Stephen W

Teaching English to kids 5-15yo in Japan.

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@ArcadeParts Loving the MPress Evo now the LEDs are fixed, tried out some new switches: Kailh Speed Copper, but the pre-press is too much for their short travel distance. Can you recommend any tactile switches? Speed or silent a plus! 🥰

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@ArcadeParts All fixed, support sent a link to https://t.co/DSzgJ3Znhy and it is all good. Great service. 😉

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@ArcadeParts Help please. Just got an MPress Evo edition and it broke within 5 minutes. Before even playing I went to adjust the LEDs, entered programming mode, switched modes once, then the LEDs all went out and now refuse to go on. What can I do?

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@J_Alexander_HS Hope it's just light symptoms, take care!

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@jechalmer @JLTAV @naokokko_chan @KathTomi @thejapteacher The pre-installed Clips app does this well, although the face/mask effect has issues auto-mapping onto faces with masks.

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@MrVinalesMFL @gianfrancocont9 Nice! Quick SB design question: I understand why the headings (e.g. "masculine/feminine") are shaded, but why are all the sentences' first cells (e.g. "there is...") also shaded?

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@gimkit Hi, 2 quick questions about your audio questions: 1) what is the max length of audio?
2) do you have a built-in audio recorder tool?

Thanks!

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@tamadear @davelimtm Ah, the learning pyramid. Sorry to say it's considered one of the greatest leaning myths of recent times (try a quick Google). You are 100% right on your main point, I like Einstein's quote about if you can't explain something to your grandmother, you don't really know it well.

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@YoukiTerada @LAMBRADLEY @cultofpedagogy @edutopia I can appreciate avoiding stigmatising the student, especially when the area is public. However some of these cool down zones seem more like rewards with the toys and decor. Something functional and reflective with a closed feedback loop seems best to my inexperienced eye.

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@spelfabet Phonemic Awareness and phonics work are something I would appreciate your input on. Below is a 2-sided worksheet for young learners of English in Japan. Practice pronunciations > elkonin box work > writing > applying only it to the last set. Any advice for improvement?

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@LAMBRADLEY @cultofpedagogy @edutopia Something to aim for, thanks!

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@LAMBRADLEY @cultofpedagogy @edutopia I agree. I think the middle ground of catatophe scales, coping skills guides, self reflection, etc is good. Minus the fidget cubes / toys is something I could propose. I've started on some placemats with the above and a poster for "the box". Kinda sticking my nose in though...

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@LAMBRADLEY @cultofpedagogy @edutopia Thanks! I'm a dispatch English teacher at a Japanese school that has just started a "cool down zone". But it's really closer to a time out zone as they went for zero stimulation (kids looking at the back of a box...) Any research on the two extremes you know of?

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@OllieMFL @MisshopkinsMFL @TesResources Looks like a great resource. I know you care about typography, so you might want to have the shadowing on "irregular verbs" face the same direction as the rest. Also the box alignments start to drop on "past" and "near future".

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@gianfrancocont9 @MrVinalesMFL Apologies if I sounded as though trivialising the process. I was targeting the interactions with the inspectors, hoping to empower the teacher to stand their ground without being overly defensive. Just my view, life would be dull if we all had the same opinion.

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@MaestraAubreyCT @PRHSspanish @EngagedSpanish Very valid activity. What makes you "peer interviews are ...SO boring"? It is fundamental 1-to-1 communication. Perhaps the motivatior behind the activity is the cause of the boredom. Something like this helps to consider: https://t.co/IyACcDtjfn

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@boxofcrayons Hi, looking forward to your new book! I'm having trouble explaining to fellow trainers why "I once went through the same problem, here's what I did..." is not good advice to struggling teachers. Why is this, apart from not shifting focus to you?

[Stephen W @NativJapan]

@OllieMFL So true! It's embarrassing how easy it is to fuss around with fonts, colours, etc. I'm sure they appreciate your work.