We take apart the student discussion on the turns university education has taken this year (E123: Meet Generation C, 4/20) and confirm the value of listening to our students. We also talk a bit about the state of the profession and how we ourselves are coping with the new world we find ourselves teaching in.

Two Teachers Talking™

124. The kids are alright

The self-sabotaging student. There's nothing so creative, resourceful, and frustrating as a student set on his or her own failure. You can't win them all.

133. The self-sabotaging student

Charles grills his daughter on her experiences as a first-year education major at McGill University. They discuss her own educational journey, her transition from Canadian Academy student to Canadian Academy observer, online learning, and face-to-face classroom observation. (Sophie! Math is important!)

132. Interview: Future educator Sophie Wiz

It's been such a rough year, we didn't have the energy to select a topic. Still, we manage to marshal some lessons learned and even find some not-so-obvious highlights of the past year.

131. Too tired

Many articles have been published in the past few decades “debunking” the notion of learning styles. Yet, despite that, many teachers are reluctant to let go of the idea. Then what about differentiated learning? Well…"they" say that doesn’t work either. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Tony sits down with Prof. Alison Kitzman to try to sort this out.

130. Learning Styles

After a semester on the front lines of remote learning/teaching using Zoom, we share what we’ve learned. Some basics, some stuff we’re pretty sure will be new to you. PLUS, a special giveaway of a great application/tool. Good luck with the new semester!

129. What we’ve learned about Zoom

A look back at what was necessary to survive the first semester of remote teaching and what might be necessary in the semesters to come, for both teachers and students. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

128. Remotely Survivable - レモサバ

Everyone’s feeling the strain at the end of along, even crazier than usual spring semester. A mind mapping tool might be what you need to ease the load a bit. What’s a mind map and where can it take me? Find out. Uses, tips, essential features.

127. Mind Maps

How much is too much, how much is too little? Conscience, responsibilities, ethics, cultural imperialism…we struggle with how to begin to figure out what the right thing to do is on rapidly shifting social terrain.

126. Social Justice Issues in the Foreign Language Classroom

It’s been a few weeks. We’re still standing (well, sitting, mostly), zero student casualties, at least as far as we can tell. So, what’s it been like? Taking a break in the trenches, we try to assess what's been happening, what’s been working, what hasn’t, and what we–and our students–have learned so far in this very unusual academic year.

125. Tales from the front

In another very special episode, we talk with students and alumni from Osaka University about how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting their education, their future, and their lives. Their discussion is full of insight, surprise, and hope. If you’re teaching in Japan, you need to hear what they have to say. They distinguish themselves as very special representatives of their generation. This is a good one. Don’t miss it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Big, special thanks to (alphabetical order): Miyu Kataoka Moku Seiyou Rene Tai Atsuhiro Tsuruguchi Yuto Yamaoka

123. Meet Generation C

Email for remote learning. As we all gear up for teaching in this new environment, we can predict that email, particularly email from students, is going to be a bigger part of the workday. In a special episode, we talk about what we have learned about handling student email and offer some tips on avoiding mistakes and speeding up workflows. More at http://twoteacherstalking.com

122. Email organization

A very special episode of Two Teachers Talking, so special it’s dropping early. First we recap last month’s interview with Alison Kitzman. Then, we move on to discuss the COVID-19 virus and how it will change our teaching, our students, and our world. A hard discussion in hard times. Let’s all try to get through this together. Be safe. Mentioned: Charles’ Covid-19 information site for ex-pats in Japan https://japancovid19.carrd.co Otter - audio recording of meeting, discussion, with auto-transcription, etc. https://otter.ai/?s=welcome Zoom - video conferencing (like Skype+) https://zoom.us Canvas - build larger scale online classes https://www.instructure.com/canvas/ Blackboard - create lectures, classes for distribution https://www.blackboard.com Moodle - full LMS https://moodle.org “Getting started is easy,” they say. See Two Teachers Talking, Episode 80, November 1, 2016. PARLAY - Teacher creates prompt and materials, students read, share reactions and thoughts, interact with other students and teacher. https://parlayideas.com/how-it-works/ Google Classroom https://edu.google.com/products/classroom/?modal_active=none Looked really good - but school needs to enroll in Gsuite…security, privacy, etc. I gave up. Microsoft Teams https://teams.microsoft.com/start

121. Needs Analysis Part 2 and the COVID-19 Virus

Charles is MIA this month, but Tony interviews Prof. Alison Kitzman to explore how needs analysis can help our teaching, and more, help with course and curriculum design. In a future episode Tony and Charles will compare notes.

120. Needs Analysis - Pt. 1: Prof. Alison Kitzman

An interview with Chris Ruddenklau. Chris, colleague and old Japan hand, shares his teaching experiences in Thailand, Laos, and Japan. He is the coordinator of the JALT Teachers Helping Teachers (THT) Laos Program and plays an active role in the annual Laos TESOL conference. Just two teachers talking. Of course, afterwards, Charles shares his observation and analysis. Good stuff. JALT THT SIG Japanese Association for Language Teachers, Teachers Helping Teachers Special Interest Group http://thtjalt.bravesites.com Teachers Helping Teachers (THT) Laos http://thtjalt.bravesites.com/laos If you want to get in touch with Chris, just send an email to the show (twoteacherstalking@gmail.com) and we’ll hook you up.

119. An Interview with Chris Ruddenklau

Teachers know that when classes are done, the beer has been poured, teachers gather around the table, and the talk turns to...teaching. Great (and not so great ideas) are tossed around, argued, praised, and ridiculed. What's been missing is a microphone on the table. Until now. If you're a teacher, and especially if you're teaching in Japan, have a listen. Tony and Charles talk about what they've learned, what works, what doesn't, and what other teachers like you have to say.