Comments on: More Negative Impacts of Course Books http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/ Down into the rabbit hole of ELT in Turkey (and now China) Sun, 05 May 2013 23:57:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: David Warr http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/comment-page-1/#comment-7147 David Warr Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:32:41 +0000 http://turklishtefl.com/?p=1051#comment-7147 Thanks Nick, very interesting. Thanks Nick, very interesting.

]]> By: turklis1 http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/comment-page-1/#comment-7101 turklis1 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:14:09 +0000 http://turklishtefl.com/?p=1051#comment-7101 Yes, photocopies are still king here. Most teachers go into the classroom armed with extras lest their lessons not fill up enough time. I even know a private K-12 school that demands all its teachers create so many worksheets a month and to a specified format which are then saved by age and level. Many classes seem to be more about passing the time or doing as many grammar practice exercises as possible. As for tech, it is also king here among Turkish teachers, but foreigners don't seem to be big fans of it. Schools with access to tech like IWBs are still limited to private schools paid for by rich parents however. I'd say most Turkish teachers here are incredibly interested in using technology in their class and workshops or trainings on the subject are very heavily attended. Most training I do in Turkey outside of my school is done for rich private institutions which follow state guidelines, but I wouldn't necessarily qualify as actually in the state sector. Yes, photocopies are still king here. Most teachers go into the classroom armed with extras lest their lessons not fill up enough time. I even know a private K-12 school that demands all its teachers create so many worksheets a month and to a specified format which are then saved by age and level. Many classes seem to be more about passing the time or doing as many grammar practice exercises as possible.

As for tech, it is also king here among Turkish teachers, but foreigners don’t seem to be big fans of it. Schools with access to tech like IWBs are still limited to private schools paid for by rich parents however. I’d say most Turkish teachers here are incredibly interested in using technology in their class and workshops or trainings on the subject are very heavily attended.

Most training I do in Turkey outside of my school is done for rich private institutions which follow state guidelines, but I wouldn’t necessarily qualify as actually in the state sector.

]]> By: David Warr http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/comment-page-1/#comment-7095 David Warr Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:31:44 +0000 http://turklishtefl.com/?p=1051#comment-7095 Back in the day, I used to have folders and folders of photocopies to pull out. What is your experience of teachers these days in Turkey? Is this still common? How widespread is technology in the classroom, interactive whiteboards for example, and how much do teachers embrace techology? Do you train teachers in the state sector? I remember reading a couple of two cents' worth comments. It's a good phrase, and particuarly in a big debate like that, it stood out. Maybe it could become your catch phrase... Back in the day, I used to have folders and folders of photocopies to pull out. What is your experience of teachers these days in Turkey? Is this still common? How widespread is technology in the classroom, interactive whiteboards for example, and how much do teachers embrace techology? Do you train teachers in the state sector?

I remember reading a couple of two cents’ worth comments. It’s a good phrase, and particuarly in a big debate like that, it stood out. Maybe it could become your catch phrase…

]]> By: turklis1 http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/comment-page-1/#comment-7084 turklis1 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:28:05 +0000 http://turklishtefl.com/?p=1051#comment-7084 Hi David, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I definitely feel not only my creativity but also my need to really take the students into account and reflect on my practice sky-rocketed when I stopped using a book. It's a bit depressing that a 6-year-old would already be interested in learning objectives at that age rather than fun. I use a lot of conversation based lessons and drama in my class. Many times as a starting point I'll bring in a video or article on a topic of interest that had come up in a previous lesson or ask the students to find something. The discussion on Jeremy's blog has been quite interesting. I put in my two cents a couple of times. Hi David, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I definitely feel not only my creativity but also my need to really take the students into account and reflect on my practice sky-rocketed when I stopped using a book.

It’s a bit depressing that a 6-year-old would already be interested in learning objectives at that age rather than fun.

I use a lot of conversation based lessons and drama in my class. Many times as a starting point I’ll bring in a video or article on a topic of interest that had come up in a previous lesson or ask the students to find something.

The discussion on Jeremy’s blog has been quite interesting. I put in my two cents a couple of times.

]]> By: David Warr http://turklishtefl.com/2010/10/15/more-negative-impacts/comment-page-1/#comment-7071 David Warr Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:39:09 +0000 http://turklishtefl.com/?p=1051#comment-7071 Hi Nick, this is a very nice list, and I agree with you. What type of activities do you use? I always got told off by the powers-that-be for not using the book, but I feel it did enhance my creativity. I'm sure you feel the same. In a primary school in the UK, where I was doing a demonstration lesson, a 6-year-old girl came up to me and asked what the learning objective was. When I said "have fun", she looked aghast. I presume you've been reading the debate that's raging on Jeremy Harmer's blog. David Hi Nick, this is a very nice list, and I agree with you. What type of activities do you use? I always got told off by the powers-that-be for not using the book, but I feel it did enhance my creativity. I’m sure you feel the same. In a primary school in the UK, where I was doing a demonstration lesson, a 6-year-old girl came up to me and asked what the learning objective was. When I said “have fun”, she looked aghast. I presume you’ve been reading the debate that’s raging on Jeremy Harmer’s blog.
David

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