CALL Resources on Diigo for Teacher Training

Previously posted on the TESOL blog on 31 October 2011 by Sandra Rogers

Do you Diigo?  To be honest, I signed up but never used the online social-bookmarking tool. Fortunately,  TESOL’s Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL) Interest Section has been busy bookmarking some great online resources.  Dr. Elizabeth Hanson-Smith shared the Diigo CALL-IS Virtual Software List on the TESOL CALL Community: http://www.diigo.com/user/call_is_vsl.  This list contains tons of resources on various teaching topics! However, this post focuses only on the teacher-training videos.

Here are some of Dr. Hanson’s recommendation for teacher-training videos:

1. Bridge TEFL Videos Teach English:
A teacher training site with videos on how to work in a classroom. You have to register to login but can view three videos without registering.  Check out: “Breaking Bad Teaching Habits.” http://www.teflvideos.com/

2. Teacher Training Presentations – School of TEFL

These free videos generally show teachers at work in the classroom, leading games and activities, teaching vocabulary and grammar, assessing speech, co-teaching, etc.  These would be very useful for the teacher-in-training or for the old dog who would like to see some new tricks.  http://teachers.schooloftefl.com

3. Dr. Hanson’s personal favorite: From Good to Outstanding | Teachers TV

These wonderful videos take you from initial lessons to interviews with teachers and students to advice by the expert, and a view of how those lessons are put to use in the classrom. Amazingly good teacher training in 26 videos.  www.teachers.tv

4. TeacherTube Professional Development Videos

Like most items at TeacherTube, these videos are uneven in content and production values, but contain several real gems. You have to register/sign in.
http://www.teachertube.com/

5. BBC audio programs:
For teachers – Radio programmes: Innovations in Teaching
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/teachingenglish/radio/innovations.shtml

6. Arts Impact Teacher Training Video

“See the Arts Impact program in action as teachers participate in the summer institute and teach the arts in their classrooms. Hear comments from participating teachers and artist mentors.”  This is a very nice teacher training video if you are using drama and/or art in the classroom. Great ideas. www.arts-impact.org

7. YouTube - Shaping the Way We Teach English: Introduction

This is a teacher training series funded by the U.S. government titled, “Shaping the Way We Teach English, Successful Practices Around the World.” These introductory materials
are designed for English as a foreign language educators. Professionally produced but excellent ideas can be applied in many circumstances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLpwuQsNiLg

For more information on CALL related professional development resources, visit my page about the Electronic Village Online (EVO).

EVO: A Collaborative Professional Development Project

Teacherrogers is now on Podbean.com

Dear Readers,

I started a podcast on English language pronunciation issues and Spanish for medical usage.  The English language podcasts are for English language learners (ELLs),  and the Spanish language podcasts are for medical professionals to use Spanish-speaking patients.  The latter serves as a job aid for those who need to practice Spanish on the job.  I’ll be adding more soon.  Check it out!

This links takes you to the list of recordings on the podcast: http://teacherrogers.podbean.com/

Blogging for the TESOL 2011 Convention!

I’ve been professionally blogging since 2009, so when TESOL asked for bloggers for their annual convention, I sent them my bio.  I was delighted to find out that I was one of six people selected!  Right away, I thought of ideas to blog: jobs, financial aid opportunities, superstar encounters, and professional development. Since then, I’ve been asked to stay on as a blogger.  Here’s a link to the following blog posts:

http://blog.tesol.org/author/srogers

1. TESOL Rock Stars

2. TESOL Financial Aid Opportunities

3. Great Job Opportunities at TESOL’s Marketplace: Part 1

4.  Great Job Opportunities at TESOL: Volunteer for the Peace Corps (Part 2)

5. Webcasts for those not attending TESOL

6. EVO Provides Free Professional Development Annually

7.   Japanese ESL Teacher Who Experienced Earthquake Determined to Attend TESOL

8. Did you find a job at the TESOL Marketplace? (Part 3)

9.  How to Use Paper.li to Enhance Your PLN

10.  EVO is for Newbies and Techies Alike

11. CALL Resources on Diigo for Teacher Training

12. 3 Basic Tech Tools for Beginning Online Teachers

13. Vote For EVO as a Top Tech Innovator on the Chronicle

14. Another Basic Tech Tool for Online Teachers: The World Clock

15. Join Your Organization

My humorous blog about the TESOL Rock Stars has garnered the most attention.  I even had TEFL International retweet my blog with a “congrats”.  I’d love to hear your feedback.

Your Blogger,

Sandra Annette Rogers

Principles and Practices of Online Teaching Certificate Program

Dear Teachers,

Have you ever thought about telecommuting for work or teaching online?  I just completed a certificate to teach online through my profession.  This yearlong course hosted by TESOL is conducted at the University of Wisconsin via online instruction.  What better way to learn to teach online than taking an online course!  It isn’t a very costly program.  I was able to learn enough from this course to feel comfortable in taking on a new job teaching online at my university.

This course served me well, as I’m excelling at my new job!  Last year, I wrote about making changes, re-educating yourself for the “invisible” jobs.  Trends show that online classes at universities are on the rise, according to the Chronicle of Higher Learning.   This certification is for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) which is part of my profession, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).  However, it is open to anyone from any field.  I was able to design my nonprofit’s website and learn about Web 2.0 tools from this certificate course.

In addition, I’ve been able to get three part-time jobs online!  Now, I’ve gone completely virtual teaching ESL for a company in Israel, teaching reading online for the local university, and scoring tests online.  My nonprofit is wholly online, too.  I’ve even become an online mentor.  I started mentoring ESL instructors in Italy for TESOL and mentoring individuals looking for work for my nonprofit’s mission.

Check out the site:

Principles and Practices of Online Teaching Certificate Program

Your blogger,

Sandra Annette Rogers