The Latest Pictures
Here are the latest pictures from NELP:
First, the new Language Development Curriculum is now finished!
There are 53 worksheets with a total of 265 vocabulary exercises including more than a thousand vocabulary words from the 2nd Grade, Pre-1st and 1st Grade Eiken STEP tests. The Language Development sheets are purely voluntary. Students don't have to do them, but if they do all the worksheets for a given section, they'll get a bonus on their participation and final score in English B.
I've only got one picture of my new junior high school first grade NELP class. They've had some absences recently.
My poor first graders have been SO busy. They've only had me for SEVEN lessons, but we've already had an assessment test, a listening quiz, a discussion, our first homework, a reading comprehension quiz, a grammar quiz and our first class presentation! The student are now working on their first essay and their first book report! We do work fast in NELP!
This week, we studied the poem "For Sale" by Shel Silverstein, and the students did a great job. Next week, we're going to have our first debate: Should We Change the School Uniform! My students always enjoy this topic!
Here are my third graders!
The third graders have just finished reading "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost. The symbolism gave them some trouble, but they were very good sports about it. Next week, they're going to do a debate. Their topic will be "Should Seishin Have Teachers that Are Not Popular?" This is a good topic to get the students to think about attitudes and learning, and the difference between what one wants and what one needs.
I unfortunately didn't take any pictures of the second graders. They just finished reading "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. They also just had a debate this morning. Their topic was "Should Seishin Become a Co-Ed School". I SO wish I had recorded it. They're debate was brilliantly done. They put so much heart and effort into it, and they all participated SO well.
Here are some pictures of my high school first graders:
In these pictures they are preparing arguments for their debate. Their topic is "Should We Ban Whaling?" Their arguments are inventive and interesting. Their approach to the debate is definitely novel! All of the students are doing a really super job! I'm so proud of all of them!
In our oral communication classes, the first graders first worked on listening techniques. Tomorrow, we're going to work on speaking techniques, including volume, tone, pace and word grouping.
--Mark
Date: 16:58｜Permalink｜Author：nelp
The New NELP Classes
Here are pictures of the new NELP classes.
There are five first graders:
The first graders are awesome! They did a wonderful job on their spring homework. What's more, I've already got my eye on several SELP students who, if they study hard in first grade, have a strong chance to join NELP in second grade.
There are twelve second graders:
I'm so happy to see them again. They're so much fun.
There are ten third graders:
For their winter homework, they had to do book reports and give me another draft on their speeches. I don't have everyone's homework yet, but the ones who turned it in did a great job!
There are now ten high school first graders:
I am SO happy to have these girls in my class this year. We did a spontaneous debate this week, no preparation, and they did so well!
I'm sure my classes are going to be a lot of fun this year!
--Mark
Date: 23:26｜Permalink｜Author：nelp
Getting Ready for the New Year
This is a little late, but before classes began, I got the classroom ready for the new year. I cleaned. Yes, I cleaned. I swept. I swept again. I mopped. I swept. I mopped. I swept again.
Here are the results.
--Mark
Date: 23:23｜Permalink｜Author：nelp
Cleaning the NELP room!
Today is the opening ceremony. Tomorrow will be the entrance ceremony for new students. I'm really excited.
I cleaned my classroom! Here are some pictures.
Mark
Date: 09:38｜Permalink｜Author：nelp
A New Year for NELP
This year, we will begin the 6th year of the Native English Language Program. The first NELP class will begin their final year at Seishin. Hard to believe!
This year also marks major changes in Native English Language Program, including major changes to the NELP curriculum.
This year, two-thirds of the main readings will change and more than one quarter of the test readings will change. Some of the readings will indeed be new, but I will also be bringing back many readings that were previously dropped from the curriculum.
Last year, I did extensive interviews with all of my students to determine which readings 'worked' and which readings did not. Students told me their favorite and least favorite readings, and we discussed why certain reading weren't working. I had a lot of very valuable feedback from the students. In this way I hope to maximize the benefits the students receive through this program. In someways, the program will be easier, and in some ways it will be harder.
There will also be many new activities.
In Oral Communication, students will continue to have discussion, class presentations and small group presentations. Students will continue to have conversation topics and debate topics. We will also continue to use classical art as a medium for language practice and discussion. Starting this year, we also begin pronunciation practice.
We're going to be doing tongue twisters and other exercises to work on clarity, pronunciation, word stress and cadence in language.
Later I hope to introduce students to famous (and not so famous) quotes in order to generate short discussions.
We're also going to study music. I'm going to use music to develop their listening skills, develop vocabulary recognition, generate discussion, and reinforce grammar and discourse.
I'm also planning to re-introduce final presentations to second and third grade students.
As well, I'm planning to introduce short writing exercises and projects in second and third grade to help students further develop their writing skills.
I'm also giving strong consideration to making changes to my oral communication and English B tests in order to better challenge the students and create more opportunities for students to learn and excel.
This year, the high school program will also see significant development. High school first and second graders will now have NELP writing classes. I'll be teaching first grade writing this year and Brian will be teaching second grade writing. I have some ideas for some very interesting, challenging and NEW kinds of writing projects that will take students in a very new direction in their language development. As well, my high school first grade oral communication classes will see some very new and exciting activities.
The students will be learning advanced oral communication techniques that will be designed to prepare the students for leadership roles in the future. Specifically, I'm planning to help the students to develop their pronunciation, clarity, volume, power, cadence and tone. We'll be working on gestures, posture, and body language. We'll also be talking not only about how to convey emotions, but we'll also be learning how to create mood and tone through word choice and vocal control.
In all, we'll be doing some very new and unique things in NELP this year.
Date: 21:46｜Permalink｜Author：nelp