MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! THANKS FOR FOLLOWING!

ENSINO MIXTO EN EOI

Ola de novo!!

Desta volta volta estou encantada de presentarvos unha nova aventura. Para a semana arranco unha travesía da man do proxecto Erasmus+ K104 " Escolas que usan a aprendizaxe mixta para dialogar sobre pedagoxías interrelacionadas" que agrupa a maioría das EOIs galegas. Para amosar a miña experiencia, veño de engadir unha nova lapela ao blog. Non vola perdades: ENSINO MIXTO EN EOI! Será unha fiestra aberta ao traballo feito no curso "Blended Learning and Online Delivery in Language Education", impartido a distancia do 14 ao 18 de decembro de 2020 por Russel Stannard, experto en aprendizaxe a distancia e fundador de teacher training videos.

Esta nova categoría do blog estará chea de reflexións, inquedanzas e propostas de actividades que irei compartindo durante a semana do curso para que a experiencia vaia máis aló das sesións de traballo diarias. Agardo que os contidos compartidos sexan útiles para toda a comunidade #EOIsta que disfruta ensinando linguas.

Agora si... por fin! Demos comezo a aventura!

OUR CLASS DELEGATE: POLLING DAY COMING UP SOON!

Don´t miss out on this great opportunity to foster classroom community and make your voices be heard! We will soon choose our class delegate and I hope he/she will be up for the significant challenge of representing students while playing a supporting role.

OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY STRIKES BACK!

Our school library is re-opening its doors and getting ready to give students a warm welcome. If you are into books, this is a place you can't miss!

OUR LIBRARY VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME

Don´t just stand there! Volunteer! Discover why some of the richest people in the world are not millionaires, but volunteers.  

As usual at this time of the year, the school library is opening up its volunteer programme. Would you like to join and support our school? We need you!! Take part in this rewarding experience and assist others in your community by volunteering now.

For more information about the programme at the library have a look at the school website.

By becoming a volunteer you are making a valuable contribution to school! The gift of your time is priceless!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL... AT LAST!

Just can't wait to meet my C1 students next week! It´s been a long way but we are here at last. School is ready and so are teachers. How about students? Up for a new challenge? We´ll see!

A PERFECT SUMMER BREAK

Dear all, 

I am sure you all agree with me on the fact that this has been a very weird year. However, that does not necessarily mean summer must also be odd, or does it? If you want to make a difference this season, how about embarking on a new experience? Visit our online library and indulge in the valuable resources it provides. Whether you are on a staycation or getting away, this is just the perfect site to take with you! Staying safe does not mean bored! 💪

END OF SCHOOL YEAR 19-20

Dear all!

As everyone knows, this has been a really weird course to teach for very obvious reasons. However, my C1 students have met the challenge and lived up to my expectations. A teacher's dream come true!

Now it is high time to look back and reflect upon the work that has been carried out. Our journey has come to an end! But we have first built up our own memories together to help us recall a great year of joint successful learning!

Here is the video with my students' contribution to drawing a final picture of our year. Judge for yourselves! What do you think the year was like?

PROBAS CERTIFICACIÓN 2020

 EXAM TIME WILL HOPEFULLY BE IN SEPTEMBER!

Xa está publicada na páxina web da EOI toda a información relativa ao calendario e desenvolvemento das probas de certificación de nivel básico, intermedio e avanzado que previsiblemente terán lugar na escola durante os meses de setembro e outubro:

• En breve será publicado o calendario das probas, único para todas as EOI de Galicia.

• As quendas definitivas das probas orais serán publicadas, alén de nos taboleiros da Escola, na mesma páxina web da EOI, na categoría do departamento correspondente.

É altamente recomendable que consultedes tamén a guía informativa e as espec de nivel C1 e os modelos de exames que diferentes comunidades autónomas teñen publicado nas súas webs. Botade unha ollada ao mapa, clicade no destino, escollede nivel e idioma e practicade arreo! Podedes traballar con modelos de probas de produción, coprodución e mediación oral, comprensión oral, produción, coprodución e mediación escrita... poderedes traballar sen límites!

Good luck everybody....!! and as I know that my C1 level students are really worried about these exams... don´t forget that "Practice makes perfect"!!

ITip of June

As it is almost exam time, my ITip for June is going to be devoted to exam practice. Even though my students already know what the exam in Galicia will be like: activities, tasks... having a look at some samples might help them improve. I have just discovered this useful website thanks to my colleague María Fachal, who also teaches C1 at EOI Pontevedra. She is such an inspiring teacher! 

Idiomium is an amazing website with lots of resources for English learners. Surfing the site you will find grammar exercises, vocabulary tips and, most useful of all, a great exam bank for different levels, including EOI C1.

Listening, reading, speaking, writing and mediation tasks will no longer be a major challenge to face if you practise intensively with ...

SCHOOL LIBRARY RETURN SERVICE

Our school has been drawing up guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. One of the safety measures has been taken by our school library team. They have just set up a new book return service. Books will have to be returned to the library following the steps above. Give us a call and we will be more than glad to get all your library stuff back under the safest circumstances!

SCHOOL LIBRARY SURVEY

First and foremost, I would like to thank all the students who have already used our library service to enhance our school community life. As part of our project to improve school facilities, we would like to identify new needs to set a course for the future. We want to learn a lot more about you! Why have you used our school library and what is your experience of it? We are inviting everyone to take a bit of their time to complete the quick survey below before 21 June. We want everyone to help us make the library a place they want to be. Your insights and feedback will step up our efforts. Thanks a lot in advance!

LET´S GET READY TO WISH ROSS GOOD LUCK AND FAREWELL FOR THE FUTURE

Good-bye is always hard to say, but we may acknowledge the fact that we should cherish the best times with the loved ones and pray for their success. Saying farewell to Ross is going to be painful but let's show him our love and respect. We have seen Ross grow up as a teacher for two years. Time flies super fast! It seems as if he came yesterday and he is already leaving. He will be missed! All the best, Ross!

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

As an enthusiastic teacher, I have always praised students for their hard work and constant passion for learning. However, this year they have well-deserved my thankful admiration and appreciation for both following their own dreams and supporting mine alike. Nothing - not even a pandemic - has stopped them from carrying on!

That is the reason why I have come up with this inspirational idea of showing my heartfelt gratitude to them. Every single student of mine will be awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for constantly trying to improve and tirelessly building a positive classroom community in the school year 2019-2020. Whether emergency remote teaching and learning is coming to stay or not, they have proved to be inspiring and have really pushed me to take new chances and risks. It seems obvious to me that teachers and students are stronger together when they build up a close-knit team!

ESCUELAS AMIGAS: FINAL PROJECT

Not only is the course coming to an end, but our Escuelas Amigas project is also about to finish. Students at both schools Pamplona and Pontevedra have been working hard to reach the final step: "Your favourite spot" listening activity. Up for a challenge? Click the last link on the presentation below and try to complete the task. Can you guess all the places and put the pictures in order?

I am definitely sure all of them agree that this has been an unrivalled experience. We have worked hand in hand together with students in Pamplona and discovered a lot of magical places in the city! We have also recommended some charming spots in Pontevedra. Now we are all looking forward to meeting our mates in person.

I would also love to personally thank Carlos and his awesome students for their empathy and good work. The project has been a real treat! They have made a difference!

Should you go and visit Pamplona, all of the spots here are a must! Do not miss them! Great job, guys!

ITip of MAY: SPEECHNOTES

This month I am going to present you with a great class working tool. Speechnotes is the perfect voice editor to move from voice-typing (dictation) to key-typing seamlessly and boost your pronunciation skills at the same time. You will love it thanks to its high level of accuracy, great features and ease of use. Luckily, it is free and needs no registration. It also allows you to edit speech results, which might also come in handy!

You can type at the speed of slow clear speech and even insert punctuation marks. How does it work? just speak into the mic to let Speechnotes transcribe for you and beware... if the notes make no sense, you might need to adjust your pronunciation a bit!

#ESCUELAS AMIGAS STRIKES BACK!

Hi everyone! 

Do you remember our dearest friends from EOI Pamplona?💌 Right now they are all putting up with exactly the same confinement period we are going through. So, their teacher Carlos and I have been coming up with ideas to get you connected again to motivate you and finish off our "Discover my City" project. 

With this idea in mind, here is the final step. One last thing I would like you to do for me🙏:

1. 💡 Choose your favourite place in your area. Bear in mind that you are going to recommend our friends in Pamplona to visit the place as soon as the quarantine is over! Be original!

2. 🎤 Record yourself on vocaroo.com describing that place: location, history, why is it your favourite place... I am definitely sure you can be creative enough so as to give a fantastic depiction. Your recording must be up to 2min long.

3. 📬 Send me your recording and a picture of your place (it can be downloaded from the internet) before 3 May.

Do not miss this great opportunity to exhibit your awesome C1 English skills! Avoid tired and overused words like "beautiful" or "pretty". Use complex sentences and wide vocabulary and make a great impression on both students and teachers alike!

I am looking forward to all your recordings! 

Stay safe 🏡 and keep in touch!

EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING SURVEY

The school has inevitably embarked on this new adventure of remote teaching and we are looking forward to finding out whether the process is challenging enough or just back-breaking! In the age when information is power, we are willing to gather as many data as possible from students taking part in the online learning process at school. Our main goal is to identify needs and make a valuable contribution to learning.

How are you coping? Is distance learning effective enough for you? Please, do not hesitate to fill in the form below and help us gather information to continue to improve.

EMERGENCY REMOTE LEARNING

My students and I are striving to make the most of our emergency remote learning. Since our school was locked down, we have been keeping in touch via email, our blog and google sites to keep up the good work. The more engaging lessons are, the more focused they get. So, the next step was no other than virtual classes! And I just can't wait to meet them all again through Webex. Missing classes at school is not preventing us from moving on and learning as a team! We are stronger together!

BACK TO THE GRIND!

As you all know, Tuesday 14 should have been the day to go back to class after the Easter break. The smell of chalk, rubber and pencil was supposed to be filling up the school again. However, distance learning has come to stay for a while. We will not have the chance to meet each other until who knows when. So, it is time to meet new challenges and make the grade! I am just looking forward to a new beginning where lessons will be adapted to the needs my students have. 

Online lessons coming up! Stay tuned and follow the tips to keep up the hard work!

COPING WITH THE QUARANTINE TIPS

C1 teachers at EOI Pontevedra have come up with a very imaginative idea to encourage students through the health crisis and try to calm them down. Our final goal was no other than making their staycation as enjoyable as possible! Listen to our informal chat and put into practise those tips that best suit you. Do not miss the links at the end to kick off new quarantine habits! Stay safe at home!

ITip OF APRIL: WRITE AND IMPROVE

Free tool for ideal at-home revision these days! Write and Improve is simple to use: just choose a task, write or upload a written response and get immediate feedback. The tool will magically identify those parts of your text that may need improving, allowing you to work on those areas and keep developing your writing skills. You will be scored on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) scale and given a level from A1 (lowest) to C2 (highest)  New technology to mark English writing accurately in seconds! Isn't it cool?

LAUGHTER AS A COPING MECHANISM

Many people find themselves confined at home at the moment, which can be a significant source of stress, particularly for those who experience some level of anxiety. However, when we become able to laugh about troublesome situations, we take the pain out of the memory and replace it with a good measure of humour. This can help you de-stress the case because sharing a good laugh can definitely be transformative. Learning the ability of being able to laugh at disturbing conditions will definitely improve our current state. So, here I am now! Struggling to expand your ability to laugh and look on the bright side of life. Shift your focus to something else that might help you cope. It´s always a good time to laugh!

SCHOOL LOCKDOWN: C1 VOCABULARY CHALLENGE

Hurray! My students have already started working online! I am so proud of them. The school has already been closed down for a whole week now and it is high time to stick to healthy routines and everyday habits that will definitely help us cope with the confinement period. 

I am regularly sending them a few tasks to complete whenever they have time and are willing to keep up the hard work. I know that uncertainty and uneasiness are here to stay for a while so, I am just giving my little contribution to their support and well-being. Do not get over-stressed, guys!

Most of them have already completed last week's tasks and I am now posting the nice word-cloud they have come up with after their first video-listening activity.

Now here is my vocabulary challenge for you! Can you try and figure out what the words mean before clicking each of them to find out the answer? The video might help! Have fun!

ITip OF MARCH: CLIPLINGO

I am not stalling work this time! March has just started and here is my new monthly ITip: Cliplingo. This site magically turns YouTube videos into language learning! You just simply watch and learn. There is no need to worry about which clip, when and how often, as Cliplingo takes good care of this for you.  In fact, they cater to every need thanks to a huge collection of language learning videos that have been organised into levels and topics. Extremely useful!

MAIN TARGET: C1 CERTIFICATE

Glad and proud that the CEFORE Pontevedra has counted on me to teach one of their teacher training courses. I have just plunged into this new adventure helping eleven incredibly motivated teachers achieve their final goal: the C1 certificate. Every Friday afternoon until the end of May I'll be providing them with the right strategies and skills to ace the test! We have just had our first session. Read the headlines they have designed themselves at the end of it and gather your own conclusions. They are the ones I will definitely get inspiration from!

Teaching is a work from heart!

XI CONCURSO MICRORRELATO NA EOI

O Equipo de Dinamización da Lingua Galega da EOI de Pontevedra, en colaboración coa Concellaría de Normalización Lingüística do Concello de Pontevedra, convoca o XI Certame de Microrrelato en Galego “EOI de Pontevedra”.
 
DATA: XOVES 26 de marzo ás 19:30h (duración: 2 horas)  

LUGAR: salón de actos da EOI de Pontevedra e, simultaneamente, nas sección do Valle Inclán, A Estrada e Lalín.  

RELATOS: as persoas participantes deberán crear un texto literario de 150 palabras como máximo “in situ”, durante 2 h, a partir da “inspiración” que lles suxiran 3 palabras escollidas polos escritores colaboradores no certame.  

PARTICIPANTES: Poderán participar no concurso todas as persoas que o desexen (sexan ou non alumnado da EOI de Pontevedra).  

Non dubides en participar e moita sorte! Pon á proba as túas habilidades literarias! Mais de 450€ en premios!

CONSULTA AQUÍ AS BASES DO CONCURSO

CLASSROOM SURVEY RESULTS: THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!

It is that time in the year when I gather my statistical class survey results. I am about to come up with a data analysis plan to begin the process of re-thinking my classes, just in case any weaknesses may appear.

Let's crunch the numbers and draw the right conclusions! Students' opinions count!

ITip OF FEBRUARY: WHITESMOKE

We are about to finish February and I have not posted my ITip of the month yet! Too many things to do in my bucket list! So I have no choice but to work on a bank holiday to remedy the situation! This just can't wait.

I have already posted some other ITips on how to improve your writings: Kaizena or Grammarly to name but a few; however, I still think that my C1 students need more extra help on both grammar accuracy and spelling errors alike. That is why my ITip this month is WhiteSmoke, one of the best online proofreading software solutions. Ideal for students who suck at grammar! It is a tool that allows your grammar to become flawless!

It is affordable and highly accurate. The main drawback, however, as it compares to Grammarly, is that there is no free version. You can try out the 4-day-free trial and decide for yourself. The price you pay for the monthly subscription is lower than a McDonald´s Happy Meal!

HELP ME IMPROVE MY CLASSES!

As a teacher, it is very important for me to think twice and consider whether my classes are effective enough and whether my students are willing to learn with me!

That is why I would like you to fill out the evaluation form below. It will help us both, my students and me alike, to realize if the job done is efficient and if our level of excellence is improving. Let's revise our performance in class!!

Bear in mind that the answers are totally anonymous so do not be afraid to complete the questions listed below. I would really appreciate it. Your deadline is Friday 28 February and the questionnaire results will be published then. Fingers crossed!

On the school website you will also find a questionnaire to give us your opinion about the school. You can click here if you want to participate!
Thank you so  much in advance for collaborating!! Your opinion counts!

ESCUELAS AMIGAS: WE NEED YOU!

Have you already found out what this shared project is all about? Last call for C1 students at both EOI Pontevedra and EOI Pamplona! We are about to take off! Welcome on board! Step one... introducing ourselves! 

Use your grid to tell us about you. Bear in mind we don't know each other, so what makes you... you! 

Then, follow your teacher's instructions to answer some of the videos. Let us know how the project is making you feel!

ESCUELAS AMIGAS: A TEAMWORK PROJECT

My C1 students are about to take part in an extremely exciting project built up by EOI Pamplona. Just a few weeks before Christmas I decided to embark on this joint adventure of collaborative work and teachers' cooperation:

 

As a result, I got in contact with Carlos, who also works in Pamplona, and we are both now trying to come up with ideas that might help us achieve a successful outcome by getting our students in touch!

It seems obvious that this project will bring real benefits for our students, including practising English outside the classoom, which has always been one of our main priorities, and getting to know other cultures and ways of learning.

Stay tuned for more info on how the project evolves. You will soon meet all of us and find out more on our final goal!

REPRESENTATIVES MEETING

There is no way my groups' representatives could miss out on this great opportunity to foster school relations and make their voices heard!

BLIND DATES ARE COMING BACK!

Our school library team is back and better than ever to warm up your hearts with a wide range of blind date options to celebrate Saint Valentine's Day! Let's welcome February at the library. Who knows? You might hit it off straight away!

ACE THAT TEST!

As you all know, the term is coming to an end. I am afraid that means exams are about to start! Luckily, C1 tests in February will not count on your final score in June, so think of them as an amazing opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge and prove how hard you have tried so far. 

Here are some useful exam instructions not to get the creeps! Whatever happens, don´t think about the fear and do your job!

iTIP OF JANUARY: OZDIC

Here is the first iTip for the new year: Ozdic. It is basically an online collocation dictionary that might come in handy when planning your writings or speeches for class, work or even exams! More often than not, we usually stick ourselves to the same word combinations. Finding words to combine with the ones we are used to might seem a daunting task. However, looking up in a collocation dictionary may help you find the right verb to go with a new noun that you are willing to add to your language chore or also match a new adjective to a very common noun. Give it a go and tell me how successful you were at making a good impression on your teacher! 

NEW YEAR LANGUAGE RESOLUTIONS

Here are the British Council´s top tips for learners to try in 2020 to help them with their English. In my first class in the year I will play the video for my students to make two different lists according to their language resolutions for the new year:

1. Which of these tips already play a crucial role in your learning habits?

2. Which of these recommendations are you willing to adopt to boost your learning in the new year?

Let´s find out how many of my students are honestly ready to accomplish the hard task of long-life learning! The follow-up discussion might also bring in some new tips!