In this two-hour Zoom session, teachers will experience three speaking and listening tasks that work well across EL proficiency levels in the virtual classroom. They will explore ways to provide direct instruction in the language strategies learners need to effectively complete these tasks, and examine several speaking/listening assessment tools including rubrics and checklists.
Please note: You will access Zoom and other support materials via Blackboard. You cannot access the online course from the SABES website. You will receive a separate email from Joanne Harrington at Quinsigamond Community College with instructions on how to access the Blackboard course and the Zoom session 1-2 days before the course begins.
- ESOL teachers of all levels and with familiarity with basic Zoom features
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
Although the phrase, “Sorry, go ahead” may be the most repeated phrase in Zoom classes, the virtual classroom can offer many other opportunities for practicing meaningful speaking and listening. One way to improve our online speaking skill instruction is to look at our best practices in our in-person classes. In this virtual session, teachers experience three tasks that promote critical thinking, academic language, and knowledge building in our learners: information gap, problem solving, and ranking/categorizing. Throughout the session, the presenter highlights speaking strategies that learners can practice, and demonstrates how rubrics and checklists quantify learners' practice and help chart their progress.
- Use one or more of the three task-types with your English learners in the virtual classroom
- Provide systematic and explicit practice in speaking strategies as part of a virtual classroom task
- Adapt one-point rubrics or listening/speaking task checklists for your own lessons
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
Familiarity with basic Zoom features
United States
