Selfcare has been a hot topic already before COVID hit, but this year there are more requests than ever.  So, a few thoughts in Episode 2 of MAC Radio. 

​

For several years I have participated as a listener in this conference, and have learned sooooo much.

The teachers presenting here are so inspiring, so creative, so passionate, so transparent, and so out of the box!  
​

When I read the announcement of next year's conference I wanted to sign up right away, but I pressed a different tab and ended in a 'proposal section'.
Uh, wow!  I figured that I fulfill all the needs to get my proposal out, and thanks to this very challenging yet amazing teaching year or 2020, I also felt that I have a few new ideas that would inspire  other teachers.
So, I did it~and ....Congratulations to me, I got in.

This feels so weird to say, because really, all the presenters are sooooo amazing and huge.  How can my name be amongst everyone else.   
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!     I will do my very best.

Now, to all the language teachers who have been following me, supporting me, taking my courses, learning with me or from me:  If you want to give yourself a Christmas present, you want to enjoy for all over 2021 or even far beyond, don't hesitate to register.  This is such an amazing chance.  Don't miss all those great presenters.
I just checked the long list: HERE. and also the program: HERE 
This year there will also be quite a lot ideas for Online learning.  

Go and check the program.  Do not miss it.

And of course I will be honored and encouraged if you also log in and check my completely new presentation, no one has seen yet ~and it will only be viewable on Comprehended.  My presentation will be about what I call 'Soundstories'.  I wrote a blog about how it started, but this year it developed into more.

Unrelated to COVID19, my sons moved out beginning of April, and as my Japanese husband is living in Germany right now, I am alone with my daughter.  Washing, cleaning and cooking for 2 instead of 4 or 5 adults is a tremendous change.

​

​This week school started, and I chose a very new and little crazy live style:


First, I canceled my daughter's school bus.  I would have had to pay 1800 Dollar for the year, no matter how often school will have to close down.
On top of that it is pretty impossible to seat students apart enough, or to make sure the air circulates.


So, instead I decided to drive her to school, and pick her up.
One way is 25 km, so every day I am driving 100 km now.  As I had only one occasion where I commuted to work by car (2 km), this is really rare and special for me.  And, yes, a bit crazy.


BTW, 25 km in Japan means 35-40 minutes drive, because we are only allowed to drive 50km/h, and the roads are quite narrow.  In Germany it would be 15, 20 minutes...


Now, probably many of you know, if I decide to do something, I will do all I can to enjoy what I am doing.  If I feel bad about the things I am doing or have to complain about them, I quit doing them.  Period!  No matter wether it is leisure or work.

​​So, what is my JOY of driving 100 km per day?


Close to my daughter's school is a beautiful mountain with an amazing beauty of a temple on top.
I went up the 808 stairs twice last month, and figured how relaxing and healing it is.  

No people, lots of green and the only sound are birds tweeting. 
 It gave me such a muscle pain that I hardly was able to walk my own stairs at home, but it felt good.

So, I have decided to take the climb every day (except for days with rain, as that would be a bit dangerous).


I am not doing this to get enlightened (I believe it takes more than walking to a temple once a day)
not for diet (I think I don't need to lose any weight)
not for health (I don't like 'healthy live movements")

 Do it for joy.  Because it is fun.  And you know what:

​I think this is my life recipe.


Does this mean, that I am leading an egoistic selfish life? 
 It is up to you to judge but I do not think so:


I am not ignoring society and its needs.  

For example I was one of the first to close down my school end of February and move on line.  I was also very serious about wearing my mask, disinfecting my hands, keeping away from people, including friends and at times even family and just staying at home.

​Sorry for side tracking, back  to A.C changes:


Involuntarily I HAVE to get a better work schedule.  I used to sit down in front of my computer at 7 (B.C.) and work and work and work, plan lessons, advise teachers, coach parents, create seminars., admin work, accountings...in between quickly get some lunch or do housework in bits, here and there.  
Then teach get finally ready for class from 3 and teach till night, after class again sit down in front of my computer to write class reports.


NOW:  I have only 4 hours for housework AND desk work.  

So, I need a plan.
​
One thing I am thinking right now is, that on Fridays I am going to take the time to write blogs, do FB or IG lives OUTSIDE my home.  (today I did both;  IG in Japanese, and FB in English)
As you can see, there are some beautiful places around my girl's school, and one day a week, just staying here, enjoying work in a beautiful scenery, and maybe even having the time to read a book on the beach.  YEAH!  Sounds like a deal.

If you have teaching questions or 'learning language questions', I'd be very happy to hear about them so I have some more topics for my FB lives. 　
Looking forward hearing from you.  

Till then, stay healthy.  Love and Peace!

If you don't have one by now~make sure your get one quickly so you can play in the wonderful autumn breeze.

There are SOOOO many things you can do with a rainbow parachute.
Here just a few.
You can also sing circle songs circle games, like 'drop the kerchief' or even play karuta.
​
Do you have any more ideas?

Why are gestures so important in language learning?  Especially when we learn speaking?
Gestures trigger a different part of the brain, than for example pictures or words do.
When learning a language  (no, actually when learning ANYTHING)  it is highly recommended to activate as many senses as possible.
Eyes, ears, hands, balance, if possible also smell and taste.

The  picture of a snake:
this only could mean many many things.

The word 'snake'
pretty clear if we have heard the word before, know what it means, how to decode and sound it out, and can 'picture' it in our mind.  So, lots of work to do, only with a WORD.

The gesture of a snake:
again, only the gesture could mean many things, but together with the above it gets clearer.

Of course there are many more reasons for using gestures:
it is fun, they can even function as brain breaks.
They help students to get out of their chairs and move around.

I have had times without a voice, and I still could teach, because we all knew gestures. 

And, here, for you 10 songs in one playlist to teach with gestures.

As always, if you have questions or comments, let me know.


And here is:

How important is reading, I have mentioned my own experience on this in  my last live .   
So, I think it is absolutely essential!  And here is how I do it.

I know I sound as if I was hired by the company, I AM NOT.  I am just a user of this program, and there might be other programs that are equally good or even better or cheaper or whatsoever.  
Feel free to share any other experiences with reading programs.  And of course if your kids go to the bookstore and get their own physical books that is also excellent.  But extensive reading needs 1000s of books to choose from, in the right level, and this is something that you won't find in most libraries.

We all know this symptom:
Kids see a flashcard and answer promptly with the phrase they have learned with it.
They hear a song and sing the lyrics~even hard ones.

30 minutes later we ask a similar or sometimes even exactly the same question outside the context and blop! 

QUESTIONMARK EYES　?

If you have any stories, questions or comments on this, please write them down, BELOW!!!  Thanks for watching.

And here is my Facebook Live session on WHY to use Flipgrid.  What makes it different to other platforms?  How do we introduce it to parents and students?!

If you have further questions after watching this, put them in the comments.

I finally figured out a way of how to share some more thoughts with you who are not using facebook .  
Today's live was on an almost hot topic.  

I made some maybe striking observations of my own.

Do you have any hacks on this topic?

Very excited to announce:
Margit's Master Teacher Training in Shiga 2019

Time:  July  20, 21
Location:  Shiga Prefecture, Otsu city, Titti Seminar House
Day 1:  Margit's Academy Show:
Performance of my students , age 4-12.  
This year we are using a new space and will have all of my students in one show.  
You will experience not only the kids, but also the parents and how I get them involved.

Day 2: Full Day Teacher Training:
You will experience (I'm sure, not for the first time) what 'learning a language' means, and how your students feel in the classroom.  I will use German and Bahasa Indonesia to show you techniques  and methods that work (and also why others don't).  All 100% practical, so you learn 'as a student' and 'as a teacher' at once.
Lots of activities, games, brain breaks you can take as they are and use in your classroom.
Second half I plan  to go a bit into more 'advanced' activities and methods including movie talk, storytelling, reading and writing , again all practical.
The number of participants is limited so we will be able to figure out everyones' needs, and work on these.   
And of course just being in this great community of same minded teachers!  Don't think twice.

Price: 　　　　　
Regular:                  29800円
Repeater:               23800円 （till May 25th)
Double:              each17800円( Repeaters+someone new )
Bonus 1:   All prices include accommodation
Bonus 2:   A kitchen with everything needed for dinner, breakfast, lunch
Bonus 3:   In case you want to bring your kids, I have a very special deal for you, that is unbeatable, so get in touch.

I am looking forward to seeing you all,  please apply via contact form ,
leave a comment or call me.

If you have further questions don't hesitate to contact.

And here are a few testimonials from last year: