Samples of students mind-maps from - Semester 6

Aviation 

Continents 

Health 

Direction 

this is not a mind-map, but still a good way to visualize new words

mobile

Hospital

Vocabulary 

describing people

the teacher got his whole class to work on two big mind-map collaboratively

describing people

the teacher got his whole class to work on this big mind-map collaboratively 

Group mind-maps

       These mind-maps are not a final product, but a process while students are practicing to use mind-maps. Educators and students can both learn interesting lessons while reflecting on students work. Learning the process is more important than the product. 

     The objective of using mind-maps is help students develop this skill to learn English, during and after the program. Students learn to correct their mistakes and develop different strategies to learning as they progress in the program. 

       Mind- mapping is tool that can be used, not only in learning a new language, but in planning our daily classroom routines. We encourage students to use it: when preparing for a presentation, or when brain storming a subject, or  planning project or a field trip. We also post these maps on the classroom wall for visual thinking and further developing. 

     Students portfolios could also showcase students mind-maps and show how students are developing this skill and other skills. 

     Sharing students work in the program and on the kitchen blog, helps us reflect and develop a better understanding of the concept of mind-mapping, and how the students are learning. 

Poster Presentations at the SILC Symposium

Here are a few pictures from the SILC Symposium's poster presentation session on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. I hope all in attendance enjoyed the sessions and learned something new.

Week 11 Highlights

Week 11 curriculum workshop at the curriculum Kitchen 

We reflected, thought, wrote, laughed

We had a discussion on:

1- Video projects policy

2- The football tournament  ( match 4 and 5 )

3- The mind-map contest     ( week 13 - due date )

4- The green day project      ( term 3 project- phase two ) Why? where?how? when?Who?

5- A reflection session (What was your biggest challenge in the class with your students?)

read more on the football match

this week football match

DRAW MY LIFE (Nasser Ali Al-Shehri) CTI Riyadh

Saudi Gazette:Humanizing classroom: Al Yamamah’s initiative in efficient teaching

Link to the article:
Saudi Gazette:Humanizing classroom: Al Yamamah’s initiative in efficient teaching

Term 2 - Week 10 workshop

In this week workshop each teacher was given five minutes to present a sample of a student work done this week, and share it with the group, giving reflective feedback, after that,  question and answer.

Main Highlights:

• Mr. Abdulrahman showed us a video of a students talking about an environmental topic, as part of a problem-based-learning approach.
• Mr.Mich displayed a students writing assignment on persuasive writing. The student was writing about the benefits of sleeping early. 
• Mr.Ray talked about his students video projects, where they had to interview staff members in the program.
•  Mr. Emran talked about how he used newspaper to engage students to think about careers.
• Mr. Abdullah talked about  a video project, where students were to record three videos talking about three different topics related to career. 
• Mr. John talked about the writing assignment,  witch was part of the autobiography project.
• Mr. Michael focused with his students on how to present and talk about yourself. 
• Mr. Sami displayed a students mind- map , where a student summarized his lessons he learned from the previous classes in the term.  Mr Sami focused this week on implementing mind-mapping in learning English.
• Mr. Ali focused this week on how to make a cover page for your C.V. 

Saudi Gazette: English proficiency key to gaining knowledge

   

 

Link to Article

Al-Yamamah University hosts ELT symposium

 

Poster for SILC Conference

Here is the poster titled "Serving Students via The Curriculum Kitchen" that will be presented at the Saudi INTERLINK Language Center's Third International ELT Symposium on Wednesday, November 13. I hope it will be a beneficial session for those attending. If you're in Riyadh, please make sure to stop by.

full size poster

Openning football match between B303 and A104

What is the difference between cooperative and collaborative learning?

During The Interlink workshop in the States, my friend Khalofah al sherey asked an important question.  The question was what is the difference between collaborative and cooperative learning. We all tried to think of an answer to his question. After the session I went online and found many results. At the beginning I thought there was a difference but, I could not put my finger on it. After the discussion I became very interested in knowing the difference. 

To start with, the two words ; cooperate and collaborate do not mean the exact thing. that what lead me to think there was  difference in meaning.  I read these articles and I would like to share it with the group. I think it was a good question and a good discussion.

Links related :

CL1 - FAQs: "Collaborative versus cooperative learning?"

A Definition of Collaborative vs Cooperative Learning

Cooperation vs Collaboration

Collaboration vs. Cooperation Dr. Adizes blog

 Cooperative and Collaborative Learning

TVTC English program Football Tournament 2010 Jeddah - interview with Teacher Billal

Thank you

I would like to thank our teachers in the program and around the world for thier efforts to help students learn and develop. The world is celebrating Teacher's day and I would like to share with you my love and respect for your team effort to make a difference in students lives.

When I started teaching 22 two years ago, few hours before walking into my first class, my coordinator told me " Samir remember that teaching is not a job. it is a mission ". His words are still ringing in my ears. when I ever feel tired or burned out, his words give me comfort and helps me to hang on.

There are many teachers who have inspired us when we were  students and there are many teachers who still inspire us in our community and around the world. We thank you all for your great efforts and your strive to make this world a better place.