Dear Sir/Madam,
At the beginning of
week 4, there were articles about using CALL in writing and reading activities.
The first article I read
is “Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction (2000) by Jarek Krajka (accessible
at http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Krajka-WritingUsingNet.html).
I was happy to learn that the advent of the internet and the wide spread of the
technology in our life create new opportunities for language learning.
According to the writer, the Web is the invaluable source of information, both
for teachers to create classroom materials and for their classes to explore the
whole world.
This article gives some
important techniques and URLs related to writing a letter to a friend; writing
a formal letter; a biography; a description of a person; an argumentative essay
(both for and against); notices and advertisements; a description of a festival
of ceremony; a description or review of a book, film or play; a newspaper
report; a personal opinion essay; a description of a place. I hope I will use
these data during my prospective classes.
The second article is “Three
Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL Using E-books (2004), by Mei-Ya Liang
(available at http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Liang-ExtensiveReading.html).
The article is seen like a kind of study guide which shows procedures and
questions that can help students skim e-books. I am planning to use the same
procedures in the future.
Along this week 4, I refreshed
the memory about the use of ABCD objective. Additionally, I have discovered many
helpful websites, some of them being:
a) http://a4esl.org/, from where students will find
games, quizzes, vocabulary quizzes, crossword puzzles,…
b) http://www.manythings.org/,
from where students will find vocabulary lists with games and puzzles,
crosswords puzzles, matching quizzes, pronunciation,…
Though not new, the
week reminded me something about ‘plagiarism’. Here is the reference that I will
use to help my students who use ‘copy---paste’ in their writings: http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Plagiarism.
(an audio-visual material about this is mentioned below: Week 4: Using technology to enhance reading, writing, and vocabulary skills).
The fourth week taught
me how to write a technology-enhanced lesson plan: I can prepare a lesson plan
with technology, but having aside a plan B in case technology doesn't work/serve. The link for my lesson plan is:
Finally, the week 4 was
an occasion to refresh our memories about our class, describing some issues
discussed via Nicenet. Visiting my classmates’ blogs, I learnt from Natalya’s
blog that “Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without
study is dangerous” (by Confucius).
Thank you!
Sosthene
Hi, Sosthene,
ReplyDeleteI think we are in a position to say that we highly appreciate the efforts and time we make use of to get a genuine instructive expertise. I am of the same mind with you that we have had enriching professional opportunities in this week. Our chance for more insights is strengthened by the recommendations we have made for each other on which web page to consult, how, and why. The two articles that most of us have reviewed challenge us to explore for more pages with similar pleasure that learners may have with their learning practice.
The writing techniques add further significance to the learning experience that we have had this week. Those amongst us who have been overwhelmed by traditional instruction of a chalk board, handouts and or flip-chart, will realize that a new teaching era has been availed for them
The two pages: http://a4esl.org/, and http://www.manythings.org/, should have been described as an encounter with a hidden treasure. All EFL teachers must try these web pages because they provide them with the techniques of exploring, using and developing similar Web sites.
I do not only agree with you in your opinion regarding the way you rated these pages, but I also believe that I am the luckiest because these sites have addressed all the problematic issues I have had with teaching English as a foreign or second language.
Your offer to share alternative lesson plans with the link https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4wb4B-7M_8RMG5OcWtCNVF4UWc/edit does help a lot of teachers with the techniques and importance of being planned and organized.
I am awfully sorry to have been wordy but your reference to the Natalya’s views on the importance of exchanging reflections among the course mates and the significance of studying carefully before writing reflections is a helpful tip.
How else could we keep up-to-date in our career?
Thanks
Dugul
Dear Dugul,
DeleteYour comment is welcome!
I don't mind whether you have been wordy or not, the important thing here is to exchange different points of view! Teachers are always like that, they do not plan it but finally you remark that they have mentioned more elements than they planned before.
The week 4 has brought very important references that will help teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language.
Thank you very much to have visited my blog; thanks for reading and leaving your comments.
Keep it up!
Sosthene