2009 in Chur
Title of presentation: How to use an internet platform with intermediate to advanced learners to help them become more autonomous and advance more quickly at their pace
Brief abstract (max. 100 words): Students learning English at the United Nations in Geneva
The teachers enable them to progress quickly by giving students access to English outside the classroom in their daily lives. Carol will show how she blends classroom learning with an internet platform, Blackboard, to help students become more autonomous. She will also demonstrate a free platform http://www.nicenet.org/, which is simple to use with all levels.
2008 in Lugano
Title of presentation: Giving feedback on students’ written work
Abstract: When students submit written work, various approaches to giving feedback can be used. The ones students seem to find most useful are those which involve them in reflecting, researching and correcting their own work.
This talk will present correction techniques which can be modified to suit any level of student. The techniques combine correction codes with comments from the teacher and pointers to useful internet assistance.
The talk will also include tips on adapting the same model to give feedback to very advanced writers or native speakers writing in a professional context.
2007
Joint presentation with Sarah Jordan
Teaching advanced writing skills to report writers and administrative writers in the United Nations and other international organizations.
Abstract:
International civil servants write reports, minutes of meetings, expert briefing papers, chapters of books, emails, memoranda, letters, press releases and brochures.
Our role is to help them with clarity and style. To do this, we use workshops we analyse their own writing. We will demonstrate both aspects of the course:
Workshop resources include:
- A list of ‘red flags’ or ‘editors’ nightmares’
- Internet sites dealing with effective writing
- Flesch’s readability score in MSWord
- Analysis of authentic samples
Feedback on assignments is given through ‘track changes’ and ‘comments’ in MSWord.
Title of presentation: Using a ‘blended learning’ approach to teaching advanced writing skills
Abstract
At the United Nations Language Training Section, writing skills used to be taught through seminars. Recently, this course has been adapted to provide a ‘blended learning’ approach, using a web-based platform to provide the weekly program, coaching, seminars and ongoing writing practice through drafting and redrafting after feedback from the tutor. Specializations offered include administrative writing and report writing.
This presentation will demonstrate the type of material which has been developed, will discuss the pedagogical reasons for having this type of program, and will point out the advantages and some of the pitfalls involved in the ‘blended approach’ used.
Title of presentation: Using a web-based platform (Blackboard) as a pedagogical tool and integral part of a general English course.
Abstract
At the United Nations Language Training Section, the Distance Learning Team has been involved over the last 18 months in developing and conducting a Web-based support program for its regular English courses, particularly at the advanced level. The long-term aim is to use Web-based support as an integral part of the general English programs at all levels. This presentation will demonstrate the type of material which has been developed, will discuss the pedagogical reasons for having this type of program, and will point out the advantages and some of the pitfalls involved in the process of designing Web-based support programs.
