Ngee

Good Luck for Final Exam~


Kak Hajar, Nana, Has, Asha..Ganbatte kudasai!

Podcast

this is my link for my podcast file Sound 2


The text

Sharks are amazing fish that have been around since long before dinosaurs existed. They live in waters all over the world, in every ocean,and even in some rivers and lakes. The largest sharks are decreasing in numbers around the world because they are hunted by people. The numbers of the Great White shark, Basking shark and Whale shark are all waning. Believe it or not, sharks are endangered. Most sharks only reproduce once every couple of years, and some sharks do not mature until they are 25 years old.

WWW Lesson Plan Task 3

Level : Form 2 ( intermediate)

Time : 35 minutes (1 period)
Theme : People
Topic: Jobs People Do
Language Content : Reading (Scanning for information)

Aims : To practice reading (scanning for information )

           To practice writing through information transfer from the websites into written task

Technical requirements:

1)      1) One computer per 2 students

2)      2) Internet connection

3)      3) Web browser

Websites :

http://www.ehow.com/about_4597537_what-photographers-working-conditions.html#ixzz0ywgaO7NV

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/lawyer-job-description.html

http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/airline_pilot_job_description.jsp

Preparation :

1)      1) Teacher locates the websites

2)      2) Teacher prepares task sheet

3)      3) Teacher checks the availability of computer access, internet connection, sites and the classroom condition before the lesson.

Procedures :

Set Induction ( 3 minutes)

1)      1) Teacher pastes 2 pictures of working people (picture of a doctor and a teacher) on the board

2)      2)  Teacher asks students about the job scope of both professions

Development (25 minutes)

1)      1) Teacher writes website’s addresses on the board

2)      2) Teacher assigns students to browse the address given

3)      3) Teacher asks students to read on the texts from the websites

4)      4) Teacher distributes worksheet for each student

5)      5) Teacher asks students to work on the task by pairs

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1)      Teacher pastes the answers on the board and students check their answers

Follow-up activity :

1)      Teacher asks students to list down the job prospects of their ambition.

2)      Students may use internet to search further information about their ambition.

Underwater: The giant sea creatures (Exercise on Hypertext and Hypermedia)

Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world's most powerful predators. They feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches (ten centimeters) long. They are known to grab seals right off the ice. They also eat fish, squid, and seabirds.

Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape.

Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy.Orcas are immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white coloring and are the intelligent, trainable stars of many aquarium shows. Killer whales have never been extensively hunted by humans

Text adapted from :

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/killer-whale.html

pictures taken from:

http://thundafunda.com

http://www.animalspapper.com/wallpaper/Whale-2/

ARTICLE REVIEW - TASK 2

Title: Developing linguistic and cultural perspectives of English as a foreign language through email discussion

Journal: JALT CALL SIG Journal, 2008. Vol.4, No.3,pp 3- 14. (this is the link )

Author:The author is Bahman Gorjian, who is an assistant professor at Islamic Azad University,Iran in TEFL Department, Science and Research Centre. He got his Ph.D in TEFL from the same university.

One of the aims of conducting this research is to investigate whether the usage of email discussion can enhance the learners’ knowledge of second language (L2) culture. The discussion was done in the form of writing short essays within 200-300 of words with discussion on various topics about culture and perspectives.  Another aim is to develop writing skills with appropriate and accurate grammar usage. This study is an experimental study where experiment between control and experimental group was done. There were 400 subjects participated in this study. The subjects were non-native intermediate students majoring in English translation from various courses. They were enrolled in the fall semester in 2007. Their average age was 17. 18 non-native instructors also got involved in this study with the average 12 years of teaching in EFL Department. Their average age was 33. In selecting the two targeted groups, 650 candidates sat for a L2 writing proficiency test from TOEFL. From the 650 candidates, 400 of the most successful scorers selected to join the study. The selected 400 participants then sat for pre test. During the pre test, the participants were needed to write a two-paragraph cultural-oriented essay in order to examine their level of L2 cultural awareness. One group was named with control group and another group was experimental group. In an effort of figuring out the role of email and L2 cultural information transfer, the two groups had to write 12 essays on different topic about culture. One essay had to be written by each participant per week. Both groups received the same topic.  The participants from experimental group had to write the essays via email and control group traditionally handed in their work through hard copy submission. The post test of writing about culture was conducted as final exam to determine how much they have progressed. The selected 18 non-native instructors became the raters and feedback providers. The result of this study shows that the usage of email discussion with the assistance of L2 teachers can give impact on L2 learners’ cultural awareness. Besides that, it gives beneficial outcomes for the learners’ linguistic development and writing skills.

 This research interests me by informing way on how cultural information can be exchanged in an attractive way; via email discussion. While interacting with others via computer technology, learners in the same time can improve their linguistic proficiency as well as their writing skills. If this study does not interact with linguistic elements and stand solely on cultural exchange, this study perhaps fails in gaining my interest. This study was successfully conducted with pre-test and post test among the two groups. In addition, the participation of 18 language instructors was also appropriate in rating the participants’ performance whether they could improve from the study or not. However, the study failed to identify the suitable quantifiable of “culture” measurement. In gauging whether cultural awareness is rising or declining, a specific measurement scale should be applied. Even the L2 teacher who became the raters claimed that the learners showed the progress, the statement cannot be generalized to all. In the future, scrutinize instrument with specific rating scale should be used in achieving the validity of the research findings. Within Malaysian context, email discussion in enhancing linguistic and writing skills of L2 learners is already integrated. I used to experience it when I took part in computer class during primary school. When I was in secondary school, the method was still traditional similar to what had been applied to the control group in this study. In Malaysia, cultural exchange among L2 learners and native speakers is still not fully applied. That is because the major concern of L2 instructors or teachers here is more on the language proficiency attainment rather than the cultural exchange and awareness. This research however can give a new strategy for L2 teachers in motivating the L2 learner to engage in interactive L2 learning in different way. Gaining cultural awareness can be considered as additional outcomes of the strategy but the language attainment should be the main target.

As a conclusion, the application of email in improving linguistic and writing skills should be supported

(785 words)

Reflection on Hot Potatoes

Write a reflection on the use of Hot Potatoes thus far (no specific format, requirements etc. You're free to write anything).

Assalamualaikum.First of all, I would like to thank Prof. Izaham for making the CALL class  enjoyable and interesting; with one hour lecture and one hour computer-based language exercise. The class never show the dryness as the computer application is applied after being taught. As I relate to myself, I am a tactile and visual learner thus this condition help me to prolong my attention span.


Hot Potatoes was introduced by Prof. Izaham somewhere in August. For the first attempt, I found using the application as difficult. Alhamdulillah, with the help of the classmates, my mind set is changed and i found it as not very difficult as i thought before. It is interesting to use Hot Potatoes in designing exercises for the students. I never knew how to use Hot Potatoes before ( a senior used to download the application to my computer and I almost remove it ) because I didn't know its purpose. When I got into CALL class, now I know the purposes and the features of Hot Potatoes.


Even though I found Hot Potatoes application is enjoyable and motivating, sometimes I face difficulties. Sometimes I have to redo the exercises which I have constructed just to make sure it can be downloaded and lack of imperfections. I admit, I am not as creative as other classmates in developing the tasks through Hot Potatoes. sometimes, I missed important steps in creating and publishing the exercises. In addition, it makes me feel a little bit stress. Alhamdulillah, fellow friends help me a lot in working out with the difficulties. Thanks to them..
=)


I'm still new to the Hot Potatoes and I need to explore further to use other features. 


In applying Hot Potatoes, there are several types of exercises can be designed such as JMatch,JMix,JCloze and so on. Personally, the most capturing task is JMatch. The reason why I like JMatch because I like to match this and that. In my personal life, I am more interested with compare and contrast games as well as match making games.


Overall, I like to use Hot Potatoes in designing the courseware.As like me, I think other people will also like the application.

JMatch

This is my link for my JMatch task.

Jmatch

ESL Website Evaluation

ESL website evaluation ( http://www.english-online.org.uk )

1.     1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?

This website is attempting to teach English for all level starting from young learners until for advance learners. The website provides grammar, writing and listening tasks. Each level has multiple parts of exercise. Each part then, comprises different types of exercises.  However, this website does not emphasize on writing essays and speaking. Sentence writing task is provided.

The website provides suitable form of aids in educating the learners.  For an example, for the young learners, they experience learning through drilling, interactive animations and interesting matching task. Higher level of learners (e.g: beginner and elementary) are provided with video for tutorials together with the exercises based on the videos.

Grammar is not introduced for the young learners but they are introduced with basic introduction of words and alphabetical pronunciation. Grammar explaination for the other levels is quite long and specific and examples are provided so that it makes the content looks full and compact.

The instruction for each exercises are clear and easily understood. Therefore, the confusion on how to get access to the task can be reduced.

2.      2.What sort of things are the application users expected to do with regards to learning content?

Since the webpage I’ve chosen provides listening task, the users need to have audio software for examples media player, real player and winamp media player. These audio players are compatible with the audio format in the website. In addition, the website also requires functioning sound system as for clear pronunciation to be heard. 

3.      3. What sort of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?

The webpage is easy to be accessed as the users do not have to pay for the fees and registration is not needed. Everyone is free to access the content of the webpage.

There are variety types of task in this webpage. Some of them such as the users have to match words, key in answers, listen to the pronunciation and match it with the pictorial stimuli, fill in the blanks, choose answer in limited time given, identifying grammatical structure as well as writing grammatically correct sentences. These exercises emphasize on drilling as when the learner fail to give correct answer, they have to redo doing the exercises again and again.

In terms of technical part in accessing the content, the website requires minimum computer literacy skills. The users just have to know the basic skills such as dragging, typing and clicking on buttons and words. In order to get access, the users have to get into this website and choose their level and proceed with English teaching or with the exercise. They have options to choose whether to start learning (through notes or video tutorial) or just carry on with the exercises.

4.      4.While you are playing/accessing/assessing the application, does it remind you of anything you do in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in a self study?

Yes. When I was in standard 4, my cousin bought a new computer. I was so interested to use his computer that time as I already learned some basic computer skills. One day I found a CD and I asked him to play the CD. I didn’t have any idea why the CD didn’t play the cartoon as displayed on the plastic cover. As I gave up on watching the CD, I clicked on the cute buttons displayed on the screen. Soon after, I realized it wasn’t an ordinary CD. My cousin told me that the CD meant for children learning and it is so called CD Rom.  It was my turning point to know learning language also can be based on self directed learning.

I played with the time out game on the website I’ve chosen and finally, I found one similar game like I used to play from the CD Rom and I really like it. It reminds me of being chased by a dog in the CD Rom but in the website, the dog is replaced with a cat.

5.      5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?

I did mention earlier on that grammar is elaborated in intricacies rather than simple explaination. From naked eyes, I assumed that this website is designed for student – centered or self directing learning where minimum instruction from teacher is required. As I concern, Silent Way is one pedagogical approach where teacher plays minimum part in teaching. The learners learn through self learning with minimum instruction of the teacher. The process is more to native fluency, practical knowledge of grammar and lesson planned around grammatical items. Yes, it is very true where the major emphasize of this website is on grammatical structure rather than reading and writing.

6.     6.  How well is the constructivist theory or learning applied to the chosen website(s)?

 Constructivism is a theory of learning where the knowledge constructed by knower of the knowledge (http://www.usask.ca, retrieved on July 20^th, 2010). Learners on the other hand explore the learning and obtain knowledge based on their exploration by doing tasks.

From the website I’ve evaluated, I could see that the learners learn through experience or “learning by doing” from a variety of different tasks. Learning through reading notes and looking at the examples itself do not necessarily help much in improving the learners’ proficiency. However, this ESL website successfully applied the theory into practice. To support more, grammar explaination is specific, clear instructions are given and self-directed learning is introduced. Therefore, the learners require minimum assistance from the teacher while doing the activities or gaining information on language through this website.

7.      7. In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a debate on ‘whether the computer was “master” of or “slave” to the learning process (Higgins and Johns,1984). In relation to your evaluation – was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

I don’t think computer is a replacement for teachers or an obedient servant for students because computer is just part of “helper” in making the learning process becomes meaningful and enjoyable. Teaching and learning process which involving direct connection between the learners and the teacher are definitely the utmost elements in exchanging knowledge. Teaching via computer can be enjoyable for some students but it also can be other way round as students’ needs are multiple and unpredictable. With the notion computer as obedient servant for learners is also unacceptable because learners sometimes rely on teachers in some aspects. For an example, in direct teaching, teachers are actively involved in introducing content, demonstrating skills, directing large groups and so on. In addition, direct teaching (which involves two way interactions between teacher and learners) is one of the strategies which can help in meeting specific objectives of learning outcomes. (Wilen,Hutchison,Ishler;2008)

8.      8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?

Yes. I would somehow use some part of the application especially the exercises in my future career as a teacher. That is because, the exercises are designed based on students’ level of proficiency. The other reason is that, teaching in traditional way in classroom sometimes can make the students feel bored and unmotivated to learn. Using English website with multimedia application can increase their motivation and enthusiasm to learn more. In using the notes provided, I will be more selective as for teaching the secondary school students, point form notes are far better than wordy explaination.

Recommendations

Grammar explaination from this website is long, and the intricacies of grammar elaborations can be seen. The minimization of the elaboration exists but still, the explaination looks too technical. In addition, the form of the explaination looks dry and dull with no colour attraction thus can make the learners not interested to read further. In fact, there is no table at all. However, for those who are searching in depth explaination for grammar, this website can fulfil the need. Again, the errors of spelling should be avoided. Based on the specific comment here, I would like to suggest that the website should provide short and simple explaination so that the rules can be understood easily. One way of doing this is through diagram, tables and so on.

 We need to bear in mind that learner’s proficiency level does not necessarily depend on their age. Therefore, practicality of this website should meet the condition of the learners.

Lastly, I would like to recommend that the website should provide printable exercise so that those who are using computers at school can bring and finish the exercise at home. This makes the website more attractive.

So far, the variety of the exercises already catches my intention to do more and more exercise in the website plus it makes me interested to introduce it to my future students.InsyaAllah.

           

 References :

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/Skaalid/definition.html

Spada,N. and Lightbown,P.M. 2008. How Languages are Learned : Explaining second language learning . Oxford University Press

Brown, H.D. 2001. Teaching by Principals : An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. San Francisco State University


Wilen,W. Hutchison,J and Ishler,M. 2008. Dynamics of Effective Secondary Teaching.Sixth Edition. United States of America

Courseware Task sheet

salam.i'm so sorry prof for not being able to submit it on time, due to my  body weakness (fever) .this is the link for file i've uploaded.

JCloze

Excel worksheet on mediafire

salam..

this is my link for file i've uploaded in mediafire

www.mediafire.com/zie641

thanks

In Class task 2

Date : Monday, 12th July,2010
Copy and Drag for Simple Past Tense sentence.

1.In class Task 1

1.Please introduce yourself.

Assalamualaikum and good morning readers. Hi!. My name is Zie. I'm from Dungun, Terengganu. I'm the eldest of 5 and the only daughter of En. Zolkifli b. Mohamed and Pn. Zaifah binti Puteh. My hobbies are reading and sleeping. Some sort of funny novels can catch my intention to flip the frontpage till the end of it.Sometimes I love to learn new recipes. Besides,  I do make decision out of my interest,or should I describe myself as uncertain? I'm a person with  "go-with-the-flow" personality.

2. How would you rate yourself in terms of your computer skills and why? (e.g. expert, novice, savvy, geek, illiterate etc)
I cannot describe myself as an expert user of computer skills. I'm still a novice user. The main reason I stand with "novice" title is that I do not know how to use popular sofwares. Most of my friends could do graphic works, talk on the application and all but I always remain silent.


3. What computer software and hardware knowledge do you have?
I'm quite good in using microsoft office softwares, ULEAD Photoexpress, and Windows moviemaker. I know how to replace and reattach RAM chip at the back of my laptop.

4.Have you experienced learning via the computer (online, etc)?
I used to experience online discussion in semester 2 for PELT subject. We had to create a yahoo group and discuss about the subject matter. We exchanged our perspectives on certain topics.

5. Did you try to incorporate technology in your some of your lessons during your practicum? Was it a success or a failure? If you did not what was/were the reason(s)?
I never incorporate technology in my lesson during my practicum. The obstacle is that, the administrator didn't give cooperation for the trainees to make full use of the facilities at the school.

6. What is your opinion on the use of computer/technology in language teaching?
The use of computer or technology in language teaching is one good attempt in increasing the motivation of the learners. Some learners tend to feel lack of interest as the traditional method takes place during the language teaching and learning process. I think,  the use of  interesting presentations, challenging learning games and language sofwares can enhance learners capabalities in attaining better performance in language proficiency.

7. What are your expectations from this course?
I expect to gain more computer skills especially for language teaching because I want to integrate the skills to my future students. Besides that, I want to enhance my creativity in designing coursewares and expand my knowledge on other technology-based items.