ESL COURSEWARE / WEBSITE

Finally for Task 4, I managed to create a website on reading skills. This website helps students to improve their reading skills on identifying main ideas, identifying details, making inferences, and understanding meaning from context. This website is beneficial for students as it provides four tutorials on reading skills as well as exercises for students to check on their understanding.

This website is prepared using Wix.com as well as Hot Potatoes.

Here is the website: Reading Knack!

The following are some screen shots of the website: 

Podcast exercise: Mr Nobody

Listen to the poem ‘Mr Nobody’ by clicking on the link below and answer the following questions.

MrNobody [Form 1 Literature Component]

1) The poem ‘Mr Nobody’ is about

    A         nature         C          people

    B         animal          D         actions

2) The persona in the poem is probably

    A         a son            C        a daughter

    B         Mr Nobody   D       a parent

3) Who do you think normally does the oiling of the door?

        A    The repair man        C    The gardener

        B     Mr Nobody             D    A parent or older people

4) The door is probably squeaking because

            A         its hinges need lubrication

            B          a mouse is trying to come in

            C          a mouse is caught in the hinges

            D         Mr Nobody oiled the hinges too much

5) Where can Mr Nobody normally be found?

            A         At school

            B          Everywhere

            C          In the poet’s house only

            D         In the neighbour’s house 

WEB BASED LESSON PLAN

LEVEL: Form 2 (Intermediate)

TOPIC: Chef Personality

THEME: Famous People

TIME: 1 Hour 10 Minutes (2 periods)

LANGUAGE CONTENT: Simple Present Tense

AIMS: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

          i.            Practice their writing skills by producing creative captions to the picture.

        ii.            Practice informational skills by searching relevant information from the World Wide Web and transfer them into the worksheet.

      iii.            Practice their writing skills by producing sentences and paragraph using simple present tense.

EDUCATIONAL EMPHASIS: Thinking skills, ICT skills & Multiple Intelligences

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: One computer for two students, internet connection, and web browser.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have learnt simple present tense and how to obtain information on the World Wide Web.

PREPARATION:

        i.          1) Locate the Junior Master Chef website.

      ii.          2) Browse through the website to make sure it is suitable for students and match the topic.

    iii.          3) Prepare worksheet based on the information from the website.

WEBSITE: http://www.masterchef.com.au/home.htm

PROCEDURE:

Set induction: (10 minutes)

1.      1) Teacher recalls what has been learned previously on simple present tense.

2.     2)  Teacher introduces the topic of the day.

3.      3) Teacher shows several pictures of famous chefs around the world.

4.      4) Teacher prompts students by asking several questions.

Development: (50 minutes)

Activity 1: ‘Caption This’ (15 minutes)

1.      1) Teacher instructs students to form a group of 2 to 3 per computer.

2.      2) Teacher instructs students to open the following website.

http://www.masterchef.com.au/home.htm

3.    3) Teacher explains and guides students on how to play ‘Caption This’ which students have to put an interesting or funny caption for particular picture using simple present tense.

4.     4)  Teacher gives 10 minutes for students to complete the task.

5.    5) Teacher asks group representatives to present their captions and decides on the best caption of all.

Activity 2: ‘Favorite Junior Master Chef’ (25 minutes)

1.      1) Teacher distributes worksheet 1 to the class.

2.      2) Teacher asks students to choose their favorite Junior Master Chef and writes 5 facts about the selected chef by referring to the biography of the chef in the website.

3.      3) Teacher allocates 20 minutes for students to complete the worksheet.

4.      4) Teacher guides the students in their work.

5.      5) Teacher discusses the answer with students.

6.     6) Teacher asks students to identify some of the simple present tense used in the sentences.

Activity 3: ‘Let’s Support the Chef’ (15 minutes)

1.      1) Teacher distributes worksheet 2 to the class.

2.   2) Teacher asks students to refer to the previous worksheet and write a note to their favorite Junior Master Chef using simple present tense in order to support the chef in the Junior Master Chef Program.

3.      3) Teacher guides the students in their work.

4.      4) Teacher gives 10 minutes for students to complete the task.

5.      5) Teacher asks volunteer students to present their notes to the class.

6.      6) Teacher highlights on the usage of simple present tense and gives corrective feedback.

Conclusion: (5 minutes)

1.      1) Teacher recaps the whole lesson.

2.     2)  Teacher highlights the moral values that students should learn through the lesson.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY:

1.      1) Students have to complete Activity 3 individually by using simple present tense.

2.     2) The note needs to be attached with one special dedication (secret recipe) to their favorite chef.

3.      3) Students need to send their note to the teacher via e-mail before the next class. 
       
     The website: Junior Master Chef

       
      Picture for set induction: 

                   Activity 1: 

      
      Worksheet for Activity 2:

      
      Worksheet for Activity 3:

      

Hypertext and Hypermedia Exercise: Cashless Society

Cash is heavy, expensive to make, move, count and guard. Technologically speaking, cash is also quaint. Notes in our wallet and coins in our pocket are as outmoded as Morse code. Cash is gradually dying.

Heading into the marketplace is a host of electronic payment systems. Telephone companies, credit card firms, internet ventures, universities and public transport systems are all trying out digital-cash schemes. Digital money is a perfect money recently. It weights nothing and moves at the speed of light. It does not get scuffed, worn or dirty. It is the ultimate extension of a process that began over a century ago when the Western Union Telegraph Company, a communications company turned cash into bits that flowing through wires. Nowadays, this company is globally known as TheWestern Union Company which offers their customers to send and receive funds to others, money orders, business payments and commercial services worldwide. 

We will carry some cash around for years to come and perhaps barely notice when we stop using it at the supermarkets, service stations and also in vending machines but rather go for online shopping on the internet. But for everyone who uses stores and regulates cash, a challenge is nearing. Some kinds of electronic currency will protect privacy, and some will violate it. Moreover, some will make crime easier, and others will make it more difficult. Some will tax commerce, while others will catalyst it.

In this era, smart cards such as credit cards and debit cards have been use widely especially for online goods. As money enters a new age, so does the counterfeiting. Smart cards rely on software, and software always has bugs. Moreover, any chip can be cracked open and examined with an electronic microscope. The solutions for these problems are by using high level security encryption and unique material for microchips manufacturing.

In conclusion, we have to prepare for this to happen. Eliminating bank notes would free the world from bribery, kidnapping, extortion, and also money laundering. All these depend on cash being an anonymous and untraceable form of payment. Yet, the cashless economy could also be a world where networked computer databases keep track of every bus we ride, every goods we spend, and every bills we pay.


Source: James Gleick, June 16, 1996 

ARTICLE REVIEW

'How to Use Skype in ESL/EFL Classroom'

Link of the article: http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Eaton-UsingSkype.html

This article is the continuous effort of the author’s previous work based on the topic of using Skype for literacy and language learning. (Eaton, 2009a, 2010c)

A. Citation of the Article

Title   : How to Use Skype in the ESL/EFL Classroom

      Journal: The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XVI, No. 11, November 2010                                             

    Author : Sarah Elaine Eaton, saraheaton2001@yahoo.com, http;//www.drsaraheaton.wordpress.com, University of Calgary (Calgary, Canada)

B. Summary of the Article

This article is generally promoting on the use of Skype in ESL/EFL classroom. Skype is one of the latest inventions of voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) technology which is gradually known worldwide. This article suggesting on the use of Skype in language learning by discussing on three aspects which are 1) how Skype helps teachers and tutors in practicing the use of technology in their classrooms, 2) benefits of Skype in terms of presentations and workshops and 3) Skype as the catalyst for teachers to learn more sophisticated technology based materials for language teaching and learning. Skype is one of the effective communication tools which allow teachers to practice the use of technology in the classroom. Apart from its free application, simple features of Skype facilitate teachers to use and explore more sophisticated technology in the classroom. Teachers who are not an expert in handling computers technology could easily use this application as they can update their teaching performances by enhancing technology skills. Besides, using Skype could also boost confidence for teachers when practicing the use of technology in classroom as they can steadily lower down their ‘performance anxiety’ levels. Moreover, Skype is helpful as the effective tool in language classroom as it provides interactive language learning environment (students-teacher interaction). This application enables students to interact with other students or teachers lively through video or voice call. Students also have the opportunity to communicate with other people internationally and give chances for cross cultural exchange. By using Skype, one computer can be hooked up to a large screen and projected to a group of students. This will surely makes the learning environment become more appealing for students. Excellent features that Skype offers make the learning process even more meaningful such as by using the ‘share screen’ feature, students could help other online friends in their assignment (checking mistakes, proofread, give comments, etc). In conclusion, the use of Skype in ESL/EFL classrooms gives lots of benefit for both teachers and students. It is useful in facilitating novice teacher in using more advance technology in classroom and provide greater learning environment for students.

B. Reflection

Apart from the traditional teaching method (chalk and talk), incorporating technology based material in the classroom is essential in recent days. With the advent of technology innovation, it is necessary for teachers knowing how to use technology based material in the classroom in order to fulfill various needs of students. However, the selection of the material should be varied from time to time as the world changes everyday. Students may be familiar with common computer games or power point presentation that teachers always use in the classroom. Using computer games, music video, and email is observed as common approaches nowadays. On the other hand, the use of Skype technology in classroom is considered new especially in Malaysian educational context. Therefore, the inclusion of this new approach in teaching English to ESL students is useful to help boosting students’ interest in learning as well as providing them the new learning atmosphere. Students can experience live conversation with other teacher or students which result in greater interactive and experiential learning. This will absolutely increase the process of dialogic learning by being able to discuss certain topic in real time situations. Students can connect with other people from different schools, group, or country and share ideas on the topic of interest. Thus, the use of Skype is a new way of incorporating technology in classroom apart from common approaches that being used widely such as games or email.

Reflecting on the real scenario in Malaysian school, most teachers are not preferred to incorporate technology in their teaching. Among the popular reason is because of the incompetency in handling computer technology that brings difficulty in their classroom. I personally believe that, the inclusion of technology based material in classroom is very important as to fulfill current needs. Using Skype is one way to help teachers to build technology skills so that they can explore more sophisticated technology such as creating software for students. Skype is very much convenient for beginners because it contains simple features that do not need an expert to handle it. This simplicity makes it believable for teachers to use it in the classroom besides of the various benefits it offers. As a future teacher, I believe that Skype is a good conferencing tool that can be use in the classroom. Besides, I love the feature of ‘screen sharing’ which user can share part of the screen or the entire screen to the other user. This feature is best utilized in ESL classroom when the teacher would like to apply the concept of peer mentoring among students. Students could help their friends by checking mistakes and give commentaries regarding the assigned task. Other than that, Skype also enables sharing files and chatting features which makes the learning process become more authentic and beneficial for students. I am very much agree with the notion of this article that new kind of technology based approach should be introduced in our educational system and Skype is one of the best and useful tools which brings benefits for all. The following are previews of the Skype application.

Hot Potatoes: JMatch

This is the preview of my exercise on Jmatch. Click here to test yourself!

Good luck! =)

Hot Potatoes: JQuiz

New exercise on Jquiz! Come and test yourself! This quiz is specifically created for form two students learning the poem 'I Wonder'. Have fun! =) 

Hot Potatoes: JQuiz