June+7,+2011

REFLECTIONS FOR JUNE 7, 2011

Ying Li:

What happened with my reflection? It was sent at 8:20pm 06/07. Today (06/08/11) when I check teacher’s short remarks, I found there is nothing for my reflection. I feel so sad. Now I remake it as follow: Today is an enrichment day for me. I learned a lot, such as five stages of second language acquisition, the linguistic functions theory, etc. I enjoy today’s lecture. Through the role-play, I got a deepen understanding of major ten levels of ACTFL rating scale. Thanks for Ms. Chau gave us a useful tool webside – voki.com. I hope we can get some more useful web side or links in remained classes.

Yinsan Isabel Hsu.....I had posted my reflection yesterday but somehow it did appear. Anyhow, I felt that yesterday lesson was very productive, especially the language function session and the ACTFL proficiency level play. Also, I like how Mrs. Chau review every content by summarizing the key points at the end. This help me check whether or not I had grab the important concept.

Shaohua Chen - The short skit of shopping was fun, we as teachers put ourselves in students' shoes, which could help me to reflect students' learning. For the previous school year, I did some skits with my high school students. Mr. Chau, are there any recommendations regarding how to improve students' proficiency level "dramatically" by doing skits??? What are the rubrics could you provide? Thank you. Putting ourselves in students' shoes is exactly what I meant for this activity. Let me find the rubrics from my computer file and I'll give it to you.

Jade Jiang Clayton

The word "Scaffolding" from Vygosky's zone of proximal development theory lights me up. It accurately explains what the teachers' role in the learning process of the students. In the other words, the teacher's job is to build those "scaffolding" for the students and bring them to a higher level. By the way, those skits presented by all of groups were so funny and entertainment, thank you peers, I laughed so hard and my tears bursted out. :-) You'll see a real video lesson of "scaffolding" for a math lesson in day 3.

Louisa Yu- 今天我们上课学到了二语习得理论， 我的问题是幼儿沉浸式语言教学与二语习得的关系，特别是幼儿沉浸式语言学习与成人二语学习的相同点与不同点，以及在教学中如何运用二语习得理论实施有效的教学问题. I'll show you a video lesson today so you know a bit the relationship between immersion and 2nd langage acquisition.

Han, Wei Today we picked one of the Chinese Charaters to express our thoughts and ideals, which is really fun and cool. Also, we learned the theories of Second Language Aquisition and its 5 stages. In the afternoon, we are divided into different groups to do the role-play to show different levels in Chinese learning--NL, NM, NH, IL, IM, IH, AL, AM, AH. I really enjoy today's lecture, even though the theory is very dry and abstract, however it is much easier to learn and remember it in this way. In the end, we had heated discussion about the lesson plan and preparation for the 3rd week demo class. It is a fruitful day. I'm so glade that you began the 3rd week lesson.

Zhang Xiaohong- This morning, I learned that one of the most important responsibilities of a teacher is to help students to cross the ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development), offering them some guidance so that they can go further than they are able to go without teacher's help. This is exactly what teaching and teacher is all about. I also learned that it's very important to take the students age and target language level of te students into consideration when we disign a teaching plan based on which learning stage the students are in. This afternoon I learned through the skit that what the students at different level(Nl,NM,NH,IL,IM,IH,AL,AI,AH,Superior) can do with the target language they have learned. I'm so glade to see how you summarized what you learn today. A good reflection to me as well.

Gu Xitao Today's key words, I think, is stage and function. For the stage we should know our students. Only you know what kind of students you will face with can you plan your lesson. In ancient China we have the similar theory. For the function we should know how to make our students use the language properly. At the end of today our group discussed our lesson plan. we will cooperate in the few weeks. That is what we have done. Thank for sharing your thought here. Glad to know that you began your 3rd week lesson.

Olivia Yu- I got more clear vision about what the outcome the students could be at the level of the target language speaking proficiency. We got our outline of the teaching plan briefly done, with the great help of instruction from Christina and Ms.Chau. Glad to hear that it is helpful to you.

Tracy Peng- Today we began with a team building activity---My Favorite Chinese Character. We had fun and reviewed the 5C Standards by doing this. The theories of SLA is helpful and now we are clear how to plan each lesson based on the students' language proficiency. Our group had a detailed discussion in 3 aspects regarding to our teaching plans:goals (what the students are supposed to know and to do in language and content); assessments ( how the teachers know the students have already known) and activities ( how to instruct the students by using different strategies). I believe that our group will do an excellent job by communicating, creating and cooperating. Yes, I believed too. I was really impressed this whole group of teachers. You all work so hard.

Yewei Jiang What a busy day! I definitely agree with what Olivia Yu wrote about acquiring a clearer vision regarding what the outcome the students could be at the level of the target language speaking proficiency. I also think that the group activity(Your appointment schedule) is a great way of finding out a student's Chinese speaking level. Ms. Chau's ACTFL handout (Inverted Pyramid Showing Major Levels of ACTFL Rating Scale) will help me figure out the different requirements for each grade level; the diagram was very clear and comprehensible. What a great reflection to me as well. I know you learned a lot today.

I-Chi Wang - The Second Language Acquisition Theory and Application was extremely useful; it assits teachers by determining a students' ability through a step by step process by completeing taksks on their own. The enactment of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines allowed teachers to act according to each level; this style of teaching is a helpful guideline for teachers to learn the level that their students are currently at and how to progress from there. It was a very infomative day! I'm so glade the theory and guideline is helpful to you and to understand your students.

Fanghong Yu I will borrow from Ms Chau the song-"头顶高，肩膀平，眼睛看好，耳朵听好，嘴巴闭好，手放好“. Kids will look at each other and try to do better. I like the website: voki.com. I will explore more about it. The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines: Speakingis very useful. Ms Chau asked us to make a skit and perform it. It helped us to understand it. I'll print out a copy of the text for you.

Mo Geng I believe that “Instructional scaffolding” is a great teaching technique to help students acquire new knowledge. “Instructional scaffolding” requires teachers to provide enough preparations to effectively instruct, help, and support students to successful accomplish language acquisition. The theory of “Second Language Acquisition” and it relates 5 stages, which help me to be able to identify students at different levels. It also helps me to identify the target language which I need to instruct the students.

I'm so glade that you reflected what you learn and how you are going to help your students.

Belinda Liu--Today I have learned the ACTFEL benchmarks for speaking, listening, reading and writing. I really like the Act Out part for speaking. All of the teachers have talents of performing. I couldn't stop laughing. So funny. It is also a good way to learn. Teachers should have the sense of humor. I liked it too. Everyone is so creative.

Shelley Xiao What a productive day! I love everything we did today too. Everyday is a wonderful learning day! I learned so much from everyone how we can use “My favorite Chinese Character” activity. What a great way of introductions to class. The Bloom’s Taxonomy, the explanation of ACTFL rating scale, paired clock activity etc. All are very, very useful and informative. Big thanks to Ms. Explain concepts and contents in such clear, easy to understand way! I like the class “attention” song too. It’s such a simple activity but very effective! Thank you Ms Chau!!! Glade to hear that you learned a lot.

Shuo Chen I learned a lot of new knowledge today. First is the theory of second language acquisition. Second is the function of language. Last is ACTFL, and I think it is the most important thing I got today. Because we can know the students' level of target language use this standard. It's good for teacher to do the lesson plan. We also begun to design our third week with team members today afternoon. Good to hear that you began the 3rd week lesson plan.

Ruihong Wu I have to say thank you to Ms Chou. She offered us many effective ways what I really need to learn to conduct students in classroom. The thoery of second language acquistion, Function of language and thoery of ACTFL just have opened my mind, let me knew more about language immersion education is so powerfull for non-native language speakers to learn the second langauge. Activity of writting your favorite Chinese character was a fantastic method to teach students Chinese characters. I'll show you a video lesson from my immersion class today.

Norman Kao 好妹妹，你提的问题太好了. 你说“幼儿沉浸式语言教学与二语习得的关系，特别是幼儿沉浸式语言学习与成人二语学习的相同点与不同点，以及在教学中如何运用二语习得理论实施有效的教学问题.

我进来有点迟，但是还是对分程度的了解多了一番认识. 蜗迷脱符！非常谢谢赵老师！ I'll show you a video lesson from my immersion class today and hopefuly it can help you understand more of what you mentioned here.

Shan Lou (Shia) I learned a lot from today’s training, and I will use new knowledge to teach my students. The most interested knowledge I learned today is “ACTFL Rating Scale”. Frankly speaking, I never considered the level of my students. The levels of my students are Novice Low forever in my mind. “ACTFL Rating Scale” helps me classify all of my students. Frist of all, I could know my students very well and give them a clear goal. Second, I could make a better teaching plan for different students. Last one is help my students improve their Chinese faster. Yes, I need improve myself too. So I will try to learning more tomorrow

Ning Wei I loved what we did with the standard. Having us acting out helped me to really understand what each level is like. It also covered the interpersonal, interpretive and presentational modes. I also will use "My favorite Chinese Character" activity with my students, this will help them to remember a lot of vocabulary and learn a lot of stories about characters and their classmates.

Jubie Ahn I enjoyed very much for the team building activity, my favorite Chinese character from which I get to understand the theory as well as the story behind it. My clock appointment to pair with your partner to act the assigment in various proficiency levels. It definitely will provide guideline on the last week pratice. Also, the topic of Functions, what you can do with language in terms of using proper vocabulary and structure is also a good lesson for me to conduct my teaching in various learning levels. what a day!!