The second weekend !

We have only 1 week to take lessons from Maj-Britt and Marilyn. Which mean, we MUST have a great time on this weekend. Atsuko, Mary, Marina and me are having a good time at Vancouver. Before I come to Vancouver, I really had wanted to go to Stanly park that is one of the most famous parks in Vancouver, so I went to there today. As you may know, I really enjoyed and took pictures a lot. Fortunately, I succeed to take a picture of rainbow! That's why I feel so good.

On the other hand, we need to do a lesson that is not pre- teaching, main part of lesson about 10 minutes individually on next Wednesday and Thursday. I upset that because I've never do lesson of main part for students. However I need to think of this seriously for being a good teacher at primary school or junior high school. Therefore I think this opportunity is very useful for me. I'll do my best definitely.

Friday!

Hello. This is Yuriko Uemura.
Today is happy Friday.
In the morning we had Maj-Britt&Marilyn's class as usual.
Today, Mary, Astuko, Marina and Yukari did microteaching in Maj-Britt's class.

Mary's micro teaching. Her targets were numbers and the word 'can'. She did a kind of bingo. It was very good for me to know that we can use bingo for the activity.

Astuko's microteaching. She did pretty well. Actually, I learned the word "exaggerate" from her. We talked a lot.

Marina's microteaching. She did a kind of chain game. We made sentence by using other person's sentence. She did well, too.

Yukari's microteaching. She used the kind of gesture game. It was interesting.

Yes, we all done!

In Marilyn's class. We talked about writing. It was quite interesting because we can notice what happened when we are writing. And we can  see what is the important point  when we teach writing.

   We made some sentences for introduce some place and we guessed where it is from sentences. This activity was also quite interesting.

We will do one more microteaching in Marilyn's class also. So, I want to do my best.

In the afternoon, We had a orientation about distance education with Katy Chan. We posted message to Maj-Britt and wrote self-introduction. Through online, we can keep connection. And we can ask questions to teacher.  When we return to Japan, it will be helpful.  

And, we also enjoyed dinner  at downtown. Yeah!!

 

ART DAY

Hello. This is Marina Shibata.

In Maj-britt's class, we used "iClicker". It is a device that allows students to anonymously respond to questions a teacher poses in class. A kind of that is used in TV-show. I think it is good way to reduce the stress of students to answer some questions and student can join like a game.

She also taught us "TED". Do you know "TED"? It is website of audio materials for many people learning English. We can watch a lot of presentations held annually that features some of the best thinkers and presenters in the world on it. I'll try to use it to practice listening !

Also, Gatty, Mari-san and Nao conducted the activities. Their works was interesting and made us motivated.

In Marilyn's class, we did "" Travle Fair" and make a travel package as a travel agent. When I was a under graduate student, I did like that. It was really interesting for me. I learnt it is important to connect the content of the activity with real. She also taught us the activity which is "Freeze Walk". It was interesting too.

In the afternoon class, we drew a picture something you can see outside the window. I am not good at drawing but this work was interesting. Everyone produced a nice picture and had fun!

I will present the activity in Maj-britt's class tomorrow. I get nervous but I'll do my best!

Gatty's presentation "Nice Gift For…"

Mari's presentation "Guessing"

　↑This is "iClicker"

Nao's activity "Gesture game"

"Freeze Walk"

The Halfway Point

Hello, how's it going??
This is Naoaki Nishimura.

It has passed the half of this program since we came to UVic. We'll try to do our best in the rest of the program!!

As usual in the May-britt's class, we learned some vocabulary learning methods. Although there might be not the easiest ways to learn a lot of vocabulary, it depends on students' personality. For example, students who have interest in music are suitable for using music to learn vocabulary. Also, it is important to repeat using the words again and again even if we forget the meaning of the words. She taught us an useful vocabulary learning method; it is called "Vocabulary Book Project." As the demonstration of warm-up activity in the class, Tomomi-san conducted a chain game that tells a question from student to other student quietly. That was so interesting and motivated us.

In Marilyn's class, she taught us a group activity mainly. She taught us not only the demonstration of the group activity but also the importance of implementing group work and excuses for avoiding group work. As one of the examples, she showed us "Lonely Planet." We can make a plan to spend the time in a country where we want to go or the teacher determines it. In this task, we can share our own ideas with each groups while thinking about the plan. Also, students can learn the cultural difference and have interest in other countries.

In the afternoon workshop, we learned brain-based learning from Prof. Lora-Beth Trail. We realized how brain system and learning are related to each other. It is possible to learn and memorize a lot of things by noticing how the brain works.

Tomorrow, I have to demonstrate my warm-up activity in May-britt's class (Gatty, too). I feel a little bit nervous, but I'll do my best!!

P.S
Mari-san, one of the fellows of this program, happy birthday!!
We hope you have a good one!!

                                                             Happy birthday, Mari-san!!

                                                               Brain-Based Learning

                                                        We hope you have a good one!!

2nd week

Hi! This is Satoshi Yamagata.

Our new week in Victoria started from yesterday.  Everyone seems they enjoyed their own weekends.  Some went to a festival that was held at the beach, and some spent their weekends at the island called Salty....

By the way, we have to work hard in this week as well.  The first warm-up activity in the Majbritt's class was conducted by Kaneko-san.  She is well experienced in the field of English language teaching, so we all were able to enjoy the activity from the bottom of our heart even though the target was set for elementary school students.  Also the atmosphere came out of her facial expression made us relieved to engage the activity so much that we could move a lot at that moment.  

Needless to say, others' activity were great as well, insightful comments to specific points from Majbritt gave us many ideas that will be useful in future classroom.

At the second period, we learnt many kinds of pre-activities concerning to writing from the others.

Our lovely person, Mary-senpai did a good job.  Her interesting talent should not be limited only in English language teaching.

I really think that I want to be and must become such a great teacher as soon as possible.


After the lunch, in the afternoon, we had an opportunity to know how different the teaching certificate systems are here in British Columbia compared to our country, Japan.

It will be hard for those who apply for teaching in BC, from students' perspectives, they are lucky to be here.


According to the presenter, Mr. Shawn Mcmullin in other words 真熊林, BC is also a more unique state than any other states in Canada as well when we consider the ed system.

Though I cannot tell which one is good or bad, I was so impressed to be able to know the educational systems in BC.

That's all for today

bye-bye

PS

Our great Dr. Yoshida came to UVic today.  Our studying here is going to be more stimulating!!!

The workshop of musical instrument, DJEMBE

In the morning class, we learned some micro - teaching of listening and writing. It's very useful for me to learn those because I've never learns about micro teaching for someone who want to learn English. I also did the warm up activity for primary school student in front of our classmates. I actually upset to show the activity and forgot to explain of clue to do it. Therefore I regret my activity and if I have a chance to show it again, I'll do my best definitely!! 

In the afternoon, we experienced the African musical instrument, Djembe. We hit the centre of it and the edge of it by our hands. It's so amazing and I think We had a good time to learn the African music and instruments. I also think of how can I collaborate it as a CLIL. Anyway, I'm really interested in these musical instruments, and I'll take a lesson from someone who is familiar with African musical instrument in Japan!!

Cluster houses

Hello everyone!  It was another beautiful day today in Victoria.  Mild temperatures and clear skies made it a great day for the sand sculpture festival down by the bay.   I took a few pictures and have included them below, but since today was Sunday there are no lessons to report on.  So instead, I would like to share with you the accommodations we've been provided at the University of Victoria.

We have been staying at the "cluster houses," which are closely grouped homes located on-campus.  Each house is divided into two floors with two individual bedrooms on each floor (so, 4 people to a house).  As you enter the house you immediately find yourself in the living room, which is connected to the kitchen and dining room.  Upon passing through the door opposite of the entrance, you find two bedrooms and a bathroom that they must share.  The rooms come fully furnished with a desk, bed, lamp, dresser, and shelves.  Roger even went a step further and provided us with a rice cooker, ensuring that the stay would be even more comfortable for my Japanese classmates.  Noticeably missing from our house are a microwave and a TV, but it's a minor inconvenience given our short stay.  The only bothersome aspect we've dealt with is the somewhat spotty WiFi around our lodging area.

Now it's time for a good night's rest before classes tomorrow! 

Marilyn said these are built by professional architects.

Cluster houses.

Living room.
Why is everyone on the floor?

Kitchen.
Two refrigerators!

Dining room.
Entrance to the cluster house is the door on the far left.

Bedroom.  (Tomo's)

Closet.
We have a LOT of space to put stuff.  There are other closets and also a locker for each room.

Bathroom.