“What would you do if you found a mobile phone?”
The responses that I got from my students were:
Keep it.
Ignore.
Call from the list.
Wait for someone to call.
Sell it.
Sell it and buy another phone.
Give it away as a gift.
Use the credit and then sell it.
I asked each one of them while trying to recall their names.
I still remember most names.
After that, I distributed the article ‘Global Phone Test’, from Reader’s Digest, August 2007 to almost 60 students and made them read the article and respond to it.
As requested, I would like to hear you views.
How do you feel when you discovered that the lowest return rate (43%) of the lost mobile phone is Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong?
Why do you think this happened?
What does it mean to you?
Does it mean that honesty is a rare virtue in our country?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Letter of the Week
To my dear students,
How I miss all of you so much! Thanks so much for all your wishes and ‘doa’ . However, you must probably feel ‘happy’ too, as you don’t have to come to class and do all the activities that I always instruct you to do. Emm, don’t lie to me! I know.
Anyway, I realized that these 2 days have been a bit serious lessons for all my classes. On Sunday class, I had to give a test and a quiz and also lecture. For Monday class, I talked about Speaking final exam and in the evening class I talked about thesis statement and topic sentences and use the textbook.
I also related to all of you about how I became sick and must have ‘bored all of you to death’ about my busy schedules. Anyway, it just goes to show that I’m only human and not a superwoman.
I have also informed all of you about how much you need to improve on your grammar. Upon checking your essays, reading your writings at your blogs, most of you really need to work hard on your grammar and some of you on word choice and even spelling. You also need to speak English all the time, especially in my class and while communicating with me or with your friends.
Till I write again!
How I miss all of you so much! Thanks so much for all your wishes and ‘doa’ . However, you must probably feel ‘happy’ too, as you don’t have to come to class and do all the activities that I always instruct you to do. Emm, don’t lie to me! I know.
Anyway, I realized that these 2 days have been a bit serious lessons for all my classes. On Sunday class, I had to give a test and a quiz and also lecture. For Monday class, I talked about Speaking final exam and in the evening class I talked about thesis statement and topic sentences and use the textbook.
I also related to all of you about how I became sick and must have ‘bored all of you to death’ about my busy schedules. Anyway, it just goes to show that I’m only human and not a superwoman.
I have also informed all of you about how much you need to improve on your grammar. Upon checking your essays, reading your writings at your blogs, most of you really need to work hard on your grammar and some of you on word choice and even spelling. You also need to speak English all the time, especially in my class and while communicating with me or with your friends.
Till I write again!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Novelists and Reporters
Again, I 'm impressed with my students' creativity. For the past two days,they have submitted their designs of CD Covers and lyrics of their hit songs. They really seemed to enjoy this activity. From this activity, I've actually let them practice giving specific information, that matches with the learning point stated in the scheme of work for the Mainstream English I.
This week, I've created another activity that allows them to practice WH-Questions. For the first 10 minutes, each one of them imagined to be a novelist and a reporter. They had to think about the title of the novel and the storyline, as well as , questions to ask as a reporter. Each of them took turns in group of 4 to switch roles. Each one had 10 minutes to play the different roles.
Well, we'll read their responses about this activity in their blogs or here.
Before, I ended my class today,they were anxious to know what will the next activity be.
I told them,"It's going to be a surprise!"
This week, I've created another activity that allows them to practice WH-Questions. For the first 10 minutes, each one of them imagined to be a novelist and a reporter. They had to think about the title of the novel and the storyline, as well as , questions to ask as a reporter. Each of them took turns in group of 4 to switch roles. Each one had 10 minutes to play the different roles.
Well, we'll read their responses about this activity in their blogs or here.
Before, I ended my class today,they were anxious to know what will the next activity be.
I told them,"It's going to be a surprise!"
The Notebook
As promised in my entry dated 19th July, here's one of my favourite novels, that I found and read 2 years ago and later watched the movie, twice, from HBO Channel.
Every so often a love story so captures our hearts that it becomes more than a story- it becomes an experience to remember forever. THE NOTEBOOK is such a book. It is a celebration of how passion can be ageless and timeless, a tale that moves us to laughter and tears and makes us believe in true love all over again…
At thirty –one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle…
(Taken from the back cover of The Notebook by Nicholas Spark http://www.nicholassparks.com)
Every so often a love story so captures our hearts that it becomes more than a story- it becomes an experience to remember forever. THE NOTEBOOK is such a book. It is a celebration of how passion can be ageless and timeless, a tale that moves us to laughter and tears and makes us believe in true love all over again…
At thirty –one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle…
(Taken from the back cover of The Notebook by Nicholas Spark http://www.nicholassparks.com)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
e-Portfolio
I'm teaching another group of students to create tneir own blogs. This time it's the ED555 Curriculum and Instruction group. Instaed of compiling all the materials in printed version, I've taught them how to create a blog and turn the blog into their e-Portfolio.
Rather than compiling the printed version, you are able to link to all materials related to Curriculum and Instruction the e-way. So, I hope all of you will not be scared to explore and use this to reflect on your own teaching and learning.
I believe, by now, everyone has successfully created his or her own blog. Welcome to blogosphere! Please leave your comment here so that it will be easier for me to link to your blog.
Rather than compiling the printed version, you are able to link to all materials related to Curriculum and Instruction the e-way. So, I hope all of you will not be scared to explore and use this to reflect on your own teaching and learning.
I believe, by now, everyone has successfully created his or her own blog. Welcome to blogosphere! Please leave your comment here so that it will be easier for me to link to your blog.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Reading Habits Survey
For Wednesday evening, combined classes of D2A1 and D2A2 (60 students), I’ve prepared handouts for grammar review, as well as, an article from Reader’s Digest, June 2007 titled “Hooked on Comics’.
I did an oral survey about their reading habits. I started with English novels. Out of 60,only 2 students read English novels; both read Harry Potter. About half read Malay popular novels and comics.
What are the titles of comics they read?
I had to ask them, “Are you sure you are university students?” “ I thought these are the same comics that my 8 year-old Arif is reading.” Naruto, Sinchan, Doraemon, Sailormoon,etc…emm, makes me wonder???
Other than comics?
Magazines, such as Cleo, Seventeen, Galaxie, ‘Remaja’,etc
After identifying their reading interest, I tried to find out other interests that they have. I believe this is very important for me so that I’ll be able to prepare activities and materials that interest them.
To my dear students, if you really want to improve your English, you really have to read a lot. If novels are too heavy for you, start with short stories.
In my next entry ,I’ll write the blurp of one of my favourite ‘light’ novels that you might enjoy. Go and search for it at MPH. Only RM34.90, slightly a little bit more than the cost of your ‘top-up’.
I did an oral survey about their reading habits. I started with English novels. Out of 60,only 2 students read English novels; both read Harry Potter. About half read Malay popular novels and comics.
What are the titles of comics they read?
I had to ask them, “Are you sure you are university students?” “ I thought these are the same comics that my 8 year-old Arif is reading.” Naruto, Sinchan, Doraemon, Sailormoon,etc…emm, makes me wonder???
Other than comics?
Magazines, such as Cleo, Seventeen, Galaxie, ‘Remaja’,etc
After identifying their reading interest, I tried to find out other interests that they have. I believe this is very important for me so that I’ll be able to prepare activities and materials that interest them.
To my dear students, if you really want to improve your English, you really have to read a lot. If novels are too heavy for you, start with short stories.
In my next entry ,I’ll write the blurp of one of my favourite ‘light’ novels that you might enjoy. Go and search for it at MPH. Only RM34.90, slightly a little bit more than the cost of your ‘top-up’.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
CD Cover
I’ve turned everyone in my class into a ‘singer’ this week.
Imagine that you are a singer, promoting your first CD.
These are the things that you have to do in 15 minutes, individually. No discussions are allowed.
1. Name your first album
2. Design the cover.
3. Give 10 titles of your songs:
(5 songs will be about you and another 5 songs about your future, dreams, hopes and aspirations. Preferably, original title; but existing songs are fine too.
4. Tell us why you have chosen that name as your title of album.
5. Tell us about any of the songs that you anticipate will be a hit song. Why?
After 15 minutes, I called for a volunteer to start presenting for about 2 minutes, until everyone in class has spoken.
They were, indeed very creative! I’m impressed! I’ve asked them to write about it in their blogs. I’ve assigned another task for them before I ended the class. Each one of them has to create lyrics of their hit songs and submit the CD cover to me.
Can’t wait to see the product!
Imagine that you are a singer, promoting your first CD.
These are the things that you have to do in 15 minutes, individually. No discussions are allowed.
1. Name your first album
2. Design the cover.
3. Give 10 titles of your songs:
(5 songs will be about you and another 5 songs about your future, dreams, hopes and aspirations. Preferably, original title; but existing songs are fine too.
4. Tell us why you have chosen that name as your title of album.
5. Tell us about any of the songs that you anticipate will be a hit song. Why?
After 15 minutes, I called for a volunteer to start presenting for about 2 minutes, until everyone in class has spoken.
They were, indeed very creative! I’m impressed! I’ve asked them to write about it in their blogs. I’ve assigned another task for them before I ended the class. Each one of them has to create lyrics of their hit songs and submit the CD cover to me.
Can’t wait to see the product!
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