WEBct Problems

I am having some problems logging into Webct which is frustrating as I would like to get up and running.We have a weeks holiday and I want to use this week to get ahead while I can and introduce myself to other students.I am sure it will be sorted out soon.In the meantime I am reading Tricia Hedge specifically the section on vocabulary because many of my students will be confronted with a considerable amount of new lexis. I have asked the students to keep a vocabulary book and designed a vocabulary worksheet. My strategy is to ask the students to record the most common or useful words they come across and to find out the different forms of the word;verb,noun ,adjective etc including antonyms and synonyms.
The students then put the words into sentences.I have asked the students allow some self study time to work on this. I will also be doing some work on chunking as I am rather taken with the idea that we naturally acquire language in bundles or packets and that learning isolated vocabulary without contextualisation may be a waste of time.
I must say that i find Hedge very good at explaining often quite complex ideas and presenting very practical suggestions that are really useful in the classroom. This I think is what many teachers of English need. Some SLA theories are often just that so it is good to see research translated into practice wherever possible.

MA TESOL Oxford Brookes

Another academic year has begun and as usual we are very busy on the Pre Masterś Programme. Fortunately this week is the mid autumn festival and we have a weeks holiday so I intend to get cracking with the course. I still have problems accessing the webct as Lynnś module always comes up as 2007.
Anyway I look forward to working with the other students on the course.The principle aim of this blog is to record my reflections on Second Language Acquisition and the extensive readings and assignments we have to do.
I will try not to bore mysel or any readers...a task that may prove difficult.
Best wishes Michael.