Two+innovative+techniques

=TWO INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FROM EFL BLOGS= This is an innovative technique which is raised by someone called Nick from Burcu Akyol’s blog. He seems to be integrating the technology to the interactive language classrooms very well. Technique includes a video called vialogue on which students can act on and do the necessary changes according to the teacher’s interactions. As it can be understood from the name, it includes also a dialog part. This video is quite interactive; not only can be acted on but also provides a base between students and teacher on which they can immediately communicate with without being have to stop the work and then, communicating. I really like this idea since I know the importance of integrating technology into classrooms. Nowadays, students are born into the technology; they can effectively use computers, iphones, ipads, etc. before they become legitimate. That’s why; a teacher who avoids using technology in the classrooms efficiently will face serious problems. What is more important is to use technology in the exact situation in the classroom; namely, teacher should use it such effectively that it should contribute to the learning interactively without interrupting any natural constructive atmosphere in the classroom. To conclude, I have found this really useful and if I have such a classroom that is equipped with the facilities of vialogue, I will definitely use this technique. = 2. ‘How can I speak up when I don’t speak English that much?’ by Marianne Raynaud = Actually, Mrs. Raynaud has an interesting argument which I appreciate. She claims that teachers do not provide enough amount of natural English in classrooms, although they claim the opposite. Since they do not produce sentences in English, they should not expect students to come up with lots of English sentences in the classroom, to be honest. She argues that English used in the classrooms are just inadequte for students to develop good English sense. In contrast, teachers use “Teachers’ English” in the classroom and students just do not perform the speaking activities efficiently. Students are not the ones who should be blamed, if they do not hear natural, good English examples, how can they produce it? As a solution to these problems, she suggests teachers to use more and more English in the classroom, including daily English, idioms rather than facilitative activities of speaking. These activities tend to turn up to be useless in terms of making students to speak. She says “avoid education zapping by which I mean going from one supposedly interesting topic, video, activity to the next without a definite plan and without any real objectives. And why not let the students pick themselves what they wish to speak about? Why not let them lead the class? ” as a solution, which I have found really innovative to leave all the classroom management theories aside and to give the charge to the students. Although, in my opinion, there are lots of teachers who says this is a good idea but few who really apply this to their classrooms.
 * 1) 1. VIALOGUES