Contemplations

In my blog post Experimenting with English: scaffolding learner autonomy, I discussed how I approached helping my learners to use English outside the classroom, drawing on learner autonomy theory and methodology (e.g. Benson, 2011; Oxford, 2003; Smith 2003). Central to that project, alongside the very important element of discussion, was a handout I created for my learners.

Here is a screenshot of a sample page, taken from the listening section:

Sample page from my Experimenting with English activities handout, listening section.

As you can see, the handout consists of a series of activities for learners to try, with space for them to record when they tried it and what they thought of it. The handout is divided up by skill (reading, listening, speaking, writing). What you can’t see here is that in each subdivision, as well as the activities I’ve added, there is space for the learners…

Welcome to my new blog Traveling Grain. I will post articles about my upcoming blending trip to Europe.

Much grace to all my readers.

Each thought the other was her

As I was sifting through photos to find pictures for use in a collaborative book project I’m working on, I came across the photo at right, which is one of my favorite photos of my twin daughters. They’d just learned to walk and had toddled up to the mirror. As they gazed in the mirror, I asked, “which one is you?”

Each daughter pointed to the image of her sister.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised because, having been adopted from a Chinese orphanage, they’d probably never seen a mirror to know their own image. Each daughter had only ever seen her sister.

Rediscovery of the photo made me think about women and their reflections in mirrors.

I’ve recently been thrilled to reconnect, through social media, with friends I knew a lifetime ago…in grade school, high school, college and my year in France…