Are you ready for our next workshop? It is on Saturday, May 12 in Jeonju University’s Star Center. We start at 2:45 in the afternoon and welcome anyone with an interest in improving their English teaching. As usual, we have two great speakers we are looking forward to learning from.
Justin Morales will be teaching us how to use the learning management system Pbworks and create your own wiki. LMS provides opportunities for students to use technology to aid in language learning, have access to classroom materials and submit homework. For teachers it can help keep the language course organized and a shared online learning space with students.
Our other presenter is Jessica Ives. She will show us the importance of vocabulary, its importance and how to help the students gain a deeper understanding of the words, different factors in teaching vocabulary and ways to practice new vocabulary.
For a more detailed explanation, please read their abstracts and bios below.
How to create and use a wiki for your English class
Justin Morales
ABSTRACT
Looking to get started using a learning management system for your classes? LMS can be intimidating and confusing, but do not fear! Pbworks offers a very easy and effective LMS that can be easily learned. Pbworks LMS are called WIKIs, which are simple to setup yet extremely useful learning management systems. For students, they provide opportunities to use technology in the process of language learning, have instant and constant access to important classroom materials, and review and submit homework online in a centralized classroom hub.
For teachers, they provide a shared online learning space to keep students informed on assignments and assessments. It is also a powerful assistant to instructors in that it can keep a language course organized and efficient. Pbworks wikis are very versatile and offer different features depending on the class focus. What can be done in writing class can be contrasted with that of a reading or a speaking class. This hands on presentation will cover how to set up a basic PBworks wiki, the uses for various types of courses, and benefits of maintaining a Pbworks wiki for both teachers and students. By the end of the presentation, teachers will have a nice starting point to begin create their own teaching wikis.
BIO
Justin Morales (justin.morales1977@gmail.com) has been teaching English for 11 years. He is currently an assistant professor in the Liberal Arts Department at Konkuk University, Glocal Campus in Chungju, South Korea. Before teaching at Konkuk, Justin was a corporate language trainer at Samsung Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, South Korea. Prior to moving to South Korea, he was a faculty member, reading coordinator, and academic advisor at San Jose State University’s intensive Language center, International Gateways. Justin has a BA in Religious Studies from Long Beach State University and an MA TESOL from San Jose State University. Some of his teaching interests include using technology in the classroom, teaching English through music and movies, and teaching academic reading and writing.
Teaching Vocabulary: Is the definition enough?
Jessica Ives
ABSTRACT
Learning a language is a complex process. Typically, grammar is seen as the most important component for learning a language. While grammar is certainly important, the role of vocabulary to convey the speaker’s message during communication is often left in the background. As Wilkins (1972) states, “without grammar, very little can be conveyed; without vocabulary, nothing can be conveyed” (p. 111). Generally, knowing vocabulary constitutes knowing the definition. However, is knowing only the definition enough?
With this in mind, the focus of this workshop is to place a spotlight on the importance of vocabulary and how teachers can help students gain a deeper understanding of the words being learned. Based on Scott Thornbury’s ideas, this workshop will address various factors related to teaching vocabulary:
- multiple meanings of words,
- a word’s relationship with other words (collocation), and
- ways to practice newly-introduced vocabulary.
Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary.
Wilkins, David A. (1972). Linguistics in Language Teaching. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
BIO
Jessica Ives is a professor at Dongshin University in Naju. Before teaching in Korea, she was an ESL Instructor at Brock University, where she also completed both her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics (TESL).
