Topic: Tools every ESL teacher should have Read 5592 times

Aristocrat · « **on:** December 18, 2020, 08:19:04 am »

As the title says, these are teaching tools I believe every ESL teacher should own. I'd like to read what you believe are the essentials.

Reliable flash drive - Pretty damn obvious, but I have to mention it. Make a point of backing up all your content at least once a month, having the thing conk out and losing 2yrs worth of lesson plans is NOT fun.

Comfortable indoor shoes that fit properly - take care of your feet and spine, wear something with proper support.

A reliable pen - You're always going to need one and besides, one the best ways of looking ultra flaky is having to ask "Does anyone have a pen?".

PPT Presenter/clicker - Not sure if that's the correct name, but I think everyone knows what I mean. It's kind of ridiculous how many teachers I've come across who've been teaching for years and don't own one of these; they're mostly just talking while sitting at their desks and pushing buttons on their keyboard, I don't consider that teaching.
Get one with a laser pointer. The odd days I forget it at home or at another school I realize how impossibly inconvenient teaching is without one.

Laptop (particularly for teachers at multiple schools) - Relying on the school computers is just asking for trouble.

Smartphone/wifi egg with tethering and uncapped data (highly recommended) - Again, you can't always rely on your school's wifi.

Hand sanitizer, mouthwash/toothbrush and toothpaste and a box of tissues on your desk.

hangook77 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2020, 08:27:18 am »

Quote from: Aristocrat on December 18, 2020, 08:19:04 am

As the title says, these are teaching tools I believe every ESL teacher should own. I'd like to read what you believe are the essentials.

Reliable flash drive - Pretty damn obvious, but I have to mention it. Make a point of backing up all your content at least once a month, having the thing conk out and losing 2yrs worth of lesson plans is NOT fun.

Comfortable indoor shoes that fit properly - take care of your feet and spine, wear something with proper support.

A reliable pen - You're always going to need one and besides, one the best ways of looking ultra flaky is having to ask "Does anyone have a pen?".

PPT Presenter/clicker - Not sure if that's the correct name, but I think everyone knows what I mean. It's kind of ridiculous how many teachers I've come across who've been teaching for years and don't own one of these; they're mostly just talking while sitting at their desks and pushing buttons on their keyboard, I don't consider that teaching.
Get one with a laser pointer. The odd days I forget it at home or at another school I realize how impossibly inconvenient teaching is without one.

Laptop (particularly for teachers at multiple schools) - Relying on the school computers is just asking for trouble.

Smartphone/wifi egg with tethering and uncapped data (highly recommended) - Again, you can't always rely on your school's wifi.

Hand sanitizer, mouthwash/toothbrush and toothpaste and a box of tissues on your desk.

Yeah, I have a couple of flash drives or external hard drives.

I keep one hard drive at home regularly backed up and then my regular one I take to all my schools with me. Then, I have usb drives with more backed up at all my schools. So, at each school, I can go from computer to computer in different classrooms. (I also don't want to virus my main hard drive.)

A couple of months ago, I dropped my hard drive and broke it. So, I had to buy a new one. My work could have been wiped out, but I already had 98% of it backed up. I lost a couple of minor files or recent updates. But, no biggie compared to what I could have lost.

I have my own LL Bean warm slippers I take with me to my different schools. (School slippers too small and too uncomfortable.) Each school desk cabinet has a usb, pens, sticky notes, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, drying towel, sanitizing wipes during coronavirus, etc.

WIFI EGG? I actually don't know much about this? If you buy this, it will work with your plan and give you wifi elsewhere? (I heard about Koreans using for travelling but didn't look much into it? )

Pointer prob a good idea. I don't use as often as I should.

oglop · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2020, 08:35:57 am »

back up your files

on my home laptop, i have everything i want backed up auto-synced with google drive. so any time i make changes to a file, create a new file, etc, it automatically gets backed up. this also means i can access my files from anywhere and from any computer. it's called "Backup and Sync" (for mac, anyway)

for my work laptop, i just regularly backup by dumping everything into my work google drive account

VanIslander · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2020, 08:58:19 am »

1. Don't use tools. Avoid projectors and computers in class. Nothing should be between the teacher and the students.

2. Prepare alternates/exercises for contingencies (e.g., extra material for smart fast students, copies for habitual or expected possible "book at home" comments. Never waste class time at the photocopier.

3. Use humor. Make the class laugh at least once or twice. It's an important bonding tool.

4. Have a lead-in exercise (e.g., introductory comments, chatting about the weather, sports, coronovirus, BTS, whatever.... or a quick "Guess what?" game of charades or w.h.y. This will buy time for the students who are 5-10 minutes late to not miss any of the main lesson.

5. Have a review exercise. It is helpful to together repeat or check on what was learned. Even a 5-minute vocab review crossword puzzle (e.g., google "puzzlemaker old version") can be a tool to strengthen their memory of meaning and spelling.

Kyndo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2020, 09:00:37 am »

I agree with oglop.
Flash drives aren't a good idea for a number of reasons.
- Officially, teacher computers are not supposed to be able to export files to a USB. One day you may end up at a computer that refuses to move the files you created onto a USB.
- Also, they're corruptible/damageable.
- They are easily lost.

Back up all your work files on a cloud storage like Googledrive or Onedrive! It will be available to you everywhere you have access to internet!

oglop · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2020, 09:02:41 am »

one more thing:

use a password manager. i use LastPass. i use randomised passwords for all my accounts- all about 30 characters long. i just have one master password and 2FA set up on my phone, and i just install the LastPass plugin on my devices

this is LITERALLY the best thing i have ever spent money on

Aristocrat · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2020, 09:21:18 am »

Quote from: VanIslander on December 18, 2020, 08:58:19 am

1. Don't use tools. Avoid projectors and computers in class. Nothing should be between the teacher and the students.

I've done some amazing lessons using nothing but a whiteboard. That said, what I've learned from my experience as well as my PGCE studies is that the phobia of technology in the classroom is based on misunderstanding of how to utilize technology properly.

Why would you want to erase and rewrite the same material you're about to tech to the next class? Use the computer as a "teaching aid", to make life easier so you spend less time writing things out and more time teaching. Not one of my lecturers has discouraged technology, all contemporary modern pedagogical approaches are teaching ways to implement and use technology in the classroom. The problem isn't the use of technology it's the misuse of technology by lazy teachers.

I appreciate your input on reviewing/regular informal assessments etc., but the thread is pretty much about teaching aids, not pedagogical approaches and teaching strategies.

Aristocrat · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2020, 09:31:07 am »

Quote from: Kyndo on December 18, 2020, 09:00:37 am

I agree with oglop.
Flash drives aren't a good idea for a number of reasons.
- Officially, teacher computers are not supposed to be able to export files to a USB. One day you may end up at a computer that refuses to move the files you created onto a USB.
- Also, they're corruptible/damageable.
- They are easily lost.

Back up all your work files on a cloud storage like Googledrive or Onedrive! It will be available to you everywhere you have access to internet!

Until the internet goes down or my powerpoint is embedded with videos and GIFs and is 500mb and I have to download using the school computer. I also don't trust logging into my Google account using the malware infested school computers.

I use Google Drive auto sync on my laptop.

My flash has a big ass Majin Vegeta keyring and a little bluetooth beeper that's loceatable within bluetooth range. I can also trigger a loud beep from my phone when it's in bluetooth range. The Saiyan Prince will never be lost!

Kyndo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2020, 09:50:09 am »

True, ymmv.
Not everybody has a stable internet connection in their classrooms either.
If you're truly worried, I'd recommend doing both, I guess.

slycordinator · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2020, 10:30:32 am »

Quote from: Kyndo on December 18, 2020, 09:00:37 am

I agree with oglop.
Flash drives aren't a good idea for a number of reasons.
- Officially, teacher computers are not supposed to be able to export files to a USB. One day you may end up at a computer that refuses to move the files you created onto a USB.
- Also, they're corruptible/damageable.
- They are easily lost.

Back up all your work files on a cloud storage like Googledrive or Onedrive! It will be available to you everywhere you have access to internet!

Being able to (or not) export to USB is depends on POE/MOE.

Similarly, google drive and onedrive could end up blocked one day. I've worked in multiple schools where they were blocked by the POE. At my current POE, google was unblocked for foreign teachers because 90% of us had that as our official contact for the coordinator. Otherwise, even gmail itself was originally blocked until my coteacher messaged the IT folks here to unblock it on my work computer.

And if I go to teach in a classroom, google drive and gmail are likely blocked.

Kyndo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2020, 11:18:27 am »

True that, but free browser proxies are a dime a dozen, so accessing blocked sites has never been an issue for me.
Actually, back in the day, my coworker found and shared a work-around for the anti-usb programmes as well, but that loophole has since been closed, unfortunately.

And yeah, it varies according to POE/MOE, and even from school to school withing the POE. At least Korea is consistent in its inconsistency.

hangook77 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2020, 11:26:12 am »

Quote from: Kyndo on December 18, 2020, 09:00:37 am

I agree with oglop.
Flash drives aren't a good idea for a number of reasons.
- Officially, teacher computers are not supposed to be able to export files to a USB. One day you may end up at a computer that refuses to move the files you created onto a USB.
- Also, they're corruptible/damageable.
- They are easily lost.

Back up all your work files on a cloud storage like Googledrive or Onedrive! It will be available to you everywhere you have access to internet!

Except for if it crashed or got hacked. Perhaps remote, but not not 100% impossible.

?? All my school computers have USB drives. They would have to in order to transfer data and upload work.

I suppose if I had a google drive, I would still back up as a last resort. Computer crashes, google drive became corrupted, etc. I take no chances. Also, with videos and such would I have enough space on google drive? How much space does a free account give?

hangook77 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2020, 11:30:28 am »

Quote from: Kyndo on December 18, 2020, 11:18:27 am

True that, but free browser proxies are a dime a dozen, so accessing blocked sites has never been an issue for me.
Actually, back in the day, my coworker found and shared a work-around for the anti-usb programmes as well, but that loophole has since been closed, unfortunately.

And yeah, it varies according to POE/MOE, and even from school to school withing the POE. At least Korea is consistent in its inconsistency.

They won't let you take a USB to class? How do you access your games or other materials? Also, if Google is down or blocked too? Most of us teach using extra games and activities. (I worked pretty hard making this material. I'd be pissed if they told me I couldn't use it and had to read only the book for 40 minutes of class.)

Kyndo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2020, 11:37:38 am »

Somebody "hacking" your cloud storage would mean having your data cloned, not destroyed. And they're welcome to my powerpoints and stuff: I don't store sensitive data like banking info or student grades on my cloud drives!

Google drive doesn't become corrupted if a computer crashes: it's stored on servers that have redundancies. USBs are *far* likelier to get corrupted: temperature, moisture, magnetic fields, physical jarring, static, and even just removing it from a computer can all damage a USB.

I've gone through over a dozen USB over the years. My single cloud drive hasn't let me down yet.

I mean, I agree that different tools are needed to fit different situations, and yours isn't necessarily similar to mine... but don't write off something new just because one hasn't explored its uses yet!

A free account is 15 gigs storage.
Some schools block uploading data to usbs: you literally *cannot* move your ppts onto a usb at school.
I access my materials in the classrooms because I save it all online.
If the internet is blocked, I access my drive on my phone, then connect it to the computer with a cable and access the file via my phone (not ideal, I know).
If I had a school where internet is consistently crappy, I'd bring my laptop, and hotspot a net connection via my phone. Also not ideal, I know.

Luckily, most of my schools have pretty stable internet connections these days!

« **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2020, 12:55:16 pm »

dropbox is pretty dope too. also +1 to LastPass and ppt presenters.

oglop · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2020, 02:40:22 pm »

Quote from: hangook77 on December 18, 2020, 11:26:12 am

Except for if it crashed or got hacked. Perhaps remote, but not not 100% impossible.

?? All my school computers have USB drives. They would have to in order to transfer data and upload work.

I suppose if I had a google drive, I would still back up as a last resort. Computer crashes, google drive became corrupted, etc. I take no chances. Also, with videos and such would I have enough space on google drive? How much space does a free account give?

if you're using a respectable cloud service, the chances of getting hacked are close to 0. but yes, i wouldn't really trust putting sensitive files onto the internet anyway- i'd store those offline on multiple backups. but for school files and general other stuff, cloud service is way better than a usb.

i mean, you could just argue "what if someone stole your usb? perhaps remote, but not 100% impossible". same difference.

anyway, your usb or external hdd is much more likely to crash or go bust than any cloud storage. in fact, "cloud storage becoming corrupted" just doesn't make sense. plus you have to manually back it up compared to using a cloud service like google's where it auto-back ups whatever folders you assign.

Chinguetti · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2020, 10:25:50 am »

I made sure that my school made my computer the exception to this rule since I don't have access to sensitive school files or servers anyway (and I didn't really want to **** around with undoing that shit behind their backs later), but my main school has done this weird thing that prevents school computers from even recognizing an "unauthorized" thumb drive. Can't save anything to one, can't save anything from one, can't even open it up to look at its contents. Each teacher has to apply to have a thumb drive approved, and it can only be one thumb drive per teacher. The approved thumb drive will then have a certificate uploaded onto it that will allow the teacher to access its contents on THEIR computer alone. And as I understand it, the approval process is "complicated."

Prior to this year it was just the standard "can't save anything to a drive but can still access drive contents," but now there's this added layer of frustration. None of my other schools have opted for this pain-in-the-ass procedure, but it wouldn't surprise me if it becomes the norm for all public schools in the future.

So yeah, cloud services may become necessary.

confusedsafferinkorea · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2020, 09:02:59 am »

The means to make a good cup of coffee at work.

« **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2020, 07:54:41 am »

Quote from: confusedsafferinkorea on December 20, 2020, 09:02:59 am

The means to make a good cup of coffee at work.

French press is the easiest way to go for work.

Grounds in. hot water, plunge, wait 2 mins.

Here's a 3 min guide, this is what I do now and I'm never disappointed. We buy a lot of great beans and we always make sure to look for roasters when we're in other cities/towns.

hangook77 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2020, 08:07:48 am »

Quote from: CO2 on December 21, 2020, 07:54:41 am

French press is the easiest way to go for work.

Grounds in. hot water, plunge, wait 2 mins.

Here's a 3 min guide, this is what I do now and I'm never disappointed. We buy a lot of great beans and we always make sure to look for roasters when we're in other cities/towns.

Best beans? I really am not very knowledgeable about this topic.

Topic: Tools every ESL teacher should have Read 5592 times

Tools every ESL teacher should have

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