Some of the very genki teachers from this weekend’s workshop!
A foggy Christmassy morning, so we started off with
– When, when, when?
– I am , you are pronouns song + dinosaur game – which only sort of worked because I was the only guy in the room! But it shows how just a handful of Genki English themes can lead to hundreds of new phrases.
– What time is it 2? + Game (remember, 1:10, 3:15 etc. is used much more often than “quarter past” etc. and 3:30 is especially useful for German speakers!)
Then I went through the brand new integrated phonics system from the forum. The lesson plan I have and the worksheets are done, but the gestures aren’t going to work with “finger spelling” here, so it looks like it will take longer for it to be finally out there for you!
Then another great lunch before…
– What colour is Christmas? which was really, far, far too slow, then the normal colours songwhich everyone found much better paced!
– Rocket Launch – the long version on the software to show funky lighting techniques!
– Gingerbread house + Let’s build a snowman, where I took some fantastic videos of how to teach it, hopefully I’ll have them on the site soon – they’re amazing!
– Then I asked one of the participants to leave – I’ll blog about that later!
Then Flossy did a fantastic presentation on how she uses Genki English with a laptop and iPod speakers. I really should have videoed it as it really energised everyone there!
– Then projects – getting the kids talking with other countries!
– Then the $50 digital whiteboard which I’ll blog about later, cool video coming.
– Then in ten minutes we learnt left, right, forward & back in Japanese and did the Mr Bump gamein Japanese. If you had been told you could speak and communicate in Japanese in just ten minutes – would you have believed it? That’s Genki English for you!
– And finally Can you speak? English and the pro rules to finish on a fantastic high note!
It was an amazing weekend! Thank you to Elizabeth for organising everything so wonderfully, and thank you to everyone who came, those who came from nearby and those who flew in from afar. It really was amazing to present to teachers from so many different countries and have everyone join in and get so much out of it!
I’ve got a ton of video that I’ll hopefully get uploaded when I have a more economical internet connection – you’re going to love them!
And that was a whole new country added to the Genki English repertoire! Where’s next, your country? Just get in touch, that’s what Elizabeth did and ended up with a whole weekend of genkiness!
Flossy has written up her very glowing review here (thank you!) And if you attended, did you enjoy it? Be sure to let us know in the comments. : )
Earn More From Your Passion For Teaching English!
What a great workshop!!
I’ve just read Flossy’s post on the forum too. I’m sure teachers are still filled with excitement and gratitude to you, and sharing it with their students now in their lessons.
(I don’t know what’s wrong with the teacher who left in the middle.)
I’m interested in the phonics system. Flossy said you prepared it till 2am to introduce it. I’ll be waiting for the completion of the system. It must be great!
Hope your mom had a great time travelling with you!
Hey this looks fun!
Flossy, are you…?! Well, I’m not sure if I can put my bet on here!
A very impressive thing for me is the “classroom” or better to say the blackboard. I had completely forgotten how you can open and shut the blackboard. How nostalgic!
The workshop was totally amazing. I know my post on the forum was a bit long, but I could not even mention everything there!! I am standing 3rd to the right of Richard, white blouse, black watch strap etc. so now you know what I look like!! This photograph was taken at the end of the workshop. How many workshops has anyone every attended, where you look like this after two full days of training???
Hi Richard
Sometimes I receive the blog update and sometimes I don’t. I didn’t receive this update about day 2 of the Austrian workshop. Any ideas why? (its not in my spam box). Thanks.
It was realy amazing and professional!
I have to thank Richard again for finding and pressing a special energy button in me.
Glad to have a picture to go with you name, Flossy! Thanks for writing such a detailed summary on the forum. It sounds like we missed out on all the fun!
The teacher of the class of 4th years (10 yr olds) in whose very class we had the workshop asked yesterday if I have anything “Christmassy” for the kids to learn in English for the production the class is putting on for the parents. I immediately thought of Let’s Build a Gingerbread House as premiered at the workshop over the weekend. So, I’m especially looking forward to the “training video” of this to show the teacher and the kids. It will be such fun, of that I’m sure 🙂
And after Flossy’s wonderful demo on how to use portable technology in the classroom, my letter to Father Christmas is getting bigger and bigger.
On a slightly different note I bumped into 2 former pupils yesterday who started at secondary school in September. They very proudly told me they are both in the top stream for English at their new school.
And again a big thank you to all who attended the workshop especially those who brought with them and retained a positive attitude throughout!