Integrating technology in ESL writing

With the rapid development of science and technology, the emerging and developing of multimedia technology and its application to teaching, featuring audio, visual, animation effects comes into full play in English class teaching .It's also sets a favorable platform for exploration on English teaching in new era.

There are many advantages not only to students but also to the teachers itself. From the students’ perspective, there are some advantages that will benefit them. Firstly, using technology can cultivates students’ interest and motivation in their study and their involvement in class activities. Other than that, through technology students may widen their knowledge to gain an insightful understanding to western culture because technology can provide students abundant information more than what the textbook can provide. They can also learn about western culture/ other country culture just by using internet as not everyone is afford to go abroad to really see other country culture. When they had learnt about others country, they will able to come out with an essay that involving describing the places that they want to visit the most.

In contrast, using technology can also 'harm' students in several ways. In order to complete some assignments students were required to online using internet, so for some students it is easy for them to get distracted to log in to facebook, twitter and so on. This situation will makes them forget about their assignments and keep delaying to complete their work. As a result, they will only manage to complete their assignments the day before the submission date, well the last minute things won’t be able to give best result and this will affect the students mark and indirectly will affect their academic achievement.

In conclusion, it is depends on us students on how to cope with the development of technology. If we use it for the right purpose then technology will really benefits us but if we use it for other purposes than study then technology will be the one that will ‘destroy’ us.

This Is How we can do it...HOTS

CONFUSED-what should I do?

YOU ARE GOING TO APPLY  FOR YOUR UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE, YOUR PARENTS WANT YOU TO BECOME A LAWYER BUT YOU DON’T HAVE ANY INTEREST TOWARD THE STUDY OF  RULES AND LAW. YOU WISH TO BECOME A TEACHER, SO HOW WILL YOU ACT SO THAT BOTH SIDES WONT HURT WITH THE DECISION THAT YOU CHOOSE? IF YOU INSISTED TO BECOME A TEACHER HOW WILL YOU CONVINCE YOUR PARENTS? OR YOUR CHOOSE TO FOLLOW YOUR PARENTS-TO BECOME A FUTURE LAWYER. THEN EXPLAIN WHY DID YOU DO SO?

                                                          OR

MINI TEST...

1)Construct two meaningful instructions for two different activity based on the picture shown.

• You received a letter from your friend telling you that she/he will having a family vacation during the semester break and asking your opinion which hotel is suitable for them to stay in and how to get there. Write a letter to recommend a hotel and how to get there. Your letter should more than 200 words.
• Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions. Your answer should base on the picture shown.       For me, this kind of activity (fill in the blanks) will help in students writing because if they able to fill in the blanks correctly they will know how to use prepositions correctly and apply the knowledge to their writing so that they won't having problem using preposition in their writing.

2) You are teaching the theme ‘environment’ to a form three class with intermediate level of proficiency. Describe one activity on how to integrate the following thinking skills into your lesson.

Analysis

From the newspaper, find any kind of article or report that related to ‘environment’. From the article or report, find out the thesis statement, topic sentences and the supporting details.

Application

Teacher will show a video below to the students. After that students are required to write an expository essay (Cause-effect essay). In that essay, students should include the following information:

• Three effects of the disaster shown to the environment.
• In each body paragraph should have a topic sentences.
• Thesis statement in the introductory paragraph

WRITING THROUGH GAME!!!

Experiencing the Haiti Earthquake

We were asked by the lecturer to play a game. To be  honest I am not  kind of person who likes to play game but since this was part of the assignments then I sincerely play the game, besides it was because that we have been told that this game was based on the real situation that happened. So the game is about how will the three different roles which are the survival, journalist and aid worker  will contribute help toward all the Haitians. Thus among the three roles I’ve been selected to take the aid worker’s role because I imagine that if things like that happen to me, I’ll need aid workers the most since they can help victims like in medication. They will be the person that the victims in contact the most.

 After I finished my mission being an aid worker there, I suddenly felt some kind of feeling which is grateful. I am really grateful that at least until now there is no such disaster happens in my country. I don’t have to risk my own life scavenging in the rubble for food or items to sell or consuming polluted water as the Haitians experiencing after the earthquake. Which touch my heart the most is the part where there are babies or infants that able to smile during that time. I’m thinking that how pitiful these innocent babies have to go through such situation in their early age. Through this game also wide opening my eyes who loves to complain all around about the food that we eat, the place where we lived and so on compared to them our situation is better. From this game also taught me that in everything we do, we should always refer to the expert to that particular matter so that we won’t make mistakes that will not only harm ourselves but also the people around us.

For my own opinion, teaching students to write using this game is quite interesting since most of the children nowadays like to play games. Besides, through this game there will develop other skill that comes in a package such as critical, creative thinking and be able to consider once feeling before taking any decision since any roles that you choose, you need to THINK before you take any action because all the decision we made will affect the victims. For example the situation where you are exhausted then you are given choices whether to rest awhile  or to proceed since there are many victims were waiting and needed help. This game will enhance our problem-solving skill, though.  In future, I might be using this game to teach writing (if I being posted not in rural area then possible).From the game, I’ll asked them to write a speech as they will be interview to share their experiences in order to help the Haitians based on their chosen role. Secondly, they are needed to create one more character that they feel appropriate to help the Haitians, they should write the reason why did they choose that character and what way the character will help the victims? They surely will come out with different  characters that I never think of before.

ASSESSING STUDENTS ESSAY

This activity was done by group. After  15  minutes discussion, we decided to give the essay 9 out of 20 marks based on the marking scheme that given to us. Overall, it is a good essay with some noticeable inaccuracies such as the usage of vocabulary and punctuation. 

My First Time Marking

At first, when I try to read this paper I am a bit confused because at the first paragraph the ‘author’ writes ‘David, Selina and I’  which mean the “author” itself included in that story but then suddenly in the second paragraph appear new character in that story whose name is Chase. I’m thinking whose this Chase suddenly appear because the ‘author’ did not mention the name at the beginning of the story. Finally, after several times reading the narrative essay I finally understand whose this Chase is. Chase means it ‘author’ itself. The ‘author’ uses Chase instead of I, this makes me a bit confused. This student has a problem in using punctuation where he don’t even know where to put full stop and keep using commas.Other than that, he/she also got problem using the pronoun.(David wanted to help she) Besides, he having problem in tenses; past tense. Example: he/she used finded instead of found. Maybe he/she was still confused within regular and irregular past participle. Besides, he/she doesn't finish his/her sentence. (Do not and run to the open), open what? In addition to that, this student having problem in using the comparison of adverbs. (they should run out as soon as possible), it should be as fast as possible. Overall, he/she has the ideas about their scary experience, only having problem in using the language to express their ideas and thought into words.


The ways I'll respond to this him/her, I prefer to have a writing conference to him/her. Since they are many corrections needed and it is inconvenient to write all the comments into words. To peer edit before the next submission? I think if there are students that have high English proficiency in that class, it is possible to have peer editing because they are some students feel shy to talk to the teacher about the problem or to ask questions, thus maybe if with their classmates they feel at ease to talk about the problems. WHAT IF.... All the students in that class having similar level English proficiency, then it is not possible to let them to peer editing other friends work as themselves are having the same problem.. How come they able to correct others when themselves also having similar problem. Things might get worse. For improvement to he/she, I will ask him/her  to concentrate more on grammar and read more books. As a follow-up activity, I'll ask him/her to write a diary and write down things that happen whole day.

Songs and movies for KBSM and KSSR

SONGS
Michael Jackson- Earth Song
Blur- Country Song
Celine Dion- The Power Of Love
Fergie- Big Girls Don’t Cry
Miley Cyrus- The Climb
Westlife- You Raise Me up
Michael Jackson- You Are Not Alone
Phill Collins- You’ll Be In my Heart
Celine Dion- I’m Alive
Justin Bieber- Never Say Never
Justin Bieber-Pray
Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
Ziggy Marley- Beautiful Mother Nature
Ice Mc- Look After Nature
Michael Jackson - Human Nature

MOVIES
Tarzan
The Impossible
Ice Age
Kungfu Panda
Karate Kid
Transformer
Pinocchio
Toy Story
High School Musical
2012
Lilo and Stich
Home Alone
Happy Feet
The Lion King
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Snow Buddies
Nature Unleashed: Earthquake

Task 4

WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE FOLLOWING PLACES

PLACES	WORDS
1.     MARKET	·        BUSTLING, CHAOTIC,JAMMED
2.     A HAUNTED HOUSE	·        ALARMING, TERRIFYING,HORRIFYING, FRIGHTENING, CREEPY, BONE-CHILLING, DARK, WICKED
3.     CITY	·        CROWDED, EXCITING, NOISY, HUGE
4.     BEACH/RIVERSIDE	·        SANDY, SUNNY, COOL, BREEZY, HOT, PEACEFUL

Task 3 (Five senses).

The assignments is about to capture a place around campus to fill in the five-senses table.We went to the 'Dewan canselori'.It was a long and tiring journey before we could reach there. Tired but worth it. 

What do you see?	What do you hear?	What do you smell?	What do you feel?
·         Ocean ·         Buildings ·         Boat	·         Sound of water ·         Bird chirping	·         Body odour ·         Fresh air	·         Cold ·         Windy ·         Refreshing ·         Happy ·         Enjoy ·         Calm

Task 2

Original: She was nervous while waiting for her.
New: Ameera keep looking at her watch. It is about 10 o'clock, but Sarah had not coming yet as promised to meet at the bus stop at 9.30 a.m. Ameera afraid of getting late to class, she tried to call Sarah for several times but she didn't answer the phone. Finally, Ameera decided to leave first.

Describing People

EYES	Expressions: piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful, tear filled, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive, twinkling, lively, laughing. Shape and size: large, small, almond-shape, round, slanted, squinty, crinkly Colors: blue, grey, green, brown
NOSE	Aquiline, false, fat, flat, flattened, beaky, corpulent, curve, gigantic, hooked, Pendulous, pert, pierced, pink, pointed, perforated, sharp,  straight, splendid, well-shaped, wrinkled, sunburnt
LIPS	Thin, full, pouting, pursed
FACE	Square, oval, round, heart-shaped
COMPLEXION	Freckled, rosy, ruddy, tanned, wrinkled, pale, spotless, silky, smooth,  creamy, baby soft,  glowing, rough, dry
HAND	Dirty, clean, sparky, shiny, rough, smooth, soft, wet, cold, hot, sticky, stinky, dry
CHEEK	Radiant, reddened, rosy, rounded, ruddy, pale, pallid, pink, plump, Shining, smooth, Soft, sun-bronzed, sunburnt, sunken, sun-tanned, blushing, dimpled, glorious, glowing,
BODY	Brawny, hale, hardy, healthy, muscular, strapping, strong, sturdy, tough, vigorous, debilitated, feeble, flabby, frail, sickly, weak
CLOTHES	Casual, scruffy, smart, tidy, messy
SHOES	Elegant, shiny, tinted, stylish
HAIR	Long, black, straight, short, blonde, wavy, curly

This is the first activity(by group) conducted outside the classroom whereas we were told to bring scissor,glue and also newspaper. This activity was very simple but we are having fun doing it although we are running under the hot sun.We were asked to search some words from the newspaper and paste it in a piece of paper on the other way side. I really enjoyed this activity.From all the words that we manage to find,we have to come out with three topic sentences.

                                           CAUSES OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Thesis statement:

There are several causes of motor vehicle accidents which are cell phone usage,driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Topic sentences:

          Firstly,by using cell phone to text or talk the drivers will easily get distracted as they are not be able to pay full attention toward their driving especially when there is unexpected moves made by other drivers.

         Secondly,drivers who drink and drive will reduce the ability to drive safely because alcohol slows brain function so drivers under influence of alcohol can't respond to certain situations,to make decisions or to react quickly.

          Thirdly,drivers who like to speed will highly risk experiencing accidents because the faster you drive,the slower your reaction will be if you need to prevent an accident.

              

SUMMARY:INTEGRATING SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS INTO ESL WRITING CLASSROOM:STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

 Everything have their own disadvantages and advantages.It depends on how deal with the particular matter.Integrating social networking tools into ESL writing classroom will give students a lot of advantages such as they can easily to communicate with their teachers by Blogs and Facebook,allow for multimedia interaction,can read other students for example Blogs and comments directly and individually on them.As for some parents who know how to use the technologies,they can view their children's work and progress.When we students using SNSs for study purposes,we should have a great  self-control,always focus with our work so that we'll not easily get distracted by doing other not important things as mentioned in the article.thus here come the disadvantages which are teachers and students can breed inappropriate relationship,some of the students who do not own a laptop or access to internet will find it so difficult to complete the assignments given.Through SNSs,students are tend to 'copy-paste' from the extensive online resources without thinking and some students will get easily distracted to update their status on Facebook and when something interesting come up they'll get themselves involve and forget about their learning.

A letter to myself....

this was my first assignment that I received since i came here.A letter to myself which I'm still confused what should the content be...well,of course after spending my 4 years here I hope that I will graduate in the 'Dewan Canselor"proudly with flying colour result,so that I'll not be an unemployed since now the system for education is open market.Being a teacher,there is a lot of responsibility and also need to sacrifice a lot,but hopefully after being trained for 4 years here,I'll be able to teach the students out there well.Especially speaking,right now its hard for me to speaks in English with others.Thus,hope after this I hope i can overcome my shyness.