Using Authentic Materials in ELT - Igor Gavilan, TESOL Greece- March 2014

I had the great opportunity to attend Igor's presentation on Saturday after having met him at Friday's dinner for out-of-town speakers. He is warm, friendly and I could clearly recognise his Brasque origins. I was sure that his presentation would lead me to new, innovative paths of ELT.
First, he showed us an example of a Brain study- to break the ice, as he said. We were all proved to be strong minds. Then, he surprised us with a Flamengo move. It was so simple but then so impressive at the same time; hot to grab an apple from a tree, bring it to the moth, bite it, throw it to the ground and step on it! We are all Flamengo dancers now! 
Then he proceeded with samples and activities of using authentic materials. He had an information card from his hotel through which we could practise Passive Voice. Then we had to design our own movie ticket including the main points of Price, Row, Seat, Date to introduce new vocabulary. A very interesting speaking activity was how to make a flat story entertaining by using some prompt  sentences. I loved the activity of listening practice. He used lyricstraining.com and Robbie Williams' song 'Angel' to show us the levels of difficulty according to learners' needs.
He pointed out that it needs preparation and extra work on our part but it is worthwhile because we expose our students to authentic situations, which is not always achieved with coursebooks. He shared various links like elllo, Breaking News English, Storybird that can be used and he ended with the phrase-I'll try to pass it as precisely as I can- the good teacher is the one with PASSION!
It was a real privilege to attend your talk, Igor!
Thank you for sharing all this information!

Now that curtains have fallen down...

TESOL GREECE

CONVENTION MARCH 15-16

Now that the end has come and we all go back to our towns and work, I really wish to share my feelings and thoughts of my participation at the Convention. The experience has been exhilarating and emotions overwhelmed me during the long weekend. I met fellow teachers whom I used to meet online for the first time, I attended inspiring, motivating talks and presentations, I had long talks with warm, friendly colleagues during lunch breaks and coffee. The events in the evenings were great fun!!! We had such a good laugh! 
What can I say about the board members and the supporting staff... I couldn't have felt most welcome!!! Always with a big, warm smile, ready to answer all our questions and help with our presentation preparation!

TESOL Greece, thank you for giving me the chance to participate and present my students' efforts and hard work in our project! 

Meet the interviewers: Natassa Papakonstantinou!

Mission accomplished! Last but not at all least, Natassa was so kind to send me her replies to my questions! After this last post, I am getting even more eager to meet these lovely ladies in person. This time next Friday, I hope we will be enjoying our dinner in Athens! See you there, TESOL Greece interviewers! 

And now... it's Natassa's turn:

1. What did you want to become when you were a child?                                                         
     A pop singer! My favourite song was Άσπρο-Μαύρο" by the Cypriot singer Alexia. I used our living room as my personal stage and a candlestick as the microphone.

2. Why have you become a teacher?

In spite of the above answer, I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. I am happy that I have followed the teaching path because it makes me happy, and I hope my students as well.

3. Have you ever regretted becoming a teacher?

How can you regret being a teacher! It is the 'healthiest' job in the world; having children of all ages around you.

They keep me young and make me wiser.

4. You avoid people who...?

I avoid people who know only how to do one thing well, viz. to give advice!

5. Tell us about your biggest dream.

My biggest dream is to become a mother. Yes, I have my students whom I consider as my children, but I would like to be blessed with my own, and a happy family life one day.

6. What is your favourite colour and why?

My favourite colour is red because it reflects passion, life and optimism.

7. Which city would you like to visit?

I am happy when I travel; no matter where.You can be happy in the least expected places and unhappy in the most romantic destinations. For me, the perfect destination is where I will be with people I love and who love me.

8. What is your favourite piece of clothing?

Mmmm...not exactly piece of clothing ...I love hats ...winter hats, summer hats :)

9. Have you ever cheated in a test?

I swear that I have never cheated in a test ...I just didn't have to; but cheating has its magic, I suppose, for some people!

10. Describe your desk.

My desk... wooden, round, usually tidy.

11. Who is your favourite character either in a book or movie?

One of my favourite characters is not a person but a dog called Hachi who became famous for his loyalty to his master.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachi

At the end, she thanked me  for interviewing her.  This is the first interview she has ever given and she really enjoyed it. The pleasure was all mine!

Meet the interviewers! Elinda Gjondedaj

Meet Elinda, TESOL Greece Blog administrator! She keeps us posted about the latest news and events of TESOL Greece!

Here are her answers to my relentless questions:

                 1. What did you want to become when you were a child?

           Well, I always wanted to become a singer. My best friend and I had a band and everything. We used to meet every weekend and rehearse our songs eith my karaoke machine. Somewhere inbetween, I realized that I can't really sing! I think we were 9 or 10. 

         2. Why have you become a teacher?

         I became a teacher because of the children. I work with very young children and they never cease to amaze me. They always have something interesting to say, their minds are always working. It can be challenging at times, but I love the challenge! What is more, my high school English teacher motivated me with his unique teaching style. I loved his dedication and commitment to the profession.

      3.  Have you ever regretted becoming a teacher?

        Teaching in Greece in an era of economic crisis is sometimes tough. Some days are hard. However, it is the best thing I have ever done.

      4.  You avoid people who...?

       …are grumpy. People who do not appreciate anything.

      5. Tell us about your biggest dream.

My biggest dream is setting up my own school and my two children running in the corridors

6. Which city would you like to visit?

           NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

      7. Have you ever cheated on a test?

      No, I was too afraid to do it!

    

      8. Describe your desk.

      What about a photo? This is my desk at work (a lab in the Faculty of English Language and Literature)

     

  

     9. Who is your favourite character either in a book or movie?

        Benjamin Button

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSBt94MuNnU

Thank you, Elinda, for sharing all these facts with us! It was a pleasure!

Meet the interviewers!

It all began two days ago when I nominated Julia for a Blog Challenge. She sent me a message that she is not a blogger but she would gladly answer my questions; I could post them in my blog. Then I came up with the idea to use her answers for my first post for TESOL Convention blog. After all, it is a blog, isn't it? That would be a change and fun! Like the tables have turned and the interviewees take the role of the TESOL Convention reporters !

However, I first asked Elinda Gjondedaj, one of the administrators of the blog, whether all this complies with the TG posting by-laws. Since she assured me that it is fine, I proudly present you the one and only Julia Aliverti! My questions are quite tough and she has proved that teachers are brave and accept challenges!!!

So here are the questions and Julia's responses:

1. What did you want to become when you were a child?
When I was a child, I was convinced by my father that I was princess and I didn't see any point in becoming anything else.
2. Why have you become a teacher?
As soon as I started school, I knew I had to become a teacher; I felt that it was the only thing I wanted to do and my only hope was that I would be able to do it well. I remember studying my lessons trying to figure out not how to learn them, but how to teach them, if- for some unidentified reason- I was asked to do so the following day.
3. Have you ever regretted becoming a teacher?
Never. Being a teacher is part of what I am; not part of what I do.
4. You avoid people who...?
I think I will start avoiding people who take me for granted.
5. Tell us about your biggest dream.
My biggest dream is that our children will live in a better world than the one we have now and that I'll have the chance to travel to most of its places.
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Blue. All shades of blue; it's the colour of the sea, with which I have a very strong bond.
7. Which city would you like to visit?
This is the most difficult question of this interview for me; I can't choose just one; there are cities I always want to return to and cities that have been calling me for years and I haven't had the chance to visit; also, there are cities I have been avoiding for very personal reasons, about which I have started to feel very differently...So, I will not try to decide today.
8. What is your favourite piece of clothing?
My swimsuit
9. Have you ever cheated on a test?
No, never. It would feel like trying to fool myself
10. Describe your desk.
Wooden, handmade, overlooking the sea, hospitable, and therefore, rather crowded :)
11. Who is your favourite character either in a book or movie?
Alexis Zorbas

In the end she thanked me for the opportunity I gave her to contemplate certain facts about herself!

 Well, Julia, it has been my honour that you took the time, sat down and answered all these questions from your heart! 

Another 11 Blog Challenge

There is another 11 Blog Challenge for which I was nominated by my new FB friend and colleague Malefaki Joanna. I can't wait to meet her and so many others in TESOL Greece Convention in Athens! Both of us are having a presentation there.

How this works:
1. I need to acknowledge the nominating blogger.
2. I share 11 random facts about myself.
3. I must answer the questions the blogger who nominated me asked.
4. I will list 11 other bloggers
5. I post eleven questions for the bloggers I nominated. I must let the bloggers know that they have been nominated (that actually took some time) and I cannot nominate the person who nominated me.

I took all this information from Joanna's blog.

This time I thought to use another way to list 11 random facts about me... So here you are...

vI love the sun

vI respect nature…and animals

vI can’t stand lies and hypocrisy

vI suffer if I can’t keep a promise

vI can’t resist chocolate

vI love people with new ideas

vI love talking with hours with friends and I really miss it

vI can’t stand anything that crawls, literally and metaphorically

vI prefer theatre to movies

vI get easily stressed

vI wish I were more confident

And now the moment of truth.... Joanna's questions...

1.  Describe a good teaching experience you have had.

A good experience was when I participated with my students in a project run by Theodora

Papapanagiotou. Very refreshing and promising. It was the first time I had prepared,

organised and carried out a project.

2. Describe a difficult teaching experience you have had.

It was at the beginning of my teaching career. There was a teenage student who didn't want

to cooperate at all and always tried to mess the class.

3. Do you have a teaching mentor? If yes, can you tell me how this person has affected

your teaching?

Unfortunately, I don't. But I have met so many inspiring and motivating colleagues online

and in person that I think I will make up for all past years.

4. Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Hopefully, still teaching and participating in TESOL Conventions.

5. How do you deal with students who dominate the sessions?

I try to use their energy and eagerness by having them help the other students.

6. How do you deal with introvert students?

First, I give them time to feel confident and talk about topics and matters that interest them.

Then I have them work in pairs with peers they feel comfortable with and friendlier to. 

7. How much time do you spend on you work and how much on your personal life?

At first, I used to give all my energy to my work. Now, I have realised that there should be a

balance and try to spend some time doing things that please me, mostly at weekends.

Saturday evenings are sacred!

8. If you won 1 million euros, how would you spend it?

Honestly? I would travel!

9. What's your favourite food?

Anything that has to do with potatoes and mushrooms!

10. What do you hate doing around the house?

Ironing!

11. Describe your ideal day.

Spending it with people I love outdoors from dusk to dawn.

The questions I have for the bloggers I nominate are:

1. What did you want to become when you were a child?

2. Why have you become a teacher?

3. Have you ever regretted becoming a teacher?

4. You avoid people who...?

5. Tell us about your biggest dream.

6. What is your favourite colour and why?

7. Which city would you like to visit?

8. What is your favourite piece of clothing?

9. Have you ever cheated on a test?

10. Describe your desk.

11. Who is your favourite character either in a book or movie?

The bloggers I nominate are:

1. Vicky Papageorgiou

2. Julia Aliverti

3. Theodora Papapanagiotou

4. Maria Bossa

5. Hana Ticha

6. Roseli Serra

7. Aphro Gkiouris

8. Christina Markoulaki

9. Papadeli Sophia

10. Natasa Bozic Grojic

11. Nora Touparlaki

My first attempt to use powtoon app.

Motivated by Shelly Terelll and since I am a very diligent student and want to do my homework for our 30 Goals challenge group, I decided to try out Powtoon!
My feedback for this app:

Pros
1. It is good that you can sign in with your facebook or twitter account.
2. There are many categories, templates and features.

Cons
1. The introductory video is rather short and it doesn't explain much. You either have to be digital literate or find your way around.
2. I spent quite much time to coordinate the time that each slide appears.

So, be lenient with my time flaws. This is my presentation for the first goal this year.

My 3-2-1 intro