How do I encourage different learning styles?

First, a teacher needs to recognize the different learning styles of individual students. Second, create opportunities for learning differently. Third, give encouragement with positive reinforcement. It is just that simple!

Once, we gave an assignment: Write Characters with Images. The students were asked to self-select six verbal phrases they really wanted to remember, draw pictures of them and write characters next to the pictures.

The assignment came back with four different kinds of artwork:

1.      Abstract graphics;

2.      Computer generated art;

3.      Self-created drawings;

4.      Drawing of images resembling the shapes of the characters.

When learners are given choices in learning and they have more control of the learning process and the content. They feel more comfortable and have more confidence in learning, and they perform with more enthusiasm and creativity, making them learn better.

If you want to know about it, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com

How do I use questions to engage learners?

Younger learners have shorter attention spans than older learners. In order to assure effective learning, a teacher needs to engage learners. One effective way to call on their attention is by posing questions to them. The type of questions a teacher asks for this purpose must trigger critical thinking. In other words, a teacher provokes critical thinking and comparative learning by asking questions that draw attention, curiosity and help learners to summarize what they learned. We have three little tips on this issue:

1. Ask open-ended questions from “ What? When? Where?” to “ Why?” and “ How?” to encourage critical thinking. Give hints, provide examples, use humour, and encourage guessing. Lead them to the right answer.

2. Get everyone involved. Do not confirm the correct answer until several people answer.

3. Do not forget to reward good answers ( not necessarily correct answers) with encouragement and, more importantly, some “ bonus points.” Positive reinforcement brings more active participation.

If you want to know more about it, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com

How do I encourage development of learning skills

In addition to gaining subject knowledge, young learners are learning how to learn everybody. In a language classroom, not only do we teach new communication mannerisms and tools through teaching the language, we also give them new perspectives and life experience that are in many ways different from their won. We provoke curiosity, nurture respect and love through achieving understanding and meaning in another language. We should encourage the development of their learning skills according to their cognitive capacity, one step at a time, through language learning and critical thinking.

Effective learning skills are gained through good learning habits. A teacher should guide learners to foster good habits in learning. Here are a few tips that help young students succeed in learning:

1.      Remind students to keep things in good order:

1)      Organize study materials.

2)      Organize notes.

3)      Organize study time.

 (　Make it routine or a requirement for students to do so. )

2.      Ask students to pay attention to details:

1)      When getting back homework, pay attention to the teacher’s corrections, and try not to make the same mistake twice.

2)       Provide opportunities for learners to discover patterns and rules, and define rules through summary.

3)       Encourage students to compare points of difference and similarity.

4)       Guide students to make connections between new learning, previous learning, and personal experiences.

3.      Invite students to ask questions about:

1)      something they are not sure or clear about.

2)      Something they are curious about.

3)      Something that seems odd to them.

 ( You never know, other students may benefit from the answers to your questions.)

If you want to know more about it, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com

How do I encourage development of learning skills?

In addition to gaining subject knowledge, young learners are learning how to learn everyday. In a language classroom, not only do we teach new communication mannerisms and tools through teaching the language, we also give them new perspectives and life experiences that are in many ways different from their own. We provoke curiosity, nurture respect and love through achieving understanding and meaning in another language. We should encourage the development of their learning skills according to their cognitive capacity, one step at a time, through language learning and critical thinking.

Effective learning skills are gained through good learning habits. A teacher should guide learners to foster good habits in learning. Here are a few tips that help young students succeed in learning:

1.      Remind students to keep things in good order:

1) Organize study materials.

2) Organize notes.

3) Organize study time.

( Make it routine or requirement for students to do so.)

2.      Ask students to pay attention to details:

1)      When getting back homework, pay attention to the teacher’s corrections, and try not to make the same mistake twice.

2)       Provide opportunities for learners to discover patterns and rules, and define rules through summary.

3)       Encourage students to compare points of difference and similarity.

4)       Guide students to make connections between new learning, previous learning, and personal experience.

3.      Invite students to ask questions about:

1)      something they are not sure of clear about,

2)      something they are curious about, and

3)      something that seems odd to them.

( You never know, other students may benefit from the answers to your questions.)

If you want to learn more, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com

How do I incorporate games in classroom instruction?

Young learners often appreciate playfulness more than adult learners. Games are activities young learners are familiar with in daily life. To integrate games into classroom instruction is certainly a fun way to go. When learners are playing with the language, they learn with enthusiasm and the effort they put into learning is painless. The most effective games that support language learning are the games that:

1.      Are most relevant to the content of teaching and learning;

2.      Mobilize a variety of intelligence and learning styles;

3.      Involve and four language skills （speaking, listening, reading and writing）；

4.      Are competitive and interactive in nature;

5.      Interest learners;

6.      Inspire active participation, especially the equal participation of all learners;

7.      Require clear, precise, and short instructions.

Avoid games in languages classroom that have complicated rules, require sophisticated equipment, are too time consuming, do not provide equal opportunity for all players, or are irrelevant to learning.

If you want to learn more, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com

Chinese Banquet Etiquette

It is fair to say that the number one pastime in China is eating. Although your Chinese host will not expect you to know everything about proper banquet behavior, he will greatly appreciate it when you are displaying some knowledge of the subject, because it shows that you have respect for Chinese culture, etiquette and traditions.

Banquets are usually held in restaurants in private rooms that have been reserved for the purpose. you should arrive on time. Seating arrangements, which are based on rank, are stricter than in the West. Guests should never assume that they may sit where they please and should wait for hosts to guide them to their places. Traditionally, the Chinese regard the right side as the superior and the left side as the inferior. Therefore on formal occasions, including meetings and banquets, the host invariably arranges for the main guests to sit on his right side.

It is the host's responsibility to serve the guests, and at very formal banquets people do not begin to eat until the principal host served a portion to the principal guest. Or, the host may simply raise his chopsticks and announce that eating has begun. After this point, one may serve oneself any food in any amount, although it is rude to dig around in a dish in search of choice portions. Remember to go slow on eating. Don't fill yourself up when five courses are left to go. To stop eating in the middle of a banquet is rude, and your host may incorrectly think that something has been done to offend you.

Drinking takes an important place in Chinese banquets, and it is a matter of courtesy for the host to try to get his guests drunk. If you do not intend to drink alcohol, make it known at the very beginning of the meal to prevent embarrassment. Even then, the host may good-naturedly try to push you into drinking. One way to eliminate this pressure is to tell your host that you are allergic to alcohol. In the course of drinking at banquets, it is not unusual for some Chinese to become quite drunk, although vomiting or falling down in public entails loss of face. After a few rounds of heavy drinking, you may notice your hosts excusing themselves to the bathroom, from whence they often return a bit lighter and reborn for more toasting!

When the last dish is finished, the banquet has officially ended. There is little ceremony involved with its conclusion. The host may ask if you have eaten your fill, which you undoubtedly will have done. Then the principal host will rise, signaling that the banquet has ended.

if you want to know more about chinese culture, please check  http://www.no-1chineselearning.com.

 

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