Micro-training

1. This day was quite different from other days. We had to plan and deliver a micro-training sessions ourselves. Before this we were divided in three groups. Ten teachers were in one group. We wrote a a plan of our training and we would demonstrate activities. We had only 20 minutes to deliver the session. 

One of us was delivering a training, our trainer Kevin ( he is very helpful and supportive) and one of the group members were observing it and making notes.

At the end of my training, other members and our trainer gave me feedback, which was very useful and interesting process for my self-assessment.

That was very good excperience for all of us.

My plan ( it is wriiten for one hour) :

Objective: Teacher will plan scaffolding lesson with sequences of activities.
Warm up: Trainer does the activity about how to get to know each other. (e.g Teachers stand in a circle and say their first name and adjective with first letter) ( 5 mn)

Activity1: Trainer reads some sentences and Teachers should lesten carefully. ( 1. This person was a phsycologist; 2. He proposes that social interaction plays a foundamental role in the development of cognition; 3. The learner does not learn in isolation; 4. It helps students to develop inner or egocentric speach.) Then she\he asks some questions. Teachers write down them on the board ( 10mn)
                      Lev Vygotsky
                      /                     /
Sociocultural theory      ZPD ( zone of proximal developmwnt)

                    <scaffolding>

( questions: 1. What is this theory and who is the founder of this theory; 2. What is the concept of the theory; 3. When does the teacher activate this zone; 4. Which teaching strategies originate from this theory.) ;

Activity 2: Trainer distributes some slips of paper with activities from a lesson plan and Teachers put them in order ( to sequence the activities) . Trainer elicits the answers. ( 5 mn )

Activity 3:Trainer gives the topic to the teachers and asks them to write a lesson plan. Teachers work in groups. (20mn)

Activity 4: Teachers stick their lesson plan on the wall and share them and ask some questions to each other. (10mn)

Activity 5: Trainer asks some questions and Teachers write them down. Think about these and share their ideas in pairs. Trainer elicits them. (10mn)
(Questions: 1. What did you learn? 2. Why is this topic important
3. How would you adopt the objective? 4. What were the steps of my workshop. )

The seventh day in World Learning Campus

We had more free time today. We relaxed and rested after visiting New York City. We were in NYC yesterday. It was exciting and amazing. NYC is very nice city with skyscrapers. We saw The Statue of Liberty, Madam Tussauds, people of diverse culture and nationality Trump Tower and a lot of famous avenues and streets.

Today our trainers began the seminar with reflection "Giving feedback".

Giving feedback is:

• oral and written
• productive
• useful
• important
• helpful
• supportive 
• positive
• objective 

Giving feedback helps teachers to check and analyze what works well and  do not well. It enables teachers to plan other lessons and trainings and it helps them to improve themselves. 

What makes good feedback? 

• good observation
• make good notes
• constructive
• good suggestions
• good and appropriative language 
• positive attitude

Ways of feedback:

• Directive:  Give the teacher feedback on your points, particularly on points to work on.
• Alternative:  Go through the lesson with the teacher, giving alternative to stage/activity
• Collaborative:  I-Ask the teacher to give his/her own feedback; II- Try to make use of what the teacher says in giving your feedback; III- Give the teacher feedbacks, starting with positive points; IV- Finish with points to work on. 

To my mind three of them are very important and useful. To use them depends on the situations and persons. 

 Our Trainers did a role-play activity and we had to give feedback. It was very good activity to learn more how to give feedbacks. 

The fifth day in World Learning Campus

The day was fruitful and useful too. All seminars were intereseting.
Workshop began with reflection. We were divided into five groups. There were six teachers in one group, sitting face to face in a circle. Three teachers were sitting inside the circle and three teachers outside the circle facing each other. Andy asked some questions and we discussed them with each other. After each question teachers outer circle change their seats- clockwise.

Questions and teachers ideas:
Lack of Teaching resources: supplimentary materials; internet.  Flash cards; Flip charts;
How can we provide this? To search websites which help them to find out detail and more information.
To draw pictures.
Lack of respect/prestige : less teachers' experience; not friendly atmosphere.
Helping them to improve new teaching strategies ; to make friendly and comfortable atmosphere with various and funny activities. Also should arrange out class activities.

Process categories in teaching training was new for me. 

Leading: On the learner centered side of the model-and still concerned with the development of knowledge or understanding.

Feeding: otherwise known as the "jug and mug model" or less emotively, the transmission model.

showing: designed to provide concrete experiences, to bring things to life. 

Throwing: a matter of giving participants the opportunity to do. 

 We had also some sessions about How to teach Culture and How trainers give clear instructions. 

P.S 

When we went out from dining room we saw a squirrel.

 We were surprised. 

The fourth day in SIT - Welcome to Historic Deerfield

Spend a day in old New England. Visit Historic Deerfield, an authentic 18th-century English settlement in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. Tour beautifully restored museum houses with period architecture and furnishings. See yankee ingenuity at work in demonstrations of colonial-era trades. And explore our world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. It’s a celebration of New England heritage.

“The people were incredible, the museum a gem…

Thank you so much for a truly wonderful experience.”  

- Scott F. from East Hampton, CT

Historic Deerfield is an open-air living museum dedicated to the heritage and preservation of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the Connecticut River Valley. Its historic houses, museums, and programs provide visitors with an understanding of New England's historic villages and countryside. The Old Deerfield Village Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

P.S Today we had very interesting day. We had two workshops Training delivery and Working with course books. Both of them were useful and fruitful for me. But the most interesting thing was to visit Historic Deerfield. It was exciting with old and nice buildings, beautiful nature and nice people. I am very tired but excited. 

one more interesring day in SIT

We began this day with reflection. I think it is very important and useful because we have to repeat what we learnt. We had also very funny and good activities. The first one was role play activity. Teachers were divided as students (2); teachers (2); parents (2); minister of ebucation (2); school authorities (2); journalists (5); foreign experts (5); observers (10). After this each group had their own role and observers had to monitor the process. Each group had two observers. ( I was one observer and I monitored the students. ) then interview began. Journalists asked questions. There was an ,accident,, during the process. The students were quiet and when they were not asked, they fed up with this situation and got angry. It was very funny.
After this we had another workshop about vocabulary and speaking. There were some interesting and funny activities too.
After workshops we went shopping to Keene, a small nice town near Brattleboro. Unfortunately we hadnot enough time to shop but I had to buy something and I will have a chance to do shopping in New York and Washington DC.
So this day was very fruitful for me. I am looking forward to the next day.

World Learning Campus - SIT Graduate Institute

World Learning is an international non profit  organization that focuses on international development , education and exchange programs. Based in Brattlerboro, Vermont, World  Learning  "unlocks the potential of to address critical global issues" through its five core program areas: The experiment in international Living, SIT study abroad (including the international honors Program), the SIT Graduate Institute (formerly the school for international training) and International development and Exchange program.

The school for International Training (SIT) was established in 1964. SIT filled a need of returned Peace Corps volunteers Development. The Vermont campus originally consisted of a small collection of dorms around a Carriage House on a scenic farm on the north end of Brattlerboro. These early Peace Corps volunteers took lessons in foreign languages with materials and teaches from the language training from their service and The School for International Training began to expand its offerings. By 1968, the small but increasing number of returned Peace Corps volunteers were requesting a degree in Teaching English as a second Language, a new 

 SIT Graduate Institute equips students with theoretical knowledge, field experience and professional skills, programs are based on an experiential learning model and a commitment to social justice and intercultural communication.

SIT Graduate Institute Mission

To prepare students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individual and organizations committed tu responsible global citizenship.

P.S

This is very beautiful place with great nature. I feel myself as in my country because it looks like this one. Yesterday my friends and I saw a deer. It was near us. and we also saw a skunk. Skunks donot bother you, unless provoked. Stay far away , they spray a bad smell when they are scared. The staff is very nice and friendly. Our trainers Andy and Radmila are very nice, helpful and friendly too. Mr. Neil is very nice too so everyone is very great person. The people who are here always smile and shake hands. 

Today was very busy but enjoyable day. We had workshop - Learning-centered. It was very interesting for me. I will  use such kinds of activities for my lessons and trainings because to my mind my students will like this and all of them will be motivated. we also walked to Brattlerboro. Beautiful nature. 

Tomorrow we have very interesting day too. Trainings and shopping

TOTSI 2013

I am in Tbilisi, hotel Vere Palace and we are being trained how to make and use blogs. It is very useful for us. We are flying to USA tonight and I am very excited. It is my first visit to there USA and it was my childhood dream. I'm very happy that I have a chance to visit and get very useful experance as ateacher. I am very happy to meet a lot of people . I like new relations.
Thanks PH International for everything. I will do my best to return more exsperienced and more motivated.