International Video Conferencing: Introducing the history and features of KMJH

With this second Skype exchange with Toshi’s students, we experienced using English to introduce KMJH and Taichung, complete with a section of Readers Theater performance and the viral PPAP from Japan. Also, thanks to their counterparts’ hard work, we also got to know some fun facts about Japanese sports day, school festivals and clubs.

My students brainstormed some interesting topics to present, including Kuang Ming’s brief history, stories of the cornerstone (奠基石) and the Land Temple (土地公廟), lunch menu and lunch break, and even Principal Hu’s motto. They created mind maps to better materialize what they wanted to present. Furthermore, they also came up with relevant key vocab and expressions that were in line with their assigned topics and then completed their scripts and PPT slides.

The layout of my updated Skype turned out a bit messy. 10 minutes into the session, I still couldn’t find the “Share Screen” icon and that really gave me a fright. I was clueless and even more nervous after Skype crashed quite a few times. How horrifying it was! Luckily, it went back to normal all of a sudden so that we didn’t have to cancel it.

10 minutes before the end of the today’s meeting, I prompted my students to do a bit of their RT performance. The Wicked Witch and the Narrator reluctantly came to the camera because they were shy and blushed, but they did an amazing job by bringing the character alive with their perfect English pronunciation and intonation. Also, totally on a whim, I asked whether they would like to do PPAP for their Japanese partners, and so they did. We were all amused.

Of course, it still left a lot to be desired. For example, some students really have to speak up, and some talked too fast. Also, some of them were just reading their scripts. Despite all that, isn’t it the whole idea of this Skype English exchange, to provide an authentic environment for students to speak English and learn to appreciate cultural differences? For that, Toshi, let’s do it again, shall we? 

http://www.tama-st-h.metro.tokyo.jp/web/readings/topics/topics2811.php#1116-01

Be Confident and Speak English!

A gorgeous Russian TV presenter and radio host visited KMJH and shared her secret to success. I got to experience a bit of what it's like to be an interpreter. Of course, the students once again learned to appreciate cultural differences through English.

Skype Exchange Session 1: Self-introduction and Talent Show

We made it!

The purpose of session 1 is to help my students and their Japanese counterparts from Tokyo Metropolitan Tama High School of Science and Technology get to know each other and also prepare for the following group presentation sessions about some shared issues. Collaborative lesson planning is instrumental in making it happen, so I've closely with my partners, Toshi and Rhi, developed lesson plans, worksheets, and a checklist. Prior to this session, we went over some details of equipment and step-by-step procedures.

Well, It’s quite demanding but definitely rewarding as well when seeing my students speaking and listening to a lot of English attentively. On top of that, two classrooms were virtually connected, with students from both sides so engaged throughout the whole session. My partner also told me that four other colleges of his came to participate and said many good things about the session. What a pleasant surprise!

Receiving The International School Award from British Council Taiwan

OMG! We did it. Of all the candidates, only six received the award and won a one hundred thousand TWD grant from the British Council Taiwan and Education Bureau of Taichung City Government. All the sweat and tears going into this Skype Exchange Project finally paid off.

Under the framework of Identity and Belonging, we developed an action plan in the hope to create an authentic environment for the students not only to use the language but experience cultural differences. I cannot thank Akiko Kubo enough for her determination and dedication to this project.

105年度臺中市國教輔導團「勤耕」投稿: TESOL at QUT

TESOL at Queensland University of Technology:

The Program and School Visits

Introduction

A Dream Came True

When I became a husband and a father of two, I started to think that studying abroad would be just a dream. I never wanted to be an irresponsible man who could abandon his family and leave his job in order to satisfy his personal desire. Things have changed when I learned that the Ministry of Education was going to subsidize English teachers to study in Australia for five weeks. I felt the door to complete my “unfinished business” finally opened and I tried so hard to be admitted. I was jealous of my colleagues who pursued their master’s degree in the United Kingdom but not until I was with the other amazing English teachers from Taiwan to study TESOL in Brisbane, Australia.

Two Wonderful Roommates

The honeymoon period was undoubtedly enjoyable during the first days of my stay in Brisbane. I had two wonderful roommates. We shared a quite small room but their friendliness created a warm atmosphere inside. We would go to school together, shop together and cook our own food together. Just like any kind of adventure, our beginning was never easy. We had to learn how to get economical during our stay in Brisbane. It was all shared effort and through that we managed to save up to seven dollars every day. We got on a free ferry and inter-campus shuttle after a few days of trial and error.

The Beauty of Brisbane

For many times, I missed home. However, the beauty of Brisbane has caused me some distractions as its breathtaking tourist spots around the city would entice me to move around. With the variety of gourmet food I could try at the Sunday Riverside markets and South Bank markets on Saturday night, I felt like roaming around Taiwan's night market. Other captivating sights can be seen at the Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library of Queensland, the Queensland Art Gallery, and the Queensland Museum in South Bank. Even I who was not so enthusiastic about art could not easily get my eyes away from what they had inside. By taking a trip on the City Cat ferry, that could carry commuters and visitors up and down the Brisbane River, which winds its way through the City and suburbs, my classmates and I would just add more convenience.

The Orientation

The most important part of my trip to Brisbane started in 3 days. In that training program, participants were expected to gain a new perspective and some innovative skills on English teaching. The first week was more like an orientation. We applied for our ID card, got the username and password, and learned to use it to have access to the library of the Queensland University of Technology or QUT. Moreover, they shared a brief introduction to Australia—their culture, family life, land territory, and about the aboriginals. Classes were conducted in a more student-centered way, mainly with group discussion and even some hands-on activities wherein participants of this program must actively engage in sharing their ideas with the group in English. I thought of it as a great opportunity for us to refine our communication skills. By the end of the whole program, we had to submit our project report. They introduced us the basics of the Independent Study that all participants should apply in deciding on a specific topic related to an actual problem encountered in the classroom and they gave us a tour of the library to know how we could efficiently make use of it while working on our report. The project was the reflection of what we learned and they hoped our new ideas and developed or improved skills would benefit students in Taiwan.

Free Talking with Albert

With this semester coming to an end soon, I'd really like my students to have one more opportunity to speak English with the help of Albert, who I've been practicing speaking with for the past two years. By making video calls via Skype, the students worked in groups of two or three, doing self-introduction and talking about their hobbies, favorite subjects, food and so on, complete with describing interesting pictures in English. 

Cultural Exchange with Malaysian Volunteers from NTCU

I've been practicing speaking English one on one via Skype over eight years. I've also been to Brisbane for a dedicated TESOL program subsidized by the MOE for five weeks. On top of that, I've been lucky enough to attend the Global English workshop in Seoul, meeting many wonderful English teachers from neighboring Asian countries. The point is that I really, really enjoy both using English to express myself and getting to meet people outside of Taiwan and their cultures. Can I also create an authentic environment that my students will be motivated to use the language? Well, at least to have a glimpse of what it's like without leaving the country?