TASK 4 : CALL COURSEWARE

Assalamualaikum :)

I have prepared a courseware on learning symbolism. Here is the link to my courseware
the symbolism project

Task 3 : Web based Lesson Plan

I have integrated Malaysia Airline website in the lesson for students to learn reading and information seeking skills. This is the link to my lesson plan 

http://www.mediafire.com/?n24xqa9afyq77ak

JCross Task

Superheroes

http://www.mediafire.com/?bt6oa2tx2tshwd6

I hope you enjoy solving this crossword!

Assignment 2 - Article Review

Title : Enhancing Opportunities for Language Use Through Web-Based Social Networking.

Authors : Imran Ho-Abdullah, Ruzy Suliza Hashim, Azhar Jaludin and Rosnani Ismail.

Summary

The aims of this study are to understand the usage of web-based social networking in providing opportunity for English as a second language (ESL) students to use the language, and to reflect ad improve their practice with a view that web-based social networking can enhance students’ interaction.

This study is an action research in which they observed the participants interaction and learn from them in order to improve their practice in teaching language. The participants had to interact in a Facebook group which is known as English Speaking Zone (ESZ) group. The entries, the interactions and comments for ten consecutive months from July 2009 to April 2010 on Facebook ESZ group are analyzed. The analysis was based on the interaction between the moderator and and the learners and among the learners with their peers. Then they selected 20 participants randomly to be interviewed. The interview was conducted to measure the interaction

The participants involved in this research were students staying in a residential college at University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

The finding shows that the interaction, which was measured by number of posts in ESZ group in Facebook, differ according to different phases of the use of the technology.

Discussion

1.     

This research is very interesting as it studies the interaction between adult learners, which are college learners rather than school learners as I could identify with them.  What makes it even more interesting is that the fact that it involves learning language through Facebook, a social networking site that is part of everyone’s life.

I cannot decide whether it is well conducted or not, but based on my reading, it seems that the report is not clear. One thing leads to confusion is the interview. The researchers mention that after the Facebook interactions, 20 subjects were selected randomly for an interview. The interview described was more like a measurement of subjects’ confidence in interacting in English. However, in the finding, the result of the interview does not discuss the confidence level in speaking, but the feedback from the subjects towards the betterment of the implementation of the learning group. So based on the finding, things that could be improved is that the researchers should conduct a speaking test, maybe a group discussion test to measure the confidence in speaking as the level of confidence may differ as the participants would not be that anxious when they are expressing their thoughts on screen. Confidence level in interactions is really subjective according to the individual personality, and that personality itself might differ online and on face-to-face basis. So it is understood that it cannot be measured through the comments and feedback on the Facebook group.

Besides, the direction of this research can be much better if the researchers regarded interaction as tow-way communication, not just in written form but spoken as well. It is comprehended that the interactions being observed was in written form – the wall post and comments, but not the spoken. The researcher could also encourage them to post a video of themselves commenting on an issue, or the popular term right now is vlogging (video blogging). Besides vlogging, to ease the anxious level, they could have had video conferences to make full use of learning via social networking sites.

Another part which is not mentioned in the research is the content and the context of the discussion. The researchers state that during the second phase of the research, the participants developed indifference towards the use of the Facebook group to interact. The lesser interactions could be resulted from topics that the participants are not interested with and which they have no schemata of. Therefore, it is important for the researchers to select topics that are suitable for discussion. The researcher could also include links to educational offline resources for the participants to maximize the learning. It is also noted that interaction on the Facebook group cannot be the only platform for the participants to practice interacting effectively. So any helpful links that can be accessed offline can be a motivation booster for the participants to improve.

3

From the research, it can be concluded that social networking site can be a medium for learning languages. So as a future teacher, who will be dealing with teenagers, or also known as the Generation Y, whose socially interactive in the internet, it is advisable that we explore and make full use of easy access to those social networking sites for learning and teaching purposes. This platform of learning however needs to be guided and observed regularly to avoid the misuse of the learning site. Teacher’s role is as a moderator who encourages and gives chance for each student to participate and interact. Besides, teacher should also treat the virtual class as in the normal class in terms of language used and the type of feedback given to the students, as it is visible to others and to avoid humiliation to any party.

Reference

Ho-Abdullah, I., Saliza, H. R., Jaludin, A., & Ismail, R. (2011). Enhancing opportunities for Language Use Trough Web-Based Social Networking. IACSIT Press, Singapore , 136-139.

www.ipedr.com/vol5/no1/29-H00075.pdf

JCloze Assignment

I have prepared an exercise on past tense. The article is about the legend of the White Snake, which takes place in China. 

The Jcloze application is really easy to use and I can prepare any kinds of gap-fill exercises according to the students needs. Apart from that it makes my life way easier if I were to prepare exercise for different level of proficiency levels as it's easy to manage and be edited.


Here is the link to my gap-filled exercise.

http://www.mediafire.com/?452qj8485z72771

Electronic Workshet

I used to make materials for classroom lesson using Microsoft Word before but they were all printed materials meant to be distributed in class. This time around, I utilized a couple of features of Microsoft Word to prepare an exercise on synonyms. It is just very plain and simple and in my opinion, it does not connote the meaning of electronic worksheet. Maybe that's for a start.

This is the link to my electronic worksheet.
http://www.mediafire.com/?7h88t664c34zorp

IN-CLASS TASK 1

Assalamualikum fellow mates :)

I need not to introduce much about myself but since it is task, so here it is.

1. An introvert named Siti Nor Fatin Izzati Binti Hasnan, a newbie to blogger.com whose blogging skill is dilettantish and whose time is consumed with reading. (sometimes 9-gagging)

2. I would rate my computer skills as novice because I tend to foreget certain basic rules in utilising the skills, especially after a semester break, I would forget things like how to printscreen, but as I started to bury my nose into finishing assignments, I will regain the skills. I must say I am quite forgetful but I am a quick learner as well.

3. I cannot differentiate between software and hardware (pardon me Sir!). I know how to utilise some of the microsoft office programmes. Apart from that, I used to design a website layout when I was in Asasi using a similar programme to flash, but I cannot recall the name and sometimes I do blog in wordpress, maybe not anymore after having this blog. I must say that I am more into creative zone, but my technical skills are limited.

4. I have experienced learning maths via computer when I was in school. I was not sure whether it was online or not, but each of my classamate was assigned to a computer and had to answer maths questions. I think my maths teacher was doing a research on that particular subject and we were the lab mice. I have also experienced learning grammar online during Asasi.

5. I tried to incorporate technology in my lesson during my practicum but it was in vain as the projector stopped working the half way of the lesson and the class provided for this purpose was a bit small for quite number of students and as a trainee teacher, I was not really good in managing the students when they got too excited over the media I have shown.

6. In my opinion, incorprating technology in language teaching is requisite as this is what authentic to students nowadays. They are 'in relationship' status with gadgets and 'it's complicated' status with pens and papers.

7. My expectation from this course would be to be a computer savvy and be more creative in incorporating the technology in my lessons.

8. The topic chosen for my AE is Teachers' Vocabulary Learning Motivation as I wam interested in learning the level of teachers's motivation in learning because as a future teacher, we must learn everyday to update our knowledge so I am excited to discover the result of my research. My supervisor is Mdm Geethanjali.