Category: Education

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TEAP – Test of English for Academic Purposes

Você vai se matricular num curso de mestrado ou doutorado e precisa de um certificado de proficiencia de inglês. Qual será? TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo?

Existe um exame que é o queridinho de muitos alunos em todo o Brasil: o TEAP – elaborado pela TESE Prime – presente no contexto acadêmico brasileiro desde 2001 a empresa desenvolve e administra exames de proficiência em idiomas. O exame TEAP (Test of English for Academic Purposes) é hoje o exame mais aceito por programas de Pós-Graduação e de Residência das principais universidades e instituições brasileiras. https://www.teseprime.org/

Parâmetros Internacionais

A TESE Prime disponibiliza nove exames, em idiomas como inglês, espanhol, francês e português para estrangeiros, todos com certificados balizados pelo CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference – Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência).

Reconhecimento

Além dos cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu (mestrado e doutorado), os exames da TESE Prime são aceitos para Residência Médica e Multiprofissional (como o ENARE/Ebserh), intercâmbios com universidades no exterior, processos de seleção e promoção em empresas, etc.

Como é o TEAP?

O exame contém três textos com 10 perguntas cada. Duração de 2 horas e avaliará a capacidade do candidato em ler textos acadêmicos. Isso mesmo. Ao contrario do TOEFL,por exemplo, onde a compreensão auditiva e comunicação oral são tão importantes quanto a leitura, o TEAP só avalia a leitura.

O exame é dividido em quatro áreas principais (embora os textos e as perguntas não sejam exageradamente técnicos e sejam semelhantes):

Biologia/Saúde

Exatas/ Tecnológicas

Humanas / Sociais

Agrárias / Veterinárias.

Há seis tipos de questões – todas com múltipla escolha (5 alternativas):

  1. localização de informação (dica: deixe para responder por último – pois assim vc estará mais familiarizado com o texto)

2. Referência pronominal (por exemplo – “they” in the highlighted sentence refers to … )

    3. Compreensão de Vocabulário

      4. Compreensão detalhada (sentença)

        5. Compreensão detalhada (parágrafo)

          6. Ideia central

            Uma característica do exame que mudou; no passado as perguntas e alternativas eram em português com um pequeno glossário em inglês e português. Hoje o exame é integralmente em inglês – inclusive o glossário apresenta sinônimos em inglês.

            O resultado do exame sai em até 3 dias úteis e o custo, embora não seja barato, é mais acessível para o bolso dos brasileiros: R$ 490,00 (em Março de 2024)

            Conclusão: Vale a pena fazer este exame?

            Claro, SE o for aceito pelo curso e/ou programa da sua Universidade de escolha. Simples, rápido e objetivo. Vc pode tirar de zero a 100 – não existe como passar ou não passar – a sua pontuação vai determinar se você será aceito na Universidade de sua escolha. Este exame também está sendo reconhecido em várias universidades na América Latina e em outras partes do mundo.

            Posso preparar você com um pacote de 20 ou 10 horas (dependendo da sua necessidade) onde as suas deficiências linguísticas serão identificadas e corrigidas.

            Boa sorte com sua prova.

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            Top 10 TOEFL Reading Tips

            Everybody thinks that the reading part of any test will be the easiest one – the answers are there right in front of your eyes, right? Not that quickly, Roz.

            Here are some tips that will make your sailing through your test more smoothly:

            Tip # 1: Beware of the modifier – let me simplify it by saying that a modifier is any advective or adverb modifying a noun or a verb respectively. It can be more complex than that, but just pay attention to words like “often” or “only” – which will totally change the way you’d answer that question.

            Extreme modifiers: all, always, never, only (in TOEFL most of the material is from academia which avoids extreme modifiers, therefore, if the question contains an extreme modifier – redouble your attention).

            Frequency modifiers: usually, sometimes, almost always, rarely, hardly ever

            Degree, some, most, almost all.

            Time modifiers: hundreds of years, millennium, during, century – for example the 1500s is not the same as the 15th century. ATTENTION!!

            Tip# 2 – Remember the question location – paragraph X – focus on the location of the previous question.

            Tip # 3 – Identify the question types – is it vocabulary, factual information, inference, etc.?

            Tip # 4 – Narrow your focus to keywords both in the text and in the question – for example: in the question: What can be inferred about Columbus based on the information from paragraph 4? What is the keyword?! Excellent!- COLUMBUS.

            Tip # 5 – Eliminate choices before you answers – it sounds easy but try to improve your chances of getting it right by eliminate wrong choices.

            Tip # 6 – Practice with the same test more than once.

            Tip # 7 – Plan your time management – don’t dwell too long on a single question. Every second matters. The reading section is only 35 minutes long and you have 20 questions to answer.

            Tip # 8 – Explain your answer – even if you got a right answer because you were lucky try to explain to yourself why you got it wrong:

            Did you misread the question or the passage? Or you didn’t understand the vocabulary? Identify the reason why you got it wrong – luck is awesome but you can’t depend on that exclusively.

            Tip # 9 – Pick the right time and pace to study – Mornings are a great period but choose the time that is best suited for you and you’re most alert. I prefer the morning but if you’re most alert at 10pm – go for it – but always try to avoid distractions and tiredness can affect your performance.

            Tip # 10 – Get professional support from an experienced teacher.

            Good luck with your test.

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            Quem pergunta quer saber: “Eu devo colocar o meu neto de 5 anos em aulas de inglês?” (Maria Luisa)

            Bom dia, Maria Luisa, a resposta mais direta que posso lhe dar: Não.

            Por quê? Nesta tenra idade eles ainda aprendem absorvendo os sons, as cores, as formas ao seu redor. Exponha o seu netinho a sons em inglês através de canções apropriadas para a sua idade, desenhos em inglês (mas não diga: “Agora vamos assistir esse desenho em inglês“). Deixe o mais natural possível. Leia com ele livros em inglês – com muitas ilustrações e converse com ele naturalmente mesclando o português com o inglês.

            A imposição e a obrigação são um grande “mata-tesão” desde os primeiros anos de vida. Deixe a criança descobrir, mergulhar no mundo de descobertas onde as coisas não são em preto ou branco, ou inglês e português apenas.

            Viaje na imaginação da criança. Ela se abrirá a novas descobertas.

            A capacidade de uma criança aprender uma língua estrangeira é impressionante, e muitos especialistas acreditam que é mais fácil para crianças pequenas adquirirem novos idiomas do que para adultos. Idealmente, a exposição a uma segunda língua pode começar desde tenra idade, como aos 5 anos.

            É importante notar que a aprendizagem de uma língua deve ser realizada de maneira lúdica e natural, sem pressão excessiva. Isso pode ser alcançado por meio de jogos, músicas, histórias e interações sociais. A imersão em ambientes onde a língua estrangeira é falada também é benéfica.

            Entretanto, cada criança é única, e o ritmo de aprendizado pode variar. Algumas crianças podem mostrar mais interesse e facilidade na aprendizagem de línguas do que outras. O mais crucial é garantir que o processo seja divertido e estimulante para a criança, sem criar uma pressão excessiva.

            Concluindo, se você quer expôr o seu netinho à lingua inglesa, tenha você algumas aulas com o Mo Americanoid e desenvolva a sua própria confiança no uso do inglês.

            Have fun,

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            The Power of Quizzes and Gamification in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language

            Is there a way to enhance learning?

            A friend asked me this morning about online platforms for the elaboration of quizzes or even simple games to use during her presentation in a few weeks. The first that came to mind was Kahoot! https://kahoot.com/ – user-friendly – with lots of templates and suggestions. The downside is that it’s mostly paid now – there were more free resources during the pandemic, for example. And I totally get it in this day and age if we subscribe to everything offered us we will be taken to the paupers’ prison (and I’m only half joking).

            Another platform with good free resources is Mentimeter – an interactive presentation and audience engagement tool designed to make meetings, workshops, and presentations more dynamic and participatory. It allows presenters to create interactive presentations, engage audiences in real-time, and gather feedback through various interactive features. https://www.mentimeter.com/app/home

            A third platform that I often use is Quizlet: it provides tools for creating, sharing, and studying digital flashcards. The platform offers a variety of study modes, including games and quizzes, to help users learn and reinforce information in a fun and interactive way. Quizlet covers a wide range of subjects, from language learning to science and history, making it a versatile tool for students, educators, and lifelong learners. Users can create their own flashcards or access a vast library of pre-existing flashcard sets, making it a popular choice for studying and test preparation. Additionally, Quizlet offers collaborative features that allow users to study with friends or classmates, fostering a collaborative and engaging learning environment.

            In the dynamic landscape of language education, educators are continually seeking innovative ways to engage and motivate students. Two powerful tools that have gained popularity in recent years are quizzes and gamification. These strategies not only make learning enjoyable but also enhance the effectiveness of teaching English as a second or foreign language.

            Benefits of Quizzes in Language Learning:

            1. Assessment and Feedback:
              Quizzes serve as effective assessment tools, allowing teachers to gauge students’ comprehension of language concepts. Immediate feedback from quizzes helps learners understand their strengths and areas that require improvement. For example, a grammar quiz on verb tenses can reveal if a student needs additional practice in a specific area.
            2. Retention and Reinforcement:
              Regular quizzes aid in the retention of information. They reinforce vocabulary, grammar rules, and language structures, preventing the forgetting curve. Quick recall quizzes, where students match words to their meanings, can be a fun way to reinforce vocabulary learned in previous lessons.
            3. Individualized Learning Paths:
              Quizzes can be customized to address individual learning needs. Adaptive quizzes, where difficulty adjusts based on performance, ensure that each student is appropriately challenged. This personalized approach caters to the diverse learning styles and paces of students.

            Benefits of Gamification in Language Learning:

            1. Increased Motivation:
              I’ve never been a big fan of gaming in the classroom – but times change and we have to review our concepts – Gamification introduces an element of competition and achievement, motivating students to actively participate in the learning process. Points, badges, and leaderboards can turn mundane language exercises into exciting challenges. For instance, a vocabulary race where students earn points for correctly identifying words can transform learning into a friendly competition. Picture this: a grand adventure down the Mississippi, where you and your mates are seeing who can navigate the river best. Points, badges, and leaderboards make learning a bit like a friendly competition. It’s like seeing who can paddle the fastest – only instead, you’re racing through language challenges.
            2. Immersive Learning Experience:
              Gamification creates a more immersive learning environment. Role-playing games, simulations, and virtual scenarios allow students to apply language skills in real-life contexts. For example, an English mystery game where students solve language-related puzzles and clues can enhance problem-solving skills while reinforcing language concepts.
            3. Collaboration and Social Interaction:
              Many language learning games promote collaboration and social interaction. Team-based games encourage students to communicate and solve problems together. An example could be a collaborative storytelling game where each student contributes a sentence, creating a cohesive narrative while practicing sentence structure and vocabulary.

            Combining Quizzes and Gamification:

            The synergy of quizzes and gamification amplifies their individual benefits. Interactive quizzes within game environments create a seamless learning experience. For instance, an English trivia game could include quizzes on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, with correct answers advancing players through levels.

            Incorporating quizzes and gamification into the teaching of English as a second or foreign language offers a myriad of benefits. From personalized assessment to increased motivation, these strategies transform language learning into an engaging and effective journey. As educators, we can continue to embrace innovative approaches, the marriage of quizzes and gamification stands out as a winning combination in fostering language proficiency and a love for learning.

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            The Business of Halloween in ELT

            In the United States it has been a “haunted” business for decades – with the need for children to wear costumes, neighborhoods decorating their homes, and tonnes of candy.

            The need to accessorize seems to have no boundaries. This year, retailers were selling a US$ 425 chainsaw prop (Halloween Friday 13th style), different scents like gasoline (for fake arsonists, I hope), rotten decay (at US$ 10 a pop) for wannabe zombies, etc.

            “Halloween is a scary good business. In 2023, the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics reported total Halloween spending is expected to reach $12.2 billion. The previous record was $10.6 billion in 2022 in the US of A alone.“

            If some 20 years ago, Halloween was little known in Brazil and seen as an American quaint celebration, alien to the Brazilian culture, in 2023 the trade association in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, forecasts a growth between 12% and 15% in the sale of costumes and accessories for Halloween., with customers spending an average of up to US$ 20, with nearly 70% of Brazilians saying they’d celebrate it in some way or another.

            I remember I used to teach about Halloween years ago to my students both young and old and most of them had no idea besides “trick or treat”. We would work some vocabulary related to the holiday in addition to some of its history. We would always end the class with some pumpkin based candy as seen below. That was part of my strategy to bring to the students’ context some culture background and information, and merge a typical Brazilian candy like those pumpkin hearts and an American festivity.

            Language schools also started highlighting the “fun” of Halloween with special decorations and costume parties.

            Brazilian franchises of language schools such as CNA and Wizard were early and natural adopters of the business of Halloween

            Over the past 10 years the number of so-called “bilingual” schools has increased significantly, (mostly English/Portuguese), and according to the Brazilian Association of Bilingual Education (Associação Brasileira do Ensino Bilíngue (ABEBI), there are more than 1,200 bilingual schools in Brazil, a 10% hike in just five years. And those private institutions will also add Halloween celebrations to their academic year calendar.

            But now Halloween is more detached from the English learning segment with more people – both children and adults – celebrating it as a kind of macabre carnival – you may wear costumes and eat candy – what’s wrong with that?

            Halloween precedes All Hallows Day and the Day of the Dead (November 01 and 02, respectively), but in Brazil, contrary to Mexico, for instance – they have never been big on celebrations of food-related items . Traditionally those 2 holidays were connected with religious displays and respectful (even somber) visits to cemeteries where family members would traditionally take flowers to the graves of their loved ones. Now that tradition is dying out with the flower business having shrunk significantly and Halloween growing in popularity.

            Nowadays, even petshops have turned Halloween into a lucrative business – here’s Dickens with a Casper the friendly ghost head decal and a baby Frankenstein monster bandana.

            This essay doesn’t aim to praise or deride Halloween – though I believe (now more than in the past, that it glamorizes death, fear, witchcraft and zombies) which is never a positive combination in my humble opinion.

            But my focus was to shed some light on a celebration traditionally connected with language learning approaches and now overflowing to the society as a whole.

            Happy Halloween if you dare.

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            STRUCTURED LEARNING

            How habits and routines help in the learning/teaching process

            Last year we got our first puppy ever and because we couldn’t make heads and tails on how to raise a healthy and well-trained dog we decided to hire a trainer, Menezes. At R$ 100 a 60-minute session, we found out it was our best investment that year.

            Menezes insisted on the importance of developing routines for the animal – they thrive in developing positive routines – playing, walking, feeding, etc. With a routine they sleep better and know what to expect from their owners, tutors or guardians.

            Well… people are not that different – “Routines help to provide a sense of normality and bring consistency and comfort to children and young people who might otherwise be uncomfortable with change” (Collier, 2020). And I would extend that to the fact that it helps people of ALL ages.

            Yes, you may have a chaotic lifestyle and also love it, but some organization will help you in your learning process – if you are a teacher – some organization will help you a lot – no matter how much your students love you and how intelligent they think you are if their first reference about you is that you’re always lost or confused could be detrimental and a negative perception to their learning. So… add some routine and organization to your life and you’ll see things in an entirely new light.

            As a 1-on-1 teacher I encourage my students to follow discipline (I’m not talking about military-like discipline – but some degree of order and growth. They must set a specific time and day for their classes and follow through. I know life is demanding and full of surprises but if you’ve scheduled a lesson Mondays and Wednesdays at 8am, for example – stick to that routine. Occasionally a student may need to reschedule because of a very important business meeting, an unavoidable doctor’s appointment, or even an act of God, that ‘s why teachers establish some background rules:

            All rescheduling of lessons must be communicated at least 24 hours in advance.

            Easy. Simple. Clear. And still students want to push the boundaries. Teachers will try to accommodate their students, of course, but TIME IS MONEY in addition to the importance of positive behaviors and habits.

            Most serious professionals and institutions establish guidelines for both teachers and students: Make-up lessons may be available, only at the discretion and availability of the teacher—and, in most cases, at a maximum of xx per year/ semester. Individual arrangements may be made in the case of a prolonged illness.

            Should your teacher need to cancel a lesson, it will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time. If that is not possible, a credit– or in some cases, a refund–will be applied for that lesson.

            Discontinuing Private Lessons

            Should you need to discontinue private lessons, please give your teacher a 4 weeks notice

            Student Responsibilities for Private Lessons

            • Be on time
            • Maintain a positive attitude
            • Speak directly with your teacher if you have any questions or concerns​
            • Practice daily! (not rocket science, am I right?)

            A Note About Practicing

            For success while learning a foreign language (or a musical instrument for that matter) you will need at least a weekly lesson and regularly-scheduled practice time. Minimum practice sessions are 15 minutes every day for beginners. Your teacher will make further recommendations.

            • Set aside a practice time each day
            • Expect to repeat difficult sections at least 4 or 5 times
            • Reading a paragraph through once does not constitute practicing 🙂
            • Practice slowly and carefully, concentrating on the work at hand
            • Remember that your teacher is there to help: all questions are important!​

            “Both research and experience tell us that it is more effective to build positive behaviors
            than control negative student behavior (Strain & Sainato, 1987). To prevent problem behaviors in the classroom, it is often necessary for teachers to change their own behaviors (Vaughn, Bos,& Schumm, 2000). The same strategies and procedures will not necessarily be equally effective with all students. Classroom routines can positively affect students’ academic performance as well as their behavior (Cheney, 1989; Vallecorsa, deBettencourt, & Zigmond, 2000); therefore, one proactive strategy is for teachers to adopt a consistent classroom routine. A routine is simply a set of procedures for handling both daily occurrences (e.g., taking attendance, starting a class period, or turning in assignments).

            Establishing a consistent and predictable routine serves a number of classroom functions.
            For example, a routine helps to simplify a complex environment and inform students exactly what to expect, what is expected of them, and what is acceptable behavior (Burden, 2003; Cheney, 1989; Colvin & Lazar, 1995; Kosier, 1998; Newsom, 2001; Savage, 1999; Strain & Sainato, 1987; Vaughn, Bos, & Schumm, 2000).

            In addition, when students are expected to complete routine tasks, they have the opportunity to learn greater responsibility and more self-management (Series on Highly Effective Practices—Classroom Routines 2 skills (Colvin & Lazar, 1995; Savage, 1999). Routines that require interaction between teacher and student (or among students) also serve to positively reinforce interpersonal communication and social skills and are one way for teachers to judge the quantity and quality of students’ skills in these areas (Colvin & Lazar, 1995). Finally, student-performed routines free the teacher to focus on more effective instruction and on the unexpected events that come up throughout the school day (Savage, 1999).

            Click to access 4-classroom-routines.pdf

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            Brainstorming with ChatGPT

            How can I develop a project for Instagram for language classes?

            To develop a language lessons Instagram project, you can follow these steps:

            Define your objectives: Before you begin, determine what you want to achieve with your project. For example, if you want to offer English classes, decide what level of students you want to serve. What will you offer? English and Spanish classes – for advanced levels / single or double classes, corporate clients / teacher training / student profile ?

            What will differentiate you from the market? How can I compete with price or corporate platforms and maintain visibility? Conquer new customers?

            Competing with established platforms or corporations, especially on social media like Instagram, can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Here are some strategies to help you inform, maintain visibility, and attract new customers for your English lessons:

            1. Niche Differentiation: Find a specific niche or unique selling proposition (USP) that sets you apart from the competition. It could be a teaching method, specialized content, or a focus on a particular aspect of English learning that resonates with your target audience.
            2. Personal Branding: Develop a strong personal brand that showcases your expertise, personality, and teaching style. People are more likely to connect with a real person rather than a faceless corporation.
            3. Quality Content: Create high-quality and valuable content related to English learning. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, and tips that demonstrate your expertise and provide value to your audience. 1-Minute English Tips with Mo the Americanoid , posts with tips to improve reading, speaking, comprehension, listening, etc.
            4. Engagement and Interaction: Regularly engage with your audience through comments, direct messages, and replies. Building a community around your brand can help create a sense of belonging and loyalty.
            5. Consistent Posting: Maintain a consistent posting schedule on platforms like Instagram. Consistency helps keep your audience engaged and aware of your presence.
            6. Visual Appeal: Use visually appealing content. On platforms like Instagram, aesthetics matter. Use high-quality images, creative designs, and visually engaging videos to capture attention.
            7. User-Generated Content: Encourage your current students to share their progress or experiences with your English lessons. User-generated content can build trust and authenticity.
            8. Free Resources: Offer free resources such as ebooks, downloadable worksheets, or mini-lessons. This not only provides value but also establishes you as an authority in your field.
            9. Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaborate with other educators, influencers, or complementary businesses. This can help you tap into new audiences and gain credibility through association.
            10. Client Testimonials and Success Stories: Showcase your students’ success stories and testimonials. Positive feedback from satisfied clients can be a powerful tool to attract new customers.
            11. Limited-Time Offers and Discounts: Create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers or discounts. This can encourage potential customers to take action sooner.
            12. Targeted Advertising: Consider using targeted advertising on platforms like Instagram to reach a specific audience that is more likely to be interested in your English lessons.
            13. Engage with Trends: Stay updated on current trends and hashtags related to education and language learning. Participate in relevant conversations to increase your visibility.
            14. Networking and Workshops: Attend or host workshops, webinars, or events related to language learning. Networking and providing value to your community can boost your credibility.
            15. Feedback and Improvement: Listen to feedback from your students and continuously work on improving your teaching methods and content.

            Remember to always maintain consistency and produce quality content to attract and keep your followers. By following these steps, you can develop a successful Instagram language lesson project. Regularity of posts – daily – maybe too much… but set a plan and carry on.

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            The New TOEFL iBT 2023/2024

            Last week a new prospective student contacted me because he needs to take the TOEFL exam in order to apply for a Master’s Program at a local university in Brazil – in Brazil, I said – where he will most likely only have to read in English and maybe (I said maybe) write in that language. In other words, he needs English only for Academic purposes.

            But, the University still requires the candidate to invest US$ 220 for the test plus a reasonable amount in R$ to prepare for it if he wants to get a good score.

            Remember TOEFL does not have a failing score – but if it’s too low you may not qualify to the program you’re applying for.

            Moreover, TOEFL scores are valid for only two years after the test date. After they expire, you won’t be able to access them online or send them to schools. “The TOEFL score validity period is fairly short to ensure schools have accurate and current information about your English skills”, or so they say. As if after two years your brain will have turned into mush and your language skills have vanished. If that were so, applying to a university would be the least of your concerns. But I digress.

            So… what is the new and improved TOEFL 2023/2024?

            It’s still divided into 4 skills:

            Input: Reading and Listening

            Output: Speaking and Reading

            How are they divided?

            1. Reading – it consists of two sections with 10 questions each (by the way, the sample texts are usually about asteroids, or dinosaurs, or ancient civilizations in Mexico – fascinating stuff). Tip: Read National Geographic Magazines to build up your vocabulary.
            2. Listening – it contains five sections – three are academic sections (six questions each) usually a college lecture. Tip: Check YouTube for TED Talks or Yale or Harvard University lectures – the more obscure the subjects the better. Two sections present campus-like conversations – a student talking to a professor, or librarian or a classmate, for example.
            3. Speaking – contains four integrated tasks – (a short article about student life and an audio track of a lecture or a conversation, for example). You will be asked whether you agree or disagree with a given point – but for this activity forget expressions such as “on the one hand, on the other hand” – take a side and stick to it. Tip: read in a loud voice the letters section of a newspaper and magazine. Pay attention to the different ways to present an opinion regarding a subject. It’s awkward. But it does help.
            4. Writing – you will have two tasks – one will be the Integrated Writing Task with an article or text and an audio recording. You will be asked to answer a question about what you’ve just read or heard. The second task is new: The Independent Writing task has been replaced with a new task: Writing for an Academic Discussion. Tip: as you read out loud the letters section, start writing your own versions to the same issues.

            No matter the skill you’re testing, there are three goals you must remember:

            1. Answer the question well
            2. Plan your starting sentence – use phrases such as: I think; I believe; I feel; Personally speaking; To be honest; I’ve never thought about this before, but …; In my opinion,; you see…; According to the listening/reading/text/dialogue… .
            3. Take a side and stick to it.

            Remember, it’s just a language assessment test, they don’t care about your intelligent answers or opinions. Just make sure to understand the task and answer it.

            May you be successful in your endeavors,

            Cheers,

            Mo

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            Language and AI – what should be done to ensure learners and teachers benefit

            A few months ago I watched a talk presented by Rose Luckin on Language and AI recorded back in 2019 where Ms Luckin (1) presented an interesting article published in the New Scientist magazine in April 2019: “AI Achieves its best ever mark on a set of English exam questions”.

            The article started by saying that “the results are in. An artificial intelligence has gone to the top of its class after passing an English exam. Though it can’t beat more able human students, it achieved the best mark yet for a machine.”(2)

            Nothing new there. Computers have long been able to analyze huge volumes of data, track info, and implement learning algorithms.

            But AI isn’t just using data. It is also reasoning in complex situations. “Data is crude, but it must be refined so we can use it”, Luckin added.

            In these days of super duper AI hype we must remember that HI (Human Intelligence) is superior to AI – AI will not compete with us but do better in things we suck while we have the capacity to analyze, compare, choose beyond a series of algorithms.

            “AI has its own advantages, such as processing speed, data analysis capabilities, and the ability to handle large-scale computations. It can augment human intelligence and assist in various tasks, but it currently lacks the holistic and multi-faceted nature of human intelligence.” And ChatGPT has just told me that.

            What are the implications of AI for Education?

            Teachers of English as a Foreign or Second Language must learn how to use AI to tackle major education challenges the need of repetition, for example, while developing speech recognition, and helping learners use AI for self-study.

            We have to internalize the fact that DATA IS THE NEW OIL – our minds will go on developing together – AI-HI.

            As teachers we must learn first and also educate people about AI.

            What’s the worst that can happen from using AI in the learning process? We must encourage people to use it rather than fear it.

            Remember that machine learning is very smart but it doesn’t explain how it reached a decision. HI has a ginormous advantage over AI – we have to harness our EI (Emotional Intelligence) and our meta-contextual intelligence.

            What can we take away from this AI -HI collaboration?

            AI can enhance learning and teaching, tackle educational challenges, which is way more than just exam taking. Humans and machines partnering up will be the solution to many of the ills that torment us today.

            (1) Cambridge University Press – Rose Luckin – Language and AI: What should be done now to ensure learners and teachers benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQOoFWdMbM&t=1868s

            (2) Ye, Yvaine, New Scientist, 02 April 2019 – https://www.newscientist.com/article/2198333-ai-achieves-its-best-ever-mark-on-a-set-of-english-exam-questions/

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            WHEN COMMUNICATION BREAKS DOWN

            Picture this: You speak and the listener perfectly gets what you’re saying, replies and you perfectly get the response. Ideal, isn’t it? But unfortunately that’s not what happens in real life communication. Communication involves the transfer of information between a sender and a recipient, simple enough, right? But it can be influenced by one’s emotions, culture, education, age, communication medium, and even your location. Two people can interpret the identical message in pretty different ways depending on their personal influences.

            Jokes are a great example of risk of miscommunication, especially when they involve irony or sarcasm – what’s funny to someone might be offensive to another. A text message which was meant by the sender to be friendly and explain a point is received as pushy and aggressive.

            Even with my wife – and we’ve been married for 28 years – last week she asked me a favor to sit for her at a church board meeting and I said that I couldn’t do that because I was already representing 2 other departments and she has 2 associate directors that could represent her. She took it as I was not willing to help her at all and I had been rude in my response.

            But all is forgiven by now, at least I hope.

            With students this problem can arise as well – especially when a student is more passive and expects you to open their heads up with marvelous, mind-boggling information that will turn them into gloriously bright students – all of that in a 60 minute class – once a week.

            Of course that expectation is frustrated and one student told me today: “I don’t know what happened, I used to like studying – now I don’t feel like studying English.” Honestly, she hasn’t been much dedicated since the very first class – she never understands what she is supposed to do and never asks me to explain again – so I have had to repeat the very same lesson three times because every time she would misplace her lesson, or forget the vocabulary seen before or say she didn’t know what to do. I understand as we age our memory tends to get less elastic but you need to take charge of your learning process.

            I told her, “Ok, apparently you don’t like any of the topics I’ve been presenting to you. Think of language points you would like to cover or subjects you would like to discuss in class and I’ll prepare a lesson for you… that’s one of the benefits of having a private tutor”. What did she say? “I don’t have a crystal ball to know that I could suggested a topic” (despite the fact it’s been clearly stated in the agreement she signed before the very first class or so I thought).

            It comes to show that although I’m widely considered to be a good communicator I still have room to improve. My takeaway from this student.

            Be direct and clear

            Encourage student to express their thoughts, feelings and needs in an honest way.

            Accept other people’s limitations and respect them.

            Do NOT be hostile or aggressive.

            Always keep a smile even when feeling like growling or scowling.

            There’s always room for improvement.

            Happy teachings,

            Cheers,

            Mo