Week 11: Techniques and Materials/Technology in the Classroom/Initiating Interaction in the Classroom

All these three chapters of HDB were very much filled with information that can really bring positive changes to one's teaching if applied.

In chapter 11 of HDB the part about text book and creative use of it by novice teacher reminded me of a time when for the first time I was asked to teach freshman at university. Since our university revived after its one decades of death, we did not have a good curriculum and materials to use. So I was asked to teach but I had to choose the textbook by myself. Wooow!! this was a big challenge to me, and it took me too much effort and time to figure out what is appropriate for the class. Finally, I collected some different materials from different books on the same theme. Even the theme was what I had to choose. This was a very frustrating situation for me. However, If I had read these books, it wouldn't have been so difficult.

I believe technology has brought a new life to teaching and has broaden the dimension of learning that teachers or learners cannot decide what to use or learn first. In other words, there are showers of technological aids and means of teaching and learning such as hardware and software that we feel days and nights must have been longer to avail ourselves from all. However, in some parts of the world like in my country, there is still lack of most of these facilities where teachers have to use their artistic talent in teaching. Not only this but also there is even lack of energy to operate technological appliances even if they are available. For example, my brother is running an English language center in the heart of Kabul city, the capital of Afghanistan. He has computers and tape recorders and other means but they do not have electricity to operate them. So, I think in these circumstances, teachers should be equipped with non-technological aids to teach effectively.

In chapter 13 (HDB) where classroom interaction is discussed, the teacher is the nucleus of the classroom interaction. This is crucial I think that a teacher know where, when and how to initiate interactions in the classroom. He/she should know what his/her role is as a teacher in this respect, then, it is possible to have dynamic classroom where neither the teacher nor the learners get bored and learning can take place effectively as well.