Last days of the semester

I discovered a student's comments about the end of the semester at www.saoudsenglish.blogspot.com
I have encouraged my class to write in response to that, and to invite Saoud to come and read their blogs.

Online presence

I have started yet another blog for posts to do with my efforts toward developing an online presence. The present blog will be reserved more for classroom activity (students - stay right where you are on this page!)

Leigh, Bee and others seeking to develop their online presence, skills, expertise, know how and community - not an exhaustive list by any means - I suggest clicking across to . . .

http://on-line-presence.blogspot.com/

Students' Accounts

Today in class students wrote about their impressions about a trip they made yesterday to the Otago Polytechnic's School of Art.

Yesterday I saw the School of Art, Otago Polytechnic. I saw a small house. In the middle of the house there was a small tree. On the tree there were a lot of rings. It was just like a dream. (by Wei Lu)

Yesterday afternoon, our Polytechnic students went to the School of Art's exhibition. First, I saw a sculpture. It was very amazing. And a beehive was very interesting too. But some of the others I didn't understand. I enjoyed the Korean room especially; it was impressive. I followed Korean shoes up the stairs and took off my own shoes when entering the room. There was a Korean student there who served green tea to me. I had a very enjoyable time. Thank you to all School of Art's students! (by KwiOk)

Yesterday I went to the art school which held many different types of artexhibits.I saw an operation performed through digital movies,and ceramics.It was really crul art but a very impressive exhibition. (by Wook)

These are a few of our favourite things:

In class the other day I asked for students to tell me which online activities they had especially enjoyed or found useful. We made a list on the board, and it includes:

1. www.jabberwacky.com - for practising chatter in a safe but unusual environment
2. www.flickr.com - for practising making comments quickly about beautiful subjects
3. http://www.manythings.org/ for all sorts of activities, especially grammar
4. www.blogger.com for reflective writing and developing a voice
5. www.newszealand.blogspot.com for bite-sized pieces of NZ news
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ for a variety of British-English audio-visual materials
7. http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=homepage for a high quality listening and reading site
8. 
   

There were more - and I've left spaces - but my pen wasn't swift enough. As with many posts, this is a working project. To be continued.

Tuesday, 14 November, 2006

Good morning class!

William and Pariya at a previous course

I forgot to tell you yesterday, but today I have to attend a course from 9 until 12, therefore I cannot be with you. Here is what I'd like you to do on your own.

9.15-9.45 The six people who need to resit their Listening to an Oral Presentation will join AM3 to do that assessment. They are: Hedi, David, Carol, Fauzia, Terumi and Jian.

The others could either use the computers to complete the work on the blogs we started yesterday - see the yesterday's post of this blog for details. Or you could explore the website we looked at yesterday - but quietly, because of the listening test next door.

(I am happy to tell you that the following people have achieved Delivering a Short Oral Presentation: George, Eun Sook, Mikyung, Hedi, Jason, David, Jian, Fauzia, Kyung and Carol.)

10-10.30 Form four groups and discuss what you will do today during conversation hour. Prepare topics and/or questions, using materials we have used in class e.g. your presentation, icebergs, yellow-eyed penguins, Ted Simon (the motorcyclist), the wallaby, the giant baby . . .

Please make sure you greet the conversation assistants at the door and guide them to where you will speak. Today you may use our classroom, H114 and the common room. If only three assistants come, then would the fourth group please distribute themselves in the other three groups.

(Some of this time will be taken up when Emma Bennet comes to take a survey)

11-12 Conversation

I will see you tomorrow as usual, inshallah.

All students' Blog Addresses

Today I am going to make sure that I have everyone's blog contact details. I am starting with the current students of AM4. I shall get them all each to reproduce this page on this date.

David www.david-skyline.blogspot.com
Jian www.englishpractice3058.blogspot.com (comments need owner approval)
Mikyung www.mikyung74.blogspot.com
Jason www.myendlesslover.blogspot.com
Hedi www.hedinz.blogspot.com
George www.goshien.blogspot.com
Fauzia www.fauzianz.blogspot.com/
Kyung www.realmannon2.blogspot.com
Samantha www.samsamnz.blogspot.com (not yet functional)
Chanthou www.camlish.blogspot.com
Joel www.gyedoosikesol.blogspot.com
Carol www.baey103001309.blogspot.com
Terumi www.cherryblossam.blogspot.com
Eun Sook
Sao www.englishatpoytechnic.blogspot.com
Alice www.yyhongnz.blogspot.com
Mami www.mamitwins.blogspot.com
Wook www.heyas.blogspot.com
KwiOk www.parkk1.blogspot.com


see also www.003fall2006.blogspot.com for other groups of students elsewhere.