18 th May, 1998
(...)
18 th May, 1998
(...)
<esther> I have just
finished unit 1, as the third term has just began in my school.
<brix> We have almost
finished task 4 from unit 2 today. I am surprised about the writings of
some students
(...)
<dol> that ‘s nice
to listen!!
<dol > Núria,
we will send them to “Exchange”?
<brix> I' ll try to do
it next week
<dol> email me a copy!
<brix> some of them are
really nice!!
(...)
<brix> How do you your
students manage with “Virtual English”?
<brix> I am really amazed
with mine!!
<esther> my students
are very motivated, and so I am!!
<brix> I do not hear
anything during the lessons, only when they have to ask something to me,
<brix> and they use the
dictionaries without me having to tell them to do so....
<dol> Núria, Esther’
students say they have many problems dealing with computers and the keyboard....
<esther> what happens
is that I would love to be able to do every thing more “real”, and not
having to use only one computer connected to the internet. Furthermore
I am not an expert....
<dol > Ja, this is also
my dream!!, that everything was real!!! and not a simulation!!!
<brix> Esther, some of
my students also complained about computers at the beginning, but not now...
<brix> only some of them
get lost some days....
<brix> and some complain
about not being able to follow all the links...
<dol > I would have loved
all the students had connection to the internet, and thus, they would not
have had to do everything in the word processor, they would have been able
to answer right from the web site...
<dol> but I had to be
realistic, and see what the schools situations would be....
<brix> but, then , students
would not be able to save their tasks and writings
<dol> this is also true...
<esther> i think it is
very interesting that students use the word processor.
(...)
<dol> Víctor,
you can work with XSDI, don't you? all your computers
are connected...
<esther> ohh, what a
dream!!
<vic> yes, but it is
not perfect, either...
<dol> why not???
<esther> why?
<Carmen> hello, I have
had some problems to get through, but finally,,, what is it about???
(...)
<vic> it is still very
slow, and links do not always work.
<dol> hello Carmen, how
are you, you know Victor, Esther and Nuria, my other “guinea pigs”. We
are talking about problems with computers and connection.
<esther> can you imagine
using a shareware from Memo web?
<Carmen> hello, Nuria
and Esther, how are you?
<dol> another possible
solution is to use diskettes
<dol> but it is very
artificial, students see they are not surfing...
<dol> Hello Teresa!
<Carmen> Hello Jim
<dol> Teresa is
one of the teachers who is experimenting a credit similar to “Virtual English”,
but using a more traditional methodology, and no computers...
<Jim> good evening, I
could finally get through.... What are you talking about??
<dol > I introduce you
to Núria, Carmen, Victor and Esther, teachers of "Virtual English"
(...)
<dol> well, going back
to the best solution... nothing is good enough!!
<dol> neither memo
web
<dol> nor floppies with
captured sites
<dol> nor XSDI!!
<dol> what will we do??
(...)
<Carmen> anyway, I think
the experience is very interesting!! although there are so many problems...
<esther> I agree with
Carmen. Even though I have so many problems I am living a very interesting
experience as a teacher. I also have to admit my students are very good,
they are advanced students, and hard-working....
(...)
<vic> what do you think
about your students messages?? do not you think it is a lot of work, to
send all the messages?
<dol> what do you mean,
Victor??
<vic> it would be better
if they worked on their own... and wrote their messages.....
<dol> I disagree, they
need some control..
<Carmen> In fact, I have
revised some of the letters
<Jim> I agree with Victor.
if we are encouraging real communication in English, we should not
censure what they write...
(...)
<esther> I read everything
they write not with the intention to change them, but to help them to make
themselves understood, and furthermore I am able to evaluate their work
and effort.
<dol> what can we do
in order not to have so much work to supervise the messages?
<vic> I am thinking of
giving students individual emails accounts :-)
<dol> but this would
not save teachers from revising what students write...
<dol> if they are learning
and improving,
<dol> using the right
structures and vocabulary.....
<vic> they can also use
the email to do tasks we ask them to do....
<Carmen> anyway, I think
students trying to communicate with others say a lot of rubbish, they even
invent things which are not true....
<dol> perhaps this is
true with some students, but generally I think email correspondence motivates
them a lot to write
<vic> the same as with
adults, isn't?
<dol> but students have
to take it seriously and make the effort...
<esther> some of them
work very seriously with those letters
(...)
Victor, Teresa, Nuria, Carme,
Esther i Dolors
(from Catalonia) |