One Small Step
This is not an original idea. Many of you may already use it. It has been, however, the most powerful small step I've ever taken as a teacher. On the bottom of every quiz I ask my students to tell me one thing. Sometimes I tell them what I would like to know:
Tell me one thing that went well today.
Tell me one thing you ate yesterday.
Tell me one show you hate to miss.
Tell me one elementary school teacher that you miss.
Tell me one sound that drives you crazy.
Tell me one activity we did that really helped you.
It doesn't need to be in L2. It doesn't have to be about class. It just needs to be about them.
I always respond. Sometimes I just write a smiley face. Sometimes I have time to write a sentence. Sometimes I just respond to it when I hand back the paper. But I do respond.
I am always always surprised at what I learn from this one small thing.
with love,
Laurie
Tell me one thing that went well today.
Tell me one thing you ate yesterday.
Tell me one show you hate to miss.
Tell me one elementary school teacher that you miss.
Tell me one sound that drives you crazy.
Tell me one activity we did that really helped you.
It doesn't need to be in L2. It doesn't have to be about class. It just needs to be about them.
I always respond. Sometimes I just write a smiley face. Sometimes I have time to write a sentence. Sometimes I just respond to it when I hand back the paper. But I do respond.
I am always always surprised at what I learn from this one small thing.
with love,
Laurie
Sounds nice, but I suspect it is culturally specific: if I gave this to my Japanese university students, they'd think it was either inappropriate ("what's with the elementary-school tone of a sudden?") or worse, plain creepy. Test of the pudding is in the eating, tho.
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Good point...it obviously needs to be tailored to the intended audience. This particular style works with my high school freshmen because we have a relationship established that prevents it from being "creepy" or in their words, "stalker-ish". If I ask a specific question I am careful to ask something that is not too intrusive. If I keep it open-ended...Tell me something...they will choose what they are comfortable with.
It is just as effective to simply ask for feedback on the class/instruction. Which activity helped you the most? Which activity should I consider eliminating next year?
You know your students, and definitely what is and isn't appropriate in the Japanese culture.
I'd love to know more about how you apply TPRS in a different culture!
with love,
Laurie
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