Whiteboard Software Activities - Lecturer: Maria Nilce Martinelli Pontes and teachers from Cultura Inglesa - Uberaba MG

Today prodocência took place at "Cultura Inglesa" in Uberaba. The first lecture was given by teacher and Cultura Inglesa owner Maria Nilce Martinelli Pontes, who had also benn the lecturer the previous Friday.
Mrs. Pontes continued talking about technology, but the focus of her speech today was on the e-board, which I found very interesting, once we have also been using this brand new technology at Welcome Language Centre. With some more practise, I will be an e-board expert. Well, at least I hope so. LOL.

After a short break we had another lecuture.

It was such a good day. I met teacher Christianne Cardoso, who was my teacher ten years ago (Intermediate Level). Destpite the long time, she continues the same. Teacher Christianne introduced us many activities for basic level involving the e-board.

Whereas Maria Nilce's lecture was in one of Cultura's classroom, which got crowded with teachers and UFTM students, Christianne's was in the Listening Centre.

The only thing that freaks me out about these brand new technologies is the fact that students have been writing each time less. Surely I think it is very important informal conversations in the English classroom, but you see the result of pupils using chats in their composition. As a Portuguese teacher too, I'm getting used to abreviations students use in their compositions.

In spite of the drawback mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is interesting to notice how language in the net is dynamic. People are using new abreviations I didn't know - "btw" for "by the way" and "brb" for "be right back". Both were mentioned by Maria Nilce. I could guess the first one, but not the second.

What I most like about workshops, seminars and teachers meetings is the "sharing stuff". Not only did I learn useful tools to help me at Welcome, but I also learn some new words and expressions. For instance, I didn't know tech savvy meant an expert in technology. I also didn't know that the idiom lose face meant to become embarrassed; blended learning is the combination of multiple approaches to learning. Blended learning can be accomplished through the use of 'blended' virtual and physical resources. Maria NIlce also told us about the word circumlocution, which means an indirect way of saying something, especially something unpleasant. In other words, euphemism.

What I also realised is that Maria Nilce is also very fond of Discourse Analysis. She used some terms showing that, like overlaping turns, taking the floor.

Maria Nilce also showed us a very interesting website that shows Internet etiquettes (www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html) I was about to ask her if she uses the e-board to approach with advanced students. Suddenly two teachers replied my question. There were loads of exercises from Gold Proficiency prepared.

Are we into the end of the books? I hope not. I wouldn't get used to reading in the PC screen. I need to touch the book and feel its perfume. My eyes get tired when I read on the PC screen.

Well, soon I will be posting Maria Nilce's task. I just need to wind down a little.

Just to finish, a wise word from today - SHARE!!!