Using Chess tools for ESL teaching

Chess














It has been more than a year since I have been with my chess students in The U.S. (A.B.D.) and I miss them. They were so eager to learn new things everyday. I took a page from my classes to incorporate an idea I got from Jim Mitch (you can see his site, "Chester Nuhmentz", at www.professorchess.com using a blend of Scrabble and Chess together.

My goal is for my students to begin to see English in many places, and infuse their days with a little English to improve their speed, their comprehension, and their joy of learning. The class went well--they had to find words in the puzzle following a particular pattern (in this case, Knight leaps) and when the exercise was done, we had to compose a paragraph with a topic chosen at random by the students.

They worked well together and then were creative with the paragraph, which they thought was difficult. Then we proofread the other papers by switching papers (one to the left) and taking a prescribed amount of time to recognize mistakes, and then "proofing the proof" with me. That gave me time to go around and correct the papers but using the time to evaluate their abilities to see 'right and wrong' in the process.

They weren't chess players, but following directions was the goal of the exercise, and they had fun with it. What do you think you could incorporate of your own energies and interests into your class exercises?

Students are the most important thing...

I have met such wonderful people in my year teaching here in Konya. Like many teaching positions, it is not the money, but the experiences, that fill the pockets. I enjoy the corollary moments outside of the classroom which build me as a person. One of my students, a lawyer, invited me after class to have "tuz tavuk", which is salt-baked chicken. It is prepared by taking a whole bird, giving it an egg wash, and some spices, then packing it in rock salt. The salt becomes like a clay shell, holding the heat while it bakes, and, I suppose, providing a stasis between flavor and over-spicing--the steam produced allows the salt to penetrate but not overwhelm the taste in the meat. (It wasn't salty to the taste--surprising!) I got to meet his two children, and his law partner, and staff. They were interested in his mastery of English, which is good--and in me, my story, my travel, my experience with Turkey.

The day was beyond any value anyone could have paid me. It was a priceless, wonderful day.

Teaching young people in Canakkale

Teaching young people in Canakkale is very satisfying--it makes me understand and respect more deeply the meaning of family. I read a quote today--"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." and I think I agree with her. I am glad to be in a position of learning something new every day.

What good students can do to be better

Good students inspire the teacher to new insights and better practices in the classroom. I have seen how innovative students are in approaching new ideas and how they can work together. The process helps improve my understanding of 'what to do' in facilitating the class experience. 

I want to be a part of 'Classroom 2.0', using time in- and outside the class walls to improve the speed and depth of learning for my students.

These guys make me feel good to be a teacher. For them, I want to always be improving my craft.