1. We built a house.
2. Family has been more important
3. My workload has been much too high
This post is actually a reflective exercise to analyze and figure out a set of related complex challenges. Perhaps me raw thinking will relate to you and who knows, maybe you even have thoughts on the various issues.
Question 1: How do I balance various contradictions in course design?
Long-term language improvement with just-in-time training?
One requires a more structured approach with systematic review and specially designed activities to recycle learning points, the other relies on more flexibility and the shared understanding that 1) the trainer is responsive to spontaneous needs and 2) participants seek out training opportunities from their daily work - proactively identifying needs.
These seems pull courses apart over time... often the time between the initial learning, reinforcement training and mastery steps is too long due to just-in-time 'tangents'. This leads to continuous re-learning and frustration among the participants that a) they aren't making progress and b) they have somehow failed to learn it the first time.
Communication skills with pure language learning?
Communication skills within organizational constraints?
Question 2: How to deal with materials?
I resolved years ago to never break a copyright, but I still need materials. What to do?
Of course, the most direct answer is to design my own materials. But this is oversimplified. I don't have enough time to write for every course/participant.
The vocabulary problem
Recycling materials?
Corpus to materials?
Corpus organization?
Question 3: How to balance the needs of individuals, the group and the organization assuming fluctuating attendance, drive to achieve tangible training results and long-term relationships?
