I have been receiving many inquiries from teachers in the US and Latin America about how to utilize my online learning program during the current health crisis. Here is a re-post for those who could use my ideas:
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On Thu, Feb 13, 2020, 12:46 PM Paul Rogers wrote:
MY PROGRAM
I teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to Spanish speaking adults between the ages of 25 and 60. Most are women who have children and often work at low-paying jobs.
Usually they do not attend classes at adult education centers for a variety of reasons.
My course is very informal – or “non-formal” - with no tests or grades.
The materials used are textbooks I have written and my two websites: pumarosa.com and inglesconprofepablo.com.
In 2013 I created several Facebook groups where I often post video and text lessons. The groups focus on pronuncation, readings, songs from YouTube with lyrics and a group for teachers who teach kids.
There are now WhatsApp groups for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. One group is local and two consist of students from the US and from Latin America, including English teachers and professionals. I started using WhatsApp about 5 years ago and still have five students from then.
I call my method of instruction ‘bilingual and phonetic, step by step”, with a focus on pronunciation as the basis of learning English.
The students study a variety of ways. They can watch videos that I have made or which are on YouTube for free, and they can also listen to audios I post on WhatsApp.
They also are able to access written lessons in my texts which are on inglesconprofepablo.com.
They also can use Pumarosa which is an interactive website, with voice, that provides many lessons.
WhatsApp is interactive and often studens will chat with each other and they can ask also questions on which I then answer by sending an appropriate video or text either from my own lessons or from a site on Google.
Approximately 150 students participate in the WhatsApp groups and 5000 in the Facebook groups. Pumarosa gets 1000 visits per day.
During the week there is a wide range of participation, from a quiet day of a few posts to a wide ranging discussion or lesson that can last all day.
I do not evaluate the students’ progress but I can gauge their improvement over time in their writing and audio recordings – and also by their feedback and self-evaluation.
My viewpoint is that using the internet, WhatsApp and Facebook is an important way to provide English language instruction to everyone who needs it, and especially to those who for one reason or another cannot attend classes. And those who attend classes can benefit even more if the teacher includes these tools as part of the class.
Information:
Email = paulwaynerogers@gmail.com
Telephone or WhatsApp = 805-258-3310, USA code = 1
Websites- gratis:
pumarosa.com
Inglesconprofepablo.com
Facebook groups:
1. ENGLISH FOR KIDS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/611672245534627/
2. PUMAROSA https://www.facebook.com/groups/611672245534627/
3. PRONUNCIACIÓN
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1435280100038703/
4. LECTURAS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1435280100038703/
5. SONGS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/392217600909300/
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Comments
Thank you,, Paul, for highlighting all the ways you are providing English instruction for Spanish speakers through distance learning. I'm sure that many members will share this information with their students. Teachers are also learning new ways to connect with students through technology. You are modeling that for all of us.
Cheers, Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, English Language Acquisition CoP