Homework (an #eltchat summary)

Posted on September 3, 2011April 24, 2013 by Sandy Millin

This is a summary from the 9p.m. BST #eltchat from Wednesday 31st August 2011. To find out more about what #eltchat is and how to join in please go to the bottom of the post.

What can we call an effective piece of homework?

Do you believe homework is important for English language learners?

Homework is essential, but I think of it as pre-class preparation or follow-on work. (@hartle)
SS need a lot of exposure to the language and practice but effective homework should be short and to the point! (@naomishema)
Yes, students need to practise constantly, but depends on what the HW is as to how effective it is! (@sandymillin)
I provide various options for homework & do think its important to motivate learners to practice English outside the classroom (@shellterrell)
Homework provides more time for students to learn! (@katekidney) It gives them thinking time. (@sandymillin)
Homework is important to reinforce what’s been learnt in class (@herreraveronica)
Homework is important for consolidation and further development. (@lu_bodeman)
I like to provide homework if sts request it. If they do, I usually ask how much homework they want. (@ELTExperiences)
For language learners, hmwk provides the opportunity to apply the language learned within a real context . (@shellterrell)
Homework should work differently for kids at school and adults ‘only’ doing English classes – kids should have sth ‘fun’ like colouring / drawing. Adults perhaps have more motivation. (@sandymillin)
At IH Buenos Aires we have a saying “The lesson’s not over till the homework is done” but amount & type open to individuals to decide (@ljp2010)
I believe homework is an opportunity for more exposure to English and I tend to favour authentic skills work. Also a chance to process things, studies, and experiment. (@chiasuan)
I believe homework is an opportunity for students remember and practice everything they saw in the class! (@vaniaccastro)
Action research at Toyo Gakuen Uni in Japan has shown that if we don’t force students to use English outside the classroom – they don’t! (@mickstout)

How much homework should you give?

There is research suggesting homework is beneficial but there is also research suggesting TOO much or rote homework has the opposite effect (@Marisa_C)
I think the amount is variable and should in a way be up to the student. They should all do some but choose how long. (@sandymillin)
I’ve begun giving short homework once a week, online, something highlighting one particular element, and that is it! The funny thing I’ve discovered is that at least some of the SS take the lessons more seriously since I’ve started homework online (@naomishema)
It was said that if the homework is half done at school students are more likely finish it at home. True? (@katekidney)
I think that’s true only with elementary school kids. But kids do need an example! (@naomishema)
I think it is crucial to know our students’ routine and plan achievable pieces of HW. (@raquel_EFL)
Don’t think VYLs should really have HW – they need time to play. (@sandymillin)
Homework can be a project of weeks/months so there is no pressure: “do this by tomorrow” attitude (@ELTExperiences)
I was able to run my genetics class last spring with NO homework without decrease in “rigor” (@smacclintic)
Age is an important factor and schedules too (@hartle)
Homework is effective if SS can see the point of it, rather than homework for the sake of homework (@sandymillin)
The Homework Dilemma: How Much Is Too Much? http://www.takepart.com/article/2011/01/18/homework-dilemma-how-much-too-much another interesting article RE 10-min rule (@annapires)

What homework should you give? – general

Don’t just tell the students to do page 43 of the workbook. (@ljp2010)
As a student, I won’t do it if it’s boring or I think it’s irrelevant to me. Teacher’s worst nightmare! (@ljp2010)
I try to make homework fun & relevant to their experiences! They have choices! (@shellterrell)
Like Khan academy idea of flipping classroom: homework theory and classwork experimentation http://ow.ly/1wtdr0 (@hartle)
Sometimes it is not a bad idea to let the students decide what they would do themselves for the next lesson – and ask them about it! (@katekidney)
Individual learning styles should also be taken into account (@adricarv) There’s no reason for everyone to do the same thing (@little_miss_glo)
I always find kinaesthetic learners hardest to cater for. What kind of things can you do for them? (@sandymillin)
It might be to learn and act out a sketch with movement (for YLs) (@Marisa_C)
Videotape a sketch whose lines were written in class by groups/teams (@Marisa_C)
Make a board game in English (@Marisa_C)
For kids I provide games to reinforce what we learned in class! Here’s how its listed in our wiki http://bit.ly/qAQCmc (@shellterrell)
These are homework tasks I have given to my adult English language learners in their wiki http://bit.ly/d1RhoD (@shellterrell)
For young learners I like to offer in my wiki activities parents can do with their children to practice the grammar/vocabulary in context. (@shellterrell)
I’ve been trying to post sites SS can use on Edmodo and show in class rather than set homework. I find students are motivated by sites like English Central, English Attack or quizlet where they can see that they’re getting points (@sandymillin) A word of caution about englishattack – its roll over translations into Hebrew are atrocious! Can’t check the other languages… (@naomishema) I tell SS not to use the translations when I show it to them. (@sandymillin)
Offer options so learners work on skills they feel they need to improve. Not all students have the same level so homework should reflect that. (@shellterrell) Choice is not only about which exercises to do for homework but which skills one needs or wants to work on (@Marisa_C)
I find knowing their goals at the beginning of the year helps my students determine their outside of class activities http://bit.ly/dzgSCs (@shellterrell)
There should be a balance between online work and print work which students can use for display purposes, e.g. in a portfolio (@Marisa_C)
We need to be smart about what we are giving for homework…for me all writing assignments are done in class (@shellterrell, @vickysaumell)
Reading makes great homework if you can convince the Ss. (@theteacherjames) Adults can benefit a lot from this (@Marisa_C)
For teens I just ask what they like to do: listen to English music, read graphic novels, etc. & tailor to that (@shellterrell) Try to find ways to integrate homework into students real lives: things they enjoy, are interested in & choose themselves. (@theteacherjames)
Homework is about giving students choices to work on problematic areas too. Provide a series of links then they choose (@hartle)
Homework should be connected to the syllabus (@Marisa_C)
Teaching ESP? Then you might want to assign stuff that they can do while at work. I did that with my aircraft mechanics (@little_miss_glo)
Set them things related to the work place. I did a class based on emails which SS brought to class. The homework was to collect them. (@sandymillin)
Show them what is available (often for free) online through facebook, publisher sites etc (@antoniaclare)
Written production as homework e.g. letters, diaries, can really help process what was studied. (@chiasuan)

What homework should you give? – specific

Some favourite homework I’ve done from my spanish class – photo stories, Spanish-Spanish dictionary, making a newspaper, project stuff… (@ljp2010)
Project work is motivating too. Students take responsibility for learning. (@hartle) Projects like going to a website to get info in English. (@chiasuan)
How can we make the homework/self study more personal? My idea: get students to bring in a photo and talk about it. (@ELTExperiences)
SS put a photo on fotobabble.com and talk about it: http://bit.ly/nID10h (@sandymillin)
Real life homework task – read or listen to something outside class and come in with a question you’d like answered (@ljp2010)
Get students to post on noticeboard and build work together. Www.linoit.com good for this. (@hartle)
The funniest HW that I was involved with was phoning YLs at home and trying to chat with them to improve speaking skills in Korea. They were young (10 to 15 years) and the time the parents wanted me to phone was late evening when they were all eating. It took a while to speak to the parents in Korean and then ask to speak to the child and the child would not talk at all. I was also asked to do the same activity for businessmen for a school and I prepared topics, etc but they were too busy. (@ELTExperiences)
I set up phoning homework with a class once and they LOVED it! (@ljp2010)
Did something like that. Called them at a given time, gave some info that they needed to collect, and in class SS reported. (@lu_bodeman)
SS writing to teachers – personal emails – this is not seen as homework (@Marisa_C)
Kids love working online. I make them exchange e-mails or postcards with other kids around the globe. I have found a great platform at e-Pals. (@analuisalozano) Try postcrossing.com for one-off postcards (@sandymillin)
Get them to write the subtitles for Bollywood films (@ljp2010)
I often set TV programmes or films as homework for students. Sometimes I give them a selection of about 3-4 things they can choose to watch, and we do a jigsaw sharing of what they have seen. My students are in London, so I could use the daily TV guide & get them to watch documentaries, fashion programmes or drama- their choice. (@chiasuan)
I get students to collect new words or signs for class. Or interview their host families (@SueAnnan)
I would like to get sts to write blogs or contribute to an online school newspaper but haven’t done so yet. (@ELTExperiences)
Did @englishraven‘s live reading in class http://bit.ly/r1Gl1h about Edinburgh. HW was for SS to write about their own city/country – everyone did it! (@sandymillin)
A book club where they choose the book they want & have discussions? (@shellterrell) Extensive reading (reading for pleasure). Assign projects (book reviews, sts create worksheets, etc) (@theteacherjames) I bring a book box to class when I teach our adults and they pick a book (@Marisa_C) Doing an extensive reading project with Google Reader … Blog post about ithttp://ow.ly/1wthvj (@hartle)
Film club is great too. Watch the first part of film in class – finish for homework (@antoniaclare)
Adults enjoy finding an interesting article in the local paper and summarising it for class the next day. (@SueAnnan)
Take photos on way home, then do lesson based on it, like so: http://wp.me/p18yiK-dS (@sandymillin)
They could be asked to recite something while walking to school (@Marisa_C) For low levels I tell them to read all numbers they say in English / name everything they can when walking down street (@sandymillin)
The Baby Egg project with my teens. They enjoyed journaling about their children, etc http://bit.ly/pPpbGg (@shellterrell) Sounds like ‘flour babies’ by anne fine (one of my fave childhood books!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour_Babies (@sandymillin)
Redoing commercials & advertisements with their friends http://bit.ly/qcrl90 (@shellterrell)
Get your students to bring in a computer game & talk about it (@ELTexperiences)
If your students like listening to music lyricstraining.com is excellent (@sandymillin)
I have recorded video read alouds to model fluency and posted them on Edmodo. (@MrMatthewRay)
Get students to watch videos, do tasks, then tweet responses http://englishtweets.com/ (@antoniaclare / @inglishteacher)
With young learners make placemats in class with vocab items and pictures. Then they eat on the placemats and memorize ’em! (@naomishema)
SS downloaded four adverts, then chose the most touching, funniest, horrible, and amazing (@analuisalozano)
Encourage students to read anything they can in English if it’s available. Cereal boxes, signs, anything. (@MrMatthewRay)

How do you share homework with students / parents?

Edmodo (http://j.mp/ZkQ5F) is a useful tool to share homework/selfstudy amongst students. Provides a platform to share ideas, etc. (@ELTExperiences) How I’ve used Edmodo in class with SS over the last year (including for HW) http://wp.me/s18yiK-edmodo (@sandymillin)
We use wikis too for our adult Ss to upload their homework which also includes presentations prezis etc (@Marisa_C) I’ve taught 2-year-olds to 80-year-olds :-). I find a wiki full of outside exploration activities motivates them a lot. (@shellterrell)
What we need is a website for sts like http://j.mp/5eT5mw (a maths website) for English language learners to assist homework. Are there any out there? (@ELTExperiences)
Have used class blog and discussion forum for homework using blogger and wikispaces (@inglishteacher)
The primary school that my son used to attend provided a newsletter for parents with projects at the back. (@ELTExperiences)
Once had a class blog on ning & we all continued discussions we had in class on the blog. It was brilliant…until ning decided to charge. (@chiasuan)

Grading Homework

My homework is optional & I tell my SS it’s for their benefit! Majority complete it each time. (@shellterrell)
Don’t grade homework! (@naomishema)
I grade homework in class … I do not like sending homework to Ss except that related to researching. (@analuisalozano)
I like to get sts to mark each other’s HW. Promotes learner correction, education and autonomy. (@ELTExperiences)
I use Markin to work on written work with a correction code then students can correct own work. Software http://ow.ly/1wteqp costs about €20 but worth it (@hartle)
Activity one lesson one on this page of our class blog shows marked student work with Markin. Stds then correct & we discuss in class. http://ow.ly/1wtfol
If students resist any kind of homework, it should be included in their final mark or the course evaluation! (@katekidney)

Tracking homework

I give homework online but keep track on paper so that I always have it in class with me! (@naomishema)
I give pre class prep work on blog and follow up on linoit etc. Also copies. My students are young adults so I don’t track pre-class work but homework posted online and corrections too on blog. (@hartle)
I use Edmodo. It allows you to input grades etc even if HW not handed in that way & you can see overview of which students have done what (@sandymillin)
For children: Learning Log Brain Builders homework: http://bit.ly/dsC1TE (@DeputyMitchell)

Problems with homework

What do you do with students who don’t complete pre-class homework? (@naomishema)
I don’t force homework, if the learner doesn’t do it then I will ask why & figure out a way to motivate. Usually that’s the problem (@shellterrell)
I like to refer to homework as self-study. Homework has too many negative connotations. I attempt to promote student autonomy when they are motivated not the other way round. I like to reduce the affective filter and as such no pressure on homework whether it’s presentations, grammar exercises, writing. (@ELTExperiences)
I like to call it “activities to improve their English” not homework. I think when I deem it as “activities to further improve ur English” it gives them a why as to completing the tasks (@shellterrell)
I give limits on how long can be delayed. I’ve had bad experience – “mañana” turns into “never” (@naomishema)
A lot of adolescents think its not cool to do something optional (@naomishema)
I still have a problem with pupils with problematic home life – they don’t organize their time and do the little work I give (@naomishema)
As a SS, I leave HW to the last minute. (@sandymillin) Human nature, I think. But I think the key is making it not feel like HW! (@little_miss_glo)
What about if your institution has a homework policy based on student/teacher/parent expectation? (@ljp2010)
If you have to give HW then negotiating what to do with SS is important, though I guess it depends on their age (@sandymillin)

What guidelines make homework effective?

Varied
With no (or negotiated) deadlines
Challenging
Motivating
Achievable
Relevant
Clear aims – known to both the teacher and student
Choice (topic / level of difficulty / skills)
Like real life tasks (not just busywork)

A couple of videos to reward you for getting this far 🙂

What is #eltchat?

If you have never participated in an #ELTchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Wednesday on Twitter at 12pm GMT and 9pm GMT. Over 400 ELT educators participate in this discussion by just adding #eltchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please take a look at this video, Using Tweetdeck for Hashtag Discussions.