Taiwo Ehineni, PhD

In this post, I talk very briefly on how to deploy scenarios for foreign language teaching. In subsequent posts, I will provide video examples of such deployment in an African language. However, this post provides general, but succinct, explication of this approach and its benefits.

1. Introduction

Language instruction can get more interesting and fun-filled by deploying 3D technology to enhance your pedagogy.

A major app that works for this purpose is Plotagon. Plotagon is a video-creation based new app that is used in making stories come to life. Through the app, you can write your story, choose the characters, and press play – it’s that simple.

Plotagon allows you to do the following:

• Create scenarios with characters using language
• Make the characters carry out basic activities in their interactions.
• Boost the scenes with sound effects and music.
• Produce a video to support your lessons

2. Benefits:

Engagement: You can engage your audience using friendly, interactive faces and familiar spaces in your lesson.

Illustration in context: Through the scenario-based instruction and demonstrations, students see how something is done in practical terms.

Retention of information: Students are exposed to memorable multimedia experiences as written messages become pictorial. Graphic representations help students able to retain lessons. Also good for visual learners

3. Getting Started:

Go to https://plotagon.com

Create an account and start plotting your scenarios to illustrate your lessons in real life contexts of language use.

As the Fall semester approaches, most times as teachers, we are often concerned about what we want to teach our students and how much content to cover. We therefore put up a syllabus with an assemblage of topics spread across weeks of the semester. Usually, we provide reading list of books, articles or reference materials to keep students busy through out the semester. However, even as we prepare for teaching, we also need to prepare for learning. The two are not necessarily the same. It is not about how much we teach, but how much students learn. It is not about how much we cover but what students discover and uncover in our classes that really matters. Here is a few things to put in mind as we hope to prepare towards a fruitful semester. The “P”s to a productive teaching:

1. Pinpoint lesson goals: What do I want students to be able to do at the end of the course. What things will they will taking away from my class? What specific skills or knowledge will they acquire through the course?
2. Prepare lesson delivery: How do I teach the course in way students will understand. What approach(es) will be most suitable for learning. Some times a discussion approach will help students learn better than a lecture method.
3. Provide lesson activities:  You don’t want to be standing in front of the class speaking while students are busy doing something else. Students love to be involved. Until they are engrossed, they may not become enlightened. So, the crucial question is How do I engage students in my class? What kinds of activities will help them learn?
4.  Proffer constructive feedback: Feedback is not necessarily ‘judgmental’; it should be ‘motivational’. How do I assess my student’s progress to keep them on the path towards learning? Students who are constantly made to see how they can improve their work, will keep performing better.

In other words, our syllabi should not be designed around textbooks or reading lists but on specific lesson outcomes (products). It is always tempting to focus on what we want our students to read, rather than what we want them to understand. We should focus more on learning than just teaching.

It is when we move from teaching to learning, that our teaching becomes ‘productive’. It is not just about the breadth of what we teach in class, but the depth of what students get from such class that matters mosts.

First day of work, going to Cambridge, Boston was a must-pass through. Boston is one of the oldest cities in America, playing a major role in the history of the country. Massachusetts has the “spirit of America” slogan but Boston is the vibe. It is an ultra-busy and engaging city with high rises, beautiful scenery and great restaurants. It is a port city surrounded by water

Public transportation is aided by the MBTA lines – red line, orange line, buses and the commuter rail. Knowing which line goes to your destination is very important, otherwise you will find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Checking the MBTA website for schedules is a very expedient step.

Nice places to visit in Boston include Boston Commons, Freedom Trail, Old State House among others.