sâmbătă, 27 august 2011

Almost done here...you?

My first exam was on the 25th, English literature, language and teaching methods. The subjects were Meta-narration and Victorian elements in John Fowles's The French Lieutenant's Woman +lesson plan for upper-intermediate, classification of the sentence, Passive Voice-lesson plan for upper-intermediate. In just 3 hours.Yeah, right. Final mark: 9.50
On the 27th I had my first oral exam. I chose Sailing to Byzantium by Yeats, Subjunctive and Writing skills. Final mark: 10.
On the 29th...well this is The Exam...Hahahahahaha!!!
These are the subjects given by the University 1 Decembrie 1918, Alba Iulia.
Keep your fingers crossed for me on Monday!!!
xoxo

vineri, 5 august 2011

Psihopedagogie, gradul II. Are you kidding?

I have been silent for a while because I'm done studying literature and I've just started looking at "psihopedagogie". I mean...is this for real? Or am I too fed up with studying and I need a break? Could be both, though..
Anyway I have been struggling all day to study "educational strategies", but as time goes by, I realize that I didn't memorize enough because the terms are just too impossible to learn and use in context. So, what will I do? I still have like...3 weeks till the first exam, so there is time, but I don't think that I'll do better tomorrow!
What do you do? How do you study such an...impossible subject???

marți, 2 august 2011

Lesson Plan- literature (Lord of the Flies)

Time is running out!! I have been studying all day- what a drag!, and I am tired, to say the least. The last part of the day was dedicated to devising this literature lesson plan, based on the structure given by Harmer and following an excerpt found on the net that I thought was symbolic in one way or the other. I used communicative methods and activities in an attempt to make the students relate to this incredible piece of literature and to make these activities that involve literature funny and educational, at the same time. Hope this helps!!!
                                        Lesson plan- Lord of the flies
                                                                                By William Golding

Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"
"No stop" The voices continued.
"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!" It carried on as Simon's body was washed out to sea.
"No Piggy, watch out"
Finally Ralph awoke panting with fear and sweat running down his forehead like slowly dripping tap water. As his eyelids quickly opened he realised he was on the ship going home, he then looked forward to see the gleaming eyes of Jack Merridew. Jack's appearance was surprisingly fresh faced somewhat different from his display earlier that day.
Ralph wasn't sure. Wasn't sure what to say or do. He was too busy comprehending the state of emotion he was in; fear or joy? Before Ralph could act, Jack spoke out:
"He's dead now" Ralph was shocked and leapt out of his bed as he slung his thin violet cover out the way.
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean" Jack sneered (in an unpleasant voice). "Piggy's dead"
"Stop it! Just stop it! You insensitive" Ralph stuttered, "Cow." Rage and anger took over Ralph as he moved over to Jack. The tension grew between them. Ralph wiped the perspiration off his face and squared up to Jack. Jack stepped back and reached for the near drawer to pick out a familiar object. As soon as the object was revealed the sun light from the small window at one side of the room shone through brightly. In the corner of Ralph's eye a crooked, brown frame caught his attention. As Jack drew the item back dirt flickered off the remaining lens.
"Give me Piggy's specs" Ralph said solemnly.
"What happens if I don't want to?" Immediately both boys gazed into each other's eyes. There was nothing that would hold them back.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Ralph and Jack casually but quickly returned to a more natural position. The door flung wide open and in stepped a tall, large man with a moustache.
"Lunch is ready" said a man in a stern voice who appeared to be a crew member. Jack and Ralph followed the man steadily as he walked out the room. The boys were lead to a room. Both boys felt a feeling of surprise as the room opened up before them. The light blue walls and the wooden floors and tables were all so much better than the experience on the island. Both Ralph and Jack sat at the table.
As Ralph took a seat his head was facing down and his long blond hair covered his eyes. He then moved his head up and wiped his hair out the way. He stared forward to see the pair of SamnEric, his attention then moved
to Percival who seemed to be muttering something.
"Percival... ..." He stopped with his face looking depressed. There was silence in the room, all the boys were quiet.
The crew member walked out the room and the silence remained. As soon as he was out of sight the pleasant silence was broken.
"Let's finish this Ralph" Jack yelled in a belligerent voice as he leapt out his seat and stood up valiantly. Ralph also leapt up, anger transforming his face into something ugly. Roger was one of many shouting:

"Fight, Fight!" The room up roared with loudness astonishingly no adults appearing. Ralph and Jack faced up once again. Although the atmosphere in the room was booming and erratic both the boys were fixated on each other and were oblivious to the commotion to which they were surrounded by. They glared into each other's eyes with the chanting from the encircling viewers continuing. Amongst the racket the sound of footsteps arose. Ralph and Jack were quick to realise that the footsteps belonged to the crew member. The two boys scurried to the table like mice. The crew member strolled in unaware of the recent happenings.
"Food is ready" the crew member said in a rather jolly voice. The crew member walked to the table and put down a dish. All the boys were rather excited about this meal and the smell from the dish was delightful to them. The crew member lifted the dish lid up and as the lid rose the food was revealed. The meal seemed succulent, juicy and delicious. The boys' mouths opened in excitement, all except Ralphs. For he was the only one to realise that the succulent, juicy, delicious dish drizzling with what looked like a sweet lemon sauce was pork! Ralph gulped with anxiety.
Sudden thoughts, sudden feelings, sudden voices rushed through his mind.
"Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" Those daunting voices returned to the centre of Ralphs mind. Ralph boldly stood up and ran out the room in dismay. He went into the room he was previously sleeping in. Ralph gazed into the mirror on the wall. He looked into his own eyes and muttered to himself as tears slowly trickled down his face.
"It will be ok, it will be ok"



DESCRIPTION
Level: Upper-intermediate
Students aged 16-17, 18 boys and 13 girls.
The classes usually take place on Monday from 13-14 and on Thursday from 09-10.  On Monday especially the SS feel tired, though enthusiastic and concentration suffers as a result. Ss have app. 100 hours of English.
RECENT WORK
-Ss  have been learning about “allegorical novel” and “fable” and are able to identify them in context
-Ss  have been watching the film made after the novel
-Ss have been taking notes while watching the film, thus are familiar with the characters and the plot
OBJECTIVES
1.       To create interest in the topic of adventure stories, to promote discussion.
2.       To raise expectation and to create involvement in a reading task.
3.       To read for meaning and to study relevant words/expressions.
4.       To create emotional involvement concerning Piggy’s murder.
5.       To  use the English language to express their thoughts and opinions about the conflicting themes of civilization vs savagery.
6.       To prepare a  written debate.

Objective 1: estimated time 10 min.
Context: students’ own lives, worldwide literature
Activity: 1. Name at least 2 novels which present the characters’ lives on a desert island. Those characters lost contact with civilization. Do they turn into savages?
               2. How can life on a desert island alter a civilized man’s personality? In groups of 4 write a list of alterations of a person’s personality.
Aid: None.
Language: All and any.
Possible problems: Ss may not know the names of such novels, but the T gives them cues to follow.(eg. Have you heard of Jules Verne?) Ss could find it hard to find terms related to the alterations of personality- the T will prompt, if necessary.

Objective2: estimated time 5 min.
Context: creating expectations about the novel
Activity: The whole class contributes at the completion of the following chart: Main characters/ Role/ One-adjective description/ Savage or Civilised?
Aid: Blackboard, chalk, board pen.
Language: All and any
Possible problems: The Ss could find out some differences between the film and the novel, so the T should guide them.

Objective 3: estimated time 10 min
Context: text given by the T
Activity: Ss read the fragment individually(global reading) for meaning and  announce the words/expressions they are not familiar with. The T writes them on the Bb in other contexts then those in the fragment. ( for eg,  sneer(of disdain). Since most the words are descriptive and trigger actions, one S could mime their meaning.
Aid: text, wordlist
Language: all and any
Possible problems: The Ss could find the activity boring, especially those who know all the vocabulary

Objective 4: estimated time 15 min
Context:  students’ world, the outside world
Activity: 1. In groups of 4, imagine you are Piggy and write 4 last ideas that go through his mind while being attacked by the other boys and killed. Remember that he is the voice of reason in the novel.
              2.  In groups of 4, imagine you are Ralph and write 4  ideas that go through his mind while attacking and killing Piggy. Remember that Piggy was his best friend and the one that kept his sanity into place in the novel.
            3. Role-play the situation: You are Jack, the savage and you want to take lead on the island. All the boys have embraced savagery, except Ralph, your opponent, Piggy and the twins Sam and Eric . Talk to Roger, the incarnation of evil on the island and devise a plan/ situation that might help you become the dominant male.(optional)
             4. Comprehension questions: How do you think that Piggy is being killed?  What is Ralph feeling after Piggy’s death and how does that translate?  What is the object that Jack wants so badly? What is it used for?  Does it have a symbolic meaning, as well?  Why do they stop fighting after a while? Why is Ralph unable to eat pork? What is the meaning of his final words?
Aid: none
Language: all and any- the new language could be practiced, as well
Possible problems: The Ss could lack the vocabulary needed, T should prompt in if necessary. Ss might not give the proper meaning from this excerpt only, therefore the T should help them remembering the plot.

Objective 5- estimated time 10 min
Context: Students’ world
Activity:  In spite of Ralph’s attempts to impose order and sensible rules of behavior, some of the boys prefer to abandon their old ways and became savages, obeying Jack.
Divide the class into 2 groups: one should take side with Jack, the other one with Ralph. Organize a debate that should bring arguments on the kind of life the Ss have chosen.
Aid: None
Language: all and any
Possible problems: None

Objective 6: estimated time 3 min
Context: SS’ world
Activity: Follow-up: Write an outline of side chosen at debate.
Aid: dictionaries, Internet
Language: all and any
Possible problems: