Saturday, March 7, 2015

Discussion Forum for Assignment 2: Authentic Teaching: Using newspapers in classes

Dear Access instructors, 

To get actively involved: 


a. the Discussion Moderator will start a Conversation thread (discussion) on how to use newspapers in teaching by 
Wednesday. 

b. the Conversation wrapper will end up  the Conversation thread by Sunday, by making general conclusion of the colleagues' shared opinions as answers to the Moderator's prompt. 


c. each  participant will offer feedback to 3 comments of  their 3 different colleagues ( 1 comment for 1 colleague) by Saturday.   





Enjoy Chatting !!!

Conversation Moderator:

 Daria Prozorovschi, Access teacher, Access-Hincesti

Conversation Wrapper: 

Margarita Bicec, Access teacher assistant, Access-Hincesti




23 comments:

  1. Conversation Moderator: Daria ProzorovschiMarch 12, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    Dear Access teachers and teacher assistants,

    American Educational system is using the NIE (Newspapers in Education) Program since 1930’s and successfully integrates this authentic material in the classroom to teach social studies, language arts, math, science, history, and many other areas.
    (The history of NIE program is briefly presented on http://www.nwitimes.com/app/nie/ )

    Please respond to the following questions below, limiting your answer to 4-5 phrases:
    What topics / areas would you choose to teach you Access Students through newspapers?
    Could you provide newspapers/ newspapers articles as educational material systematically or this resource should be used just occasionally? Why?

    Be sure to comment substantially to at least 3 of you colleagues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The most relevant topics for Access students might be those that would keep their interest alife and make them feel connection with their reality: weekly local news, entertainment, life issues, connected with their siblings in other different contries.
      Yes, we can provide newspaper articles as educational material weekly, and use it both as additional material and as hometask as well.

      Delete
    2. Hello Emma,

      Thank you for you reply and for helping us to lead this discussion.

      Have you ever used newspapers as educational resources during your classes?
      If yes could you share your experience with us?

      Respectfully,

      Daria

      Hincesti

      Delete
    3. Definetly, I used to take articles form Psychologies MAgazine for Language and Vocabulary class, GB edition and NPR website for Oral/written translation class. Gerald Tribune and New York Times-- are other sources and are very good authentic materials. All these go well for upper-intermediate and advanced groups, as they need a certain background and English language skills.
      And Daria, let me thank you for the information and resources you provided, about the history of mass media entering into its rights -- that was both informative and interesting.

      Delete
    4. Natalia ConstantinovMarch 14, 2015 at 6:50 PM

      Good point Emma.

      I like your way of using newspapers like additional material and as home task.
      I would also add newspapers as warm-up activity. It is very helpful and easier to introduce students in lessons' activities.

      Delete
  2. Margarita (Teacher Assistant)March 12, 2015 at 6:55 PM

    I believe that my students would be interested in working with newspapers about sports, music/entertainment, comedy or recent events. As they are very energetic, plain informative texts would get them tired and the students would stop being receptive. That's why I think that the topics I suggested would be the best for their interest in learning. I also think that the newspapers articles should be used systematically, since they're an effective way to learn and aren't very expensive, either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margarita, I would absolutely agree upon your idea to use articles sytematically, because of its price and effectiveness. It is also nice to involve the toipics you suggest, as music,sports and entertainment events are always of big interest for b=various categories of students.
      Thank you for your ideas.,

      Delete
    2. Natalia ConstantinovMarch 14, 2015 at 7:35 PM

      I’m yours girls.

      The main goals of the lesson is to get involve the student in studying process and get good results.
      That means we have to find interesting topics for students even if these are current events, daily news, entertainment and even advertising news.

      Working together in a partnership, students and teacher, benefit all by providing the best practices and the instant feedback.

      Good luck!!!

      Delete
    3. Hello Natalia,

      Undoubtedly you idea of feedback and student - teacher partnership is one of the important elements we often forget. Do you think the cooperation between instructors and the learners could help us to avoid choosing the "wrong" newspaper article for ours students?

      Respectfully,

      Daria

      Hincesti

      Delete
    4. Well,Natalia, that is a strong point in what yu say about working together as partners with students. it is all because Teacher is always and everlasting "learner" himself and in so many cases we learn form our students new things, or smth that might be forgotten.And through inquiring ab their interests in mass media envorpnment, makes us be together with them as well.

      Delete
  3. Natalia ConstantinovMarch 14, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    For sure, there are many advantages of using newspapers or newspapers articles as a teaching tool. Nowadays, we want to know the newest news in the fastest, easiest and freest way and all this is possible via printed or online newspapers, magazines etc.

    I would like to involve the students to discuss different interesting topics such as: daily world news, Oscar ceremony, Eurovision contest, celebrities' achievements, science achievements, new opportunities for studying abroad.

    I prefer to use the newspapers (articles) as a teaching tool occasionally/often to maintain and increase students’ interest and avoid the lesson routine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Natalia,

      Thank you for sharing with us your ideas and visions.

      You have mentioned the topics that may cause some issues when trying to find materials, simply because the content must be up-dated every year.

      However because teenagers like a lot to explore these subjects and books usually do not provide the lattermost information, you are absolutely right choosing newspapers as a solution for this problem.

      Still the language and the terms newspapers make use of may be too difficult or ambiguous for some Access students. Do you think we should give up offering to our students “the latest breaking news” in this case?

      Respectfully,

      Daria

      Hinces

      Delete
    2. Natalia ConstantinovMarch 14, 2015 at 6:19 PM

      Hello Daria,

      It’s a really good question, thank you for it.

      Absolutely not, “the latest breaking news” helps motivate and teach students to exceed their limits, thereby they improve their reading and comprehension skills.
      As a teacher we can give them some help or suggestions to do their best.

      Sincerely,
      Natalia.

      Delete
  4. Use and examination newspapers during the lessons access is a very good way to develop both knowledge and vocabulary as well as to always know recent events. That's why I think that the newspapers articles should be used systematically.
    In my opinion my students would be interested in working with newspapers about music,sports,movies,fashion and celebrities' achievements.These topics are most interesting for teens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Olga,

      Thank you for expressing you opinion on this topic.

      You are right, the genres of the article you mentioned will raise interest in our students.

      Since you are taking partially the role of teacher assistant during Access lessons and still "activate" as a students, do you think teacher should ask the student what topic should be the newspaper article the next time, or teacher must keep the last word due to his/her life experience?

      Respectfully,

      Daria

      HIncesti

      Delete
    2. Margarita (Teacher Assistant)March 15, 2015 at 10:13 AM

      Dear Olga,

      I really like that you mentioned fashion and celebrities' achievements as topics for the students. I believe that these topics are indeed interesting for adolescents, since I would rather see teens reading magazines about celebrities rather than regular newspapers. Maybe if we could find information about famous people in the newspapers, the students will be more excited to work and be receptive with us.

      Best Regards,
      Margarita

      Delete
  5. Oh,yes,Margarita, absolutely agree that we can keep tightly the interest of the students, if the article is about someone famous whom they like or admire !!!! It is so motivating and can provoke a nice conversation and reading of other articles as well !!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi everybody. Sorry for a late answer (just been very busy last weeks). As I see lots of things have already been discussed about the newspapers and using them in the classrooms. I agree with many of them. However I'd like to add my own words about this topic. I'm sure using the newspapers in the classroom we build a bridge between the language learning and the real world. Reading the articles about sports, youth, education, fashion, music, as well the news we bring our students to the English language world in reallity. He can understand that English is not just boring school books or class disucssions, but English is the language which provides him interesting, necessary information.
    All the best,
    Svetlana (Causeni)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Sveltana,

    I think you bring up a very solid point, students are always asking, "why should I learn this" I believe the real life topics brought forward in newspapers answers that question. It then acts as a motivator for students to invest in the English Language.

    Best,
    Sheryl

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Svetlana (Causeni)March 27, 2015 at 3:20 PM

      dear Sheryl,

      thanks a lot for your comment. I really believe we should be Motivators&Teachers, 2-in-1. Only being able to combine these two things a Teacher can be a GREAT teacher today. All the best! Svetlana.

      Delete
  8. Hello everyone,

    I have used a few times newspapers during our Access lessons and I can say that it was a really effective way to study new vocabulary, but in the same time to find out new interesting things related to the UK and the USA. Newspapers are always attractive for our students because they are full with great, well selcted information, colorful pictures. Newspapers are easy to use during the classes because students are really motivated to find out new staff and this way they work hard and have a lot of fun. So, I think that we would better use newspapers at least twice a month and select attractive topics for our teen students. Thanks


    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Gheorghe, I know these are the last days of this project, however, I'm curious what topics concerning the UK and USA have been interesting to you in the last month - if you get a chance, let me know. Here in the US everyone is talking about Hillary Clinton entering the Presidential race, ISIS, gay rights in Texas, and then the Ukraine - it's very interesting times, with a variety of topics.

    Best,
    Sheryl

    ReplyDelete
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