Teaching Vocabulary

Today we learned about two approaches for teaching vocabulary: the present and learn and the Learning through Input Approach. You can see a PowerPoint presentation of the approaches here. I would like to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of each approach as well as the approach I would use as a Junior High School English teacher.

The Present and Lean Approach
◇Strength point
・we can understand the goal → easy to learn for students and go smoothly
・we can know what should we do
◇Weakness point
・some students who already learned don't join the class
・it's one pattern, so some students feel boring

The leaning through Input Approach
◇Strength point
・very interesting for students → listening carefully
・easy to memorize naturally
・we can communicate both students and teacher
◇Weakness point
・some students can't keep up this lesson way
・easy to get confused

My opinion
I learned Spanish through Input Approach in last class. It was very interesting for me, and I could memorize naturally. I enjoyed learning it. I think the Approach is very useful in junior high school. Students will be able to get English vocabularies with enjoyment. It is important to enjoy learning in teaching and all student can join the class.

Today, I am going to review two of the "typical Japanese junior high school"communicative activities presented in ETM 3. The activities I am going to revieware Find someone who... and Using movement. You can view them here.

About 3
I think Find someone who is difficult to find applicable person. So, we have to think of junior high school student' s plan in summer vacation. For example,

Find someone who...
1. wants to visit grandparent' s house
2. wants to go to the sea
3. wants to stay home

These questions are easy to answer, and this activity will　smoothly.

About 7
When we did this activity, I heard this answer before I answerd. I think Half the class is so many. So, my idea is...

We prepare some cards which are written some words of gesture. Half the class of students choose one card, andpretend following the card.

or

Make pair, and students think out their gestures.

I think students will enjoy playing the English game.

My family

I saw all members of my family after a long separation. My brothers came home together. I have two brothers, one lives in Morioka and the other lives in Tokyo. We had a good time and talked many things.
I live in Hanamaki with parents and grandmother. My parents are nice husband and wife. They go out somewhere every weekend. I want to be like them in the future. My grandmother needs taking care, so we help her. She sometimes doesn' t understand what I am, but she is always kind to me. My first brother is hairdresser. He seldom comes home because he is very busy for his work. When he came home, he cut my hair. He is very good hairdresser.
I didn' t like my second brother. When we were children, we always quarreled. He criticized about my faults. I wanted him to go far away. Last year, he got sick. He fell into a depression about his work. My parents wanted him come back home, but he didn' t. I worried about him. Then, he didn't talk much more. I wanted to see his smile, so I bought one T-shirt for him as a souvenir from Thailand. He wore it and said to me, "Thank you, Mayuko.". I was very happy to hear that. Now, I like him very much!
Family is very important thing for me. I' m very happy to see them and I want to do something for them from now on. I want to see all member again. My family is my treasure.
What are important things for you?