Reading Reflection Feb 23

There are a lot of points that cought my attention, but I would just point out some. First, I liked the introduction of MCM where he mentions most of the difficulties EFL / ESL learners face when they come to an English speaking society. The points were as the reduced forms of speech, contractions, slungs, intonation, and the intensity of interaction with another person while lacking an authentic linguistic, and cultural knowledge about the target community.

In addition, I would like to point out an interesting detail that was mentioned in the P & B book p. 125. it says "However, please keep in mind that no activity should be withheld from any particular student solely on the basis of perceived English language proficiency. It is too easy to misjudge a child's language competence because language performance varies across situations and from week to week as a result of the dynamic and context-specific nature of language proficiency . Moreover, motivation tends to stretch children's performance. Therefore, we recommend that you allow students the choice to take part in more difficult activities according to their interests and desires. " So, the first important point is that the language competency of a learner can be easily misjudged because of the language's dynamic and context-dependant nature. Also, the importance of giving a chance and option to student to participate in the activities of their interests. Otherwise, oral language may not be improved.

Class Reflection F16

In tonights class, I liked the content of Solen's presentation. I think it was helpful for some who have never experienced and listening speaking class like that. However, I have taken such classes before joining my MA program. My classes were really intensive and very useful start for me in the US. We were assigned to go to American events and then speak or write about that. Some other assignments that we had were such as, whaching movies, or listening to NPR stories and write about it. We also had a program of Host family which would connect us to an American family and they would invite us some times and we would talk about culture and other stuffs. In addition, we had conversation partners program. For example, we would get together with an American student and would share food and talk about whatever we would desire. I really enjoyed the time when I was in my preacademic program.

I enjoyed the last phase more which was devoted for students to get into groups and come up with a plan on doing the final portfolios. So, my groupmates and me came up with some good ideas that hopefully will lead us to accomplishing the task. I think a teacher should always devote some class times at the end of a class to facilitate students with their upcoming assignments the was we usually do in this class. It is a clearification of the assignment and a leading point towards doing the assignment. because we got into our group and we decided our

Reading Reflection Feb 16

This weeks reading was interesting, particularly the teaching listening part of MCM book. I think it was the fist time I have found this much extensive information about the history of listening, the imporatance, the details of the categories, and how to teach it to different levels of ESL/ EFL learners.

Throughout the long process of my learning of English, I was never taught listening. This, I believe, was the reason that when I came to the United States, I felt that I do not know English at all although when I was in my country, I believed that I have an advenced level in English. It was a bit hard for native speakers to understand me while it was very diffecult for me to understand them. I was very disappointed about my English skills. Soon then, I realized that this is because of lack of attention in improving the listening skill, which I also believe is the first skill to be introduced to learners as in the way children learn a language.

These chapters are very important and useful for me and that is why I keep all my books and take them to my country so that I can apply them there. I think my actual learning would start then because it would be very practical.

Class Reflection Feb 9

I really liked the activity that we did at the end of the class. The corpus is one of the best athentic resouces that I can use it for life time as a teacher. It facilitates learning the athentically and pragmatically correct use of English words and phrases, idioms, and other strings of words.

In the future, I am planning to assign my students too to look for cirtain phrases, draw conclusions, and present their findings to their classmates so that every one can learn from eachother.

I wishe there was a corpus which would present a source of speaking sound tracks cotegorized based on speech acts or so. This would help EFL students listen and learn the athentic use, pronunciation, and meaning of certain expressions.

Reading Reflection

I like the lexical approuch and I suport it very much. While I was reading, I remembered the time before I come to the US. The ways I was developing my vocabulary were somewhat similar to what is suggested in the book. For example, at the begining of my language learning, I had not idea how to expand my vocabulary, but later on when I was an advanced learner, I had a note book on which I would write whatever new word, I would encounter. I used to watch some English movies, some times listen to English news. while watching, I would carefully listen and copy some times words but usually phrases and even sentences. then, I would guess the meaning from the context and if it was useful I would look it up in the dictionary to make sure that my guess was right. I would write the whole phrase with its context meaning that i guessed, and then I would try to use it. For instance, I saw a videw clip where a reletive of someone said to another that her grandfather died, in response the man said: "I am sorry for your loss" I memorised it and wrote it on my notebook. Another example is "I am pissed off" I learned the meaning of that from a movie, which is nice I think.

This kind of learning language in chunks has several benenfits as the book also supports. First, the learner does not have to learn each word of a phrase or sentence individually. learning in chanks help students learn the athentic language in context. Another benefit is that the learner even if beginner will feel fluency and pride when he used these sentences among his friends. finally, this will give the learner confidence in using his athentic language with native speakers. This las on is very important. Many learners including myself do not talk when they are not sure if they are using the right word with the right meaning and use, so if they have learned it through athentic matterials and in chanks they use it bravely.

Thus, I support learning the language in chunks even from the beginning level. there is no need for a teacher to explain the form or meaning of each word one by one because, these words might be repeted and would be explained in the next levels.

Class reflection

Regarding the cultural things that were discussed, I have many things to say. However, I may touch on some aspect of that. As some one who have been in the US for almost 2 years, I have gained a lot of knowledge about the cultural differences. we have a proverb that "the beauty of a an orchard is as a result of its varous flowers." This also applies to our world if every one had the same characteristics and if every culture were the same, the world would not have been beautiful as it is now. What brings about problems either to a language class or to a community, is because of the luck of understanding of the differernt cultures. Whether it is teacher or friend or classmate, they must be open to respectful to each others behaviours. Every person and every culture is unique, we must be open until we find out the reality of what that culture is then make decision whether to learn from it or to keep away from it.

I have had several very good and open minded American friends, but I also have encountered some who is immersed in a world ingnorance. I personally, have been affended many times by some people who did not have a real understanding of my culture and myself. I try to take it easy because I know that this is because of the misconceptions spread out through the bias media, but what hurts me is that some poeple are so closed minded that they choose to live with their misunderstandings about other culture forever. This points out to me that I dont have a problem as I am open to them but it is their problem as their minds are closed. As a very common example, I am going to mention the following. One of the many questions I have been asked was " do you have jumping board in your country?" another example, "where does Usama live?" and so on.....................

Finally, we have a saying that "when a glass-bowl makes noise, it reflects its quality"

I know I have not touched specific points about culture here, but it implies a lot for those who understand.

Reading Reflection

While I was reading, I was surprised with the content of the MCM. As, last night, my friend and me were discussing the role of culture in learning of the language. We were agreeing on some pointes but disagreed on others. For example, he was saying the Englishe should be taught with culture to every one. I was agreeing that it is important and very effective to teach english with culture; however, the needs of the learners can ditermin how much they need to go deep into English learning. For example, in MCM it says "Although attaining linguistic proficiency is essential for learners to be considered communicatively competent, particularly in the case of ESL learners, this is not sufficient." (p. 443). The point is there are millions of EFL learners who may never need to converse with native speakers or may never have the chance to go to an English speaking community. Thus, they niether may have interest to learn that culture nor they may need to. However as for those who learn English for professional purposes, they must learn English and be aquainted to its culture.