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      Empathy awareness in writing class !!!
      Submitted by oztrkozge on 8 February, 2012 - 17:31

      Have you ever wondered bringing different activities into your classrooms? Something related to real life and about some manners maybe… 

      You can just try this activity with your students and then see the outcoming results. 

      The only time suitable for this activity is your writing class.

      Make your students complete their writing task of the day and then whenever they finish their papers, please tell them to swap their papers with their peers next to them. 

      Now, tell all students to mark the parts  they really don’t like on their deskmates’ papers. No big deal: just marking with X . 

      Then with the same paper again, tell them to rewrite the parts they really don’t like  with different coloured pen. 

      Finally, let them compare the numbers of  marks and rewritings. You will see that marks will be more than rewriting corrections. After all, you can discuss with your students about the activity. 

      I like this activity because sometimes it is really good to show that we criticize everything harshly in our immediate environment. However, when it is our turn to make up for the mistakes, we are more positive about it. 

      What do you think about it? It is a simple writing task on the surface but it has an important message for real life in itself.I am looking forward to hearing your ideas,

       

      Happy blogging everyone….

      Average: 5 (1 vote)

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      lemanulas's picture
      lemanulas
      Dear ozge,,nice
      Submitted on 8 February, 2012 - 20:05

      Dear ozge,,nice activity,,thanks;)

      oztrkozge's picture
      oztrkozge
      Thank you Leman, I am glad
      Submitted on 8 February, 2012 - 20:07

      Thank you Leman, I am glad that you liked it :) 

      keep blogging,

      Best,

      nahla_shaw's picture
      nahla_shaw
      reply
      Submitted on 9 February, 2012 - 15:26

      Dear Oztrokozge,

      Thank you for sharing this. It does teach the students a lesson in how to correct without hurting because it can be destructive. 

       

      oztrkozge's picture
      oztrkozge
      Dear nahla,You are right,
      Submitted on 9 February, 2012 - 23:03

      Dear nahla,

      You are right, indeed. Sometimes, as adults we do really harsh criticisms towards the people around  us. Actually, the inspiration for this post came from my colleague. She was really upset and this was because of some colleagues' criticisms about the exam she prepared. We can easily hurt others but we don't do many things to make up for their mistakes.

      Thanks for sharing your ideas, Do you think that we need to have empathy awareness in the school among teachers, as well?

      Victoria Kamchatka's picture
      Victoria Kamchatka
      @Ozge
      Submitted on 9 February, 2012 - 23:21

      I actually would ask them to correct and explain why? Give your reasons. If a student can't explain why, then why he/she's made any corrections. The same situation is in life, if somebody critisizes you, ask for a reason. Maybe be he or she will give you a good piece of advice and ways for improvement.

      oztrkozge's picture
      oztrkozge
      @victoria
      Submitted on 9 February, 2012 - 23:52

      Hi Victoria, 

      That's another great perspective about this topic. your ideas are appreciated. We can ask our students for an explanation, I agree with you to some extent but in real life, we can't always ask directly. I mean I need to be really sure whether it is a real criticism to improve my work or it is just for hurting me. I am open to criticisms as long as the person who does it, has good intention behind it. What do you think about that kind of hurting criticism?

      thanks for reading my post and your comment,

      Victoria Kamchatka's picture
      Victoria Kamchatka
      Hi Ozge,Deliberate criticism
      Submitted on 10 February, 2012 - 00:07

      Hi Ozge,

      Deliberate criticism always stumbles me. A person might have some hidden agenda to humiliate you in front of others and diminish your qualities. You know, I usually ask directly what a person mean by saying something. If somebody hurts me, next time I will never let him/her into my life because their goal is to destruct. You may reply to criticism: "When you say it like that, it hurts my feelings". Anyway, these people can get our self-confidence, and self-confidence means that you feel great about yourself. So, Don't let them get you! Pick up a head and make a difference. Cheers!

      oztrkozge's picture
      oztrkozge
      @Victoria
      Submitted on 10 February, 2012 - 22:45

      Thank you for such a great inspiration :) I won't let them get me, definitely. In my first year, I was really caring about that but now I am used to saying my feeling directly which means that I am getting more professional in life :) Have a great weekend, Dear :)

      singerina's picture
      singerina
      A great way of showing Ss a
      Submitted on 11 February, 2012 - 15:05

      A great way of showing Ss a bit about criticism. Also they believe that only teachers dislike something in their writing, this will show them that their classmates dislike somethings as well.. I like this, I will do it the next time we do a writing activity! :)

       

      oztrkozge's picture
      oztrkozge
      @singerina
      Submitted on 12 February, 2012 - 22:13

      Dear Singerina,

      I am happy to hear that you are going to use my activity. Actually, its message is really good as you said they won't blame teacher for crossing their mistakes anymore :) Thanks for sharing your ideas,

      Best,