Less Is More Being Creative in the English Language Classroom

1. Less Is MoreBeing Creative in the English Language Classroom Dr. Scott Hovater November 15, 2007

2. Educational Background • B.S. Degree in Asian Studies • TESOL Teaching certificate • M.A. in Intercultural Studies • M.A. in Educational Psychology • Ph.D. in Educational Administration & Leadership

3. Work Experience • 16 years of teaching experience in Taiwan • Owner of Scott’s Language School in Taichung (1988-1992) • Professor at Christ’s College in Tanshui (1994-2000, 2003-present) • English Department Chair at Christ’s College (2005-present) • Summer Program Supervisor for World Passport in Tainan (1997-2003)

4. Teacher Training Seminars • Less is More: Being Creative in the EFL Classroom • Using Drama to Motivate Students to Learn English • Applying the Cooperative Learning Methodology to the ELL Classroom • Teaching to Change Lives: Creating Students of Character • Increasing Effectiveness in Educational Programs through Service Leadership • Relearning the Basics: Teaching Study Methods to Students • The Keys to Teaching English to Children

5. Other Research Areas • Instilling Cultural Awareness in Future Teachers through Summer Teaching Abroad Programs • Using Peer Tutoring in the EFL Classroom • Creating Critical Thinking Skills in EFL Students through Research Writing • Teaching English by Teaching Something Else: Creating Purpose in an English Language Classroom • Teaching English by Teaching Something Else: Creating Purpose in an English Language Program • Statistics Made Simple: Teaching Stats to ELL Learners

6. One Act Plays 35 One Act Plays for ELL Learners • Comedy (14 plays) • Basic Comedy (5 plays) • Romantic Comedy (9 plays) • Tragedy (6 plays) • Realist Drama (8 plays) • Fairy Tale (7 plays)

7. Less Is MoreBeing Creative in the English Language Classroom Dr. Scott Hovater November 15, 2007

8. Being Creative Requires … • Understanding the Keys to Teaching • Knowing your Students • Realizing that Less is More • Making Projects Practical • Example: The News Reporter Activity

9. KEYS TO TEACHING

10. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

11. Why am I teaching?

12. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

13. Where am I going?

14. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

15. What will I do in every class?

16. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

17. How will I teach?

18. Be Aware of Teaching Dangers Too Difficult! Too Confusing! Too Much Time! Too Distant!

19. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

20. How can I maintain a learning environment?

21. Key Teaching Issues Purpose (Why am I teaching?) Course Goals (Where am I going?) Lesson Planning (What will I do in every class?) Teaching Methods (How will I teach each lesson?) Managing Students (How can I maintain a learning environment?) Retaining Students (How can I reach more students?)

22. How can I reach more students?

23. Being Creative Requires … Understanding the Keys to Teaching Knowing your Students Realizing that Less is More Making Projects Practical Example: The News Reporter Activity 23

24. KNOWING YOUR STUDENTS

25. Knowing Your Students • Understand the school curriculum (What have the students’ already learned?) • Understand the environment (What do my students enjoy doing? Why?) • Understand your students’ learning preferences (How do my students learn?) • Understand the age level of your students (What are the typical issues students of this age struggle with?) • Be aware of any special needs.

26. Being Creative Requires … Understanding the Keys to Teaching Knowing your Students Realizing that Less is More Making Projects Practical Example: The News Reporter Activity 26

27. REALIZING THAT LESS IS MORE

28. Less Is More • The 3 P’s – Less presentation and more practice and performance • Remember that the textbook is not GOD! • Trying to cover everything means you cover nothing. • The textbook doesn’t know your students. • Give less homework, but make the homework you do give very practical • Use more group projects and fewer individual projects

29. Being Creative Requires … Understanding the Keys to Teaching Knowing your Students Realizing that Less is More Making Projects Practical Example: The News Reporter Activity 29

30. Making projects practical

32. Each project should … • Require every group member’s participation. • Have a different task for each student. • Require several steps for completion. • Give flexibility to students’ interests. • Require the use of critical thinking. • Allow for failure without punishment. • Be challenging but doable. • Be performed upon completion.

33. Being Creative Requires … Understanding the Keys to Teaching Knowing your Students Realizing that Less is More Making Projects Practical Example: The News Reporter Activity 33

34. ExampleThe news reporter

35. BASIC PROJECT Students will create a 15-30 minute news program that will be performed in front of an audience (or recorded). Each student will be assigned a different task. However, each task requires … • Doing some simple research • Writing a report in English • Speaking in English • Working together with a group

36. Possible Job Assignments • News anchors (2) • Local news • World news • Entertainment reporter • Sports reporter • Science reporter • News on the street reporter • Actors (playing famous people and/or performing in a commercial)

37. News Anchors World & Local News

38. Sports Reporter

39. Entertainment Reporter

40. News on the Street

41. Things to Remember • Break the task down into simpler steps • Making assignments • Doing research • Submitting written reports • Doing a dress rehearsal (if possible) • Let them fail without severe punishment • Grade students individually and as a group • Have a clear grading rubric that the students know before they start the project. • Have fun!