Ballangol » Teaching

Humanity Just Not Lost Yet

ballus — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 09:27:25 +0000

A form teacher can easily get into trouble when unexpected work is given to a class. It is especially problematic when it is to be done when there is no school. And yet, you can find students who are ready to help. Not too many, but you are never left alone. And that’s what happened today.
Three of them turned up to carry desks and tables after a party. And we were ready in a little bit more than half an hour.

Great thanks, guys. Wish you Marry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Open day survived

ballus — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 22:04:26 +0000

Harry Potter can sell anything. Twenty-first century tale, that is what I had to build on my lesson. The idea was to use HP (which is by accident the abbreviation of home-made brandy) to teach new vocabulary. Working with the help of my students, I managed to put a good lesson together. I enjoyed it myself, too.

A short vocab test is here.

When there is no will there is no way

ballus — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 18:41:09 +0000

“I have tried for three years, seems like thirty,” This is what I have in my mind when I think of one of the groups I have been trying to teach for nearly six years. I have used all the opportunities but in vain. Had some success with about half of them but many would refuse any method. I am about to give up. One aim remains: lead them to GCSE.

Ian Gillan singing a song from Jesus Christ Superstar

Generation Y and computers

ballus — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 08:15:41 +0000

Nearly all students of mine use computer technology day by day. Yet, it seems to me that they do not utilize the opportunities it provides. Let me explain why.

In my teaching practice I use ICT as much as possible. Whenever there is a writing task, students are allowed to hand in their tasks in paper form or in word format. Most of them choose the latter one. And here comes the problem.

They do not know how to handle MS Word. They write in English but tend to forget to set the language (not big deal, is it?). They do not care that the program underlines everything in red. They cannot set the right format either, no paragraphs are made, they do not use the proper spacing, etc.

My questions is: when will they learn to use the computer properly?