Teach English in Pingjin Zhen - Chongqing

Using a video camera in classTeachers started to use video cameras in the language class for the same reason as tape recorders: to record the students while they are working on an exercise where they are communicating. The most important fact is that the teacher is not interrupting the speaker, but still can remind all the things they said and correct them or compliment if they were good. Why do teachers need this method? While we are communicating on a foreign language we have to concentrate on many things at the same time. To make a grammatically correct sentence, to use the right words, it should make sense according to the topic so it should be logical and after all this we also have to pronounce it correctly. Until we are not masters of a language this is a very difficult procedure and it is possible that we make mistakes in one or more points of this. We might even not notice it and think we said it right. If we watch back what we said we might recognize that it was not the same what we thought we said. The recognition can come from 3 factors. A good teacher should let the 3 factors react in this order: 1. The speaker recognizes his/her own mistake and corrects it. 2. The other students recognize it and help in the correction. (After the speaker himself/herself didn?t succeed in this.) 3. The teacher corrects the mistake. (If noone else did.) In theory this method would be very effective in learning the speaking part of the language, or even in the listening part. But in reality there can be several problems in using a camera effectively in a class. ? Camera: the camera itself can be a problem. It is expensive, it can break, it has to be charged and as all technical equipments it can stop working because of any kind of problem. It also needs other technical equipments for showing the recorded picture and sound. ? Cameraman: the person who is making the recording has to be able to handle the equipment. Shaking picture and noise of the touching of the microphone can ruin the purpose of the film. It does not have to be professional just as much good as to be used for the language lesson. The easiest way if we put the camera on a tripod or a table and we don?t try to use the zoom or anything, just put it close to the students where it can hear what the speakers are saying, but still it is not disturbing them, and make the recording without any kind of moving or touching the camera. ? Speaker: the person to be recorded has to agree to being recorded. It depends on many factors if in a class most students are okay with this method or they are not. Cultural differences are one of the reasons why in one country students are more open for this while in an other they totally refuse it. The speaker can also agree but being in a shock or panic while being recorded, while under normal speaking circumstances he/she does not have any problems. Teachers have to consider the ?human? factor before starting the recording. ? Environment: the environment has to be also ?camera friendly? for example: the classroom should be closed, so not too much noise is disturbing the recording, and there should be enough space for using the camera. After the teacher considered all these factors, he/she can start using the camera in the lesson. This is the easiest way of using the camera in a class, after a little experience anyone can use it this way effectively. But there are other ways to use a camera in a class which might need some expertise or assistance. You can make short or long term project about making a show or documentary or any other kind of video. This can be shown for example to the new group at the same level in the beginning as growing motivation, how much fun their course is going to be. These usually need more work from the students, more planning from the teacher and a routine in making simple videos. This is only recommended to more experienced teachers or those who have some technical assistance.