TATL #21: Special Edition: Interview with Shuhei



Main Content:  Emily and Roger talk with Shuhei H. He is an English teacher in Japan who teaches at a night high school. He shares some challenges, but also a very important classroom activity type that he has found to be very effective for these very special students.

WIMB: (What's in my bag?)

Shuhei: Shuhei shared a very unique journal book. It is a 3-year parallel journal that is keyed by date. This means that when he writes a journal entry for a particular day, he can look back on his journal entry for the exact day a year ago. He says it is a great way to look at how his viewpoint has changed (or stayed the same) over the past three years.




TATL #22: Thinking About the End



Main Content:  Emily and Roger reflect on how they conduct the last class of the term, encourage students who are going onto other paths, and leave a long-lasting impression.

WIMB: (What's in my bag?)

Emily:

I use plastic, reusable folders with cute characters on them to keep my import documents from wrinkling.


Roger:

I have this slim, reusable water bottle made by Memobottle.

Memobottle - Reusable Slim Water Bottle - Made from Recycled BPA Free Plastic - 750ml/375ml- memo bottle 
by memobottle 
Link: https://amzn.com/B011Q2UF4G

TATL #24: Using Music in Class (Part 1)


Main Content:  Emily and Roger talk about how they use music in class. Emily shared a great idea to get a list of her students' favorite songs and then she finds them and plays them during break time. Really Cool! Roger plays music in class before it starts to create a comfortable atmosphere. There are more tips and ideas discussed in this always nearly 10-minute segment. 

WIMB: (What's in My Bag?)

Emily:

Dill Pickle Popcorn from Trader Joes


Roger:

Coffee (and TEA) Pour Over Infuser Thingy from Daiso

TATL #25: Using Music in Class (Part 2)

Main Content

There are specific songs with lyrics for teaching grammar-website (tefltunes.com)

We have a few activities:

Emily: "instrumental journaling"

Roger:"cut up the lyrics"

Tom's Diner plus homework


WAYLT

Emily: DJ Okawari (https://youtu.be/Bm-Ijm5X84w)

Roger: KUSC Classical Music Commercial Free (http://kusc.org/)


TATL #26: To Share or Not to Share


Main Content

Emily and Roger discuss the challenges of sharing their lessons, activities, and resources with other teachers. Roger thinks it depends on who you share your hard work with. There are 'moochers' out there. They are the ones that make it harder for people who want to share, but feel angry that some teachers take advantage of it. When there is mutual sharing, magic happens. 


WIMB (What's In My Bag?)

Roger: Music Memo App (iOS only)

Emily: Key Card Stretchy thingy.


TATL #27: Field Tripping


Main Content

Emily and Roger discuss the benefits of going on and organizing field trips. They also offer tips on pre- and post-field trip activities to make sure that the trip is more than just a trip.

WOMD? (What's On My Desk?)

Roger:

A giant sketch pad for preparing talks. (Strathmore 14"x17" Sketch link: http://www.michaels.com/strathmore-400-series-sketch-pad/M10012254.html#start=4)

Emily: 

A birthday gift of an art piece from a dear friend. (Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MysteryBarnTradingCo )




TATL #28: Road Tripping


Main Content: 

Emily and Roger discuss about how they prepare and pack for work trips. They invite listeners who are nervous about traveling to e-mail them with questions at askingtatl@gmail.com.

WOMD? (What's On My Desk?)

Roger:

"Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" (Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Letters-J-R-R-Tolkien-J-R/dp/0618056998)

Emily: 



Quote from Tracee Ellis Ross given by one of Emily's TEFL students.

TATL #29: Infinite Accessibility

Main Content: 

Emily and Roger discuss the challenge of making our created content "infinitely accessible". Teachers create great content, we want access to this and we want to keep sharing it with our former, current and future students. There are social media tools available to keep in touch with students, but what about tools that help us share and distribute content to our expanding student audience? 

Emily mentions that using LMS's (learning management tools), and specifically Schoology, can be effective 'after' a course is finished. After she finishes a course, she leaves the course open, and so anyone with a link and a code could access some or all of her content. 

Roger mentions that 'tagging' is super important. Just as instagram and twitter use hashtags # to categorize posts, we teachers can 'tag' our content with useful descriptors to help others find content. He also mentions that we need to reduce 'look-up fatigue' in our students. That is to say, make it easier for outsiders, former students, anyone, to find the content they need for their learning. 

Other useful blogging/information platforms: 

Weebly

Posthaven

Squarespace

Tools to help send big files:

Microsoft One Drive

Apple iCloud

Dropbox

Box.net


WAWLT (What Are We Listening Too?):

Emily: When I need inspiration, or when I want to imagine that I am a Benedictine monk about to be killed for just saying 'Hi', I play this tune. Very evocative, somber piece played perfectly by the cello master himself Yo Yo Ma. 

Ennio Morricone "The Mission" played by Yo Yo Ma. Link


Roger: I like rhythm, especially rhythm that is syncopated and surprising. This song has this and the lyrics are chilling, honest and desperate.

Twenty-One Pilots "Addict With a Pen" Link