Building Relationships through Student- Centered Learning

11/14/2013Lacey Love & Yoko Tachibana

Iwata Nishi High School

Why is interest important? • Interest increases learning. Promoting interest

in the classroom increases students’ motivation to learn and the number of learning strategies they use.– Pressley et al., 1992; Sweet et al., 1997

• Using student interest makes students want to learn, and it makes them work harder to understand.

Today we’ll cover:• Kokoro and the importance of relationships• Student names and interests• Passports and Competition• English Communication Activities• Building relationships between JTEs & ALTs

Kokoro • Purpose of education in

Japan is more focused on developing student character rather than skills-based. • Relationships can be a great

way to help develop “kokoro.”

2 Ways• Today we’ll focus on

two ways to build kokoro and develop relationships. 1. Harness Interest 2. Build Comfort

Two Types of Interest • Situational interest – Interest in what’s happening now– Environmentally activated– Easily Changes

• Personal interest –What you brought to the classroom–More difficult to change

(Krapp et al., 1992, Schiefele, 1999)

Situational VS Personal• Situational interest helps to catch students’

attention, but personal interest holds their attention.

• Situational interest often leads to the development of personal interest.

(Krapp et al., 1992, Hidi and Baird, 1986; Mitchell, 1993)

How can we use student

interest?

How to use interest?1

Interest-based activities or

lessons.

2Hidden-interest

activities or lessons.

Interest-BasedHigh-Tech

• Watch a One Direction music video

• Learn about 1D members

• Personality Quiz: Which member are you?

Low-Tech• Listen to a 1D song• 1D member read

and run • Crossword Puzzle

using R&R answers

Watch once as practice.

Using the lyric video, students count words.

Movie Trailer Lessons1. Watch in English with Japanese

subtitles. 2. Explain the plot using screen shots and

vocabulary with sound clips. 3. Watch again, in only English. 4. Play a comprehension game.

Hidden-Interest• Trick them into enjoying something they

wouldn’t normally enjoy. • Use interesting backgrounds or clip-art. • Use a common interest as a warm up or

cool-down activity.

Student Names• Students are happy when you

remember their names. • They don’t feel as anonymous. • I’ve found that they willingly

participate more. • It builds comfort.

English Names• I’ve always let students choose

a nickname for themselves. • This year, I gave them a list of

common American names. • If they wanted to, they could

choose an American name.

Benefits of Crazy Names1. They are easy to remember.2. They promote a comfortable,

relaxed atmosphere. 3. They let students adopt an

English personality.

Individual Rewards

• Each time students have to speak out loud, they can choose 2 stickers. – After summer, 1 sticker

• For each 5 stickers they get, they can choose 1 piece of candy.

Group Rewards • We usually let students work as a group or team. – The individual gets a reward, and the group also

benefits. • We usually ask easy questions. – Focus is on practice…

not perfection. • Intangible Rewards

Homeroom Rewards • At the beginning of each class, I show them a

bar graph of which HR has the most stickers. – They freak out.

13 HR 14 HR 15 HR 16 HR0

50

100

150

200

250

250

152

231209

• At the end of each term, I give the homeroom with the most stickers a “party” during lunch.

Homeroom Rewards

Benefits of Passports• Get to know students. • Students get to

practice written conversation. •Writing seems less

scary than speaking.

Benefits of Passports• There are 5 quiet minutes

at the end of every class, time to pass out candy, answer questions, or clean up. • Students give feedback

on the lesson.

To correct or not to correct…?–I never correct English in passports! –If I can understand it, then they have

succeeded.

Helpful Hints• Months of the year• Clubs • English Conversation

Ideas– Almost all students use

these at first– Some branch out into

“real” conversation– Some just continue using

the conversation starters

Happy Birthday!• Students write their birthday on the

front cover. • I usually write a birthday message. • It’s just highlighter and stickers…

Teaching the Textbook• We were worried about teaching in only

English, especially when the topics would not interest the students. • Sometimes the lesson is about… potatoes.• So, we developed a system to help us.

E.C. UNIT EXAMPLE• We decided to use the TT lessons to help

teach the topic. • We try to build student interest and comfort

despite less-than-ideal topics.• We’ll go through an example unit.

E.C. Unit Overview1. Team-Teaching Topic Introduction2. GL: Txt Part 1: Word Study3. GL: Txt Part 1: Comprehension4. GL: Txt Part 1: Grammar & Listening5. Repeat for Parts 2-36. Review Games

E.C. Unit Example Team-Teaching Topic Introduction• Goal is to build background knowledge• Sometimes we use the same exact

information as the textbook • Sometimes we use the same topic but

make it fun

E.C. Unit Example: Grammar Class

1. Warm-Up: Daily Speaking Count

E.C. Unit Example: Grammar Class

• Choose speaking topic

E.C. Unit Example• Students write the date, topic, time

and goal.• Student B counts.

E.C. Unit Example2. Unit Overview

Listening Activity

E.C. Unit Example Word Study• Word List: match

definitions in groups of 4

E.C. Unit Example Word Study

1. Word List2. 1MM Crossfire 3. 1MM Spelling Game

E.C. Unit Example Comprehension Practice

1. Notebook Quiz Worksheet in English (Groups of 4)

2. Notebook Quiz in Japanese

E.C. Unit ExampleGrammar, Comprehension & Listening

1. Textbook Questions 2. Workbook Questions3. Listen to CD • “Shadowing”

E.C. Unit Example1. Team-Teaching Topic Introduction2. GL: Txt Part 1: Listening and Word Study3. GL: Txt Part 1: Comprehension4. GL: Txt Part 1: Grammar and Listening5. Repeat for Parts 2-36. Review Games

Review Games Crossword Puzzles Word Searches Word Scrambles Ordering Activities

Unit Questions? JTEs Don’t be afraid to ask your ALT

for help! ALTs Don’t be afraid to offer help! We’re all new to this English in

English thing! We can help each other!

JTE-ALT Relationships• Tips for the ALT –Plan ahead – Spread out your questions/favors–Practice Japanese • Ask questions!• Be brave- make mistakes!

– Enkais and Events

• Tips for the ALT – Say THANK YOU! –Offer to help grade or copy –Be available/approachable –Go with the flow–Remember that they make mistakes, too!

Building Relationships with your JTEs/ALTs

• Tips for the JTEs–Make sure your ALT knows the schedule – Enkais and Events – Special Envelopes –Dress up/down days–Be patient –Give feedback • Especially positive!

Building Relationships with your JTEs/ALTs