Sunday, May 17, 2020

10 Ways to Use Smartphones to Teach English

Smartphones are here to stay. For English teachers, that means we need to either ban iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, and whatever next flavor arrives, or we have to learn how to incorporate the use of smartphones into our routine. Students who sit in class and use their iPhone or Android are missing out; however, its also true that students are going to use their smartphones if they havent been taken away. Here are ten tips on how to constructively allow the use of smartphones in class. Some of the exercises are just variations on traditional classroom activities. However, encouraging students to use smartphones to complete these activities will help them learn to use their devices to actively improve their English skills. Finally, its important to insist that smartphone or tablet use in the classroom is approved only as a tool during a specific activity. In this way, they may not be tempted to use their smartphones for other reasons during class.   Vocabulary Exercises Using Google Image Search A picture is worth a thousand words. Have students use their smartphone to look up specific nouns on Google images or another search engine. Youve all seen how a visual dictionary can greatly improve vocabulary retention. With smartphones, we have visual dictionaries on steroids. Translation Activities Encourage students to read using three phases. Only allow smartphone use in the third phase. Students are pleased because they can look up words. However, theyre developing good reading skills by not immediately translating every word they do not understand. Read for gist: no stopping!Read for context: How can the words surrounding unknown words help with understanding?Read for precision: explore new vocabulary using a smartphone or dictionary. Use Apps for Communication Activities We all communicate with our smartphones in different ways depending on different apps. In other words, texting with a messaging app is bound to be different than writing an email on your computer. Take advantage of this and promote activities that are specific to a given context. One example might be to have students text each other to complete a given task.   Practice Pronunciation You can use smartphones to record audio as you model pronunciation for your students. For example, gather suggestions, then ask students to open a recording app. Read five different ways to make a suggestion aloud. Pause between each suggestion. Have students go home and practice mimicking your pronunciation in the pause between each suggestion. There are many, many variations on this theme.   Another great use for pronunciation is to have students change the language to English and try to dictate an email. Theyll have to work really hard at word level pronunciation in order to get the desired results. Thesaurus Activities Have students search on the phrase words like... and a host of online offerings will appear. Encourage students to use their smart phones during writing class in this manner while focusing on developing a wider range of vocabulary. For example, take a simple sentence such as The people spoke about politics. Ask students to come up with a number of versions using their smartphones to find substitutes for the verb speak. Play Games This is something we normally shouldnt encourage in class; however, you might encourage students to write down phrases they experience while playing games to bring into class to discuss in more detail. There are also a number of word games such as Scrabble or word search puzzles that are actually instructive as well as fun. You can make room for this in your class as a reward for completing a task, just make sure to tie it to some sort of report back to the class. Track Vocabulary There are a wide variety of MindMapping apps available, as well as a myriad of flash card apps. You can even create your own flash cards and have students download your set of cards to practice in class.   Practice Writing Have students write emails to each other in order to complete a specific task. Change up the tasks to practice different types of register. For example, one student might write a product inquiry with another student replying to the inquiry with a follow-up email. This is nothing new. However, just using their smartphones can help motivate the students to complete the task. Create Narration This is a variation on writing emails. Have students choose photos they have taken and write a short story describing the photos they have chosen. By making the activity personal in this manner, students engage more deeply with the task. Keep a Journal One more writing exercise for the smartphone. Have students keep a journal and share it with the class. Students can take photos, write descriptions in English, as well as describe their day.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay on Violence in Schools - 1490 Words

Violence in schools is a problem that Americans have had to face at an ever increasing rate. Instead of fistfights, the issues are fatal, like school shootings. Violence is nationally defined as a physical force used to injure, damage or destroy (Guralnik, D., 1997, P.1490). In the past decade, students are using more than physical force. They are using deadly weapons to injure or kill their peers and authority figures, and to destroy school property. Safety is considered to be the freedom from danger and injury damage (Guralnik, D., 1997, P.1181); in other words, freedom from violence. Schools must ensure students and parents that above adequate measures -especially the three most successful- will be provided to make sure schools†¦show more content†¦Heavily armed with shotguns and other homemade explosive devices, they terrorized the school and everyone in it by killing students and teachers and ultimately, themselves (Gottesman, R., 1999, P. 358). The nation watch ed as the school and the lives of many Columbine families was destroyed. This was considered to be the worst school shooting in U.S. history. Instead of dwelling on the situation, students and administrators took a proactive approach to find new methods of prevention so this or any related violence would never be allowed on school grounds again. Safety has been the school’s first priority since the shootings occurred. In a debate with Al Gore, President Bush said, â€Å"You cant carry a gun into a school, and there ought to be a consequence when you do carry a gun into a school. But Columbine spoke to a larger issue, and its really a matter of culture. Its a culture that somewhere along the line, weve begun to disrespect life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sandell, A., 2000). Safety remains a top concern on administrators’ agendas nationwide. Many measures have been implemented to combat violence effectively in our nation’s schools. 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However,Read MoreSchool Violence2444 Words   |  10 PagesSchool Violence Victoria Griffin Fayetteville State University The Importance to Be Aware Of School Violence in Education Today By Victoria Griffin December 1, 2014 Abstract: The importance of knowing about school violence, the cause of school violence, forms of school violence and they ways teacher can prevent school violence was observed. A recent act of school violence is announced and the content of why it is important for teachers to be aware of school violence. School violenceRead MoreSchool Violence2187 Words   |  9 PagesSchool Violence Violence in schools has spread widely throughout the nation. School violence is a big problem we are facing now. This has caused many problems among students, families’ faculty of schools and residents of the community. School violence includes gang activity, locker thefts, bullying and intimidation, gun use, assault, and drugs. 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Jim bob Essay Example For Students

Jim bob Essay I had just divorced my third wife, Cherie. She was a plain woman with almost no outstanding characteristics about her at all. I married her because she was quite different from my first two wives and because I didnt want to grow old alone. Also, I couldnt cook. Cherie could cook, however, all of her dishes were very plain. This should not have surprised me. I stood along the riverbank behind my house and reflected on my marriages. It was early November, 1985. The Canada geese always flew overhead this time of year, and this evening was no different. They flew low to the ground at 5:36 p.m. coming in to a landing in their misshapen V. I watched them settle in for the evening. There was irony in the fact that each of my wives had been fascinated by the geese, and I was by no means oblivious to this. I knew they would be gone by tomorrow afternoon. My river was one of their favorite motels; a guaranteed stop on the long trip south. I turned my back to the riverbank (much like I had turned my back on Cherie) and walked back up the hill to my house. The following afternoon, as I looked out the kitchen window, I was surprised to see one of the geese remained. It was flying in a circle, alone, above the river. I was curious, but the day was a dreary one, and I opted against exploring. Instead, I sat at the table and watched the bird through the window. Something about its solitude struck me and made me sad. I poured myself a whiskey and tried not to think about Cherie. A few hours later I sat in front of the television. Growing Pains was on channel five, and I tried to pay attention. That family made me sick. No one on the television ever got divorced back then. I clicked off the set and went upstairs for a nap. When I awoke, something made me go down to the kitchen. It was dark outside, and I couldnt see the goose. I looked around for the Maglight in my messy pantry, and when I found it, I slipped my feet into the boots by the door. I remember that making my way down to the riverbank was treacherous because the grass was slick with rain. As I approached, I heard a sound coming from a bush near the bank. I shone my flashlight in the direction of the noise. It was the goose. I was certain I had frightened her, but she didnt even appear to notice me. She looked past me dully, and then hung her head and continued mourning. When I got closer, I could see that she was standing over the body of another goose. I remembered reading somewhere that geese mat e for life. Leave us alone, she said. She said it with such force and certainty that I had no choice to turn on my heels and return to the house. I got out of my boots, threw the flashlight on the couch, and went up to the attic. My grandfather had given me an old set of encyclopedias a few years before, and I was fairly certain they were stuffed away somewhere. I needed to find out more about the goose. Almost half an hour later, I found what I had been looking for. I took the dusty book downstairs to the den and settled in. What I learned was disturbing. Geese do indeed mate for life. Typically, when one dies, the other remains with the body. The saddened goose will not eat, often flying in a circle above its lovers body until overcome with exhaustion. The goose will die in a matter of days, usually only a few yards from its mate. I was not oblivious to the distinct difference between the gooses loyalty to its mate and my lack of it. I could not help myself, I had to see the goose again. .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .postImageUrl , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:hover , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:visited , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:active { border:0!important; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:active , .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5 .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3ac1664c6426277f1f7ca39e3fa193c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Road Not Taken and the Journey of Life Road No EssayI went back to the riverbank. It must have been 2:30 a.m. It didnt matter, I couldnt have slept if I tried. When the goose saw me, she unleashed her grief on me. I felt the pain of her voice and the sorrow was felt deep down. Why are you bothering me? Cant you see that I am mourning? she screeched at me. I just want to understand. How can you love someone so much? Youll die here, move on!You are all the same! she replied. You marry and then divorce. Your love is only surface love! You dont know the meaning of the word! We are one and I am already dead. Her words struck me and I walked back to the house slowly. I have not had a decent nights rest since. I toss on the mattress and bang at the pillow. I had three chances at happiness, and kicked dust at them all. Maybe the geese are right after all. My wives had loved the geese, and I had barely given a thought to them. Maybe they saw something I didnt. Now I must learn how to cook, but for some reason my dishes are always plain. Bibliography: