Hi everyone! How can I introduce Whole Brain Teaching in my EFL classroom?? I need some help and advice. I would like to try this method with Primary Education pupils.
Thanks in advance. pao_ceuta SPAIN

Hello!
Do you speak the same language as your students as well as English or do you speak English only trying to teach a class of students who do not know English? Using your hands/gestures is HUGE in teaching EFL/ESL/ELL classes. I teach ELL's in Vietnam and I spend the bulk of my day moving around using my hands and having the kids repeat what I say. I have the advantage of having some (2) students who speak both English and the native language of my students so I use them at times but, not as often as I thought. I use a large amount of pictures, songs and routines for these kids. Whole Brain Teaching uses simple commands that turns into vocabulary at the beginning for EFL students. Lines, seats, open your books to..., and the rules are excellent sources of English practice when done everyday. Let me know if there is any other advice that I can offer to you.

Thanks so much for your comment.

Well, my school is located in Ceuta-Spain (opposite the Strait of Gibraltar). It is a small Spanish territory in north Africa. My school is next to the Moroccan border and 99% of my pupils speak Arabic and are in the process of acquiring Spanish. Besides, they learn English with me just 2 days a week. What I try is to use the English language as much as possible in daily communicative situations in class: classroom language (asking for permission, asking for something, thanking, greetings, apologizing, etc) and instructions (by playing actions game)...They also practice listening and pre-writing skills with their books (specially designed for EFL learners). I repeat a lot, we sing songs and we practice vocabulary with pictures, flashcards, etc. I should not emphasize the written code of the English language 'cause it is too difficult for them and 'cause they're in the process of learning Spanish and they can make wrong tranferences from one language to another.So, first we practice the oral language of words or expressions and then, once they know how to pronounce those words, I include the written code.I have some ideas to put into practice the Whole Brain Teaching method...I just wanted to know if someone can share some ideas with me. I would really like to try this method with my kids.

Thanks in advance.

Best wishes from sunny Spain.

Sounds like you are off to a great start! If you want to start Whole Brain Teaching I suggest looking at the "first steps" section on the website and start using the "class-yes" and the scoreboard. Just start out small and don't get overwhelmed. Have fun with it and good luck!!!

Who do I have to contact in order to have all info about me deleted from this site, apart from Jason Pedersen? I am unable to fulfill Mr. Biffle's "Fair use agreement" at the moment.

(Until further notice)
Thank you
Ivan

Pao,
How are the pictures/words/gestures for teach/okay working with your students? Are they liking it? Let me know, I'm very curious how things are going.

Jay

Hi Jay!!...

Unfortunately I have been in hospital and I won't go back to school until the end of May...I was very excited about the thing but I have suffered from pericarditis and I mut rest for a couple of weeks.

I will let you know as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for your interest and for your help.
Talk to you later.

Hello Ivan,
I am really sorry to hear about your unfortunate recent situation. As far as the fair use agreement, don't worry about it until you get better and you are able to pass it on. I hope you have a quick recovery and we hope to see you back soon!

Hi Heather!

Thank you very much for your interest.

PS: My name's Paola

Greetings from Spain!

Bye

Hi again!!!, after having resting for a month at my parents' now I am completely recovered from my pericarditis and back to school already. Children love Whole Brain Teaching...(class/yes; teach/OK)Unfortunately the school year will finish next week...So, I will definitely use Whole Brain teaching next year from the very beginning...Pupils are motivated all the time and looking at me waiting for the next thing to do..it's amazing...I am explaining the power teaching to my workmates and we will see what we can do next year...I'm exciting and I will try to learn more about WBT this summer.
I will let you know,
Thanks.

Paula,
It's good to hear that you're doing better. I can't wait to see how our vocabulary pictures come out. If you need any help putting those together, please send me an e mail and I'd be happy to lend a hand. I loved the few that you sent me....they look perfect.

Jay

Hi Jay,
This is Edward, also from Spain.
It's not related to EFL yet, but I can tell you that there is (at least) one teacher in my area who is using the pictures in class.
He is using the pictures and the system, and he's so happy about it. He's trying to convince the rest of the Staff to try and have a "Whole Brain School".
In case you want to see a picture of his class, please visit the following wiki.
powerteachingtarragona.wikispaces.com/Ceip+Cèlia+Artiga

We opened it to make a free working space for all the teachers in our area that are interested in PT. Let's hope it becomes an enriching wikispace.

Best,

Edward A. Lockhart

Edward,
This is awesome. I don't know if you have contacted Paola or not, but in case you haven't, please do. She is working on a few things to use in her classroom for next year. As for setting up a place for people to use WBT in Spain, I applaud what you're doing. Please keep me up to date on the status and if you need ANYTHING, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Great work!

Jay

Edward,
I had to post this picture (or attempt to at least) from the site. You have no idea how thrilling this is to me.

It looks like the image is too large to upload, but I encourage those of you in Spain to check out Edward's link for Whole Brain Teaching.

Jay

I haven't contacted Paola, but it would be wonderful. In fact I will be starting a PhD next year that will see how WBT improves the teaching of EFL in elementary education, and I'm sure she has lots of interesting information that will solve me lots of problems.

On the other hand, Paola is from Ceuta (a small Spanish city in the north of Africa), and I'm from Tarragona (almost the north of Spain), so meeting in person will be difficult. But, there's always Skype!

;o)

Paola (and the other Spanish teachers), please check this thread. Let's see what we can do...
powerteachers.net/index.php?/Europe/1182...aching-in-Spain.html

Best,

Edward

Hello everyone

I am so willing to start using this method at school, that I can't wait for the first of September.

Well, anyway, my name is Rolanda and I teach in a small school in Lithuania. I had 6th formers and 3rd formers last year (as I was principals assistant and couldn't take many lessons, the same will be this year I think).

Nice to meet you all here. I hope you will help me to do well in my power teaching.