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Ten Ways to Grow Democracy in the ESL Classroom

Ten Ways to Grow Democracy in the ESL Classroom. Lee Chen Palomar College CATESL 2008 State Conference Presentation. They Said What About Democracy?. Johnny Carson: Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be _____________.

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Ten Ways to Grow Democracy in the ESL Classroom

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  1. Ten Ways to Grow Democracy in the ESL Classroom Lee Chen Palomar College CATESL 2008 State Conference Presentation

  2. They Said What About Democracy? • Johnny Carson: Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be _____________. • Clement Attlee: Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people ______________.”

  3. They Said What About Democracy? • Edward Abbey: Democracy--rule by the people--sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in ______________.

  4. Serious Points to Ponder • George Washington: If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter.

  5. Serious Points to Ponder • Franklin Roosevelt: If democracy is to survive, it is the task of men of thoughts, as well as men of action, to put aside pride and prejudice; with courage and single-minded devotion—to find the truth and teach the truth that shall keep men free.

  6. What does it mean to grow democracy in the classroom? • Look for content that teaches about democracy and deliver instruction on it whenever possible • Allow the students to experience the democratic ways

  7. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 1. Let students jump start the class • A question for the teacher • One-minute motivator • Language-related class opener • Brain tease

  8. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 2. Let students teach/explain back • 3-step coaching • You say; you do • You say; they do • They say; they do • Cartoon recreation • Notice grammar in the newspaper, etc.

  9. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 3. Let students come up with authentic teaching materials • Topics for discussions • Student work as text • Community Teaching Method

  10. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 4. Let students help each other • Paragraph peer review • Audience feedback on team presentations • Discussion board • Student mentors

  11. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 5. Let students manage themselves • Daily class management jobs • Classroom rules • “Round robin” reading

  12. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 6. Let students vote • Student of the week • Day or location of tests • Reading selections

  13. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 7. Let students participate in and represent their teams • Team projects • Daily team jobs • Radio frequency clickers • Cross-word puzzle solving • Grammar review workout

  14. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 8. Let students show off • Student paper showcase • Computer station swaps • “Did you know…?”

  15. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 9. Let students speak their mind • One-minute feedback on the day’s class • Opinion polls on course-related issues • www.getfast.ca • Anonymous discussion board • Exercises for thinking independently, critically, or creatively

  16. Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basis 10. Let students share their insights and experiences with the world • Weblog • “Voices of ESL”

  17. Pedagogy of the Oppressed • Paolo Freire: The teacher is no longer the only one who teaches. The students, while being taught, also teach. They become jointly responsible for a process in which all grow.

  18. Democratic Ways in a Classroom • share control in class • build a community spirit • are pedagogically sound • create a dynamic environment • value and validate student voices • develop greater student-centrality • bring out humans’ cooperative nature

  19. Democratic Ways in a Classroom • produce self-managed, independent learners • serve the students well and create raving fans • enhance a more collaborative approach to language teaching • change the teacher mentality of having to dictate everything in class • engage and empower the students as active partners in the instructional process

  20. Democratic Ways in a Classroom • teach the students to have a say and take a stake in their immediate classes—and, hopefully, in their outside community as well—with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy

  21. Thanks! Presenter Contact Information: Lee Chen Associate Professor ESL Dept. Palomar College lchen@palomar.edu http://daphne.palomar.edu/lchen/

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