Free introduction

One of the comments made in feedback on Saturday when I asked them if they would be willing to pay was that it would be good if a free introductory session was offered so that potential 'customers' could see what was involved.  I think this is an excellent idea, and could be a link on the website to a (short) recorded session, which was also available on YouTube.

Elluminate

Went back to Elluminate tonight for the session.  Positives are that it works - no problems with breakout rooms or it freezing up as Connect Pro has tended to do.  Problems - two of my 'regulars' couldn't get in and another one got in but had problems.  I'm not sure whether this is because of the Java plug in or just some systems.  I can see a problem here for the future if I make this commercial - I'll have to make sure that it works before I take money off anyone!  In theory I've recorded the session, but I can't see where the recordings are stored - I'll have to work that out tomorrow.
Looked at clauses and realtive clauses - another lesson to learn is that this is really hard for them, and I need to go slower, in smaller steps.  I think that the distance makes this even more important......

Using Voice and Timing

The session tonight was on the Present Perfect.  It's the first of the part II course lessons, ie the first time I've been explaining grammar rather than just explaining what things are called.  It was largely quite successful, but went on for much longer than I  had planned - about 90 mins, not 60.  I thin this was necessary, to be honest, I couldn't have done it justice in less, but I may have to rethink the times - maybe this part II has to have 90 minute sessions.

More trouble with the breakout rooms and the (not responding) signal.  I'll have to get on to Adobe again - this only seems to have happened since they changed the programme - I want the old one back!!

What was interesting tonight was that people were comfortable to use voice for the first time.  I had a lot more vocal feedback and much less text chat.  Not sure whether this is good or bad as it meant that some of the participants were less involved, but it made it feel more like an interactive classroom environment.  Not sure how this will work if the group is much bigger.....

Started to think about a website - I'll need one if this is going to be a commercial venture.  There's a lot of interest in the pilot course (it is free, though....) - I've had 15 people sign up in 2 days - what is really interesting is that they are not in any way all pre-celta trainees - a lot of them are post celta or qualified teachers in a job......  There may be a lot of mileage in this.

Does it have to be Pre-CELTA?

I've been up to my ears in lovely e-mails over the past couple of days.  It was suggested to me (thanks David Hare) that I put something on the CELTA e-mail list about my ideas for the course, and having done so, have had loads of support, encouragement and good ideas.  One of the things that came through was that it wasn't only before the course that this kind of information was useful, and that it was often only during or after celta that trainees realise how much they need to know and perhaps have the schema to embed the new knowledge more effectively. 

There were also some good ideas about sources for information - nothing new, but well timed reminders that Parrott, Aitken and Thornberry will be good friends to have over the next few months.......

With all of this motivation going on, I decided that I needed to strike whilst the iron was hot, so I have put out some information to publicise my first 'proper' (but still free) course, starting in April.  That was about 9am - this evening I already had 4 e-mails from people wanting to do the course - wow!

This is the advert:

Just about to do a CELTA?

Worried about the grammar?

I may be able to help!

I am a CELTA tutor in the UK and am running an on-line class in real time in a virtual classroom to help you to prepare.  If you’ve never done this kind of thing before, you’ll be able to see me on a webcam, see a whiteboard, hear me talk and talk to me and other participants. 

The course is FREE, and all I ask is some feedback from you afterwards, as I am using this for an MA research project.

The course will be in two parts –

·         Part I – 5 x 1 hour sessions on naming parts of speech and tenses.

·         Part II – 7 x 1 hours sessions.  A closer look at some of the trickier parts of grammar (such as the present perfect tense and conditionals).

All you need is a computer with a broadband connection, speakers and a microphone (if you don’t have the latter two, you can buy a headset very cheaply).

The course will begin in April.  If you are interested, please e-mail me, and I will send you the web address you need to log on, and the timetable.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Jo Gakonga                 gakonga.family@onetel.com

Two different courses?

Had more nightmare problems with the system last night - whenever I tried to move people to breakout rooms, the programme kept freezing up (not responding) on the screen.  The Powerpoint froze on two occasions, too and I had to reload it.  Will talk to Adobe today. I suspect it's glitches with the new system.

Had a bright idea this morning.  I could offer a 'foundation level' course with just 4 or 5 hour long sessions covering parts of speech and verb tenses, active and passive ie just the nomenclature, and then a further add-on going over some of the more tricky parts of the grammar eg present perfect, relative clauses, the future etc.  This would mean that I could offer the first one very cheaply and a lot of people might feel that this was all they needed (even if it really wasn't, but at least it'd be something and it'd be affordable for everyone.)