Recently I have been very impressed with a PBWiki works wiki created with MA students by Evelyn Izquierdo from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. I was invited to look at the ICT in TEFL 2011 wiki and I was blown away by the whole layout and the notion of being able to freely view work carried out by students and tutors doing a course based on Web 2.0 tools. This wiki is a great example of what can be achieved in a relatively short time and it is a vertitable treasure trove of resources and ideas. Well done to everyone involved in the project!!
To quote from one of the many comments written on the front page:
"This wiki is a great reference for those EFL-ESL teachers interested in exploring different tools to provide easy access to course content, collect and assess students’ work".
Sharing Leads to Fulfillment From a personal perspective, since I have been slowly but surely sharing new things that I have learned since 2008 via this blog, I have felt more fulfilled than ever before. I have shared freely in the hope that someone somewhere might be inspired, or might use something I have written or published in a beneficial way to aid in teaching. In the grand scheme of things, it's just a very tiny thing. All it has cost me is my time and some effort. What it has given me, however, is absolutely priceless!!
I was so excited when Chiew Pang from the wonderful A Clil To Climb blog got in contact regarding doing an interview for his exciting new blog project called IASKU. I was very happy and honoured to be amongst his illustrious cast of interviewees, which includes so many educators, whom I greatly admire and respect. I also felt very flattered to be a part of the "daredevil and avant-garde" group of educators, who have been interviewed so far. I certainly didn't ever set out to be different in any way!!! It kind of just happened along the journey of life without too much drama, and when I least expected it, really.
I'm not so sure if I fit into Chiew's category of teachers who "dare to be different", as I feel I am still the same old me, but thanks anyway, for the fab description!!
However, I think you can certainly teach an old dog new tricks, if the old dog (moi) is still young at heart!! As Chiew mentions, I first met him via our shared interest in idioms, and I had come across his lovely interactive lessons on Idioms on his A Clil To Climb blog, which I began to follow with interest.
Chiew explains here why he has started up this inspirational new project. I have really enjoyed viewing the interviews, and I like the way he has arranged and organised them all. He is really dedicating a lot of time and effort to make this series of interviews such a great success!! Many congratulations to Chiew!!
I wasn't able to do the recording using my own equipment at the time, so I asked a very good friend called Andy to help me out. He did a brilliant job of recording my responses. Grazie mille, Andy!!
I chose to answer Chiew's questions all in one go with no takes, so that my answers would be as they came to me. I am delighted with the result, and Chiew asked some fantastic questions, which I enjoyed replying to. Thanks very much to everyone who has already commented on the interview! I appreciate that.
You can view the interview, which is in two parts if you click on the link below:
Once again, Chiew, thank you for interviewing me on your IASKU blog. I really enjoyed the experience and it was a huge honour to take part. Now, I wonder who will be next?? I can't wait to find out...