Welcome to the test-bed for no-cost network
assisted language learning (NALL). Bring your own cocktails. This is a teacher
friendly site dedicated to linking you to resources for language learning
on the Internet. It is also my Web-page assignment for a super course in
Computer Assisted Language Learning with Roger Kenner. Take a look at our
virtual classroom
- it's the end of schooling, as we knew it! It is now 1 year old and as
you will see, it is becoming a mega-site.
I started my career as an English Second Language
instructor about one year ago. I was a stagiaire at the Séminaire
de Sherbrooke last winter. My goal is to teach full-time in a CEGEP before
the year 2000. Last May, I observed a classroom
for the first time. ESL teachers may find this look into a CEGEP classroom
interesting. In October I began practice teaching. My résumé
can be viewed in English or French
versions. If you would like, you may reach me by e-mail at axtell@megantic.net.
A dedicated father and spouse, I grew up in
the USA and became a Canadian in 1974. I have lived on the shores of Lac
Aylmer in the Townships nearly every summer of my life and recently, all
winter. Twenty years ago, my wife and I were merchant sailors.
From those romantic beginning we survived
some far-out places including Nain, on the Northern coast of Labrador, Baker
Lake, Nunavut (1000 km. due North of Winnipeg), and Sioux Lookout, Ontario
where I worked for Aboriginal communities on education and communication
projects. I operate Axtell
Communications & Training a consulting firm that supports us from
time to time. With three daughters, the first just hitting mid-teens, I
am looking forward to a prestigious, and secure teaching career. I know
I may be too late for the pension plan, but the illusion of tenure is important
to me. From what I have seen, it looks like ESL in Québec is one
of the best kept secrets in education.
The Adventure of George the Snow Flake is a a storybook for any ESL/EFL learner. It is probably appreciated most by children since it was collectively written and illustrated by small people at my house: Sarah (9) Annie (12), and Lena (15). It is also an example of low-cost multi-media that school teachers can produce with their class.
E-mail is probably the first and most effective
use of the Internet that students will use. Just in case they don't use
it for L2, you may need to try an e-mail exchange with students in another
country. But it seems like a daunting task if you have never tried it. Here
is an hands-on, step-by-step guide to the activity. You won't want to miss
a single episode of the The Mail Went Out.
Demo #3
I reviewed a number of so-called interactive stories before trying to create one for a class project. My test site, Choices, provides advanced ESL students with 5-10 minutes of reading comprehension and critical thinking practice.
Demo # 4
This paper explores the potential to use Concordancer software in the CEGEP's. I produced a legal corpus and described how the class could produce glossaries for their field of study. I also explore the idea of distributing these on the Net. I suggested to John Taylor-Johnston that some one should put together an on-line concordancer so students could access this as a service. Before I could say "Bob's my Uncle" he did it. It's a a great concept that deserves furthur development immediately. Try it out at John's Café Software Projects.
Demo # 5
The Aboriginal Writing Network concept was developed for the Movement for Canadian Literacy. I developed the research base for the project as part of my course work. The pilot project could become a National literacy program for Aboriginal communities. The model has potential for any community where Community Internet Access centres exist.
Demo # 6
I was able to develop this ESL Web Site concept at the Lion Pub, the inspiration of many good ideas at Bishop's. I recognized that the project was way to too big so I convinced two of the brightest and funniest students in the TESL program to help brainstorm the Quebec ESL Humour Web Site. The project is described in a term paper that I had very little to do with after the second round of beers.
VERY NEW - MARCH 1999:
I have since started the ESL Joke of the Week. Members of this small mailing list receive a carefully selected piece of humour suitible for use in the classroom. Here is what Sherry in Sioux Lookout, Ontario wrote:
My ESL students love the ESl joke of the week. I have been displaying the contents on a bulletin board. It has become a real "hit" with the more advanced students. Thanks for supplying the humour!
The service is designed to appeal to teachers, after all, they are the ones telling the jokes. If you would like to join this mailing list please send your request to axtell@megantic.net.
VERY NEW - MARCH 1999:
Demo # 7
Cloze or gap exercises can be tedious. Frankenfood is a JAVA-based cloze exercise I prepared using the very easy to use software Hot Potatoes . I propose students create their own cloze exercises as a vocabulary building assignment. By creating quizzes, students gain valuable workplace skills. Learning to program Hot Potatoes gives students a creative advantage.
Demo #8
In organizing the Unit I organized the NeXt Classroom, an ambitious concept in school-based learning. This site has some great ESL images. Lightbown and Spada's most definitive statement of grammar instruction provides the theoretical base for my Unit.
Accuracy, fluency and overall communicative skills are probably best developed through instruction that is primarily meaning-based but in which guidance is provided through timely form- focus activities and correction in context. (p. 443 Lightbown and Spada, 1990)
Academic Paper #1
On the way to becoming an ESL teacher I wrote ESL Online and Situated Learning. Online communities are considered for their suitability as environments of language acquisition. Take a romp through the literature, from Dewey to Warschauer, proving that there is always a learning theory to suit your practice! I welcome any comments on this draft paper.
EXTREMELY NEW - JUNE 1999:
Academic Paper #2
Whatever happened to Paulo Friere and all the radical teachers of the 70's? Critical Conciousness and Personalization is a journal I wrote during my practice teaching that does not relate directly to computer mediated communication, but does play with some powerful ideas about learning that may have some use to online ESL advocates. I am searching for meaning in the process of teaching and learning English and what better place to return, than our generation's most idealistic educator.
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