I guess we all agree that this term was particularly challenging for all of us. From the get go we had our minds set on keeping up high standards and overcoming what we understood were limitations which prevented us from total fulfillment.The bottom line is we made it and that certainly calls for celebration!Needless to say I am very proud of being part of such an outstanding team of diligent professionals. To be honest with you I think we've been the right people in the right place doing the right thing (most of the time, of course.). No one whom we have dealt with long enough can deny that fact, including our dear students, whose UNMASKED opinions finally surfaced in the recent polls.
Lord, that was about time!
For all such reasons I should tell you that it is exceedingly difficult to have to part with you, but... that's the way the cookie crumbles as our oversimplistic American pals would put it. The time has come for me to accept new challenges. Hopefully, as has been your case, dear friends,it is the right moment, the right place, and the right person.
You might be asking yourselves whether I have been given the sack. Please, hold your tears! I won't be around in Valqueire anymore because the branch in Madureira is, among other reasons, in the GMD category (geographically more desirable). And, as I have mentioned before, there is a less travelled road for me to traipse on right there...
Well, enough said!
Love you all dearly!
All the best!
Take care!
See you around!
Merry Xmas and a wonderful 2009!
Levi
Monday, 15 December 2008
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Events
Hi everybody!
The event "Once upon a time" was very good. The children had a great time there and so did the teachers. We're jus waiting for the photos. :)
The event "Once upon a time" was very good. The children had a great time there and so did the teachers. We're jus waiting for the photos. :)
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Hi guys!
I'm taking part in 2008 Early Inset and we've been discussing about Multiple Intelligences. The main point is "How can our own multiple intelligences affect our lesson plans?" Well, a lot of people realised that they usually base their lessons on their own multiple intelligences. However, our students have their way of learning and we have to take that into consideration. As I see it, it's a good point to be discussed in a workshop.
What do you think about it?
I'm taking part in 2008 Early Inset and we've been discussing about Multiple Intelligences. The main point is "How can our own multiple intelligences affect our lesson plans?" Well, a lot of people realised that they usually base their lessons on their own multiple intelligences. However, our students have their way of learning and we have to take that into consideration. As I see it, it's a good point to be discussed in a workshop.
What do you think about it?
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Monday, 25 August 2008
Sharing activities
Hi, guys.
Renata has designed great e-board activities for CEX. Go to teacher's corner and you'll find them. And let's share here the product of our creativity. ;-)
Kisses
Renata has designed great e-board activities for CEX. Go to teacher's corner and you'll find them. And let's share here the product of our creativity. ;-)
Kisses
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
New Adventure
This is the link to another class blog. I started this one with my Plus 4 from Mondays and Wednesdays, the class that has been with me for almost 2 years. As the kick off was on Monday, only one student joined the blog, but I'm very anxious to see how it is going to be. Especially because I'm going to connect the two blogs by podcasting. I haven't had any substantial idea, but I'm working on it and I accept suggestions.
Another thing that I have started doing with my classes is to avoid the constant teacher-dictionary in class. They sometimes ask words out of nowhere and I'm pretty sure that we've all been through this situation. As they are Basic 6, every class there is a task to find out the words they do not know in English. Today's class the word is "antepassados". We were talking about museums and a student came up with this word. As they did not know how to paraphrase or rephrase it, they had to look for it online and bring next class. It's working. Let's see if they start being more independent concerning their learning process.
I think that's all for today! And I'm pretty excited about this new semester, especially because I'll have the time to attend many classes and learn a lot from you!!
Cheers!!!
Another thing that I have started doing with my classes is to avoid the constant teacher-dictionary in class. They sometimes ask words out of nowhere and I'm pretty sure that we've all been through this situation. As they are Basic 6, every class there is a task to find out the words they do not know in English. Today's class the word is "antepassados". We were talking about museums and a student came up with this word. As they did not know how to paraphrase or rephrase it, they had to look for it online and bring next class. It's working. Let's see if they start being more independent concerning their learning process.
I think that's all for today! And I'm pretty excited about this new semester, especially because I'll have the time to attend many classes and learn a lot from you!!
Cheers!!!
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Long time no post
I believe it's about time we posted something new here.
Come on, folks! Let's start sharing whatever we've got!
Now Post and comment away!
Cheers fellas!
Levi
Come on, folks! Let's start sharing whatever we've got!
Now Post and comment away!
Cheers fellas!
Levi
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Peer Observation
Hello, everybody!
Last Tuesday, I attended Irlany's Cultura 3. It was simply wonderful. She links every single activity in a way that students do not even feel they are studying C7 or C8, I mean, a lesson. I also paid attention to how she conducts things to the Focus Box. She elicits everything before and, when she deals with the box, it's just to refer to the rules. Another thing that called my attention was giving them functions every time they needed to check exercises. She says things like: " Check if you agree or disagree and if your partner can help you with the ones you don't know" or " Check and, if you have different opinions, try to convince your partner about your choice". This is wonderful because students don't feel they are doing the same thing again: "checking". It was really good being there and I'm already putting it into practice. Thanks a lot, Irlany!
Bye
Dani
Last Tuesday, I attended Irlany's Cultura 3. It was simply wonderful. She links every single activity in a way that students do not even feel they are studying C7 or C8, I mean, a lesson. I also paid attention to how she conducts things to the Focus Box. She elicits everything before and, when she deals with the box, it's just to refer to the rules. Another thing that called my attention was giving them functions every time they needed to check exercises. She says things like: " Check if you agree or disagree and if your partner can help you with the ones you don't know" or " Check and, if you have different opinions, try to convince your partner about your choice". This is wonderful because students don't feel they are doing the same thing again: "checking". It was really good being there and I'm already putting it into practice. Thanks a lot, Irlany!
Bye
Dani
Friday, 27 June 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Levi rocks!
I had the opportunity to sit at Levi's Cex4 and it was really great, specially because he taught the lesson I'm going to in a few days, and I'm thinking about stealing all about it! Obviously, my focus was on technology, and besides giving me the idea of using a video he has edited for that particular class, he told how to do it.
So, yeah, thanks a lot, dear. You really rock!
Irlany.
So, yeah, thanks a lot, dear. You really rock!
Irlany.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Stolen goods - The sequel
Hello, everyone!
Last Saturday I sat in on Irlany's CEX5 where I could find quite precious goods to steal.
She makes very wise use of tools and strategies such as different seating arrangements, in order to increase pace and maximise peer interaction, and the use of the daily agenda at varied moments during the class, aiming at both getting students involved and creating sense of achievement. Moreover, there's evident maximisation of opportunities so that conversation will keep permeating practically every activity in class. I simply had a great time observing that class!
Thanks a million, Irlany!
Last Saturday I sat in on Irlany's CEX5 where I could find quite precious goods to steal.
She makes very wise use of tools and strategies such as different seating arrangements, in order to increase pace and maximise peer interaction, and the use of the daily agenda at varied moments during the class, aiming at both getting students involved and creating sense of achievement. Moreover, there's evident maximisation of opportunities so that conversation will keep permeating practically every activity in class. I simply had a great time observing that class!
Thanks a million, Irlany!
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Your B5 blog
Hi Levi.
I really liked your B5 blog. It's really challenging.
From what I could see on the class I attended, you've got a very good group and what I saw on the blog is just the beginning. Keep on!
I really liked your B5 blog. It's really challenging.
From what I could see on the class I attended, you've got a very good group and what I saw on the blog is just the beginning. Keep on!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Stolen Goods
It's a shame that I only had opportunity to observe one class this semestre. However (making fun of Marcio's project in university!), it was just what I needed. Since I started teaching, I had the ridiculous idea that repetition (drilling) would be something absurd to perform in class. You all know I come from a place that does not believe in such practice and it was very difficult for me to ignore this belief when I started at Cultura Inglesa.
It was difficult, but not impossible. As Marcio pointed out, I was being kind of "shy" when drilling in my class. That's why I decided to observe Marcia Lessa's class. It was just what I needed to show me the way! The conduction of drillings not only helped students in pronunciation but also made the class dinamic. Students were participating even though they were from Cultura Express 2 and still have many things to learn.
It was a very nice experience. I'm not so shy anymore but I still think I have lots to learn from all of you. So, keep a desk open for me next semestre cause here I come!!!
It was difficult, but not impossible. As Marcio pointed out, I was being kind of "shy" when drilling in my class. That's why I decided to observe Marcia Lessa's class. It was just what I needed to show me the way! The conduction of drillings not only helped students in pronunciation but also made the class dinamic. Students were participating even though they were from Cultura Express 2 and still have many things to learn.
It was a very nice experience. I'm not so shy anymore but I still think I have lots to learn from all of you. So, keep a desk open for me next semestre cause here I come!!!
Stolen Goods
Hi, folks! I'm finally in! It was really hard but I've made it! lol Well, I've attended Monique's class. It was an Express Master 2 and I wanted to know how a class of an avanced group functioned. Once I substituted Belo in this same group, as an Express Master 1, and everything was new for me. Execercises don't follow a sequence and you have to find out how to link them. I could do that but I wanted to check it out. So I attended her class and saw many good things. Besides observing what I previously wanted to see, I could also "steal" other things. For example, she not only points the mistakes after pair work but she writes them on the board and asks the students to correct them. It's very useful since some people need this visual contact. Moreover, she is really funny. She plays jokes, laughs and this builds up a nice atmosphere. Teacher and students believe each other. Sometimes I'm so worried about doing everything perfectly that I simply forget to have fun. After her class, I started paying attention to it, and now I try to take every opportunity to laugh with my students. Well, that's all!
See you!
Dani
See you!
Dani
Friday, 6 June 2008
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Digital Immersion
You all know how crazy I am about different things. Since last semester I've been trying to start the blog project with one of my classes. It was very difficult to convince my students it would be a very pleasant way to practice English outside the classroom.
The Digital Immersion meeting we had in Madureira made me realize that we have to take the first step. So I decided to take a chance and one day, during the last 15 minutes of class, I created the blog with my students. I had already mentioned in class that we would have a Special Project and that was the one.
The first week was a disaster, I was the only one posting in the blog and only 3 of them had sent me the e-mail to include them as contributers. I decided to take the last 5 minutes of the following class to add everybody that was there. That way they wouldn't have any excuses for not posting.
Check out the results!!
Room 6
The Digital Immersion meeting we had in Madureira made me realize that we have to take the first step. So I decided to take a chance and one day, during the last 15 minutes of class, I created the blog with my students. I had already mentioned in class that we would have a Special Project and that was the one.
The first week was a disaster, I was the only one posting in the blog and only 3 of them had sent me the e-mail to include them as contributers. I decided to take the last 5 minutes of the following class to add everybody that was there. That way they wouldn't have any excuses for not posting.
Check out the results!!
Room 6
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
farewell, old chap!
We are most certainly going to miss Marcio. Not only because all this time he has made us feel fully supported, but also for having so many times displayed so much generosity and companionship...
Changes are usually permeated by this initial sense of loss and general discomfort, but in the long run we end up learning that it's been all part of a perfect plan to make us grow wiser and stronger.
So, instead of bidding you farewell, Marcio, I'd rather say "keep on truckin', dude!" You'd better believe it, we'll be there for you all the way!
nuf said!
Changes are usually permeated by this initial sense of loss and general discomfort, but in the long run we end up learning that it's been all part of a perfect plan to make us grow wiser and stronger.
So, instead of bidding you farewell, Marcio, I'd rather say "keep on truckin', dude!" You'd better believe it, we'll be there for you all the way!
nuf said!
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Stolen goods
Hi everybody!
I had the opportunity to attend Patrícia's and Cláudia's classes and it was a great experience. Their students seemed really confident and were involved in the activities. From those lessons I realised how important it is to create a nice atmosphere in class and how much students are able to produce if they feel comfortable and confident enough.
I had the opportunity to attend Patrícia's and Cláudia's classes and it was a great experience. Their students seemed really confident and were involved in the activities. From those lessons I realised how important it is to create a nice atmosphere in class and how much students are able to produce if they feel comfortable and confident enough.
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
The First Step
My Plus 3 class got very excited about having a class blog and we have already started working on it. It's very simple, but with the students contributions I'm sure it'll be memorable, especially for them.
Friday, 16 May 2008
First Post (uhu!)
Hello, everybody!!!!!
We`re teachers from Cultura Inglesa Vila Valqueire and we`re here to share our class experiences and feelings towards language teaching. Feel free to comment and have fun with us!!!
We`re teachers from Cultura Inglesa Vila Valqueire and we`re here to share our class experiences and feelings towards language teaching. Feel free to comment and have fun with us!!!
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