2000 ABSLTA Workshops Archives
April 2000 ABSLT Workshop, Gloucester
May 2000 ABSLT Worksop, Chester
ABSLT Materials Workshop Report at Gloucester on Saturday 8th April 2000
As one of the 50 tutors, who attended the workshop in Gloucester, I was expecting at the end of day to learn some new materials that I can use for my teaching and how to use them correctly. We were introduced to Charles Herd and Melinda Napier as the lecturers for this workshop. After the introduction by Charles, we were grouped for the two sessions. I was with the group for the morning session with Charles and his lovely assistant, Jacqueline Swinbourne and the afternoon session with Melinda and her macho assistant, David Hirshman! The other group was with Melinda in the morning and Charles in the afternoon.
Charles started the morning session by telling us how to teach the fingerspelling methods. Then he went over several topics like directions, holidays, etc, introducing new materials relative to the subject being discussed. He demonstrated the several ways of using them as part of teaching, activities, etc. We were given handouts that we can use for our classes, however we were told that we must not violate the copyright of the handouts or change anything in them which was fair enough. The session was constructive, interesting and sometimes humorous. We must have thought "why didn’t we think of using these activities in our previous classes" or "damn it is too late to include the brilliant ideas in our current classes". But no, forget about previous or current classes, we can still change and adapt these new materials in our future classes. There is always room for improvements!
While Charles generally covered the basic uses of materials over several topics (normally suitable for stage 1 classes), Melinda introduced the afternoon session with us, the depth of handling materials for one topic only (food & drink in this session). She showed us the building of materials from a basic form which we have all seen from the morning session to a more complex one, adding other topics like colours, shapes, costs, etc. Melinda also showed us how we can use one material to cover a wide range of topics like workplaces, holidays, etc. Again we were given more handouts though a bit less than the morning session. I found the session interesting but a bit heavier than Charles’ session, but that is probably because it is deeper and more complex and suitable for stage 2 classes. (Also the afternoon sun was blazing outside and the room was a little too warm, I am sure some of us felt sleepy!).
I am sure the readers will notice that I have omitted the contents of the materials workshop. But if you wish to see the contents or learn new materials, I would advise you to attend future workshops!
At Chester on Sunday 14th May 2000
The workshop was held in Chester on Sunday 14th May 2000, again with glorious weather! About twenty people turned up, so only one group was required for both sessions with Charles and Melinda providing the "goodies" together!