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Mandie Young
I am 56 and am planning to return to Masters study in October 2018. I am currently taking a number of courses to kick-start my brain, and broaden my interests.
Location DARLINGTON, County Durham, UK
Achievements
Activity
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Mandie Young made a comment
My trees are the Elm (Amanda) and Vine (Mandie).
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Mandie Young made a comment
My mum and uncles all speak Irish but none of them ever taught it to their children! I am hoping I can evesdrop on some of their conversations! I regularly travel to Ireland, and would really love to be able to speak a few words.
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I think writing poses a major challenge for teachers. I love the idea of collaborative writing. My DIL is a screenwriter, and she uses collaborative writing packages where more than one person in the team can contribute to the overall document. I like the idea of using something similar with students.
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@JenniferBrodie We haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but the school holidays are coming up soon and we thought we would try it out when there’s no pressure! I’ll let you know how we get on!
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Mandie Young made a comment
I’m really sorry to be coming to this so late in the day. Thank you for this question and answer session – it’s been really useful to gain some insight into other peoples concerns and questions. Thank you for being so thorough in your answers, for the excellent introduction and demo to Zoom and giving us the taste for week two!
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Mandie Young made a comment
The biggest challenge for me is to be familiar with the learning platform. I am starting to run orientation sessions with fellow teachers wishing to use the same software. This is really helpful for all of us, as we are all aware of what tools and techniques we want to use and are able to practice with friends and colleagues in a non-threatening environment.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Recently I videoed n online lesson with a student at their request. I decided to go back and watch myself - oh my goodness... apart from being embarrassing, it showed me how my students see me. From that I have started to make changes, particularly to my voice and intonation, and repositioning my camera so that I have a more natural profile online (I was...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Although I teach 1:1 lessons at the moment, this is a good task for me to start considering teaching larger classes. Thinking about the platforms we have just reviewed, and the tools associated with these, I would make use of the breakout rooms so that students can role play in pairs or fours. Presenting or reviewing the language used by using the...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I tried out Zoom for the first time this week. It’s a much more flexible platform than Skype and I really like it. I’m going to spend some time learning the features, before introducing it to my students. I intend to have a 30 minute tutorial with them so they can become familiar with the controls. I am hoping it’s going to be more flexible and more fun to...
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I teach online to a small number of students who are based in China/Hong Kong/Taiwan. They are all preparing to transfer to western universities and are using the time to practise their spoken English. I am finding online teaching frustrating and this is why I signed up for the course. I think the platform I am using (Skype) is not really sufficient or...
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Mandie Young made a comment
It is important to spend time getting to know the platform and all the features it contains. Working with other teachers might be one solution to this. Another is making sure the students are comfortable with the platform. An initial training session might be advisable especially if the group is large or has diverse experience in using various platforms.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I already use Skype for online teaching, as I am mainly working with individual students. However, I can see the benefits of a more tailored platform especially for a larger number of students being taught together. I am unfamiliar with what is now available - the version of Blackboard I used is probably now obsolete! (about 15 years ago!!!). It would be...
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Can students print out the virtual whiteboard contents at the end of a lesson?
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Mandie Young made a comment
Nadia and Corrine’s comments are the closest reasons for my decision to explore online teaching. I was looking for a more flexible work pattern, which would enable me to work from home.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am currently doing a small amount of online teaching, mainly to Chinese young adult students who are preparing to continue their education in a Western University setting. Most are looking for practice in spoken fluency, and online tutoring is an ideal method for these learners. However, I would like to develop my student base, and include other learners...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am hoping to develop my teaching to include teaching online, and am looking forward to learning new techniques to enable me to do this
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Mandie Young made a comment
Hi. My name is Mandie and I live in the North East of England. I have been teaching English for some time, and have recently started to take online students. I am doing this course as part of my ongoing professional development, but also to learn new techniques that will help me improve my teaching. I am interested in week 4 and how to develop my online...
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Mandie Young made a comment
The course has given me some useful tools which I haven’t seen or used before,which will be useful in my work. Although I mainly teach adults, the techniques outlined in the course are going to be really helpful for my work in supporting whole families. Thank you for a very useful course, and an interesting approach to teaching young learners.
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Mandie Young made a comment
CABD
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Mandie Young made a comment
I like this lesson building tool. It gives a very flexible framework in which to insert both teacher and student activities. It’s easy to add aims and objectives into the lesson plan, and adapt and modify the individual elements as necessary. I will definitely use this in my own planning. Thank you for sharing this.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Excellent summary. Thank you.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Class age: 9-10
Unit Theme: story telling
Aspect of culture: Irish myths and legends
Background: why do people tell stories? Storytelling culture in Ireland: spoken word and song
Activities: legend of Finn McCool (Fionn Mac Cumhaill) and the Giants Causeway.
Language: similar stories from children’s own culture/homeland. Make up own story about living... -
Mandie Young made a comment
I encourage young learners initially to find what the cultures have in common. . For children in an unfamiliar culture, this helps encourage confidence - I can then build on this and introduce unfamiliar ideas and concepts which they are more ready to accept and embrace.
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Mandie Young made a comment
There are some great ideas here – thank you for sharing these. I am unfamiliar with the US standards for language learning and teaching. I am wondering how they differ from the standards we use in Europe (I will have a look during this week). I have taught subjects other than English, and with primary children the thematic approach works well. I can see how...
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Mandie Young made a comment
This is a fascinating idea, and makes sense for learners. Using the language learning environment as a tool to help introduce new ideas, values and experiences, seems a very natural and gentle way to assist learners assimilate into a new environment in their adoptive country. I will definitely be using some of these techniques with my work with refugee...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Again, a great summary.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Some really great examples of excellent activities. Obvious learning in all three examples.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Some very good activities here. Thank you.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Small children learn best by making mistakes. Overcorrection by the teacher will lead to discouragement: ultimately the child won't even try in case they make a mistake. I try not to use the word "mistake" or "wrong" with young children or very beginner learners as this is the best way to shut down and demorialise any effort made. Gentle correction by the...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Some wonderful pointers for different technques here. I love how this weeks input is structured around using art as the metaphor. Thank you for the workbook activities - I have found these very helpful.
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I think if the individual child is asking, then they are ready to absorb the information about grammar. The trick is not to confuse the rest of the group by focussing on the form and rules of the language, but simply answer the individual learners question.
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Mandie Young made a comment
In my work with refugees, this is an essential element. Families are already in an unfamiliar environment, and helping them to acquire language often gives them the confidence to embrace the new aspects of the culture that are unfamiliar or alien to them. Children absorb this more readily than adults: this is challenging me to adapt some of my adult input to...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Excellent summary. Thank you.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Great summary of some useful techniques and teaching strategies. I love TPR and Role Play, but the Information Gap technique is one I haven't really explored.
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Mandie Young made a comment
There is some really good information here about how children develop their ability to learn at different stages. Understanding this helps the teacher to tailor input to each age group, ensuring that the learners are given activities and exercises which are age - and ability - appropriate.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I'm Mandie from the UK, and I teach English to non native speakers. Although I usually teach adults, I have recently started to support refugee families - some of whom have young children. I am hoping this course will help me adapt my teaching skills so I can support the whole family.
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Mandie Young made a comment
This is wonderful - drawing the parallel with art is an interesting way to explain and develop teaching skills and techniques. I am looking forward to seeing how this works in practice, but I am sure that some of these techniques will help in teaching adults too. I do love Ken Robinson - he manages to express what lots of us "old style" teachers believe:...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Hi - I'm from the UK. I teach English to non native speakers. Although I usually teach adults, I have recently started to support refugee families - some of whom have young children. I am hoping this course will help me adapt my teaching skills so I can support the whole family.
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@GordonDyne I can imagine!
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Mandie Young made a comment
An excellent presentation - thank you.
Could you/futurelearn sort out the volume on the presentations. I am using headphones, but am still struggling to hear.
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Mandie Young made a comment
A lovely clear presentation. Thank you. Have watched this a few times and now understand this aspect a bit better. The slides seem to be for the next input on mutation.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I would say I have a rudimentary knowledge of evolution. I am really looking forward to building on my existing knowledge.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am a secondary/FE teacher/lecturer in the UK and have been taking FutureLearn courses throughout this year, as a way to kick-start my brain before starting an online Masters. This course caught my eye and I am really pleased I signed up to it.
I am currently homeschooling my grandchildren for science: I thought this course would bring me up to date and...
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Mandie Young made a comment
These are wonderful resources. Thank you
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am really looking forward to this course. Apart from increasing my own general knowledge about subject, I’m hoping this will give me a solid platform from which I can engage in the increasingly frequent and frustrating conversations I am having about the validity of evolution over creationism.
I am also homeschooling science to my grandchildren at the...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Some really helpful advice and resources here. Thank you.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Games are my preferred way of recycling language, especially with lower level ability groups.
My skype students are, in the main, technically competent, but need pronunciation practice. Recapping previous conversations is a really good technique for me. I keep notes on the topics we discuss, and the specific language they are struggling with, so I can...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Belinda has a really lovely technique with her learners. Correction is gently done.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I have used role play for Doctors appointments, buying a bus or rail ticket, asking for help or directions, opening a bank account, buying a coffee/meeting a friend, etc. Students like role play because it puts the newly learned language into context.
My hubby and I have just been to a Spanish evening, where we tried out our (very limited at the moment)...
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Mandie Young made a comment
This is a really useful technique - I am using it myself to learn Spanish.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I have just started learning Spanish. The most important thing for me is REGULAR practice. I am learning with my husband, so we talk to each other 2 or three times a day in Spanish, practicing the phrases we have learned. I am getting on much faster using this technique than I have in previous attempts to learn a language.
I think encouraging learners to...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Looking forward to this weeks input.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Thank you for the links and references. The book list is particularly interesting.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I have used this activity within a Girl Guide setting with girls who are starting to settle in the UK. The framework has helped me to focus on the learners and their needs, but also given the other girls an insight into the difficulties faced by refugee settlers.
The girls were worried that this would be a "Christmas" themed activity, but once opened up to...
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I work within GirlGuiding UK with girls from aged 5-18. Within this context we are regularly checked by the DBS system, as well as undertaking mandatory training for safeguarding. It is important that there is consistency of checking and understanding among volunteers: it is a safeguard for teachers as well as learners.
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Mandie Young replied to cristina de vega
I like the collaborative nature of the sock puppet activity - we are doing this together.
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Mandie Young replied to bridie jackson
I LOVE this suggestion! Can I borrow it?
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Mandie Young replied to Alison Scott
... but really important Alison. We all have our own expertise to bring, and no two volunteers will have the same skills.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Settled refugees: Shopping for ingredients - using our local indoor market, visiting fresh produce stalls, practicing vocabulary, using money.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I really like the methodology behind the Crisis Classroom approach and that the particular needs of refugee groups is central to the planning and delivery process. Your planning tools are excellent. Thank you for your time and expertise in developing this.
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Mandie Young made a comment
As a teacher it is easy to regard yourself as the important person in the room. However, the twin skills of listening and empathy are crucial for vulnerable people and in these situations your learners are more important. I see my role as more of a facilitator of personal development and growth rather than "the teacher".
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Mandie Young made a comment
I have experienced these trauma indicators in school when teaching looked after (fostered) children. There is no outlet for the flight/fight/freeze/faint responses or the powerlessness it produces. We are beginning to understand the effects of trauma much better now, and developing and using techniques to help traumatised children and adults is a crucial...
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Mandie Young replied to Ben F
@BenF great technique, Ben. Thanks for sharing.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I like to be outside (especially when the weather is good). I have taught in cafe's and pubs and even had a great session at a doctor's surgery (brilliant doctor by the way). But the reality is that anywhere can be a classroom...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Role play is a really useful tool. Realia especially with cooking/practical skills is useful too.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I believe that education is empowering - some of the groups I have worked with are very vulnerable because of their lack of language. I am looking forward to learning techniques that will help me give my students opportunities to take back control of fundamental aspects of their lives.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Looking forward to this week's input - hopefully it will touch on issues that will make me a better listener.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Try to make things fun - for both adults and children. Laughter is a universal language...
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Mandie Young made a comment
So much of this depends on the environment and resources. For example, teaching children in refugee camps is a whole different ball game to teaching in a classroom of a British state school. A group of vulnerable women living in the UK is different to teaching university entrants on Skype. Again, so much of this comes down to knowing who your students are,...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I like using pictures because they can be used for a number of different learner levels. Simple questions (is the man happy?), intermediate (what is he wearing?), through to eliciting a more complex "story" (What is the conversation about), and on to a discussion topic (Do mobile phones make our lives easier).
I use a combination of open and closed...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I have used stories and music with great effect. I have also used practical topics like cooking, gardening and keeping chickens. I love the trading words idea, and although I use post its, I think I can expand their use with different colours.
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Mandie Young made a comment
It comes down to the relationship of trust between teacher and students. People have different reactions to trauma and how they deal with it, and it isn't my place to rampage through peoples feelings, emotions and experiences. However, I see part of my role as providing a safe, non-judgemental space where trust can be built between the group members, and...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Whilst it is important to have an understanding of cultural issues and norms, it is also important for me to prepare students for living in modern 21st century Britain. This may occasionally challenge cultural norms and beliefs. Living in a foreign country is so much more than learning the language.
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I think that is so important. It is easy to appear so arrogant amongst refugees. The lack of language already makes them vulnerable and often feeling powerless. I try to have the attitude that I am learning more than them (which is so often true) - about another life, culture, music, food, expectations etc..
What a great idea to share proverbs!
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Mandie Young made a comment
So many great examples here - thanks to everyone for sharing. The personal space issue is often problematic for people moving to the UK.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Thank you for some really interesting insights. Having an understanding of the differences between native languages helps me as a teacher to understand the difficulties and adapt my teaching style etc, to my learners needs.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Brilliant exercise although fiendishly difficult! I couldn’t get speakpipe to work on my device (will have another go later), but found Arabic extremely challenging. Great exercise though.
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My thoughts exactly. Small steps...
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Mandie Young made a comment
So many of these suggestions are really helpful, especially for those of us who are not yet volunteering with this group. I have worked with children who come into school because of planned relocation by parents and I recognise some of the issues discussed here with the ones I observed in the classroom. I think building a safe environment is the key element...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Thank you for the link to the volunteer toolkit. This looks really interesting, with lots of information and resources to help with lesson planning.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Human, female, welcome.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am finding this fascinating. I agree with the elements others have listed..
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Mandie Young made a comment
What a wonderful young man, and how brave. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am hoping to volunteer with our local refugee group teaching English to newly arrived families. I am hoping to learn some tips and techniques that might help me relate better to our local refugees.
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Some great stories from volunteers - thank you all for sharing.. I have volunteered in some capacity for nearly 30 years - mainly with children. I am excited to start something new and hearing other people’s stories is really challenging.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Hello everyone. I am Mandie from the UK. Happy to see I am not the only latecomer to this course! I hope to be teaching English to our refugee community locally very soon.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am Mandie from the UK. I am hoping to develop my professional time management skills by undertaking this course. Looking forward to learning...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am Mandie from the UK. I am hoping to develop my time management skills by undertaking this course. Looking forward to learning...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Thank you for a very interesting introduction to Project planning and management.
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Mandie Young made a comment
Thorough review of any project is really important - to learn from what went well and not so well, failure and success. Feedback from all involved - whether positive or negative - is a crucial factor in this process.
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Interesting to see the approach from managers involved in long term/short term and open ended projects. Reiterate what others have said here about each type. Interesting approach for open ended projects - closure of each "stage" important, but the project is still ongoing.
My project would fall into the short/medium term category. The planning of each...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Really good checklist - thank you.
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Mandie Young made a comment
This is quite a rigid evaluative process, and is probably more suitable for a business, commercial or research-based project. For my project - run with volunteers - this personal evaluation is not a crucial process, as the PM (me) can evaluate team and individual performance without it. I don't like the numeric value of 1=excellent. Most people equate...
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Different projects will attract differing incentives and rewards. If you company buys in project management, then it is a purely commercial transaction. If you are enhancing your company profile in some way, then incentives and rewards for doing that will be entirely appropriate. Many projects are run by volunteers - in that case the rewards can be less...
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Mandie Young made a comment
Our rewards largely come from the satisfaction of giving young people opportunities they wouldn't normally have. At the end of the production we always have an after-run party (five performances over four days is a pretty hard thing to ask). We always acknowledge and thank individuals and teams for the job they have done - in person (in public at the party),...
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Mandie Young made a comment
The PM needs to trust the individual team members to carry out the activity/role they are charged with. Listening to individual members helps inform the PM on how to manage the team.
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am lucky enough to be working with a team of volunteers who have worked on similar projects before. They understand the lines of communication, individual team roles, and are also good friends. This makes my job of PM very much easier. There are the obvious tensions (one thinking I have made wrong music choices, another thinking they can do the wardrobe...
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Mandie Young made a comment
I am going to need to spend some more time with this in order to be fully competent with the technique. However I think it is a good technique insofar as it gives the PM a tool to evaluate the project against financial and time markers and milestones. I can see how valuable this tool is, especially if you are taking over an exisiting or very complex project...
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Mandie Young made a comment
starting to make a bit more sense now.
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Mandie Young replied to Mary C
Not sure I grasped this fully yet. I think I will need to revisit this several times before it sinks in.
