The author then explains there are three pedagogic insights about perceptual mismatches, they are unavoidable, identifiable, and manageable. After reading his chapter I would agree with him. Looking back at the 10 mismatches it is hard to believe some of them still occur even with the best efforts of both the teacher and student to minimize it, they will always be unavoidable. I also agree they are identifiable. In order to identify the mismatches it is best to discuss and understand the teachers and learners perspectives. The last insight, mismatches are manageable, gave me the best source of comfort. While reading the chapter I was so worried that I would be creating all these mismatches and my objectives and my students objectives wouldn't match and I would just have a mess of a classroom. This quote," a mismatch can be converted into a learning opportunity in class" really made me feel better. Yes mismatches are unavoidable but if I can at least identify the issue then I can create an opportunity for learning for me and for my students.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Week 5 Readings
This weeks readings gave me something to think about, especially minimizing perceptual mismatches. In many classrooms there are perceptual mismatches between the teaching objectives and the learning outcomes. Kumaravadivelu discusses ten potential mismatches that can occur daily. It was really interesting to see all the mismatches and how often they could occur in a language classroom. The first three mismatches, cognitive, communicative, and linguistics are important for future language teachers to consider and become conscious of. If these three mismatches are not considered then there will be a lack of learning in the classroom and a great deal of frustration.
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Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThat quote about turning mismatches into learning opportunities made me feel a lot better, too. As teachers, we are going to have to be able to adapt to whatever happens in our classrooms and make the best of unsatisfactory situations, like mismatches.
I agree with Cara. I loved the questionnaires that were included in the chapter. If the students know about mismatches too, it will be much easier to identify them and turn them into opportunities. It was very interesting that in the episodes, the teachers didn't even know they were occuring. It is so important to know about these things before we get into the classroom to avoid missed opportunities.
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