Tashkent – 2022

3 . Reading

Read the four opinions posted on a teacher’s forum. Then, answer the questions.

Person A: I think it is important to get with the times. Nowadays, students are totally addicted to their smart phones. Instead of fighting them on it, I asked them how I could engage them better. Students answered a few questions about how they wanted to use social media more productively. So, I started a class hashtag. Students can contribute to discussions using it and add links to justify their points. I monitor it and I see them engaging with it to ask questions about homework as well. I also encourage students to use it to tell me what they like and dislike about the lessons.

Person B: I’ll admit, I doubted technology’s effectiveness in the class. I thought that because I learned without it, it was an unnecessary feature. In fact, I used to make students switch off their phones before entering the room. However, I changed my mind when a fellow teacher showed me a website that she used in class. It allows students to log in with their smartphones in order to play a game as a class. My students love it and it works so well for review lessons and to break up mundane tasks.

Person C: I am a younger teacher, so there is a lot of expectations of me from the senior staff members and management. While they prefer more traditional methods, I have found the greatest success when I use technology in my lesson whether that be showing a video clip, using a slideshow, etc. I don’t think I would be able to teach a lesson without it! After my lesson observation, the principal asked me to lead a staff meeting on how to engage students using multimedia in class. It was an honour to be asked. I know it will be a lot of work, but I would love to help my colleagues out in order to make the students’ learning experience better.

Person D: When I began teaching teens, I found I was unable to capture their attention. They were constantly texting, or scrolling through social media during lessons and it was hard to establish rules with them. Even when I forbid them from using their mobile phones in class, I would catch them sneakily using them under their desks. I understand that it is important for teens to keep in touch. Thus, if we are able to get through all the material, I permit them to have a 5-minute break on their devices. I have found this to be quite effective.