Week 4

So, another week comes to an end. Another week of new impressions. It was interesting to know a lot of new and useful things about teaching writing, reading and vocabulary using technology. There are so many useful sites that I haven’t even imagined! Still I do not have enough time now to study these sites carefully so I keep bookmarking all links in my Delicious not to miss anything.

This week we have discussed our classroom problems that could be solved by using technology. I have been thinking about this for the whole week. Reading my classmates’ posts I see that I have the same problems as they do. Though my students are university graduates majoring in English Linguistics, they also have certain problems with grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary. It was not easy for me to formulate a definite problem me group face. Because some of my students are better in grammar, other are better in writing, and other - in speaking etc., but all of them have to master the same material from the course book. In a word, the traditional course book contains activities which are to be done by all the students irrespective of their actual abilities. What I have learned from Jerek Krajka’s article “Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction” (and  what I will try to implement into my lessons) that the use of the Web in the classroom gives both the teachers and the students the element of  choice and variety. Each student can get an individual activity which will be interesting for him and correspond to his level. The task of a teacher is only to carefully select the activities suitable for a particular student.

To write a lesson plan … well… in the University we don’t have to write detailed lesson plans as school teachers do. I plan my lessons but in a way of activities to be done without detailed descriptions of materials, procedures and so on… well… I am still working over on my lesson plan….

This week is very busy for me because the academic year comes to an end and I have to check different tests and papers, then credits, exams ... But I try my best to cope with the tasks of Week 3.

To sum up my reflections on Week 3, I'd  like to say I that I find Delicious interesting and  comfortable. Now I try to save all interesting for me links from our Discussions in my stacks. 

Reading the suggested articles on computer assisted pronunciation and listening teaching, I came across an issue I have been pondering on for  some time. This is what in Maria Grazia Busa'a article "New Perspectives in Teaching Pronunciation" is named a foreign accent. It is said that "the ultimate goal of pronunciation teaching should not be to eradicate foreign accent, but rather to promote pronunciation which is reasonably intelligible, as intelligible pronunciation is considered an essential component of communicative competence". I can't fully agree with this statement, because if we speak about teaching a foreign language as a means of basic communication, than maybe it is correct. But when it goes about trainee teacher (as my students are), whose primary occupation is to teach a language to others, pronunciation must be one of the main concerns. These students should have decent pronunciation, as they will go to schools and will teach their pupils  the same   reasonably intelligible pronunciation.   In this respect, the materials of the sites, dedicated to pronunciation and listening skills training, are useful tools to improve both teachers' and students' skills. What I like about the computer assisted pronunciation and listening activities, that they contain authentic materials, can be done both as in- as out- of class activities, students can work independently and have the feedback immediately. 

During Week 2 I have gained much valuable information on the following: 

Firstly, I have learnt how to write the objective to a lesson in a new unusual to me way. I think that a teacher cannot come into the classroom without having a clear objective of the lesson: what to teach, what to expect from the students, and how to evaluate. In this respect Dr Bob Kizlik’s idea that “fuzzy thinking might get you through the day, but it will never get you through a career” (Kizlik, 2012) deserves my strongest support. Frankly speaking, I was taught to present objectives of a lesson in a bit different manner, but my personal opinion is that the one we used in the course is better and more laconic.

Secondly, I have found out and tried so many nice search engines from Choose the Best Search for Your Information Need. This experience is most useful for me because I am convinced that who possesses information, possesses the world. Following the threads of our discussions of Week 2 I tried my best to link practically to all the sites mentioned by my teacher and classmates. Some of these sites are really fascinating and provide interesting resources.

Thirdly, I have improved my skills on Internet search. The tips from “Technology Tip of the Month” (Healey, 2003) helped me greatly to make a proper query in the search engines I used and lessen the number of irrelevant hits.

And last but not least, I have communicated with my teachers and classmates and discussed some interesting issues. This experience was very engaging.

In addition, translating my reflections on the assignments of Week 2 into actions I have made some practical steps to integrate the gained knowledge into my teaching practice. For example,  I prepared some activities for my students using the resources from the given list. On Friday I tried with my students the debate on the topic  “Advertisements do more harm than good” from http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=717.   We discussed advantages and disadvantages of advertising basing on the resource developed by Richard Penny (Finland). The debate was rather heated and my students liked it immensely.

Though I don't work with school children I found many  interesting sites for my daughter. She is 6 and learns English. We added into Favourites the http://kids.yahoo.com/games, and http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/songs/pizza-and-chips. These interactive sites suggest many vocabulary and grammar games as well as videos. I have mentioned that I have no experience of teaching English to kids, that’s why only I “experiment” with my daughter. I see that when we work with a book, she is not interested much. But when we watch a cartoon or play a computer game she is more engaged in studying and remembers better.

I have added the tips on Internet search into my seminar materials on Information Search for Research on Linguistics.

            So, in a whole I consider that this week was rather productive for me.

Week 1 is full of surprises. It seems to me that I haven't done such extensive reading for  a long period of time. I have visited all blogs and read everything presented by my classmates , and I was deeply impressed by their  skills and creativity. Now I see what I must strive to!!!  I like all the blogs because each of them represents a person who created it. Some blogs are really superb. The only thing that worries me a little bit is that for a while I have some difficulties with posting comments and  I can't  communicate with my classmates  personally on their blogs (but hope I'll cope with this).

 I would like to say that the idea of introducing the countries we live in is great. It was so interesting to learn  about  Serbia on Marija' blog. I have made up my mind to suggest this video about my country, Ukraine.

I hope you will enjoy this video and my country.

This week Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter.  So, let this joy of Easter  fill up your heart today and forever. Happy Easter!

I feel like a freshman trying to get my bearings in the assignments of  Week 1. I should admit, that to cope with some of the assignments was not an easy task for me (especially to create a blog). It took much time and effort, but it was worth my while.

     Week 1 is full of new experience. Thinking over on what I have gained this week, I can say

·     I've got acquainted with my teachers - Jodi and Celeste.

·     I have met my e-classmates.

·     I have learnt how to create a blog and tried to share my reflections.

·     I have participated for the first time in online discussion.

·    I have read several articles  and .....(to be continued….)