A couple of weeks back we had an evening to meet the parents (and vice-versa) and invited them in for a BBQ and a chance to go around the school and meet the teachers - in our classrooms. It was a nice opportunity to introduce ourselves and present some info to them (very quickly) in the context of where we actually teach their kids.
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This year I started my 9's, 10's and senior class with a serious of class discussions that lay the foundation for goal setting and activity/ content planning. I want the students to have increasing input into what they learn and do - that said, it's not easy! Students and teachers alike are largely conditioned to the old idea that students know little to nothing, don't know what's good for them and that the teacher will tell them what to do and learn. There's still a place for that approach at times but yeah - I'm trying to get them more involved from the start!
For the month of January I did the 30 Day Language Challenge - which requires participants to record and share themselves speaking on a variety of topics everyday in their target language - which for me is Bahasa Indonesia.
Although made somewhat easier by the fact that I was on holiday and had more time, it's definitely still a challenge, but one that's well worth it for the benefits gained. The main purpose is to practice speaking and to speak on topics that are emailed to you each day. It helps you gain vocabulary (which I constantly had to look up), pronuciation, confidence in speaking and receiving feedback, and the regularity and consistency of staying on task and wanting to complete the challenge helps with your own discipline and work ethic. In short, the benefits are as much about process and confidence as they are specific language outcomes. This challenge is ongoing and some people do it back to back from month to month, some do is a one-off and some do it when they can and choose to - I intend to repeat it in March and continue to progress from it. It's certainly not something you'd do exclusively, but more of an extra regular activity that creates the mentioned gains but also put you in touch with passionate language learners around the world also striving to learn their language/s of choice. Here are some links for more info and content etc:: Language Exchange Group (Facebook group) My 30 Day Challenge Videos/ entries (Youtube) For a few days over Xmas I had a friend come and stay - we'd met in Danang Vietnam in April. He's from Lithuania in Northern Europe and here in NZ for a year. He's a really cool guy, friendly and funny! I took him on a few adventures including cycling to Horeke, a workout at the gym, fishing in the bay (Xmas day) and a trip out to Taheke & Hokianga. Taheke & HokiangaSinging a popular Lithuanian song 'Daluze'@ The MillBoxing Day dinner - Lithuanian styleIt's been some time since my last blog entry but not for lack of content - only time! It's been a very hectic and busy time on all fronts; school/ students, home, music, Asia Club, new language learning (Aku sangat sibuk belajar bahasa Indonesia!) and the end of the school year has zoomed up on me. Apart from the seen and heard goals and achievements (which have been pretty good this year) the most significant positive I feel here at school is the new level of relationship I have reached with the majority of my students as a whole. Compared to last year and even earlier this year I'm feeling like we have all got to a place where we can be serious if need be, yet relaxed and humourous equally and in a natural way that feels really good. This doesn't happen easily or quickly - yes, I can get along with most students and people in general quite quickly but to get to that relationship rapport level takes time, effort and work! Here are some different videos to show and tell what I/we've been up to - I'll start with a lovely greeting video from a small group of students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Miss Amara and I (an English teacher there) have created a Google Hangout for our students to be able to communicate and share with each other which is very interesting and exciting =) As we approach the end of the school year (especially for seniors who finish before exams soon) I decided last week to sit down with my year 9,10,12 classes and have a reflection discussion based on the year so far in music - our main topic points were positives, negatives, challenges, benefits & gains, confidence building and future goals. It was actually very interesting and I learned a fair bit from it. Here are most of their responses:
I have just returned from 11 days in Indonesia and it was a blast! So much to show and tell but I'll need time to recuperate first lol. For now, this video will have to suffice. On Thursday we setup a Google Hangout for our Asia Cluture Club and I had the real pleasure of having a small talk quick chat with a year 7 student on it - in Bahasa Indonesia!
Things like this really encourage me to keep finding ways to help expose our kids meaningfully to the world. Working on a medley that fuses Kiwi, English, Maori and Indonesian language and culture together in preparation for my October education exchange trip to Indonesia. I have started a new music project with my friend Derek called RED SKY. I scratch and play samples over loops and beats and he plays guitar. Lots of fun! |
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Teacher/ Musician from Northland, New Zealand. |