Sunday, August 26, 2007
Had soooo much fun at the dinner.
Laughed so much until my mouth ached.
The MCs for the night were hilarious.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The food and company were good.
Overall rating 10 out of 10.
I dressed as a school girl...
I had my nails painted.
It was so uncomfortable having long nails.
Guess the colour of the nails... RED!!
Very 'hiao' chinese for vain
It made everyday task like buttoning my blouse sooo difficult.
I had to do everything slowly. So not myself.
As a result, I went to the nail shop the very next day to have it removed!!!
It cost me $40 to have it removed, more than the cost to put it on.
After that, my finger nails felt course and uncomfortable.
I said to myself, "Paid so much to put it on and pay even more to have it remove!!"
I believe, this is what women go through for the sake of vanity.
I have posted the Teachers' Day Dinner photographs. Take a look at it and decide
for yourselves.
Chiao!!
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The day that I am looking forward to is finally here....
Overslept and rushed to send Adam and Shaheed to school.
Slept late the night before reading Dr Gloria's, Grammar in Discourse.
Printed from the net the meaning of relative clause and gerunds.
I quite understand its usage now.
Came back and wanted to sleep but.... just could not sleep.
I decided to write on the blog.
I guess today... will be a fun-filled day of reading. Intend to revise the Grammar In Discourse
and Language Methodology. There is a lot to learn for Grammar In Discourse. The functions and form. If I have time, I will read Dr Hayo notes just to refresh my mind about Corpus and Concordance. If I have more time today, I will revise Dr Cane's, PsychoLinguistic Approach to Language Acquisition. I think I will read up on Stephen Krashen's 5 theories.
I don't know if I can do all today.... I will try though.
I almost forgot.... need to go to school to collect notes on Adjective and Noun Phrase from Ernie.
I will try to speak to Hasanah about coming down to take pictures of her lesson and the lesson plan on Friday.
I will get dress and go to school now. Chiao!
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Monday, August 20, 2007
Sorry for not posting for quite a while... I am not having a ball of a time... However, it is better than being in school. I have been immersing myself with reading. If people get drowned in water... in my case... I get drowned in books and papers!
I have been reading continuously for a month now! My brains are bursting with 'jargons' pertaining to applied linguistics. Aghhh!!!
I am taking a half an hour break before I continue reading again. I am looking forward to Wednesday. I do not have to attend any class. i don't have class on Thursday and Friday too!!
Don't be too happy... guess what I will be doing... You are right... reading!
I have to go now. Will write often.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Today, I had a lesson with Dr Hayo Reinders. He is one of the best tutor around. No buzz ... no fuzz. He asked us to call him Hayo instead of Dr Reinders.
Today, I learn to evaluate websites using a set of tools. It was enlightening. After the workshop, I learn that a website can be evaluated through the input it gives to a learner, whether there is an output, most importantly whether the breakdown in communication can be resolved, motivation factors, interaction and finally the authenticity of the website.
I need to clarify what is breakdown in communication means. It means there is an avenue for the programme to clarify with the learner what he does not understand. Actually, it is quite difficult to find a software that is able to do this unless... I do it myself!
After the class, Erna, Yu and I went to Suntec City. We had a great time... window shopping and eating. We had an early dinner at Secret Recipe. We talked about practically everything under the sun. It was an eye opener.
That's all for now...Bye
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Today is actually a good day. Did not have to attend class in the morning.
I only had Language Testing. I actually like the subject however,..... there
is a slight problem with the lecturer. His name is Dr Chan... he would enter the
class start the lesson by going round the class asking questions about the previous
day or week's lesson. Attending his class is a real torture. You have to stay focussed
for three hours! Even computers cannot do that. The moment you relax, he will
bombard you with questions that you are so unfamiliar with. It is such a drag to
attend his class.
When I reflect on the way I treat my pupils... I don't remember employing
such a strategy to make sure that my pupils learn. I believe that the pupils should
learn the subject for the love of the subject and not, I repeat, not because he / she
will be constantly tested. The students will live in constant fear. When will I be asked
and insulted.
I look forward to tomorrow though... I have Use of Media in the teaching of English.
Dr Hayo Reinders is a nice person. He doesn't threatened but engaged us. I guess that is
the difference between a local (Malaysian lecturer) and lecturer from the Europe and
America.
Till then... Chiao!
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Sunday, August 12, 2007
It has been a 3 tiring weeks. As the saying goes.... At the end of every rainbow there is a pot of gold. Today... is my 'pot of gold'. I did not have to go for classes today. The whole day! Yes!
Being a good student, I am currently in RELC Library reading. Surprised! Don't be...
I am reading the notes. There is just too many jargons to remember. I just read the difference between aim and objective. The difference between content and performance competencies.
Boring right! I will not continue then. Let's talk about lunch.
Lunch was good... I brought Rizal and Mohathir to Sabar Menanti. Ordered dishes that filled the whole table. We ate and talk. Rizal is soooo funny. Sorry to end so abruptly...I think I need to continue with my reading. Will write more during my eye break!
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Saturday, August 11, 2007
It was a tiring week. I had Dr. Richard's class everyday.
The work on his assignment has started. I have to plan
a 2 units of materials to support writing.
Dr Richards is actually nice. He gave us a choice of
what to do. I had to complete either a syllabus or material
design. I chose material. Sounded easy eh!
It is not that simple.... I have to write down the principles
behind choosing the materials. There are alot of factors to consider
before doing it.
Dr Chan's Language Testing class was hilarious and embarrasing at
the same time. As usual, before starting his new lesson, Dr Chan
would recapitulate the previous week's lesson. He would go round
the class calling on people at random to answer. I have never enjoyed
this. Dr Chan called on me... I was dreaming I guess and did not hear
his question... I then asked him to repeat his question and the whole
class burst out laughing. I managed to get the right answer after that.
The next incident.... the same thing happened. I was thinking of something
else and answered him wrongly. I guess... there is no chemistry between us.
He just know when to ask me. Frankly, it is quite difficult to stay awake and
pay attention for three hours.
I always come back home, mentally exhausted. What a week. I am
going to rest after which I am going to do some reading...
I am currently reading, Jean Atchinson's book on Words In Mind.
This is the second book that I am reading that is written by her.
She looks at how learners acquire language and explained alot of
Noam Chomsky theory. Beginning to love Chomsky... intelligent...
Imagine this... Chomsky was an undergraduate at Harvard University
when he challenged B.F Skinner's theory of Behaviourism in the
acquisition of language. Would like to meet him some day.
Need a rest... will write soon.
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Monday, August 06, 2007
It is a Monday... Feeling the 'hang-over'.
Today started off quite well. I had a wonderful time
in Dr. Gloria's lesson on Grammar in Discourse.
For today's lesson.... I learnt to dissect a sentence
into Noun Phrase and Verb Phrase. It was real 'tough'
at first as I learned this about 13 years ago. I need
to recall what I learned in NIE. However, as we progressed,
able to see the link.
There is this exercise that was really interesting and it really
helped in dissecting the phrases. Prior to giving us the task,
Dr Gloria explained the meaning of Clauses. Clauses are actually
made up of phrases that define an action. To put it simply,
the message that it wants to convey.
Back to the hands-on activity. Dr Gloria gave us a text and
told us to first divide it into clauses. After which, we had to
draw comic strips to represent the clauses.
I did not realize the objective of the hands-on activity until
the end of the exercise. Each comic strip actually represented
a clause. Viola!! The Great one has spoken. I am currently on
lunch break...
I would not want to imagine the next class... It is Dr Richards!!!!!!
Aaahhh!!!!!! I wish the ground could open and eat me up.
Dr Richards is actually a very learned and experience person
in the field of syllabus implementation. He could relate to
which ever curriculum that was implemented in any part
of the world. Why am I not looking forward to his lesson... because
there is just too much to comprehend within the given time.
It is due to him having to leave this Friday. He wants to cover
as much as possible before he leaves. Personally... he is a nice and
has a great sense of humour.
Well... we will leave Dr Richards for a while (until 2 p.m. today)
I have to go now!!!
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Saturday, August 04, 2007
Guess What??? I woke up late this morning.
Adam had to wake me up. Normally, I would
be up and about before he does. I guess it was the
food that I ate for dinner. I had a very, very heavy dinner.
We went to Monkeys Cafe to celebrate
Shaheed's birthday.
I had tom yam noodles, seafood platter(shared), 3 chicken wings
and to end the meal, I had crepes with bananas. Wow!! It was
just too much.
Back to the topic. Since I had woken up late.. I took a taxi to
Tampines Junior College(my
alma mater). The run almost started.
I did the usual boring stuff like warming up and so on. The run started
as scheduled. I completed the 2.4km in my personal best of 15. something
seconds. I was not the first to complete either was I the last. Thank god.
After the run, decided to walk with Stephanie for another 1.6km. It was
a great work out. As we walked, we gossiped and talk about things.
After the run, a group of us went to 'bond'. We went to eat. It was
crowded everywhere. Finally, we had to settle for Long John Silvers.
We continued to talk till about 11.30 and went home. I had a headache
and went to sleep almost immediately. I popped in Vitamin C tablet(1000mg)
to aid my recovery.
I am waiting for Adam to call to go out for dinner. I will have an early night.
I feel very, very tired. I hate to say it but.... I sincerely think that it is the age.
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Thursday, August 02, 2007
I left the kids in school about two weeks ago.
I made them see the need to remain well-behaved
and alot of other things.
Since then, alot of things had happened. I am not
angry .... more of disppointed at their behaviour.
One student even wanted to 'sue' a teacher to just
because the teacher reprimanded the class and felt that
it was not justified. I have always impressed upon them
the need to be respectful to teachers wherever they are.
Respect should not only be given to teachers that you like.
Respect should be give to all teachers no matter how horrible
or terrible the teacher or his or her teaching is. There are proper p
rocedures to take in dealing with such a situation. Threatening a teacher is
definitely not the way to do it.
When I reflect on their actions, I think that I may have not been
a good role model and teacher for them. If I had been... this would
not have happened. What have my pupils become? They were angels
when I left them and now .... they have started to grow into ????
I am lost for words and certain things are better left unspoken. Maybe
they will sue me for writing my thoughts in my blog.
I contemplated if I should come to school and deal with them myself.
I am reluctant to see them. I am afraid that I may say and do things
that I don't mean. For now, I think it is a good time to stay away
and concentrate on my studies. I cannot emphasize enough on how
disappointed I am.
To my pupils who are reading, I know not all of you are misbehaving,
I would like to express my thanks to these pupils, for the 'guilty' ones....
Every teacher has their own way/style of doing things and this is influenced
by their upbringing, social-economic background and personality. Thus, it is
important to know that the teacher meant well when repremanding you.
You should not be defensive and react to the situation. What you should have
done is to take a step back and reflect. Imagine.. this scenario where... all
classes in the school are noisy and pupils walking around in these classes.
How is learning supposed to take place?It is also the duty of every teacher
to reprimand any pupil if they don't behave or listen.I hope you realize your mistakes
and apologize to the teacher.
Before I end, I would lke to express my utmost thanks to Azri, Steph
and Wang for helping me out with the class. Shopping tomorrow???
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Today, Irene and the rest of the Singaporean 'students' including me,
celebrated Ms Myanmar and Vietnam's birthday.
We bought the cakes and gifts from Sheraton Hotel. We actually
wanted to walk to Coffee Bean.. I guess.. it was just too far.
The two of them were actually quite shocked when we presented
them with the cakes.
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Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Today, I had the first lesson the the above topic.
Just like Grammar in Discourse.... it is so dry.
The course requires us to use 'jargons' that we
teachers in the classroom do not use widely.
Dr Lim, (the lecturer) posed the question of what
are the approaches that we employ in the classroom.
Methods and techniques are part of application.
It was only after much deliberation that I understood
that Approaches are actually theory that propogate a
certain method or technique. For example, in
Communicative Approach, the method would be role-play.
The above is just an example.
He also talked about fluency and accuracy in language aquisition.
Fluency means the ability of the learner to construct a sentence
that may not be grammatically correct, while accuracy looks at
the grammar structure of the sentence.
My colleagues from the different Asian countries shared about
their experience in introducing the different approach in the
teaching of English language. It was a great insight to hear
what they are doing.
I have to go now. Will write soon.
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any comment?