iatefl 2015 presentation - the world is my classroom

The World Is My Classroom

Richard John Osborne (Cambridge DELTA)

richardosborne14@gmail.com

richardjohnosborne.wordpress.com

@richardosborne1

Langage Forum, Paris

www.langageforum.com

A Practical Guide to Excursion-Based Lessons

Contents

Part 1

◦ The Classroom

◦ Dogme

Part 2

◦ Pre-Excursion preparation

◦ Excursion Activities

◦ Post-Excursion Follow-up

◦ Logistics and Risk

◦ Conclusion

The Classroom

“It is easy to forget how much stimulus there is around us. There is

space, to make our own. There is sound, inside and outside the room.

There’s the world, seen and heard through a window.” (1)

(1) Thornbury, S. & Meddings, L. 2009, “Teaching Unplugged,” p.24, Delta Publishing

• The classroom is, by nature, artificial

• Real stimuli make classrooms more authentic

IIs it

real

enough

?

The Dogme Approach

The Dogme “vows of chastity” (2)

◦ Abandon coursebooks

◦ Abandon pre-planned lessons

Students’ personal material drives the lesson

Teacher reacts to opportunities for language

learning – activities emerge

Grammar is a natural part of the conversation

Planning is retrospective

(2) Thornbury, S. 2000. “A Dogma for EFL.” IATEFL Issue 153 Feb/Mar

Part 2

From Classroom to the Real World

Two Excursion Examples:

• Pre-excursion Preparation

• Activities

• Follow-up

• Logistics and Risk Assessment

• Conclusion

Pre-Excursion Preparation

Big Towns / Cities

◦ Museums

◦ Religious sites

◦ Theatres

◦ Tourist hotspots

Small Villages / Rural Areas

◦ Walks

◦ Statues / Public art

◦ Local businesses

Content : on-site texts, listening, visuals

Ancient Greek Legends

• Lead-in activities

Interesting Greek legends

• Group work (gap-fills etc.)

Presentation preparation

• Grammar / Language

focus e.g. Past Tense

• Prepare for live

presentation in The

Louvre Museum

Santa María del Berrocal

A municipality located in the province

of Ávila, Castile and León

Population 486

… Ruta del Corneja y el Hocino

Pre-excursion lesson(s)

General lead-in themes

Specific study of the excursion items

Group / Individual tasks

Speaking, listening, reading, writing

Predict Language / Grammar points

Excursion Activities

Pre-excursion activates interest / schema

Ungraded written / audio materials on-site

or online form lesson content

Treasure hunt

Summary writing

Prepared presentation made on site

Interaction with physical objects

On-Site Communication

Venue dependent

Teacher does trial run

New level of realism

A push from the nest is needed

Public speaking becomes a dawdle

Follow-up Activities

Individual homework

Summaries / Emails / Reports

Language consolidation

◦ Trainer takes notes during excursion

◦ Find a quiet place to discuss afterwards

◦ On-site error correction

OR

◦ Type up and email language to students for

further consolidation activities

Logistics

What are the potential logistical problems?

The public

Weather / Environment

Group size / management

Site / Venue rules and restrictions

Risk AssessmentHazard Who’s concerned? Solution

Weather – outside work

in cold / hot conditions

Students and Teacher,

especially ones sensitive

to temperature

Check weather reports

and advise students on

appropriate attire, bring

water / plan a coffee

break

The public – moving

through crowded streets

or road traffic

Students, teachers for

group management, also

public safety

Choose spacious

meeting points away

from roads. Give

students emergency

phone number and

meeting points on paper.

Terrain – walking tours

with difficult climbs /

unpaved paths

Students and Teacher,

especially those with

mobility issues

Test route, advise

students of appropriate

footwear, plan breaks

… … …

Conclusion

“Is there no getting away from the fact that classrooms

are just not good places to learn languages in? And that,

instead of flogging the present perfect continuous to

death, it might not be better simply to take

a walk around the block?”

(1) http://scottthornbury.wordpress.com posted on 01/01/12 titled "A is for Affordance"

• Excursions needn’t be exceptions

• Foundation of a new type of syllabus

Thank you for your attention

Audience Questions

Richard John Osborne

richardjohnosborne.wordpress.com

richardosborne14@gmail.com

@richardosborne1