Greg - TP Adult #6 - Multilevel Culture Class Self-Review

Final Class Recording – Feedback

Greg and Jodie Robinson

Things to Work on (i.e. what you should do differently)

Things to Continue (i.e. what you feel you did well)

We could figure out a better way to divide the group into pairs that have a higher and lower level student in each pair.  Of course, if this were our regular class, we would know our students’ strengths and weaknesses.  Even if they measured at the same level, we would know whose speech is stronger and who is or isn’t verbal.  This would help us divide things up more quickly and efficiently. We could call on the one or two quiet ones who didn’t speak up in whole class communication (although all of them participated in the pair speaking). We could shave off 3 to 5 minutes of the black hole in space segment.  As well, if this were our regular class, we wouldn’t have to introduce ourselves, thus saving time. More time could be spent using new vocabulary in sentences made by the students. See additional comment about time usage.

Good use of the white board and visual aids. Both of us had clear and appropriate speaking speed most of the time. Good energy level, animation with body language, and full use of the room as we got involved with the students. Student involvement was natural and not forced, and there were many ways in which they were encouraged to participate (calling on them, using them in illustrations, getting their help in coming up with vocabulary definitions and sentences, activities from whole class to pair to individual work) Atmosphere was fun and sweet (chocolate during class, peanut butter crackers given as a thank you for coming gift). Rationale and agenda were clear and rationale was repeated at the end. Corrections were given appropriate to the level and goals (fluency, then accuracy.  The film was really appropriate and stimulating for the discussion.

Additional Comments: If this were our regular, daily speech class, we would have used two days for the lesson.  There would have been more time for modeling what we wanted them to do with the summary of the film.  In other words, a summary would point out the clear progression of the theme by “scenes,” including the discovery of the black hole, uses of the black hole, the results of each usage, and the overall, concluding impression the film seeks to leave with the viewer.  We would also have had more individual preparation time for the opinion-sharing portion.  This would have been followed up with each student coming forward to share his or her opinion.  Feedback or grading would be made on pronunciation, grammar, and content using a speech rubric.

It was a very encouraging experience.  The students were great!