Emma Baker CO #3

 <Emma Baker CO #3>

Date/Time: Monday, January 12, 2016, from 1:00-1:50 PM

Topic/Skill: Discussing Current World Affairs

Teacher Presentation: Ms. James played videos about certain NATO countries training their military for potential Arctic warfare in relation to climate change and its impact on access to resources north of the Arctic Circle. 

Classroom Management: Ms. James led the classroom discussion through guiding questions about the content of the videos and the background information needed to understand them.

Materials: Handout from the previous class, YouTube videos

Student Participation: Students read their partner's answers to the interview questions from the previous class. They responded to Ms. James's questions on their background knowledge of the topics discussed.

Feedback Provided: Ms. James would utilize the method of questioning what a student said to lead toward correction. For example, if a student said Finland was east of Russia, she would ask, "Finland is east of Russia?" Then the student would say, "Oh, Finland is west of Russia."

Lesson(s) on Teaching I Learned: Ms. James established a safe space to discuss potentially controversial topics, such as conflict between countries competing for resources. She made the material relevant to the lives of the students, yet provided them with the reassurance that what they said would not be repeated outside of the classroom or used for further judgment. It is important to make the classroom a comfortable space where students can practice English without fear of judgment for what they say, especially as they are natives of a different culture, country, etc.

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