Language Sensei

A Language Teacher's Journey

March 3, 2014
by leesensei
5 Comments

“How did that go?” An Oral Activity Feedback Rubric

I’ve always asked students to work in pairs, or small groups in class. But only lately have I started to ask for their feedback as to how it went. I’ve worked for a while on a quick feedback rubric – … Continue reading

February 25, 2014
by leesensei
2 Comments

Continuing the “Vocabulary” Journey – A Quick Update

I wrote recently about my ‘journey’ with going beyond the vocabulary list and the challenge thrown out by Amy Lenord (@alenord) and others to go beyond a confined set of words in a unit. My post spoke about the ‘shifts’ … Continue reading

February 3, 2014
by leesensei
2 Comments

Considerations As You Allow “The Phone”

As a language teacher I find mobile phones are a great resource as a dictionary, a unique way to do homework and, for many of my students, an alternative way to take notes. I’ve been using them in my class … Continue reading

January 7, 2014
by leesensei
8 Comments

“How do you say __?” Extending beyond “the vocab list”

I’ll admit it. For every unit – a set of vocabulary. Used to ensure a basic set of words to discuss the topic.  My goal in this being that students have a common vocabulary with which to interact. But it’s … Continue reading

January 1, 2014
by leesensei
0 comments

Language Sensei: Most Popular Posts of 2013

Language Sensei is a forum for me to explore both teaching an MFL (modern foreign language) and work to integrate/explore technology both in my classroom and for personal development. It has been my project for the past 2 (almost) years … Continue reading

December 10, 2013
by leesensei
3 Comments

The Quick Sketch & Share – Interactive Homework Review

Okay, yes – I give homework. But I’m happy to say that my view of what constitutes homework is evolving. As much as possible I am trying to inject some choice into ‘what’ students express. Lately I have also been … Continue reading

November 19, 2013
by leesensei
0 comments

Leaving the Lurk Behind

In my last post I talked about joining Twitter and the inevitable question “what do I do next?” It’s natural to spend some time exploring Twitter and its usefulness as a Personal Learning Network (PLN). But there comes a time … Continue reading

November 5, 2013
by leesensei
0 comments

Two Ways To “Power” Up MFL Students’ Learning

This year I returned to teaching the ‘new’ Grade 9 course. They are young, keen and full of energy. Many I get have never really been in a modern language classroom taught by a language specialist.  As a teacher I … Continue reading

October 16, 2013
by leesensei
3 Comments

“Everyday Situations” – The Taste-Test Activity

Remember those classic “Coke vs. Pepsi” commercials – where unsuspecting cola drinkers took a ‘blind’ taste test (don’t know which they are sampling) and then were stunned, or not, that what they thought they liked they didn’t? My original training … Continue reading

September 17, 2013
by leesensei
6 Comments

Conversation Circles…or “I spoke in the TL for 45 Minutes?!”

If I told a student that I expected 45-50 minutes of sustained discussion in the target language they’d laugh and say no way. But I watched it today in my Grade 12 class – as students used the pretext of … Continue reading

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