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TV411 Training Module
2. Using TV411 to Introduce Routine Classroom Activities
Journal Writing
Introduce the Content:
Elicit participants' feelings and experiences about using Journals in the ESL classroom.
Possible prompts:
- Who has used journal writing in their classrooms?
- How have the students responded to journal writing?
- Have you experienced any barriers to journal writing?
- How did you introduce the concept of journal writing to your students?
Teacher Talk:
Writing is a challenge for most learners. Students often struggle with
what to write about or are fearful to make mistakes in spelling and grammar.
Writing in a journal can begin to address some of these barriers. However,
students often wonder, “What’s the purpose of keeping a journal?”
or “What do I write in my journal?” This TV411 unit allows
students to listen to others talk about reasons and strategies for keeping
a journal, write responses, and write a plan for keeping their own journals.
Model the Strategy:
Let’s now pretend that we are in the ESL classroom and we are about
to start a lesson on journal writing. Present the lesson from the Teacher’s
Guide, pages 55-60.
Mining the Strategy:
Take a few minutes for participants to make any notes of ideas or questions.
Accept any questions or comments.
Homonyms
Introduce the Content:
Homonym practice is a fun, short activity that ESL students love. It makes
a great activity at the beginning of class to warm up and get started
while students are filtering in. I like to introduce a few homonyms, discuss
them, and then give students dictations using them. To spice things up
a bit, try showing TV411 Episode 6 where Betty sings a song about homonyms.
Model the Strategy:
Handout Issue 6, page 10. Look over it and read the jokes out loud.
Write on the board “If your sweetie-pie leaves you high and dry
in Palm Springs, does that mean that you were deserted by dessert in the
desert?” Discuss briefly. Give instructions that during the video
participants need to write down all the homonyms they hear.
Play video: Betty: Spell It Out: Episode 6
Reflection and Discussion
Invite participants to share their thoughts and impressions of the units.
Ask participants:
- Could you use this in your classroom?
- Do you have any questions?
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