Workshop for Edcamp 2018
The University of Languages and International Studies
21 April, 2018
1. Title: Applying Critical Thinking Skills: Examples from the EFL Classroom
Room:
Time: 120 minutes (1.00 – 300)
Presenters: Dr. Ramin Yazdanpanah & Tran Thi Thu Trang, Thai Nguyen University
Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/N7HLRqezBMjccKec2
Integrating and applying critical thinking skills is central to English language teaching in the 21st century (Rezaei, et al, 2000). Students must be able to move beyond being passive consumers of information, to developing their own ability to interpret complex understandings about the world (Oliver & Utermohlen, 1995). Therefore, teachers must be able to explicitly model and guide students in applying critical thinking within their own coursework and subject matter (Willingham, 2007). This workshop will provide two examples of critical thinking instruction within a tertiary context: a Teaching Methodology course and an Intercultural Communications course. The first presenter will discuss how she applies whole-class discussion activities to help students generate and answer critical questions concerning teaching methodology. The second presenter will discuss activities that move students beyond the memorization of cultural facts, and dos and don’ts, to higher order thinking skills to analyze and challenge cultural stereotypes and biases through both in-class as well as online multimedia projects.
The presenters will engage participants in activities that build students’ confidence and linguistic ability to discuss, reflect, and share critical and more complex perspectives of the world and themselves.
2. Title: Developing growth mindset in language learning environment
Room:
Time: 120 minutes (1.00 – 300)
Presenters: Dr. Hoàng Thị Hạnh, the University of Languages and International Studies
Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/N7HLRqezBMjccKec2
Motivation is one of the most important factors contributing to language learning success. Developing a growth mindset has been found to create motivation, help learners proactively face challenges, and be persistent in achieving their goals. This session aims at introducing theory and practice relating to the implications of growth and fixed mindset. Participants will have chance to explore their existing mindset, to learn and practice strategies to nurture an enabling environment for learning and developing creative and reflective thinking in a collaborative environment.
3. Title: Improving Students’ Learning Outcomes Through Service Learning
Room:
Time: 120 minutes (1.00 – 3.00)
Presenters: Jeanie Cook, MA TESOL
English Language Fellow, The US Embassy
People’s Police Academy, Hanoi
Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/N7HLRqezBMjccKec2
In this workshop, participants will learn what service learning is; its benefits for students, teachers, learning institutions and the community; and kinds of projects that can be done. Then everyone in the workshop will have the task of designing a service learning project with a small group while thinking about the kinds of projects, goals for students, the skills to focus on and the learning assessment of students. I will provide steps for starting the project. By the end of the workshop, participants should have many ideas and plans for implementing service learning with their students.
4. Title: Teaching Writing: Thoughts and Ideas for Teachers
Room:
Time: 120 minutes (1.00 – 3.00)
Presenters: Veronica Moermond, M.A., M.Ed., RPCV
English Language Fellow, US Embassy, Ha Long University, Uong Bi.
Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/N7HLRqezBMjccKec2
As teachers, we sometimes forget that which we already know, so a little refresher is useful. The presenter will begin with discussing the five types of anti-writers that are common in most English classrooms. Teachers will begin to reflect on why students find writing boring and what the teacher audience has done in their own classrooms in order to combat this. Journal writing is demonstrated with a creative writing prompt, and the presenter will then share as an easy way to “grade” journals. News articles, picture caption contests, and short story writing with photo prompts are discussed and demonstrated. Emotion poetry is demonstrated and poetry is discussed as a way to get students thinking about writing using sensory images. Basic writing templates are given as a way to help reluctant and struggling writers. Finally, a video opinion writing prompt is shown as a way to help inspire students into wanting to write.