Vicky's Rules of Ettiquette

The following is a classroom poster I developed for the #TESL0160 #transitioning course. It is meant to print out at 24 inches by 36 inches  (about 60 x 90 cm). I have reduced it so it will fit on the page here.
I would use it in an adult language class for immigrants to Canada, CLB levels 3 - 7. I would review it with the students, including any vocabulary they may need, depending on the level. I would project it and allow students to suggest changes or additions before I have it printed. 

Resources:

The printshop Deluxe, version 3.5 (2013). Encore Software, Inc. [Computer Software] Los Angeles, CA.

Vicky

Canadian Culture?

Does Canada even have a separate culture? Some #EAL teachers have found that immigrants come to Canada expecting it to be the same as the American culture they have seen in movies or on television. (See the video below, third speaker.) They are surprised to find that it is not. I would expect they would be equally surprised to find that much of American culture is not what they see in the fictional media either.

I'm an Actor...

...but I only get paid to be a teacher. I have often felt that what I do in the classroom is a performance. I get nervous on the first day of the semester, because I am starting with a new "audience". I spend time outside of the "theatre"  researching and rehearsing. I get there early to make sure the "stage" is ready and I have all my "props". I stay late if someone needs me to run through the "scene" again.

What Do You Teach?

Does it matter? Well, yes, I suppose it does, but not in the way you might think. Until now, my answer has always been "algebra". And then I wait for the inevitable comment: "Oh, I was never any good at math!", or even "Yuck, I hate math!" At least they know that algebra is a branch of mathematics. However, this is not the kind of conversation starter that makes either party feel comfortable. In fact, it is often a conversation stopper. Check out the pie chart, third from the top on this blog.

Why is English so !@#$% hard?

I have heard it said that English is one of the hardest languages to learn. I have also heard people say that it really isn't. This week I came across at least two reasons that it is. One of the reasons is that English grammar differs from that of other languages in many ways. The website from the Frankfurt International School explains some of the ways. For instance, German, which is on the same branch of the same family as English, has differences in verb tenses and verb placement in sentences, as well as differences in punctuation and pronunciation. Unrelated languages have many more differences.