Let me share with you some of the most interesting techniques I learnt during the last MATE middle school seminar in Ben Slimane. This workshop presented by Professor Joan Kang Shin evolved around increasing interaction between students at all levels through group and pair work activities. The goal of the workshop was to give students chances to equally interact a great deal with one another. The facilitator started by explaining that the following experiential activities are used on a scaffolding basis to practice new knowledge and skills in a safe environment. She also stressed that such activities are usually linked to students’ real contexts.
I- Little Bit of language input – check activity:
This is a controlled pair work activity which consists of:
1. Giving students a “small bit of input”, that can be a grammar definition, a definition of a word …etc. For example:
T: Skimming means reading quickly for the main idea.
2. Checking comprehension using Q and A to model the interaction desired :
T: Khadija, what does skimming mean?
K: Skimming means reading quickly for the main idea.
3. Have students in pairs do the exact same interaction.
T: ask your partner what skimming means?
II- Integrated skills pair work:
This is an information gap and problem solving activity. Students in pairs can be provided with scenarios on different topics such as taking a trip. This activity was divided into the following 3 parts:
1. Getting information:
Students in pairs are asked to read about 2 different countries and fill in a sort of questionnaire or a foldable by asking each other questions and writing down answers. This activity offers practice in scanning information and engages students in real life interaction. The facilitator stressed the importance of providing students with sample questions and reading texts especially at very beginning levels.
2. using information:
Once they have information about 2 countries, students individually decide on which is the best country to visit and justify their choice.
3. Problem-solving negotiation:
Pairs discuss their choices and try to reach an agreement on the best country to visit and state the reasons behind their choice.
Joan Kang Shin provided this interesting world travel guide, which can be used as a teaching resource: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/
III- textbook exercises:
This technique aims to provide students with opportunities to interact while working in groups to complete textbook exercises. Below are the steps Joan Kang Shin suggested to implement this activity in the classroom:
1. Students in groups are asked to complete an exercise on the textbook or a task sheet.
2. They are asked to choose a leader whose responsibilities are :
- Leading the discussion,
- Keeping track of time,
- Eliciting responses from the group members,
- Making sure that all the group members participate equally and
- Calling on students to share their answers with the whole class when the task has been completed.
3. Students should be given clear language models to successfully lead the discussion. Model questions should be adapted to students’ level and written clearly on the board or wall charts.
4. After the discussion, the teacher calls on each group leader to elicit a response from one of their group members and share it with other groups.
5. Group leaders are assisted to use the language accurately.
This workshop was a great opportunity for me to learn useful techniques and reflect on my own teaching, which was more focused on Teacher- student interactions. It has successfully convinced me that all students need to speak out and consequently we have to establish situations and encourage them to interact with one another.
Reference:
Workshop: Increasing Classroom Interaction with group and pair work. Joan Kang Shin. University of Maryland, Baltimore County. MATE 2nd middle school seminar. Benslimane, January 26-28, 2008.
