What the government can do to support teachers' professional development

Session 5: Summary of Reflections

ON LESSON OBSERVATION

n   Teachers can get more ideas from lesson observation

n   Do not agree to give feedback publicly

n   Peer observation sometimes stressful … I may be judged by my colleagues … on the other hand, can have some self-reflections … more teaching ideas …

n   Good to have more peer observation lessons … helps us to have more ideas in teaching

n   Reflection will improve a teacher’s teaching.

n   Lesson observation with other schools/teachers .. a good way to improve one’s teaching … will try this if it is possible.

ON LESSON PLANNING

n   Will remember the quote ‘Begin with the end in mind’ss

n   Really time-consuming to prepare e-learning lessons …but worth doing because Ss will be more motivated

n   Planning a successful lesson is never an easy task. Behind a 40-minute lesson, teachers have spent days getting prepared. I feel like sometimes outsiders have forgotten/neglected the hard work teachers have done.

n   I will work harder to plan my lessons better.

n   Will try my best to state the objectives clearly, and motivate my students.

n   For a good lesson, there is a lot of hard work to do behind. … need someone to give good feedback.

n   Feedback should be truehearted, not some sentences that don’t deliver any meaningful messages.

ON TEACHING

n   Need to do more reflections on my teaching method from time to time

n   Technology is just a tool … the teacher’s eagerness to teach and willingness to help can motivate Ss to be more interested in learning

n   Hope to have the chance to try the apps (e.g., quizizz; goformative, trello) in my lessons

n   If only there would be a platform for excellent teachers to share videos of their lessons

n   Self-recording … a good way to improve our teaching

n   Possible to get a list of apps which we can apply in our teaching?

n   I believe …we may influence a student even though we don’t know how and when.

n   If we want to contribute a successful lesson, we should put in our heart; in other words, we should love teaching, enjoy teaching, and more importantly, love our students. It is definitely our mission to education the new generation.

n   Most of all, we have found that we still have so many passionate teachers in Macao.

n   … like the e-learning techniques adopted in the lesson

ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

n   Teachers have to join different courses to improve and to be updated …In order to keep my passion and enthusiasm after ( ) years of teaching, I promise myself that I need to reach at least 100 hours of professional training every year, and luckily, I’m keep this promise.

n   …. Can exchange or share information with teachers from other schools

Session 4: Summary of reflections

TEACHING IN GENERAL

-          …asked us to speak French to …., I fully understand why some students are so unwilling to take part in …

-          Need to try different and more effective methods …

-          Need to help them build up the confidence first.

-          All teaching methods have their goods and bads … finding the one that can really help the students is one of our goals in teaching.

-          … French … made me realize how hard it is for some of my students to learn English

-          Video teaching can attract the students’ attention

-          More activities in class to motivate students

-          Teachers should not only use one methodology in teaching; … should change based on students’ levels and interests.

-          Interest is the best motivation to learn a new language

-          Students can be encouraged by a good language teacher.

-          Use various teaching methods … students’ learning styles

-          Ss need opportunities to use English to communicate

-          Task-based learning and collaborative learning both good methods to …

-          After …French …found … learning a second language is really difficult to students

-          Decisions should be based on research and recent literature … rather than instinct

-          No standard routes to acquisition; no standard ways of teaching

-          According to different groups of students, we can use appropriate methods to motivate them.

-          Teachers’ praise or appreciation towards students can change their lives.

ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

-          Impressed by group members’ sharing: teach from the heart

-          Reflecting on our learning, as well as teaching experience, helps to develop our professional competence

-          Want to know more different interesting and effective ESL games … motivate my students .. and myself in teaching;

-          The topic on ‘how to teach’ is not enough to me

-          (after the 4 sessions), I seem to have different feelings and opinions on teaching

-          … look forward to Saturdays … brings me surprise … will be inspired

-          Important to enhance our teaching professional development by taking …training courses;

-          Teaching is also lifelong learning …need to improve … so we can teach better;

-          Constructive feedback (important) so they know what to be aware of

-          My beliefs about ELT have changed tremendously after I did my MA in TESOL in the UK

-          Teachers need to join more courses .. increase their curiosity … keep up their enthusiasm or ‘fire’.

-          Need to learn more and faster than our students; cannot lag behind

LIFE OF TEACHERS

-          Too busy and overstressed that they can’t apply all the desirable methodologies in real life teaching;

-          Time to rest .. very important. Without rest, we can’t simply come up with anything exciting … let alone teaching well

-          Teaching is not just a job, but great work to nurture the next generation

Heroes think alike ...

Session 3: Summary of Journal Entries

Content of the English curriculum

English lessons should be integrated ….  A lesson can meet the requirements of different areas, just that some skills may be more emphasized at a certain time.

Preparing for BAA implementation

• -          We should be familiar with the BAA requirements …let our teachers have full psychological preparation about the BAA
• -          Not advisable to place all the focus on BAA when we design our curriculum; instead should see how our current curriculum fits in BAA and make adjustments if necessary.
• -          Hope we will be given enough time to handle the paperwork (checklist)
• -          Coordinate with others
• -          Complicated to make the scheme of work based on BAA …. Learn from peers
• -          Have to know clearly about our teaching materials and need to cooperate together;
• -          I’ve got more confidence in guiding my team …
• -          My school has already started preparing for BAA …; not as difficult as expected, but we should be given more guidance and support from DSEJ …the most important thing is that this is helping the students
• -          Feel more relieved now …; time, support, and collaboration are really important
• -          Whole English team should know more about how to design and set the BAA requirements
• -          My current scheme of work is very simple, so there’s absolutely going to be more work
• -          I believe we can still teach grammar after implementation of BAA
• -          Now I don’t really worry much about implementing BAA
• -          Don’t think it’s super challenging; it just takes some time
• -          Hope the school can put in more support for the teachers, e.g., fewer lessons each week
• -          Wonder if the checklist can totally reflect if the school-based curriculum can meet with the requirements … panel head and teachers can just insert the boxes

BAA and External Exams

§  Hope the BAA can be aligned with the Joint Admission Exam.

§  Worried if DSEJ will move forward to plan for something like JUPAS for Macau

On Paul’s ‘demo’ lesson

-          The apps … are quite useful

-          .. helps me to reflect on my current teaching

-          Interesting and effective

-          Thanks for introducing the advanced technology

-          The apps … quite motivating

Session 2: Glimpses

Teaching Journal Week 2: Summary

Implementation of BAA

o  teachers need to have good knowledge of the requirements, and enough confidence in themselves.

o  Questions in my mind: How to apply it in lessons? How to satisfy DSEJ’s requirements? …

o  … draft a proposal to make up a BAA committee to study BAA in detail, and discuss how to implement …

o  … insufficient passionate teachers in the school; work done on principal’s commands only

o  teachers don’t have enough time to understand the ideas

o  Can BAA really change what is going on in everyday classrooms?

o  Are the curriculum goals really achievable?

o  We need to believe that all the extra work we are doing now, is for a better future.

o  Changes won’t happen if the ones who are executing the task do not believe in it.

o  I’m knowing more and more about BA, and my pressure has greatly relieved.

o  … worthwhile ….to bring this city closer to the world.

o  … maybe I’m too stressed.

o  … I think the Senior one (BAA) is easier to understand.

o  … most schools in Macau set up their curriculum based on public exams …… the ability to apply the knowledge in real life is often ignored.

o  What are the consequences of the school is found that not all BAA items are implemented?

o  there will be a lot of work when BAA is put into effect

o  need the cooperation and understanding of colleagues in the English team.

o  (need to) discuss and share ideas (teaching method) between colleagues in order to improve and reinforce the (implementation) of BAA.

On language knowledge, Learning, and Skills acquisition

n   Ss can get high marks in tests and exams, but lack real communication skill; teachers should guide them to turn the knowledge into practical skills.

n   Ss need to learn, but not to be trained at school

n   hope my Ss will be more cooperative

Devising BAA-oriented Plans and Classroom Learning

n   We should get Ss to learn, rather than following the plan only.

n   interest and curiosity are key elements to success of all learning

n   final outcome of language teaching is to alter Ss’ learning attitude (interest; motivation; etc.)

n   the issue at stake is to inspire and encourage the teachers of the current trend in teaching, so that they in turn will inspire and their students

n   we need reflections and evaluations in the long run.

Session 1: Glimpses

Improving Education in Macao: OUR White Paper

USE OF TEACHERS’ TIME

- Give enough/more time for teachers to plan lessons (3)

- Reduce non-teaching workload (3)

PEDAGOGICAL MATTERS

- Think of more grading methods

- curriculum to be designed for communication rather than for exams

- promote English-speaking environment

TERMS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

- Increase salary

- standard teachers’ salaries

- Retirement benefits and pension

- Reduce school days

- fewer periods (3)

- each school day should end earlier (e.g., 8:00-3:30)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

- More opportunities for studying abroad for teaching (2)

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT/POLICY

- More support from school

- less frequent class observations/ … every other year

- ‘zero class repetition’ should not be implemented (2)

- principals to join leadership workshops and learn appreciation skills

TEACHING RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES

- Develop student-based teaching materials

- DSEJ to run more English camps for students

Teaching Journal Week 1: Summary

How I find meaning in my work

-      I can share my lesson plans with my colleagues and they find them useful;

-      “Many English teachers find meaning in their work”

-       All we are hoping is that our studnets have a bright and wonderful future

-       Enjoying my work a lot

-       “I really like my work. I am quite happy to be a teacher because I have got a lot from my work (satisfaction; respect ….)

-       “It is all about one word: students. We teachers put students first. Everything done is all for the students. Simple, right. If we put our focus on salary, time, or self matters, we will not succeed.”

Attending PD events/this study programme

- motivated to join courses offered by DSEJ or Bell Centre.

-       Happy to see so many enthusiastic teachers

-       Worth giving up my Saturdays

-       I can speak out ..

-       I can refresh my mind

-       Like activity-based courses

-       Enjoy the training course

-       We have interactions

-       likes the chance to share with each other

-       glad to meet many fellow teachers

-       uplifting to hear some positive ideas from them

-       “a rather rare opportunity to be out of work setting to discuss work matters in a casual manner”

-       (feeling) positive about the course

-       hope pressure will be relieved after the study programme;

Worrying about …

- worried about how to guide the English team to implement BAA

- new S4, feel helpless and overwhelmed;

Personal aspirations

- will try my best

- Hope we can achieve perfect balance

-       Want to be able to do something to change the current situation

-       Hope to have sufficient time to do that (activity-based teaching)

-       hopeful of the BAA policy

-       “Whenever I have time, … think and think …about teaching”

Diversity vs Conformity

-       values diversity; “SS are individuals”, should be assessed by their different abilities instead of a fixed criterion.

-       Agree with Ken Robinson

Welcome

Welcome to the teaching blog of the Study Programme (Feb - Mar., 2017), organised by DSEJ, in support of the implementation of the BAA Requirements (English: Senior Secondary).