In this section of the Kuma book, I found it very interesting and relevent when they were talking about how teachers and students need to utilize learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. I highly agree that as teacher we have more of a responsibility to utilize learning opportunities inside the classroom. When a student asks us a question that we can further expand on and explain for other students who may not understand also, we are utilizing learning opportunities. Learning opportunities can go as far as answering a question or creating a lesson from something your student is struggling with. As a teacher we are often served learning opportunities on a silver platter per say. We need to learn when these opportunities are presented and how we can use them to further educate our classroom.
Learners on the other hand need to utilize learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Obviously, our teacher isn't always with us and as future teachers we can't always be with our students monitoring their every move outside the classroom. It takes initiative as a student to use learning opportunities outside of the classroom to further the knowledge process and be all you can be. I really liked this section of the book because you often hear of a lot of learning opportunities but rarely do you utilize them or see teachers utilizing them. By understanding the different learning opportunities out there no matter how big a learning opportunity or small we can use it to our advantage to help educate or learn.
Lastly, in chapter 3 I also liked the examples of different lessons and activities you can use in the classroom. They were interesting to read and invision. I could see myself using some of these in my future classroom such as "3.2.1 ask your students to read a target-language newspaper, or listen to radio news broadcasts, or watch TV news coverage focusing on stories of local interest-any act or event that excites or agitates the local community. Ask them to select any one news story that interests them, and be prepared to talk about it breifly in class" (pg. 65). I like this because it brings in outside news and things going on in the community while also promoting their target-language. This is a good way for the students to work on gaining local knowledge and practicing their target-language. I really enjoyed these helpful activities.
Hey Steph!
ReplyDeleteI also liked Chapter three because it provided us with ample activities to use inside and outside the classroom! On a more serious note, I also agree that teachers and students need to utilize teaching opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. As teachers, we will make mistakes, but the most important thing to do is learn from our mistakes. On page 53, episode 3.2, the teacher asks a student, "What about Turkey? Do people in rural areas have electricity and running water?" The student replies and the teacher simply says ok. The teacher then moves on. This could have been a learning opportunity for the teacher and her students if she had only prompted the student with more questions. As is said on the following page, "That would have given the other students in class not only some valuable information and additional linguistic input but also an opportunity to participate in meaningful interaction." Although I have yet to teach in a classroom, as a prospective teacher it is important to create meaningful learning opportunities for our students because every minute in that classroom will account for the teacher's knowledge(us), as well as the students' knowledge.