#esol — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #esol, aggregated by home.social.
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I spent about a month working with Claude Code to create a high-low book for #AdultEnglishLearners. It is about the fictional Rivera García family and should work with high school #EnglishLearners also because the family in the story includes 3 children, including one in high school.
The book is written at about a 3rd or 4th grade level.
I would very much appreciate any feedback.
#ESL #k12education #k12 #education #ESOL #teaching #reading #writing
https://www.chrisspackman.com/writings/high-low-series/01-la-cocina.html
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I created a #HighLow (high interest, low reading level) book for adult #EnglishLearners. I plotted, directed, edited, and did some of the writing. #LLMs helped me plan, did some checking, and, yes, did a lot of the "writing".
I'm an #ESOL / #ESL #teacher. I want to provide #EducationalMaterials for my students. I want to get affordable #books into my students' hands.
Includes #AI content, so #PublicDomain / CC0.
(Book coming soon; have to get it internet ready.)
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BUT, keep in mind that simplifying a text for English Learners is NOT a best practice. It is much better to enhance or otherwise mark up the original reading to make it accessible to #EnglishLearners.
That said, simplifying has its uses --- like for quickly developing background knowledge or as an introduction before reading the original version.
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I created (with Claude code's help) a page to compare two texts --- to allow teachers to see exactly how a modified reading is different from the original. Many LLMs do not do a great job of modifying texts in the ways that teachers ask for. The "Reading Modification Analyzer" compares two texts and shows helpful data on how they differ.
The analyzer is at: https://spackman-chris.neocities.org/text-compare/text-compare
As always, feedback and suggestions are most welcome.
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Washington English Center (WEC) offers daily English classes to adult immigrants, AM and PM, online and in person, for under $3 an hour.
https://www.washingtonenglish.org/students/
#education #ESL #ESOL #immigrants #learning #English #WashingtonDC #DC -
Off from #AdultESOL this weekend --- between terms --- but my class is full! Can't wait to start working with this new group of wonderful students.
Proctored SAT testing yesterday. Always not fun, but at least the computer version guides the students with timing and I don't have to watch the clock as closely.
Working on some cool #cryptography pages for my #NeoCities site. Also need to update my main personal pages with my #FluxDocApps --- I have 13 ready to go.
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More #MSWindows keyboard oddness:
Org set up and pushed out keyboarded layouts in several languages. #ESOL classes, so many people with many languages, so great! Students can easily switch to French, Arabic, Chinese, etc. input. Wonderful.
But, it took 20 minutes to find out how to add my dvorak back to the list - in "Advanced Keyboard Settings".
Next day, #dvorak is gone from the list. But, still applied in advanced settings.
BUT, suddenly the lock screen IS dvorak!
#WTF Microsoft??
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School is cancelled tomorrow, but not sure the status of the outside PD that I'm scheduled to go to. It is for teachers, so if the city has the day off, they might cancel, but they may not. Oh, well, at least I don't have to be at school at 7:30.
Unfortunately, I was supposed to lead some #ESOL PD for my elementary and middle school tomorrow afternoon. That will be rescheduled, so not horrible, but was looking forward to it.
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Second #k12 snow day this month, third if you count yesterday for my weekend #AdultESOL job. Only three days of classes with students this week, then #WinterBreak.
We have a long list of things to get done during the break; we'll get a head start on them today.
Need to prep for classes (#ESOL and #CyberSecurity); update some writings; and make some videos for #teacher #EducationalResources.
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I think my #OhioTesolConference presentation went well today. About 60 or 70 attendees.
Some had trouble with the spreadsheet and script, but they can now at least create multilingual #Google Forms by hand. I also demo'ed 3 languages together in questions and using sections & jump logic for several languages in one Form.
No time to talk about collating data spread b/t several columns or files.
Tomorrow: re-leveling and enhancing readings.
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Putting the finishing touches on my #OhioTesolConference presentations for tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow is family engagement with #MultiLingual #GoogleForms during the B time slot.
Friday is re-leveling texts with #AI / #LLMs, but it went more to #VibeCoding to enhance texts. Sort of the reverse of re-leveling.
Re-leveling is lowering the complexity of the text.
Enhancing is adding supports so students can access the original text.
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Looking forward to the #2025 #OhioTesol #conference next week. I'm presenting two sessions --- one on multilingual forms for family engagement and the other on "re-leveling" texts.
The first is pretty straightforward. The second could be a dissertation. Nutshell: don't simplify; enhance. Add supports, preteach vocab, etc.
As an example, I created an enhanced version of day one of my AI agent short story.
Check it out (temporarily) at:
https://spackman-chris.neocities.org/enhanced-reading/conversations-with-nnedi -
Created a #vocabulary reference sheet for Algebra 2 students today. Mostly juniors (in USA #k12 #education parlance) in the classes. I made the sheet for my #EnglishLearners but happily gave it to other students who asked for it.
I use #TexLatex a lot, but usually not for so much math.
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Was supposed to join a #webinar today about #FamilyEngagement, #technology, and #ESOL / #ESL / #EnglishLearners in USA #K12 #education.
The webinar site required a specific plug-in / extension that I have not heard of AND Google Chrome or MS Edge.
The did not have a "join in the browser" fallback option.
Hopefully I'll be able to watch the video later in #Mozilla #Firefox. Not holding my breath.
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Canva totally borked a #Spanish translation for a #k12 #school flyer. Realized it was because the person who created the flyer put words in the title in separate text boxes. Canva, understandably, translated each word individually. Oops. Good to know. New practical tip to include in future PD sessions.
I don't know a lot of Spanish, but luckily, I know enough to recognize that the translation was not accurate.
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The PD was good - I don't have many opportunities to talk with other #ESOL #educators, unfortunately. Drawback of being in a small district.
Tomorrow is #AIInEducation PD. Should be interesting.
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At PD for working with #ESOL / #ESL / #EL / #MLL students in USA #k12 #education. Looking forward to it.
Related, but read an opinion piece with advice for working with #EnglishLearners. Problem is, it was mostly high-level stuff like "be aware of cultural differences" or "view home language and culture as assets not deficits".
Yes, all good stuff, BUT in my experience the big issue is teachers not knowing how to, or having time to, implement #SIOP practices with their students.
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Anyone else in #ESOL around?
I'm looking for activities to use with fairly large (25ish) classes of low-level (beginner to A2/Entry 2) learners. Crucially there is very little space in class so I can't realistically do mingling, or moving around, or lining students up, or anything else that requires floor space!
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For example:
Intro from #Wikipedia page for "pedagogy" scores from high school senior to college graduate on #ReadabilityFormulas.com, average of ~college junior.#ChatGPT, with several different prompts leveled it to around grade 11 each time. I asked for grade 8. Same thing with the MagicSchool Text Leveler tool. Grade 11.
Google Gemini did best - average of 8.15 grade.
I've not gone through the replies for language issues yet. That's next.
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Finished first #CyberSecurity class for #CollegeCreditPlus (college classes for high school students) certification. Got an A.
The reason is simple -- 15 years of #SecurityNow with Steve Gibson (@SGgrc) on #TWIT.
Also, it was summer break from #k12 work, so had time to do the work. We'll see what happens during the school year, when I'm busy with #ESOL (#ESL) stuff.
Next fall, I'll be teaching cyber security to high school students for college credit. And doing ESOL stuff.
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Newcomer checklist is updated to v02 to fix a typo, tweak some wording, and add new advice.
Available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NHzLCOPRme_dltY5VkmR027t0IBIsHeU/view?usp=sharing
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Just finished a short checklist + advice for classroom #teachers (in USA #k12 #MiddleSchool or #HighSchool) to use with #EnglishLearner #NewComers.
Checklist of most common information that helps decide just how much support a student might need, plus advice on what support to include.
Will put it on my site eventually, but for now, sharing on Google Drive is fastest.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jH9Kjbpe-q5YINaPRxAuKE-pNOAomTty/view?usp=sharing
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Just about time for the final #AdultESOL class of the summer term. Great students, fun classes. Next weekend off, and then start the cycle again with a new group of 20 adult #immigrants #EnglishLearners
Also, go back to #k12 #ESOL (#ESL) job in early August. Looking forward to another year of working with new and returning English Learners (and their families) there, too.
The #CyberSecurity class (to teach college level to #HighSchool students) ends in about 2 weeks. Next starts in September.
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Does any one have any knowledge of how #Japanese #k12 #schools do the equivalent of #ESOL (#ESL) in the USA? #JSOL, if you will.
When I was there, there really wasn't much JSOL in #Ishikawa. I think the very few non-Japanese speaking students had a special class at an elementary school once every week or two, but that was it.
My dream next job would be to work with cities and ToDoFuKen in #Japan to set up systems for identifying and supporting #EMEB students in k12 schools.
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I never imagined that creating a crossword would be so challenging. I made this one for my students. The words to solve it are cooking techniques.
#ELT #EFL #ESOL #TESOL #ESP #EOP #CLIL #Crossword #CookingMethods #CookingTechniques #Cooking
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Back from vacation, getting caught up on email, trying to get as much personal / fun stuff done as possible before summer break ends in about two weeks.
Worked on game (in #python), sorted some pics from vacation, had incredible #yakiniku (though, to be honest more like "yakiyasai" here) for dinner.
Almost time to walk the #dogs.
It's almost possible to forget that the #USA is almost almost irreparably broken.
And, no Title III money, so do I still have a #k12 job?
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Took the midterm test for the #CyberSecurity class that I'm taking (so can teach college level classes at #HighSchool).
Went well, but not great. 7 long-answer questions, worth 17, 18, or 20 points each. 135 points total.
I should get full points on at least 3 of them. Decent points on 2 or 3 more. One or two, I'll probably only get half points or so. Won't know for a while, so not going to sweat it.BTW, MA-level class; I'm #ESOL.
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Got accepted for a program to credential high school teachers to teach college classes (#Ohio's #CollegeCreditPlus program). Doing the paperwork stuff now - so much fun.
I'm an #ESOL teacher. I'll be taking classes to get credentialed to teach college-level #CyberSecurity. Have to take 4 or 5 graduate-level classes. Might have to do a pre-req or two.
Luckily, I've been listening to #TWiT and #SecurityNow for over 10 years at this point (maybe closer to 15?), so I feel pretty well prepared.
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Short week for #k12 classes this week. Struggled to get my #HighSchool #EnglishLearners to free read today, but I expect that is mostly down to a 2-day week and it being Friday.
Prepping for #AdultESOL. Got a lot done during the 2 days off for weather, but now have to redo the course calendar that I just redid b/c we missed class on Tuesday. We missed Thursday also, for non-weather reasons, and so the redone calendar needs to be re-redone. Good chance to teach prefixes, at least.
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Some of my #AdultESOL students are not comfortable with #GoogleDrive or #GoogleDocs, so I made this short video for them. It covers opening Google Drive from Gmail, creating a document, and sharing the doc.
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Got a lot done on #AdultESOL prep (for both classes). Even recorded a video to help students get started with #GoogleDrive and #GoogleDocs. Created a couple of brainstorming worksheets, too.
I think I'm finding my footing with the #BESL8 class. It is an intro to writing class for students who are approaching college-ready English skills.
If I have some time tomorrow, I'll do some work on my #AgeVerification website idea. I'd like to get that on #NeoCities this coming week
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Got a lot of work done today, too. Some financial stuff, some #AdultESOL prep, and even got mostly done with a video for teachers about unzipping office documents to get the pictures out. (Happens to me all the time, especially with presentation slides that I am trying to translate.)
For the record, #LibreOffice Impress has right click => Save for images, but Google Slides does not. Of course, right clicking on 25 images to save them all is not fun or a good use of time.
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Need to be planning my second semester classes (#HighSchool #ESOL and #AdultESOL at the #CommunityCollege), so of course, I just spent a couple of hours adding several more fortune-mod files to my fortune web page.
Also practiced some #python - created a script to convert from the fortune format to #json.
Still some editing,
issues. But, that's going to have to be for another day. -
#OhioTesolConference day 2 was another great day of #k12 #ESOL #education and #AdultESOL professional development.
Great to see colleagues I've not seen since the conference last year. Great to see how people are using #GenAI and #LLMs like #ChatGPT to support #EnglishLearners and other #EMEB / #ESL students.
Also, the venue provided #coffee all day! Much appreciated.
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Just published a new video on YouTube - "How to Easily Translate Google Slides".
Basically, once you set up the translate Apps Script, you can just copy / paste slides into a template file, translate them, and (if you want), copy / paste them back. Nothing super new, but easier and faster than previous (non-3rd-party extension) ways.
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I've been accepted to present at the Ohio Google Conference at the end of October. My session is on using Google tools - especially Google Translate - to support English Learners and engage multilingual families.
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Full day of #ProfessionalDevelopment today at the local education service center. Excellent PD on #teaching #EnglishLearners. Led by #EmilyFrancis.
Unfortunately, although many (most?) #k12 #teachers need to hear what she said, we had about 50.
Point is: teachers need more #TESOL / #ESOL / #ESL / #MLL training in school, and more follow up PD during the school year (not just optional PD after the year ends).
I would suggest, though, that the aircon does not need to be set to "arctic".
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I just set up a custom GPT "ESOL Dungeon Master" to play #Zork / #NetHack / #ChooseYourOwnAdventure games with #EnglishLearner students. Focused on English language #education.
Need to convince the higher ups to allow me to play it with students during class. I'm not sure if it will be "go for it" or "we need to get permission from higher higher-ups and / or parents."
If you have #ChatGPT access, search for "ESOL Dungeon Master" by Chris Spackman. Feedback appreciated.
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Working on an op-ed about #k12 students using #LargeLanguageModels as tutors.
Imagine the possibilities, both good and bad. It will be a huge change, for students who are able / willing to use it. And then, it will become a typical educational tool, like a calculator or the internet.
LLMs are already helping #teachers in many ways. Students should also benefit, and sooner not later.
Impact on #EnglishLearner students could be even more profound.
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Productive and educational (no pun intended) week. Completed a lot of prep for the new #k12 school year. Have more new (to our school) #EnglishLearners than I expected, so that's great news.
As always, looking forward to #AdultESL this weekend. Prepping for that now, then going to play some old-school #Quake3.
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I should be working on my #GTechSummit23 #ESOL / #EnglishLearner presentation, but I'm really loving the #RewatcherPodcast #BuffyTheVampireKiller podcast.
Had never heard of Morbid, the true crime podcast by the same people, but might have to check it out. Can't listen to science and political news all day every day, right?
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Oops! Just found out that while I was in Japan, a proposal I made to present at an #EdTech conference was accepted!
Excited, but I didn't expect this and now have about 2 weeks to prep 80 minutes on "Technology to Support English Learners & Multilingual Families". Suggestions most welcome!
Oh, and I also need to get permission from the higher ups to be at the conference instead of at work that day. (This one is actually not going to be a problem, I don't think.)
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I’m proud to be a contributor to this collaboration between Microsoft EDU and TESOL on using MS Learning Accelerators with MLLs 🔥🔥🔥
The Learning Accelerators have a lot of very cool ways for students to build on their language skills - absolutely worth checking out:
https://www.tesol.org/resource-center/tesol-guide-to-using-microsoft-learning-accelerators-with-multilingual-learners-of-english/
#ESL #ESOL #EFL #ELT #TESOL #ELL #MLL #LanguageLearning #MicrosoftEDU -
#AdultESOL (#AdultESL) class went well today. Only two classes left in this term. Taking a term off this summer for the first time since ... I don't remember when.
We get #k12 #ESOL assessment scores tomorrow. Can't wait to see how my students did. Also the day that some of the #EMEB students get an early start of final exams, so I may not actually have time to check the state testing results.
Can't believe only 1 week left with students this school year. Flew by.
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Exhausted, but it has been a great week. Well, great by second-semester-is-wall-to-wall-testing standards.
#Spanish class going well. The end of the semester is in sight - both happy and sad about that.
Have a new #EnglishLearner at the high school, but losing one at the elementary school.
Yoshiko made great new sandwich yesterday. It was delicious. Will post pics this weekend.
Have a few things to do this evening. Going to bed very early tonight.
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Have to study more for #español test tomorrow.
Over 220 vocabulary words in about 5 weeks, plus grammar, verb conjugations, etc.
That's about 44 words per week. Sounds like a lot (and it is), but many #EMEB / #EnglishLearner students get that many vocabulary words every day or two, many of them academic words. Plus, you know, the grammar stuff as well.
Many USA #k12 content #Teachers need more #TESOL training.
Or, they could join the #Spanish class I'm in. Get the experience.
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Do you know what the differences are between a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun?
Are you unsure what they even are? Watch this video to find out!
#LearnEnglish #ESL #Pronouns #Grammar #Reflexive #Intensive #ESOL #TESOL #EFL #EnglishWithDawn
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Great start to new term of #AdultESOL at #CSCC.
One thing that bothers me, though, is that the official calendar has Easter off, but classes on Eid.
Current schedule has a quiz the class after Eid, meaning many of the students will miss that day of content and review, and then have to sit a quiz without any chance to get caught up.
Cough, cough, I think I feel a cold coming on around April 23rd.
Actually, talking w/ students about taking off and using make up day in May.
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Just finished updating my class workbook for the next term of #AdultESL.
75 pages, including guided notes, worksheets, practice tests, assignment info, and misc extras.
Easy to do in #Linux, with #Inkscape, #LibreOffice, #TexLaTeX, and lastly #PDFArranger to put everything together.
(I didn't just make all 75 pages - tweaked and put together docs I've made over the years that I've been teaching this class.)
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#AdultESL term over for me today.
As with most classes, I had great students, from all over the world, this term (48 hours over 8 weeks).
Two weekends off, then start a new term with 25 new students. Can't wait.
Speaking of next term, it would be great if the school took Eid off, and not just Easter.
Currently doing Eng proficiency testing M-F in k12.
Okay, time to go study #español. One more chapter to do before class tomorrow.