Dear students,
You have been invited to Google Classroom. Please accept the invitation sent by email. I will probably stop using the blog from now on. If in doubt, ask your classmates, or me in the next Zoom lesson.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Dear students,
Today you will have your second round of discussions. Your discussion leaders will be Kana, Yusuke, Mone, Ayana and Junko. Please be punctual - especially if you are a discussion leader, be honest in your assessment of your peers (don't give everyone 20 points if it's not true, for example), and keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Aoyama Gakuin - Oral English II - Elvin
Thursday, 14 May 2020
Thursday, 7 May 2020
May 14th lesson
Dear students,
First of all, please sign in. You should only sign in between 8:50 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and only if you actually come to class.
ATTENDANCE FORM
Our discussion leaders today are:
They will lead the discussion, call you by name, and ask you questions. You will be an active participant and you will also do your best to keep the conversation flowing - in English, of course, by also asking and answering questions and making relevant and appropriate comments. At the end of the 13-minute discussion, please use the form below to give your discussion leader feedback.
DISCUSSION LEADER FEEDBACK FORM (for participants / non-leaders)
At the end of the lesson, after five 13-minute discussions, please reflect on the lesson by filling in the form below.
HOW WAS TODAY? (for everyone)
VOCABULARY UPLOAD FORM
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
First of all, please sign in. You should only sign in between 8:50 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and only if you actually come to class.
ATTENDANCE FORM
Our discussion leaders today are:
TAKAMITSU |
ERUSA |
CHISAKO |
RYOMA |
FUYUNO |
DISCUSSION LEADER FEEDBACK FORM (for participants / non-leaders)
At the end of the lesson, after five 13-minute discussions, please reflect on the lesson by filling in the form below.
HOW WAS TODAY? (for everyone)
* For discussion leaders only *
Please upload three useful words to the databank (spreadsheet) using the form below. VOCABULARY UPLOAD FORM
For each word, you should give a meaning (in English or Japanese), and use the word in a sentence which helps learners to understand its meaning. At the end of the five discussion sessions, you will have a ten-point vocabulary matching test based on everyone's three words.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Sunday, 3 May 2020
May 7th lesson
Dear students,
Today, and every lesson, the first thing you will do will be to sign in. Your time will be recorded.
ATTENDANCE FORM
Then you will learn about the course (see previous post) and how our regular classes are conducted. Then you will familiarize yourself with Zoom (video conferencing software). From next week you will be in groups of five with five group discussion leaders (Zoom co-hosts) and 18 group participants.
Good luck!
Chris Elvin
PS. If you did not say hello to your classmates already, please use the link below to do so.
Next week, the five discussion leaders will be
Today, and every lesson, the first thing you will do will be to sign in. Your time will be recorded.
ATTENDANCE FORM
Then you will learn about the course (see previous post) and how our regular classes are conducted. Then you will familiarize yourself with Zoom (video conferencing software). From next week you will be in groups of five with five group discussion leaders (Zoom co-hosts) and 18 group participants.
Good luck!
Chris Elvin
PS. If you did not say hello to your classmates already, please use the link below to do so.
Next week, the five discussion leaders will be
TAKAMITSU |
ERUSA |
CHISAKO |
RYOMA |
FUYUNO |
Monday, 2 March 2020
Welcome to Chris Elvin's Oral English II Class
Oral English II
Spring 2020
Instructor: Chris Elvin
Email: t23536@aoyamagakuin.jp
Dear students,
Welcome to Aoyama Gakuin University Oral English II class. The purpose of this class is for you to improve your English language fluency by practicing regularly. Your success depends mostly on you, so be punctual, ever-present, and responsible, and do your best!
Attendance
The first thing you should do after entering the classroom is to sign in. (You must not sign in if you are not in class).
ATTENDANCE FORM
Your teacher will keep this file as a record of how often you came to class together with your time of arrival. If you travel to school by public transport, you should anticipate that there may be a delay, so you should plan to arrive at class early just in case.
Course Assessment and Grading Criteria
a) 40% Participation
b) 20% Serving as discussion leader
b) 20% Serving as discussion leader
c) 20% Vocabulary tests
d) 20% Presentations
a) Participation (40)
Your participation score is based on how often you come to class, how early you arrive, and how much effort you make as discussion leader and as discussion participant.
For non-leaders:
After your discussion leader has finished, please provide feedback to her via the online form below:
(Honesty is the best feedback you can give).
For everyone:
At the end of the lesson, please reflect on today's class by using the form below:
At the end of the lesson, please reflect on today's class by using the form below:
b) Serving as discussion leader (20)
When it is your turn to be discussion leader you should prepare a topic for discussion in advance. You should refrain from reading while in class so that you can engage with your group naturally. Introduce yourself, if necessary, and ask others their names. Address them by name, and make eye contact and appropriate body language. Solicit opinions, ask follow-up questions, and keep the discussion flowing. The length of each discussion will typically be about twelve minutes to fifteen minutes, ideally with no Japanese and little silence.
When
When
An absent discussion leader is extremely costly to the success of the class, so you must attend both sessions per semester to earn 20 points. If you are present for your session you will earn 10 points. If you are absent for your session, you will be penalized 10 points (minus 10 points).
After you have served as group leader, it is your responsibility to upload three vocabulary items to the class vocabulary database via the online form below (You will have to use the form three times to submit three words).
VOCABULARY UPLOAD FORM (for discussion leaders)
VOCABULARY UPLOAD FORM (for discussion leaders)
For each word, you should give a meaning (in English or Japanese), and use the word in a sentence, that helps learners to understand its meaning.
c) Vocabulary tests (20)
There will be two online vocabulary tests based on all of the words that you uploaded to the database as discussion group leaders. One will be mid-term, and the other at the end of the semester.
d) Presentations (20)
There will be a mid-term presentation and a final presentation, both of which will need preparation before you speak. Research a topic. Then deliver your presentation. You will be assessed on fluency (not reading), grammar range and accuracy, vocabulary, pronunciation and content. You should speak for at least three minutes, and you should not read your speech nor bring a script.
* If you plagiarize your speech and read it, you may fail the course.
* If you plagiarize your speech and read it, you may fail the course.
Schedule
You will normally have five or six discussions per class led by the discussion group leaders who will rotate from group to group.
Week 1: Orientation
Week 2: Group discussion 1
Week 3: Group discussion 2
Week 4: Group discussion 3
Week 5: Group discussion 4
Week 6: Group discussion 5
Week 7: Online vocabulary test, mid-term presentations
Week 8: Mid-term presentations
Week 9: Group discussion 1
Week 10: Group discussion 2
Week 11: Group discussion 3
Week 12: Group discussion 4
Week 13: Group discussion 5
Week 14: Online vocabulary test, Final presentations
Week 15 Final presentations
Anything else?
Why not visit the chat room? It is a great way to practice English.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 12 December 2019
January 9th and 23rd lesson
Dear students,
On either January 9th and 23rd you will deliver a five-minute speech to your audience. Please choose your topic from;
a) history
b) travel
c) technology
You will be assessed on attitude, content, delivery, fluency, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. You should also give feedback to your classmates using the form below. Try to average at about seven points per category per person. Please be fair and honest and refrain from giving only 10s to everyone!
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
PS. Everybody should be prepared to give their speech on January 9th even if it is not possible for everyone to finish that day.
On either January 9th and 23rd you will deliver a five-minute speech to your audience. Please choose your topic from;
a) history
b) travel
c) technology
You will be assessed on attitude, content, delivery, fluency, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. You should also give feedback to your classmates using the form below. Try to average at about seven points per category per person. Please be fair and honest and refrain from giving only 10s to everyone!
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
PS. Everybody should be prepared to give their speech on January 9th even if it is not possible for everyone to finish that day.
December 19th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have your last discussion of the year.
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have your last discussion of the year.
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 5 December 2019
December 12th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have your fourth of five discussions, round four of four.
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have your fourth of five discussions, round four of four.
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 28 November 2019
Thursday, 21 November 2019
Thursday, 14 November 2019
November 21st lesson
Dear students,
There were some very good presentations in the last couple of weeks, so well done all those who took time to research, write, and memorize their speeches.
Today we will start a new round of discussions. As usual, you should sign in when you arrive, give honest, accurate, and consistent feedback to discussion leaders, and end the lesson by filling out the reflection form, how was your day?
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
There were some very good presentations in the last couple of weeks, so well done all those who took time to research, write, and memorize their speeches.
Today we will start a new round of discussions. As usual, you should sign in when you arrive, give honest, accurate, and consistent feedback to discussion leaders, and end the lesson by filling out the reflection form, how was your day?
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 7 November 2019
November 14th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have more five-minute presentations about health, and then you will decide your final discussion leader schedule for the next five weeks.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Today you will have more five-minute presentations about health, and then you will decide your final discussion leader schedule for the next five weeks.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Thursday, 31 October 2019
November 7th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will deliver a five-minute speech about health. Everyone should be ready on the first day as the order of the speeches will be randomized. Your peers will give feedback to you, so those who are giving feedback should be honest, fair, and consistent. If a presenter reads, then it will be difficult to assess fluency, vocabulary, or grammar.
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will deliver a five-minute speech about health. Everyone should be ready on the first day as the order of the speeches will be randomized. Your peers will give feedback to you, so those who are giving feedback should be honest, fair, and consistent. If a presenter reads, then it will be difficult to assess fluency, vocabulary, or grammar.
Peer Presentation Feedback Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 24 October 2019
October 31st lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have the last of your five discussions before your presentation mid-term assignment.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have the last of your five discussions before your presentation mid-term assignment.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 17 October 2019
October 24th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have your fourth discussion of the semester.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have your fourth discussion of the semester.
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 10 October 2019
October 17th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have your third discussion of the semester.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
P.S. Some of you are giving twenty points to any discussion leader. This is neither true nor helpful. Please be fair and honest; otherwise your feedback is meaningless.
Today you will have your third discussion of the semester.
Chris Elvin
P.S. Some of you are giving twenty points to any discussion leader. This is neither true nor helpful. Please be fair and honest; otherwise your feedback is meaningless.
Thursday, 3 October 2019
Friday, 27 September 2019
October 3rd lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have five discussions of sixteen minutes each. Please make sure that I know who you are by placing a name card in front of you or wearing an ID that I can easily read.
Kind regards,
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Chris Elvin
PS. Remember to sign in.
Today you will have five discussions of sixteen minutes each. Please make sure that I know who you are by placing a name card in front of you or wearing an ID that I can easily read.
Kind regards,
Attendance
Discussion Leader Feedback
How was today?
Chris Elvin
PS. Remember to sign in.
Thursday, 26 September 2019
Reflection Comments
Dear students,
Thank you for your thoughtful opinions. I think most of you want to improve your English, which is great, and I will change things again after reading your comments.
Two people didn't write any reflection at all. For the record, one of these people copy-pasted her summary from the Internet for the very first assignment in April and then tried to send me elsewhere with a fake URL. The other skipped the first two lessons in April for whatever reason, wanted an extension to the deadline of the vocabulary test, and wrote the 何度も涙を流した大げさ message to Academic Affairs in July. Why didn't you write anything today?
My plan for this semester is this: You should come to class and want to speak English as much as possible. Your score will be attendance * effort * ability. For example 10 for attendance, 8 for effort, and 7 for ability will yield 56 points and will fail. Nobody will fail unreasonably. You can control your attendance and I will judge your effort and ability.
This semester your grades will be based solely on performance in class. There will be no summary writing and no vocabulary test; only talking. Consequently, group discussions will last for sixteen minutes, five times per class. There will still be presentation time but it won't be assessed by the teacher. Instead, students will provide numerical and written feedback.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thank you for your thoughtful opinions. I think most of you want to improve your English, which is great, and I will change things again after reading your comments.
Two people didn't write any reflection at all. For the record, one of these people copy-pasted her summary from the Internet for the very first assignment in April and then tried to send me elsewhere with a fake URL. The other skipped the first two lessons in April for whatever reason, wanted an extension to the deadline of the vocabulary test, and wrote the 何度も涙を流した大げさ message to Academic Affairs in July. Why didn't you write anything today?
My plan for this semester is this: You should come to class and want to speak English as much as possible. Your score will be attendance * effort * ability. For example 10 for attendance, 8 for effort, and 7 for ability will yield 56 points and will fail. Nobody will fail unreasonably. You can control your attendance and I will judge your effort and ability.
This semester your grades will be based solely on performance in class. There will be no summary writing and no vocabulary test; only talking. Consequently, group discussions will last for sixteen minutes, five times per class. There will still be presentation time but it won't be assessed by the teacher. Instead, students will provide numerical and written feedback.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Monday, 16 September 2019
September 26th lesson
Dear students,
Welcome back to class. First of all, please sign in as usual.
Attendance
There have been some changes to the class procedure since last semester as a result of feedback and reflection from the first semester. I would like you to know about these changes.
Vocabulary Test
This test will now be a ten minute test. The purpose of the change is that it should not take you any longer than ten minutes to finish anyway, and a longer test only allows the possibility that a student may try to cheat by accessing the answers on the Internet.
The deadline for the test will be precise. Your watch should read the same as mine in this modern age. If it doesn't, allow me to be the time keeper. If you try to submit beyond the deadline, it will be too late. This is because it is not fair to give one student a 20-minute test, and someone else a 21-minute test.
A deadline story
Summary Writing
You will no longer be allowed to read an article about a discussion to write your summary. You should take notes in class, if you wish, and write about only what you listened in class. You should write a minimum of about 150 words (specifically, 900 characters). You should not collude with discussion leaders about their topics nor write your summary in advance.
Presentation
You will not be allowed to bring "notes" to your presentation. If you read, I can't judge your fluency, grammar, or vocabulary, so the test becomes meaningless.
I hope you can agree that these changes are necessary and have been brought about to promote fairness.
Today you will write about what you think about the cheating in this class.
Reflection Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Welcome back to class. First of all, please sign in as usual.
Attendance
There have been some changes to the class procedure since last semester as a result of feedback and reflection from the first semester. I would like you to know about these changes.
Vocabulary Test
This test will now be a ten minute test. The purpose of the change is that it should not take you any longer than ten minutes to finish anyway, and a longer test only allows the possibility that a student may try to cheat by accessing the answers on the Internet.
The deadline for the test will be precise. Your watch should read the same as mine in this modern age. If it doesn't, allow me to be the time keeper. If you try to submit beyond the deadline, it will be too late. This is because it is not fair to give one student a 20-minute test, and someone else a 21-minute test.
A deadline story
Summary Writing
You will no longer be allowed to read an article about a discussion to write your summary. You should take notes in class, if you wish, and write about only what you listened in class. You should write a minimum of about 150 words (specifically, 900 characters). You should not collude with discussion leaders about their topics nor write your summary in advance.
Presentation
You will not be allowed to bring "notes" to your presentation. If you read, I can't judge your fluency, grammar, or vocabulary, so the test becomes meaningless.
I hope you can agree that these changes are necessary and have been brought about to promote fairness.
Today you will write about what you think about the cheating in this class.
Reflection Form
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
September 26th lesson
Dear students,
Welcome back to Oral English.
Today you will sign up to be a discussion leader. After that you will prepare and present about your summer vacation in groups.
Course Assessment and Grading Criteria
Chris Elvin
Welcome back to Oral English.
Today you will sign up to be a discussion leader. After that you will prepare and present about your summer vacation in groups.
Course Assessment and Grading Criteria
a) 20% Serving as discussion leader
You must attend your lesson as leader. Failure to do so will mean that you will be penalized ten points (10 points will be taken away from your present score). This is to ensure smooth discussions for the class.
You must attend your lesson as leader. Failure to do so will mean that you will be penalized ten points (10 points will be taken away from your present score). This is to ensure smooth discussions for the class.
b) 40% News summary writing
You must write about what you heard in class. You should refrain from accessing the Internet to write your summary, nor should you write it in advance!
You must write about what you heard in class. You should refrain from accessing the Internet to write your summary, nor should you write it in advance!
c) 20% Vocabulary tests
These online tests are made by your discussion leaders' weekly contributions of three words each. Check your spelling before you upload.
These online tests are made by your discussion leaders' weekly contributions of three words each. Check your spelling before you upload.
d) 20% Presentations
You will be assessed on fluency, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and content. If you read your speech, it will be difficult to judge your fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. Consequently, you will be greatly penalized.
Kind regards,You will be assessed on fluency, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and content. If you read your speech, it will be difficult to judge your fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. Consequently, you will be greatly penalized.
Chris Elvin
Friday, 12 July 2019
Vocabulary Test - July 2019
Dear students,
Please click on the link to start the test.
Vocabulary Test - 2019
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Please click on the link to start the test.
Vocabulary Test - 2019
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Education and Psychology
Dear students,
Last week I asked you not to copy from the Internet because in doing so you are committing plagiarism. This is taken very seriously at most academic institutions, including ours. If you want to improve your writing, practice is best - not copy pasting.
This week, I want to ask you to stop writing your summaries in advance. It would be fine if our class were reading and writing, but it is not. The purpose of our class is to improve oral fluency by practicing speaking and listening fully for ninety minutes. Please write your summaries based on what you hear in class.
Last year, the class collapsed because so many students were shirking their leadership responsibilities or were arriving predictably late. It was so bad that the only good student sensibly quit. This year, just two students are arriving consistently late. I think they are annoying, don't you?
Fortunately, this year we are not as bad as last year. Please use the opportunity we have in class to improve your English. If you are concerned about your grade, honesty will be the best policy.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Last week I asked you not to copy from the Internet because in doing so you are committing plagiarism. This is taken very seriously at most academic institutions, including ours. If you want to improve your writing, practice is best - not copy pasting.
This week, I want to ask you to stop writing your summaries in advance. It would be fine if our class were reading and writing, but it is not. The purpose of our class is to improve oral fluency by practicing speaking and listening fully for ninety minutes. Please write your summaries based on what you hear in class.
Last year, the class collapsed because so many students were shirking their leadership responsibilities or were arriving predictably late. It was so bad that the only good student sensibly quit. This year, just two students are arriving consistently late. I think they are annoying, don't you?
Fortunately, this year we are not as bad as last year. Please use the opportunity we have in class to improve your English. If you are concerned about your grade, honesty will be the best policy.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 11 July 2019
July 18th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have a vocabulary matching test (10 points) followed by your presentations (10 points). The order of the presentations will be randomized so everyone should be ready today.
Your speeches will be judged on fluency (not reading), vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and content.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have a vocabulary matching test (10 points) followed by your presentations (10 points). The order of the presentations will be randomized so everyone should be ready today.
Your speeches will be judged on fluency (not reading), vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and content.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 4 July 2019
July 11th
Dear students,
Today you will have your final discussion of the semester. Please refrain from using the Internet to write your summary. There are now five people who have copied their summaries, one person twice, and none of them will get a grade higher than “c”.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have your final discussion of the semester. Please refrain from using the Internet to write your summary. There are now five people who have copied their summaries, one person twice, and none of them will get a grade higher than “c”.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 27 June 2019
July 4th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have your fourth discussion of round two.
Please continue to arrive punctually, to participate actively and almost entirely in English, and to be honest and diligent in your summary writing - which is almost invariably of very high quality.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will have your fourth discussion of round two.
Please continue to arrive punctually, to participate actively and almost entirely in English, and to be honest and diligent in your summary writing - which is almost invariably of very high quality.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 20 June 2019
June 27th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will have another round of discussions. When it comes to writing your summary, please don’t *copy from the internet. If you do, your grade will be “c” at best, “f” at worst.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
*
Don’t copy sentences.
Don’t copy sentences then change the words.
Copy paste strings of five words or more may be construed as plagiarism.
Today you will have another round of discussions. When it comes to writing your summary, please don’t *copy from the internet. If you do, your grade will be “c” at best, “f” at worst.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
*
Don’t copy sentences.
Don’t copy sentences then change the words.
Copy paste strings of five words or more may be construed as plagiarism.
Friday, 14 June 2019
Thursday, 6 June 2019
June 13th lesson
Dear students,
Today you will start your second round of discussions. Group leaders please remember to upload three vocabulary items to the vocabulary vocabulary spreadsheet as well as to post your summary to the news summary spreadsheet. Discussion participants remember to give feedback to the discussion leader and also to write a summary.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Today you will start your second round of discussions. Group leaders please remember to upload three vocabulary items to the vocabulary vocabulary spreadsheet as well as to post your summary to the news summary spreadsheet. Discussion participants remember to give feedback to the discussion leader and also to write a summary.
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
Thursday, 30 May 2019
Attendance
Dear students,
You can access the attendance form posted in April on the welcome page or below here:
Attendance
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
You can access the attendance form posted in April on the welcome page or below here:
Attendance
Kind regards,
Chris Elvin
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May 21st lesson
Dear students, You have been invited to Google Classroom. Please accept the invitation sent by email. I will probably stop using the blog f...

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Dear students, On January 12th and 19th, 2017, you will have your final presentation. You should speak for at least three minutes about the...
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Dear students, On January 11th and 18th you will have your final presentations. Many of you will be either traveling or going home soon. Th...
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Dear students, Today you will have an online vocabulary matching test and then start your mid-term presentations. You should speak for a m...