Mai Linh's Reflective Journal

Going through this online course on integrating technology into language teaching has been a very valuable learning experience. As an English teacher, it has expanded my understanding of the many possibilities that exist for enhancing instruction through thoughtful use of digital tools and resources. The modules covered a wide range of useful topics, from setting up an academic blog for collaboration, to developing effective lesson plans and assessments. I particularly found Modules 3 and 4 helpful for exploring different websites and apps that can build students' oral/aural, reading and writing skills independently. Being introduced to techniques like flipped learning in Module 6 has given me ideas for new ways to structure in-class activities. Creating an action research project in Module 7 allowed me to directly apply what I had learned by experimenting with Flip for pronunciation practice with my own students. Going through the process of reflection has helped me recognize area...

By the last week of the project, the students have grown tremendously comfortable with using the Flip app for their tasks. They can now independently upload videos, view peers' posts, and leave comments without any teacher assistance. Their improved pronunciation is evident in the recent video submissions. The students have clearly put effort into accurately pronouncing word endings and speaking with proper intonation as taught in previous lessons. Their awareness of these pronunciation elements has increased. Additionally, the students have started independently giving useful feedback to each other through the app's commenting feature. With peer evaluations occurring regularly, teachers no longer need to constantly remind students of deadlines. Assignments are generally being submitted on time. This displays higher autonomy and confidence in the students. Despite some initial difficulties using a new technological tool, the Flip app has supported the students' pronunciatio...

Last week, we had some challenges helping the students use Flip successfully. We realized we needed to take more time demonstrating how the app works. This week, we made sure to thoroughly explain Flip to the students. We showed them each step for uploading their practice videos multiple times. This really helped the students a lot. When it was time for their homework, they felt comfortable putting their videos on Flip without any problems. In class, we were happy to see how excited the students were when their videos played. They paid close attention as we provided feedback on their pronunciation. It was great to see them so engaged with the technology. We could really see the students enjoying getting individualized help from us. After correcting mistakes, we had the whole group rehearse the audio recording together. Practicing it as a class allowed the students to clearly hear the right intonation patterns. Their pronunciation improved noticeably just from doing this one activity to...

  When we began our action research project, we initially struggled to narrow our focus and identify a clear problem to address. After discussion, we decided to focus on improving students' pronunciation skills using Flip. Our students are at an IELTS level of 4.0, so pronunciation is an area that could be strengthened to help improve their overall English proficiency. In the first two weeks, our topic was intonation, specifically word and sentence stress. Being able to correctly stress words and structure sentences with a natural rhythm is important for intelligible pronunciation. In the first week, our goal was to introduce students to using the Flip app to complete tasks independently to practice target pronunciation skills outside of class. We assigned them a listening task on the Spotlight English website to shadow audio recordings about different shoes from around the world. This task aimed to practice word and sentence stress. We gave instructions to the students on how to f...

    I had very traditional ideas about classroom instruction that involved teacher-centered lectures and student practice during class time. However, after learning about flipped classroom models, my perspective on language teaching has really transformed. The core principle behind flipped classrooms is that students can gain initial exposure to new content through pre-class activities like watching instructional videos or reading assignments. This frees up classroom time for more interactive and collaborative learning experiences between the teacher and students. I was quite skeptical at first that students would actually do the pre-work, but I understand now how well-designed pre-class activities can effectively engage learners. From the materials I have read, I am convinced that putting into practice the Micro Flipped Classroom approach would be very beneficial to my students whose language proficiency ranges from A1+ to A2. In order to assist them in learning and improving...

  Embarking on the exploration of PBL in ELT has allowed me to witness firsthand the profound impact it has on the learning experience. PBL has redefined the classroom dynamic by placing students at the center of their own learning experience. By engaging them in real-world projects, students feel a sense of ownership and relevance in their studies. This approach has significantly boosted their motivation and enthusiasm for learning, resulting in a more authentic and enjoyable educational journey.  Essential 21st century skills are developed through PBL which is one of its significant advantages. Communication, negotiation and problem solving skills all get enhanced by students in collaborative work. Students are also encouraged to think critically and apply their language skills creatively. Open-ended projects train these students on how to survive in a world that is interdependent and subject to rapid changes. To effectively execute PBL, there must be clear assessment criter...