Comments on: Question: What risks do you like, and what’s your survival kit?

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:41:27 +0000

More good ideas and tips! Seems we all combine pocket-size analog, digital and web resources to keep our teaching options open. Perhaps the IATEFL Learning Technologies SIG has outlived its reason for being. Or do you think we’ll be opening a Moleskin SIG soon?

By: Corinne Wilhelm

Corinne Wilhelm — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:40:07 +0000

Well I too have a Moleskin, (like the idea of getting a bright red one!) and in mine there are a list of keywords at the back to prompt me for word games and conversation tasks. There are some appalling illustrations there too to prompt me for some grammar review tasks. However I have a whole heap of stuff on the group pages at http://www.tappedin.org plus my own office there. With our frequent moves and corporates dotted all over, this is my virtual lifeline.

For anyone that is interested there is a learning hub tour at tappedin on Monday evening where new members can familiarise themselves with the features and functionalities of tappedin which is a free community for educators all over the world, I love it there, it’s professional, it’s personal and you can teach there too. Perhaps TI can be your safe haven too?

By: Karenne Sylvester

Karenne Sylvester — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:39:37 +0000

I have mini sets of my conversation sets (sorry sounds like I’m marketing but am not, I just really do).. these prompt cards are in the pocket of all my various bags – so no matter what happens in the class I always have something to teach – can do an on-the-spot-cover for any teacher without notice.. and the students still choose and steer the topics (as a dogmeist..that’s very important..LOL).

By: Vicki Hollett

Vicki Hollett — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:52:41 +0000

My survival kit contains a memory stick with lesson activities (mostly powerpoints with lots of pictures – no help if there’s a ‘puter glitch or log on problems, but useful if not). A print out of speaking task ideas in case my mind goes blank. (Wonder this list might be a bit some in your diary, Anne – I sleep better at night knowing it’s there) And my top favourites: 5 or 6 envelopes with word games and discussion prompts on cards and coloured slips of paper. (Handy as ten minute fillers and might us lead somewhere else…)

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:49:57 +0000

BTW, there’s an interesting discussion going on with Scott Thornbury about whether eschewing technology, getting back to the good basics of teaching and Dogme are really all the same thing. Scott says:
“Read the article “Two movies and a metaphor”. Do you agree with the argument that language teaching has “lost its way”? I.e. that the basic flow of interaction between learners and teacher has become “clogged” by unnecessary materials and technologies?”
http://www.seeta.eu/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=393

By: Patrick Jackson

Patrick Jackson — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:30:26 +0000

Yes..that’s a picture of Brian Cullen who wrote and performed the songs and Rie Kimura who illustrated the books. There’s a story there too.

Brian went to Japan as an engineer, worked in a company for a couple of years before deciding his future lay not in bridges but in ELT. He became a professor at Nagoya Institute of Technology. He always played music and performed around town in Irish pubs. We became friends and Brian did the Potato Pals songs. Great fun we had too and not an inconsiderable number of pints as you can probably imagine.

Now for Rie’s story. She came to Nagoya from Mie and worked for a couple of years in an engineering firm before becoming a classroom assistant at a kids’ English school. There she met an Irishman (yours truly) and together they created a series of readers which were published by OUP.

So where’s this story going? Get this…On the day the photo was taken Brian and Rie discovered that ten years previously they had worked for the same engineering firm, at the same time and even shared an open plan office…for two whole years!

The moral of the story? You never know who you’re going to work on a textbook project with!

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:23:59 +0000

A potato suit?! Picture, picture!! For those of you who don’t know Patrick yet, he’s the Potato Pals guy, viz http://oxfordpotatopals.blogspot.com
What a great story, Pat. Thank you very much, and a lovely Sunday to you.

PS: Is this the potato suit, perhaps? http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rWxUPi35gSQ/RkBa8e9V70I/AAAAAAAAAYE/beDLLGo3sZ4/s1600-h/PICT0012.JPG