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Post by angeia on Jan 19, 2009 0:53:53 GMT 8
So I teach 2 elective classes at 2 schools, and I would really like to do a penpal exchange. I've heard that finding other ESL students in other countries is the best, but I have no idea of how to go about finding a school...
Is there anywhere I could look? Resources?? And safe ones at that?
Thanks so much!!
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Post by Otaku on Jan 19, 2009 6:28:40 GMT 8
You might find somebody on this forum who would like to do a pen pal project with you. You might also try this site: www.postpals.co.uk/
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Post by Otaku on Jan 19, 2009 8:50:39 GMT 8
Another thing, I did a pen pal project with one of my JHS a few years back. How I got the ball rolling was contacting various JHS from my hometown and asking if they would be interested in doing a pen pal exchange.
In my experience, hometown schools seemed to be interested because I was originally from that place.
Just a thought...
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Post by hellndie on Jan 26, 2009 8:46:33 GMT 8
I did the penpal thing with my ex students last year. I just went online and google pen pal for ESL students. Then I would just read over the profiles and make sure the listings aren't "weird" before I pass it to my students. So far, my ex students are still keeping in touch with their pen pal.
A few years ago, I went online and signed up for this *teachers pen pal community* and there were a list of teachers who signed up and wanted their students to have pen pals in foreign countries. 6 of my selective students exchanged emails with 10 students from Aussie who were studying Japanese at that time... so it was beneficial to both. However, I had to be the one typing up the emails and printing the emails for my students because for safety reasons, the emails had to be exchanged via that website. I dont have the website with me but I am sure if you google it, you will find it!
good luck!
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Post by Otaku on Jan 26, 2009 10:01:11 GMT 8
If I ever did a pen pal project again, I would do something similar to what Hellndie said. I would hook Japanese students who are studying English up with foreign students who are studying Japanese. The problem I had before when I did this kind of project was that the foreign students responded to my students' letters in English and they wrote a lot non-formulaic English, which meant I had to decode the letters for my students. I think if the letters they received were in Japanese, they would be more eager to write a second letter and possibly more in the future.
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Post by gumby on Jan 26, 2009 11:46:50 GMT 8
The best pen pal exchanges I have done are Flat Stanley exchanges. They are based on the book by the same name. Each class prepares a paper doll and gives that paper doll a personality, (ie name, likes/dislikes, age, etc) Then they send it with a diary to another class. After they receive a paper doll from their partner class, students take turns bringing the doll home. They take pictures with the doll and write a diary entry for what the doll did that day. After a certain amount of time (1-3 weeks) the schools return the dolls with pictures, diary, pamphlets etc. It is so much easier to supervise as a teacher. Also it eliminates the possibility that students WON'T receive a reply. In individual exchanges, inevitably one or the other partner stops writing after the first letter.
I have also brought home a doll with me when I went back to the US. I took pictures with the doll on the bullet train, in the airplane, eating a US school lunch, going shopping etc. It was a big hit when I returned home.
It is usually the day to day activities that may seem boring to the students living it, that WOW those living in other places and or countries.
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Post by Otaku on Jan 26, 2009 12:32:04 GMT 8
The best pen pal exchanges I have done are Flat Stanley exchanges. They are based on the book by the same name. Each class prepares a paper doll and gives that paper doll a personality, (ie name, likes/dislikes, age, etc) Then they send it with a diary to another class. After they receive a paper doll from their partner class, students take turns bringing the doll home. They take pictures with the doll and write a diary entry for what the doll did that day. After a certain amount of time (1-3 weeks) the schools return the dolls with pictures, diary, pamphlets etc. It is so much easier to supervise as a teacher. Also it eliminates the possibility that students WON'T receive a reply. In individual exchanges, inevitably one or the other partner stops writing after the first letter. I have also brought home a doll with me when I went back to the US. I took pictures with the doll on the bullet train, in the airplane, eating a US school lunch, going shopping etc. It was a big hit when I returned home. It is usually the day to day activities that may seem boring to the students living it, that WOW those living in other places and or countries. That's a cool idea!
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Post by junkdna on Feb 2, 2009 8:02:21 GMT 8
Dude, I never knew you were into paper dolls... do you have a paper doggie and kitty as well? =D
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