TESOL 2001
GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. USA. |
|
Teresa Almeida d'Eça (Portugal) |
Internet Fair - 1 March 2001 |
|
|
Integrating Email Exchanges in EFL
·
Serious reflection Ş Big decision·
green light or yellow light: go ahead or postpone the idea?·
do you have the necessary hardware and software? interested students? on and off class time availability?·
feel the need for change and innovation? to meet students needs, interests and expectations?·
do you have spirit of adventure? do you think positive? are you persistent?
·
Planning·
theme and title: student or teacher decision? curricular or current topic?·
number of students: small group or whole class?·
form of communication: one-to-one basis? pairs? small groups?·
when: in or after class: curricular or extracurricular?·
duration: how long?·
frequency of message flow (by each partner-group): weekly? every two weeks?·
outline: lay out a detailed plan including objectives, duration and deadlines, assessment, and activities to be carried out·
online/offline tasks: do on line only what is absolutely necessary·
students' approval: present the project to the class and let the students know you're counting on them·
how to find a partner: post a call for collaboration in a mailing list/newsgroup or contact a colleague?·
deadlines: agree on beginning and end dates (allow flexibility for the end date if necessary)·
kickoff: which partner begins the exchange?
·
Implementing·
kick-off time!·
help/orient students along the way, session-by-session, but give them as much autonomy as possible: be 'the guide on the side'·
suggest working strategies and research resources when students are/seem to be lost·
stick to the pace of message flow: contact your colleague(s) regularly·
keep a record/log of everything going on in each session: lets you know what has been done and should follow, so facilitates guidance as well as assessment·
make back-ups of every message sent/received: will allow you to make it known to the school community and parents, as well as to post it/have students post it on a school/teacher Web page·
try to solve any problems directly with your peer: keep students out of it·
have an alternative plan for technology-centered lessons: technologies do have their 'tantrums'!
·
Closing·
wrap up ideas/draw conclusions, write them out and send them to partners·
compare conclusions if necessary·
send a 'thank you and goodbye' message to everybody involved·
reward your students for their commitment and good work·
let the school community know about it·
post it on the school Web page or your home page
You can also read my Experience-based notes on email and email exchanges at
http://www.digibridge.net/teresadeca/email/notesonexchanges.htmThere's additional material on email in my home page at
http://www.digibridge.net/teresadeca/ . Click on Email exchanges and on Papers.