International Education at Kuang Ming

I have been doing lots of sharing at workshops and teaching demonstrations at different schools. However, today it was the first time that I shared and displayed some achievements in front of all the ninth graders in the very auditorium of my own school. Based on my perspective of how they responded, I think I did a good job today.

Fun with English: Self-introduction and A Little Happiness

This tenth teaching demonstration of mine was performed at Mingjian Junior High School on May 21. By the request of the event planner, the main idea was to create opportunities for students to USE English and to showcase how activities can be set up also using the language as well. In other words, it was more like an English camp, which I was given total freedom to decide on what to teach and enjoyed watching students busy applying what they've learned from textbooks. Teaching procedures are stated as bold and highlighted:

Cultural Exchange: Malaysian food, tourist spots and costumes

Self-introduction

The goal of this class is very simple: to have the students use the language and get to know more about other cultures. Thanks to Professor Meei-ling Liaw and her assistant, Jessica, I got to invite three international students of  NTCU, Jacklyn, Joyce, and Rachel,  to come to my class and do cultural exchange about Malaysian food, tourist attractions, and traditional costumes. The agenda is stated as follows:

A Quantum Leap in Teaching

Three years ago, I embarked on this great journey of gradually reinventing my ways of teaching with ideas and techniques from Cooperative Learning, Task Based Learning, lesson planning with ABCD objectives, to name just a few. I kept on trying out new strategies in my own class, microteaching, and teaching demonstrations. Of course, some worked so well, but some didn't. However, I've learned a great deal through this trial and error and eventually found a pattern that not only suits me so well but helps achieve the goal of getting students to talk in English.

English Self-introduction with Screencastify

Ever since I learned how to use Screencastify at the workshop a few weeks ago, I've been thinking about how I can also get my students to practice English with it. Then, I introduced them some famous teen YouTubers and their videos for the next project, Self-Introduction in English. To motivate their interest of learning, I also told them that they could showcase their talents, introduce their hobbies or pets, and anything like that. As usual, they came up with the script first, and then I helped revise it. 

Cooperative Learning: The 9th Teaching Demonstration

This is the 9th teaching demonstration outside of my school, with students I've never met before and all the English teachers there sitting in the back. Words are difficult to describe how I feel now. Well, let's just say I am completely blown away.

Cooperative Learning: Class Participation and Discussion

Due to this national policy of promoting Cooperative Learning throughout all the junior high schools in the country, I get to travel to many schools to not only share what I've learned related to this teaching approach but observe other teachers' classes and give my professional feedback and suggestions. When it comes to classroom observation, I probably have done this over twenty times, gaining plenty of experience and STEALING many brilliant ideas from it as well. So, I've developed my own framework of participation and discussion in terms of Cooperative Learning, jotting down everything, including the highlights, my questions and suggestions, to share with all the participants right after the teaching demonstration.

Before Demonstration

I'll tell the event planner that I'm really willing to help check the teacher's lesson plan prior to the real performance if that's fine with him or her. Of course, this is not mandatory, but if I do