Episode 009: DO Talk to Strangers

The Minimal Pair: Episode 009Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: DO Talk to StrangersEpisode no: 009Date: Recorded on 5/16/14Topics in Language LearningTutoring/student support Inspired by the article “Minimalist Tutoring: Making Students Do All the Work,” by Jeff Brooks of Seattle Pacific University (https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iposMnhBlTZIKhZ_s2gpgtfnd5-XV_nBRabuv44o3w/edit?hl=en_US) Talking points:Teaching students to fishImprove the student, not the paperHelping vs. editingGoal of writing a paper?Student ownership (both of their writing and their mistakes)“Basic Minimalist Tutoring” Tips:Sit beside the studentHave the student be closer to the paper than you arePosition yourself so that it’s not convenient to try to write on the paper; don’t bring a penHave the student read the paper (so they’re not excluded)“Advanced Minimalist Tutoring” Tips:Concentrate on the paper’s strengthsAsk “leading questions”Give the student a task, leave him/her alone, come back to check in“Defensive Minimalist Tutoring” Tips:Imitate student body language to show deferenceBe honest: “This is your paper, not mine!”[23:00]MethodologySmall talkOur experiences…Why should we teach it?“Making space for English”—shout out to Anna LosevaThe Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine How can we incorporate it into our classrooms?5 Tips for Students:Do talk to strangersKeep it lightBeing engagedClosing the conversationReflect[40:40]Culturally speaking…Group workWhy group work?How do we determine groups? Factors to consider and why: skill level, confidence/personality, age, gender, language background, religious/cultural background…The importance of teaching students how to be students in an American classroomSHOUT OUTS: Jeff Brooks of Seattle Pacific University & Anna Loseva @AnnLoseva