Category: Challenge Ideas

Challenges and solutions

5/15/2020

Challenge~Herausforderung

I didn't check the roots of the English word 'Challenge'.

However let's look at the German word: 'Herausforderung', because it is such an obvious and clear meaning:
'Heraus' means 'coming/getting out of something/somewhere'
'Forderung' means 'demand' 'call'.

So a 'Herausforderung' or 'Challenge' is literally
'a call to get out'.

Similarly the Japanese word: 挑戦　（Cho sen)；
these characters together also have the similar meaning as 'A call to be active'.

If you have read the last posts:
Here,
Here,
and Here
you probably have noticed that my first 'action' is to look at the whole situation from a completely new perspective.

What does this mean practically?

First I try to figure out and imagine: what can I do now, that I wasn't able to do before. If we talk about classes in my classroom via virtual (zoom) classes:

Things we can do Virtually

Using virtual backgrounds.
Using the camera and 'playing' with it.
Using individual space.
Using private space.
Including family members.
...and more!

Second I try to think of things everyone has at home and implement it in my classes:

Materials everyone has at home

paper or plastic cups
spoons, bottle caps, and other kitchen tools
towels, sponges...
playing cards
some kind of blocks (wooden or lego...)
...and more

Third I think of fun, interactive things to do with the tool I have chosen, while reviewing and previewing the language I want to work with.

How interested are you in these activities? Let me know in the comments here or on FB if you'd like me to share more.

Time is rare even though we still have 24 hours a day, I know. But it is so rare I don't want to steal your time with articles, which are not improving your teaching or are not of any value for you.

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How to Flipgrid

6/16/2019

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A week ago I did a Facebook Live on how I started setting up Flipgrid in my EFL classroom.
It sounds like many teachers got inspired and are wanting to try it.

Please let me know how it goes, and what ideas and topics you come up with.

Example Grids

Meanwhile, I finally mixed a tape of several student works, you can check HERE.
I tried to mix a variety of ages, levels, confidences, and topics.
They all did this without my help. I gave them a topic per video, and off they went.
Which of the topics do you like most?
Looking forward to hearing from you.