes sense only if you do it after you have been exposed to the text for a sensible amount of time. I know it may seems a little challenge, but it’s fun and it’s worth doing challenging things sometimes. This “waiting time” is what other linguists have called “silent period” (Asher, Brown). [...] [...] Well, now I can tell you what I think about it. It is true that in many Italian courses held in Italy, you are asked to start and speak right at the very first day…For instance a thing that you will usually learn in an Italian course is how to introduce yourself…So, COME TI CHIAMI? MI CHIAMO ANTONIO;-).  This is what usually happens in a communicative approach to language learning. Is it useful to do it? Yes and no. Yes, because this way you will go home and be able to say a few sentences right after the very first lesson. No, because before speaking properly you are supposed to listen to a right amount of comprehensible input. And that’s why I suggest, if you use the Speak Italian Magically course, to follow the steps I suggest and to speak only in step five, after you have listened to the same adventure several times and in different days (maybe also right before going to bed). Then at that point it would be useful to start and speak in chorus with the Italian only version of the adventure, while reading the text at the same time. This speak in chorus “thing” was used in schools in the past, but very little nowadays. It makes sense only if you do it after you have been exposed to the text for a sensible amount of time. I know it may seems a little challenge, but it’s fun and it’s worth doing challenging things sometimes. This “waiting time” is what other linguists have called “silent period” (Asher, Brown). [...]

]]> Comment on Just to Sum Up… « Scenes From The Battleground by autonoblogger http://www.autonoblogger.com/educational-philosophy/just-to-sum-up%e2%80%a6-%c2%ab-scenes-from-the-battleground/comment-page-1/#comment-667 autonoblogger Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:07:21 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1195#comment-667 That is heartening. I like the poipose icon. That is heartening. I like the poipose icon.

]]> Comment on Just to Sum Up… « Scenes From The Battleground by oldandrew http://www.autonoblogger.com/educational-philosophy/just-to-sum-up%e2%80%a6-%c2%ab-scenes-from-the-battleground/comment-page-1/#comment-666 oldandrew Sun, 17 Apr 2011 06:10:10 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1195#comment-666 Interesting analysis. One little point I would make, I might be in a minority among education commentators, but it is far from a minority viewpoint among the public. Interesting analysis.

One little point I would make, I might be in a minority among education commentators, but it is far from a minority viewpoint among the public.

]]> Comment on Automatic Language Growth – a variant of Krashen’s Natural Approach by Jos Flachs http://www.autonoblogger.com/pedagogy/automatic-language-growth-a-variant-of-krashens-natural-approach/comment-page-1/#comment-665 Jos Flachs Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:50:17 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1175#comment-665 I followed the Thai course for 3 years. Every day, 3 hours per day, 5 days per week. I can now understand Thai fairly reasonable, and speak it well. But I find I have wasted my time there. If I had to do it again, I would never ever do it. Just go to any decent school or teacher in Thailand, and you can qualify for the Por Hok exam within a year. At AUA that takes probably a decade... I followed the Thai course for 3 years. Every day, 3 hours per day, 5 days per week. I can now understand Thai fairly reasonable, and speak it well. But I find I have wasted my time there. If I had to do it again, I would never ever do it.

Just go to any decent school or teacher in Thailand, and you can qualify for the Por Hok exam within a year. At AUA that takes probably a decade…

]]> Comment on Time management tips by On improving my teaching habits | mjTPRS http://www.autonoblogger.com/lifehack/time-management-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-664 On improving my teaching habits | mjTPRS Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:39:48 +0000 http://www.autonoblogger.com/?p=1154#comment-664 [...] I read Autonoblogger’s February 7 blog, and followed that to the Power of Less–and realized that Ben’s idea in TPRS in a Year [...] [...] I read Autonoblogger’s February 7 blog, and followed that to the Power of Less–and realized that Ben’s idea in TPRS in a Year [...]

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