![Picture](/uploads/8/8/8/8/8888669/5377101.jpg)
_ English teachers, trainers, and researchers have long recognized the value of not only reading about but actually observing experienced, effective teachers in the classroom as a form of professional development. However, professionally produced multimedia (video-based) English language teacher training materials have been in somewhat short supply. Historically, many of those that do exist have taken a “talking head” lecture approach and have not necessarily included examples from an EFL context. Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World uses a constructivist, inquiry-based approach, giving viewers opportunities to adapt materials to their local context. It incorporates authentic classroom scenes and interviews with teachers from all countries.
In the video segments, we had the opportunity to observe other teachers’ practices. Some of these examples are from primary level classes, while others are from secondary level and post-secondary level classes. A variety of teaching styles and cultures are reflected in these examples.
WHAT WERE YOUR LEARNINGS?
Many factors can have an effect on the results that we ay obtain from using the video and manual
resources, including:
• Our own personal reasons and motivation for using these materials.
• How closely the materials fit with current practices and the curriculum in our educational setting.
• The degree of flexibility and creativity that we may bring to the task of making innovations and changes in our classroom practices; in other words, our willingness to experiment with and seriously try to use different ideas and techniques in our classroom.
We believe that this training has helped us polish our teaching style and improve language teaching practices in the classroom. For example, this training will help us make a connection between our students and ourselves and to create the good and helpful environment for them to reach their goals while being in the learning process. Furthermore, with this training has helped us improve our language skills because by listening and watching video series, we had the opportunity to overcome fears of using and acquiring the new language.
In these videos, we could learn from watching other teachers. We could develop a critic al thinking while evaluating their actions, activities developed during their classes and behavior inside of their classrooms. It was great to see how we learned from their mistakes by being aware of not doing the same. Also, we can put into practice all the activities and behaviors that we saw in them that may be useful for our own classes.
WHAT OTHER WAYS MAY BE INCORPORATED TO TEACH THIS IMPORTANT TRAINIG COURSE
One important thing about using this video series is to establish clear objectives at the beginning of using it so that students know what to reach during the course. Using videos to show students new ways of teaching is a very useful way to learn. However, there are many other ways of using it like making students do their own video correcting all the things that they would not use in their classes. It is important that students may be aware of their own learning, so by making their own video they would be showing what they have learned while watching the videos and what they would incorporate to their own teaching style, and the teacher would be aware of what students have learned.
Furthermore, doing a discussion inside the classroom after watching the videos would help a lot to verify that all the students have learned from the videos.
IDENTIFY 2 SPECIFIC WAYS OF USING THE VIDEO SERIES DIFFERENTLY
1. One of way of using this video series is to teach novice teachers by showing them different ways of teaching around the world. When we see experienced teachers developing a class, we take advantage of their knowledge and incorporate it to our own way of teaching and the necessities of our students. Also, it can help other experienced teachers to incorporate new and fresh ideas to their teaching style.
2. Another way of using this important video segment is to show teachers in general to know how to use technology in education. It is important for us as teachers of the 21st century learners to know how to incorporate new techniques that may make the learning of English very appealing for them, new techniques that make them feel involved in what they like the most: technology.
HERE YOU CAN FIND THE VIDEO THAT WAS THE MOST STRIKING FOR US DURING THESE THREE SEMESTERS AND BELOW IT YOU CAN FIND A WIKI AND A WEB PAGE THAT WE CREATED BASED ON THE VIDEO SERIES.
In the video segments, we had the opportunity to observe other teachers’ practices. Some of these examples are from primary level classes, while others are from secondary level and post-secondary level classes. A variety of teaching styles and cultures are reflected in these examples.
WHAT WERE YOUR LEARNINGS?
Many factors can have an effect on the results that we ay obtain from using the video and manual
resources, including:
• Our own personal reasons and motivation for using these materials.
• How closely the materials fit with current practices and the curriculum in our educational setting.
• The degree of flexibility and creativity that we may bring to the task of making innovations and changes in our classroom practices; in other words, our willingness to experiment with and seriously try to use different ideas and techniques in our classroom.
We believe that this training has helped us polish our teaching style and improve language teaching practices in the classroom. For example, this training will help us make a connection between our students and ourselves and to create the good and helpful environment for them to reach their goals while being in the learning process. Furthermore, with this training has helped us improve our language skills because by listening and watching video series, we had the opportunity to overcome fears of using and acquiring the new language.
In these videos, we could learn from watching other teachers. We could develop a critic al thinking while evaluating their actions, activities developed during their classes and behavior inside of their classrooms. It was great to see how we learned from their mistakes by being aware of not doing the same. Also, we can put into practice all the activities and behaviors that we saw in them that may be useful for our own classes.
WHAT OTHER WAYS MAY BE INCORPORATED TO TEACH THIS IMPORTANT TRAINIG COURSE
One important thing about using this video series is to establish clear objectives at the beginning of using it so that students know what to reach during the course. Using videos to show students new ways of teaching is a very useful way to learn. However, there are many other ways of using it like making students do their own video correcting all the things that they would not use in their classes. It is important that students may be aware of their own learning, so by making their own video they would be showing what they have learned while watching the videos and what they would incorporate to their own teaching style, and the teacher would be aware of what students have learned.
Furthermore, doing a discussion inside the classroom after watching the videos would help a lot to verify that all the students have learned from the videos.
IDENTIFY 2 SPECIFIC WAYS OF USING THE VIDEO SERIES DIFFERENTLY
1. One of way of using this video series is to teach novice teachers by showing them different ways of teaching around the world. When we see experienced teachers developing a class, we take advantage of their knowledge and incorporate it to our own way of teaching and the necessities of our students. Also, it can help other experienced teachers to incorporate new and fresh ideas to their teaching style.
2. Another way of using this important video segment is to show teachers in general to know how to use technology in education. It is important for us as teachers of the 21st century learners to know how to incorporate new techniques that may make the learning of English very appealing for them, new techniques that make them feel involved in what they like the most: technology.
HERE YOU CAN FIND THE VIDEO THAT WAS THE MOST STRIKING FOR US DURING THESE THREE SEMESTERS AND BELOW IT YOU CAN FIND A WIKI AND A WEB PAGE THAT WE CREATED BASED ON THE VIDEO SERIES.