Week 4: Reflection

 

"Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail”

                                    (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/proverbs.html)

This week viewed from comparative point of view was a bit too demanding yet very practical. We had to accomplish a lot of tasks this week that I presume would lay a foundation to the upcoming action research we are expected to undertake by week 9.

First as usual we had to read articles that foster our understanding on the use of technology at teaching English skills. I personally am growing fond of such articles for they are helping me see ways that I can incorporate technology at teaching specific aspects of the skills in the language. After this course I actually have a big plan to organize workshops in different teaching settings here in Asmara sometime in the summer to help teachers see beyond and exploit the internet and technology in general in their teaching endeavors. To this perspective the articles I read in this week were really assets. For instance, the article “Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction” by Jarek Krajka proved that how the internet can get into the action of teaching the writing skill. Jarek in his/her article pointed out the benefits students have from learning through the internet as compared to the usual traditional class room. A teacher who has devoted his/her time at upgrading his/her students’ writing skill such like I, would surely employ at least some of the teaching writing genres Jarek has indicated. Out of which Writing a formal letter, Biography, Notices and Advertisements, Argumentative Essays, and Description or review of a book, Film or play seem quite suitable genres for my class room. The good thing about the article is all the genres have corresponding websites that promote the learning of that particular genre.

The second article “Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL/EFL students using E-books” by Mei-Ya Liang focuses on the contributions of E-books and the teaching strategies employed for the purpose at promoting the skill of reading. These include enabling students to choose an e-book according to their interest and reading level from among ten given books, Reading and sharing books that ultimately enable learners to see others interpretations of the book, and finally Evaluating books that promotes according to Bloomfield the higher cognitive levels. Because students must synthesize, analyze and evaluate the text they read. Something I appreciate about Liang’s article is that she has managed to insight the procedures and study guides for each type of lessons, very practical indeed.

Following reading the articles I was also invited to choose among four to five websites that promote the learning of vocabulary, reading, spelling and the like for my class. After browsing each site I found two websites very effective in my class: www.breakingnewsenglish.com and http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/toppicks.html

Breaking News EnglishFree, Ready-to-Print EFL/ESL Lesson Plans on Current Events / English News Lessons.
-- As The News Breaks, Teach It --

I liked the first one for it practically teaches basic components of writing. In short, everything is practical with this site; students are expected to fulfill tasks that promote the learning of basic components of the skill. On top of this the site will also inform learners with the timely news and information. For instance, I never knew until I read it in the website that Gambia has taken a courageous step forward to introduce a three days week end, surprising isn’t it? Thus, in addition to improving writing this site also updates learners with contemporary news. The second site I found it very interesting for my students and I have already shared it to them because I know some are very interested to sit for an international exam and the site particularly helps them in their preparation for such international exams such like TOEFL, IELTS. GRE, GMAT, SAT and so on.

It is obvious indeed there never is instruction without a lesson plan because failing to plan is simply planning to fail. The next task was creating a technology-enhanced lesson plan. It seemed a bit daunting at the time, but later after visiting the two websites indicated things got much easier and using the template in our week 4 course web site I managed to prepare a lesson plan. I found the template actually very helpful in my future lesson planning format.

        If someone has to find solutions to a problem first s/he has to identify a problem. Identifying a problem let alone in serious contexts such as education, it is the first step in every endeavor that hopes to bring a lasting solution to a prevailing problem. To this respect project task three has been very pragmatic in essence for someone looking forward to use technology, s/he must see possibilities that the technology can ease or avoid an existing problem in the traditional classroom teaching. It is thus, identifying the problem should come first in our pursuit of enhancing teaching-learning with the aid of technology. In my class room for instance, I have found lack of learners’ motivation during presentations. And this in return is hampering their improvement in the speaking skill. Thus my assumption is through the involvement of a certain technology may be that ordeal will change all together.

       In general my overall reflection of this week is very positive. The week has been very practical it has got involved me into a lot of practicalities starting from identifying a problem in my class and planning a lesson to that perspective. I hope it will bring one lasting solution to the already going on traditional presentation once I implement the lesson.