ten ways to grow democracy in the esl classroom lee chen palomar college catesl 2008 state...

Ten Ways to Grow Democracy Ten Ways to Grow Democracy in the ESL Classroomin the ESL Classroom

Lee ChenLee ChenPalomar CollegePalomar College

CATESL 2008 State ConferenceCATESL 2008 State ConferencePresentationPresentation

They Said They Said WhatWhat About About Democracy?Democracy?

Johnny Carson:Johnny Carson:Democracy means that anyone can grow up to Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be _____________.can be _____________.

Clement AttleeClement Attlee::Democracy means government by discussion, Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people but it is only effective if you can stop people ______________.”______________.”

They Said They Said WhatWhat About About Democracy?Democracy?

Edward Abbey:Edward Abbey:

Democracy--rule by the people--sounds Democracy--rule by the people--sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in ______________.in ______________.

Serious Points to PonderSerious Points to Ponder

George Washington:George Washington:

If the freedom of speech is taken away, If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter.sheep, to the slaughter.

Serious Points to PonderSerious Points to Ponder

Franklin Roosevelt:Franklin Roosevelt:

If democracy is to survive, it is the task of If democracy is to survive, it is the task of men of thoughts, as well as men of action, men of thoughts, as well as men of action, to put aside pride and prejudice; with to put aside pride and prejudice; with courage and single-minded devotion—to courage and single-minded devotion—to find the truth and teach the truth that shall find the truth and teach the truth that shall keep men free.keep men free.

What does it mean to grow What does it mean to grow democracy in the classroom?democracy in the classroom?

Look for content that teaches about Look for content that teaches about democracy and deliver instruction on it democracy and deliver instruction on it whenever possiblewhenever possible

Allow the students to experience the Allow the students to experience the democratic waysdemocratic ways

Ten ways to impart democratic Ten ways to impart democratic principles on a daily basisprinciples on a daily basis

1. Let students jump start the class1. Let students jump start the classA question for the teacherA question for the teacher

One-minute motivatorOne-minute motivator

Language-related class openerLanguage-related class opener

Brain teaseBrain tease


2. Let students teach/explain back2. Let students teach/explain back3-step coaching3-step coaching

You say; you doYou say; you do

You say; they doYou say; they do

They say; they doThey say; they do

Cartoon recreationCartoon recreation

Notice grammar in the newspaper, etc.Notice grammar in the newspaper, etc.


3. Let students come up with authentic 3. Let students come up with authentic teaching materials teaching materials

Topics for discussionsTopics for discussions

Student work as textStudent work as text

Community Teaching MethodCommunity Teaching Method


4. Let students help each other 4. Let students help each other Paragraph peer reviewParagraph peer review

Audience feedback on team presentationsAudience feedback on team presentations

Discussion boardDiscussion board

Student mentorsStudent mentors


5. Let students manage themselves 5. Let students manage themselves Daily class management jobsDaily class management jobs

Classroom rulesClassroom rules

““Round robin” readingRound robin” reading


6. Let students vote 6. Let students vote Student of the weekStudent of the week

Day or location of testsDay or location of tests

Reading selectionsReading selections


7. Let students participate in and represent 7. Let students participate in and represent their teams their teams

Team projectsTeam projects

Daily team jobsDaily team jobs

Radio frequency clickersRadio frequency clickers

Cross-word puzzle solvingCross-word puzzle solving

Grammar review workoutGrammar review workout


8. Let students show off8. Let students show offStudent paper showcaseStudent paper showcase

Computer station swapsComputer station swaps

““Did you know…?”Did you know…?”


9. Let students speak their mind9. Let students speak their mindOne-minute feedback on the day’s classOne-minute feedback on the day’s class

Opinion polls on course-related issuesOpinion polls on course-related issues

www.getfast.cawww.getfast.ca

Anonymous discussion boardAnonymous discussion board

Exercises for thinking independently, Exercises for thinking independently, critically, or creativelycritically, or creatively


10. Let students share their insights and 10. Let students share their insights and experiences with the worldexperiences with the world

WeblogWeblog

““Voices of ESL”Voices of ESL”

Pedagogy of the OppressedPedagogy of the Oppressed

Paolo Freire:Paolo Freire:

The teacher is no longer the only one who The teacher is no longer the only one who teaches. The students, while being taught, teaches. The students, while being taught, also teach. They become jointly also teach. They become jointly responsible for a process in which all responsible for a process in which all grow.grow.

Democratic Ways in a ClassroomDemocratic Ways in a Classroom

share control in classshare control in class

build a community spiritbuild a community spirit

are pedagogically soundare pedagogically sound

create a dynamic environmentcreate a dynamic environment

value and validate student voicesvalue and validate student voices

develop greater student-centralitydevelop greater student-centrality

bring out humans’ cooperative naturebring out humans’ cooperative nature


produce self-managed, independent learnersproduce self-managed, independent learners

serve the students well and create raving fansserve the students well and create raving fans

enhance a more collaborative approach to enhance a more collaborative approach to language teachinglanguage teaching

change the teacher mentality of having to dictate change the teacher mentality of having to dictate everything in classeverything in class

engage and empower the students as active engage and empower the students as active partners in the instructional processpartners in the instructional process


teach the students to have a say and take teach the students to have a say and take a stake in their immediate classes—and, a stake in their immediate classes—and, hopefully, in their outside community as hopefully, in their outside community as well—with the rights and responsibilities of well—with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a democracycitizenship in a democracy

Thanks!Thanks!

Presenter Contact Information: Presenter Contact Information: Lee ChenLee Chen

Associate ProfessorAssociate ProfessorESL Dept.ESL Dept.

Palomar CollegePalomar [email protected]@palomar.edu

http://daphne.palomar.edu/lchen/http://daphne.palomar.edu/lchen/

ten ways to grow democracy in the esl classroom lee chen palomar college catesl 2008 state...

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