What is done with others to develop knowledge of language teaching and learning?
To develop my skills, I am heavily involved in the ISQ’s Professional Development sessions for language teachers, our own school’s Professional Development Sessions through the Centre for Innovation, Research and Future Development.
In 1999, I was a member of the trial pilot programme for the Queensland School Curriculum Council’s Years 1 to 3 LOTE Curriculum Guidelines, which endeavoured to provide quality language instruction to early years’ students. This has given me experience with the process of trialling curriculum documents and given me a deeper knowledge of the best pedagogical practices for students in the early years.
Years 1-3 Pilot Trial
Attached is a letter from May Kwan ISQ, which outlines my contribution to the development and knowledge of language teaching with others.
To further validate that I am using up to date strategies appropriate to students, I have been used as a teaching model by Senior Leaders for visiting international teachers and trainee teachers to demonstrate differentiated lessons and appropriate pedagogical practices.
•Former St Paul’s Director of Learning, Mrs Leisa Harper had requested that I teach lessons for trainee-teachers from Hong Kong demonstrating differentiation in action.
• The Headmaster, Mr Paul Browning asked that I demonstrate a lesson to be filmed for the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). As well as teaching, I also was required to speak about the appraisal process at St Paul’s School.
• I was a facilitator at St Paul’s School Creativity Festival, ‘IMAGEN8’ (July 2012) to impart my knowledge and facilitate and help to inspire some of Brisbane’s most creative young minds to create their own websites in Japanese or Chinese languages.
-Capabilities and Competencies Framework:
I was nominated by one or more of my peers and ultimately selected by Senior Leaders to be on the panel to develop a rubric or framework to help with the process of determining what constitutes an Exemplary Teacher and also support the appraisal system. Teaching and support staff were asked to “nominate a person whom you think exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding member of the St Paul’s staff, exemplifying not only good teaching but also espousing our ethos and values.” (Headmaster, Paul Browning, ‘all-staff’ e-mail 03/05/2012).
I was recently guided by the Headmaster to embark on a Leadership Development Course at the school where I had to participate in a 360 degree feedback assessment as well as attending 10 hours of Leadership-based Professional Development. Below is the feedback from 11 staff members including 4 managers.
What strategies are used to develop new learning opportunities?
I believe in using technology to help learn a language, especially free, web-based technology which students can access at home or in the classroom. I really love creating authentic experiences in the classroom but I also enjoy creating ‘virtual environments’ where students can enjoy the sights and sounds of Japan through their home or school computers. Evidence of this is on my ‘Shinkansen’ or Bullet Train page where I have provided the user with an experience of a ride on a bullet train, students are able to use a navigational tool to look around inside a bullet train, they are able to drive a train simulator along the Tokyo line in Japan to simulate the feeling of driving a Japanese train.
I also believe in the Inquiry-based method of teaching where students are able to be the driving-force about how we frame our learning experiences such as the student-initiated sushi train restaurant that we are creating currently in Year 1. Students devise their own menu with guidance, set prices and investigate different types of sushi through taste and research.
Looking forward, I am also researching and preparing for my Year 6s to next year operate in a ‘flipped classroom’ where they can access content at home via our website and a safe, secure educational environment called Edmodo. Students can watch lecture-type tutorials at home at their own pace and then learn experientially at school through ‘hands-on’ lessons and divergent thinking activities. I am currently setting up a chat-room environment in Edmodo .
What processes are used to explore and explain pedagogical approach used in the classroom to others?
-I use a fairly simple underlying principle which is ‘to bring Japan to the students’. Guided by this, I source the materials and language that will best represent the many facets of the language and culture and environment of Japan.
In addition, I also plan my teaching materials around real-life topics that are relevant to young students around the world but also unique to Japan, such as the unit about ‘Homestay in Japan’.
-I demonstrate to other teachers how technology can be such an engaging and wonderful way to deliver content and information to students. The best way to clearly articulate this is by helping teachers to create their own useful applications of technology.