MINI TEST 2

a) You are Tourism graduate and currently working with the Tourism Department of Sabah. A tourist from Australia called from Kinabalu Daya Hotel. He lost his map and he needs to go to Australian Place and soon to Wisma Merdeka. Create a telephone conversation between you and the tourist. You may start you conversation as below. 

Me: Good evening. This is the Tourism Department of Sabah. May I help you? 

Tourist: ……

b) Prime Minister of Malaysia just visited Kota Kinabalu last Sunday and he attended a conference in one of the hotels. As a newspaper reporter, write a summary of the places visited by the Prime Minister to be submitted to your Head Officer. By including at least 3 prepositions, your summary should not be more than 100 words. 

Places visited was listed respectively :- 

1. Signal Hill Observatory 

2. Australian Place 

3. Wisma Merdeka 

4. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Hotel

Technology Evolution. What say you?

Integrating Technology in ESL Writing.

The new age of technology has brought a new meaning in writing. In teaching especially, technologies have been very useful as effective teaching tools. The use of technology has caught many students’ attention with the colorful graphics and animation.

Technology has always been beneficial to teachers as they consume less time. For instance, instead of drawing pictures to give examples, teachers can just find the pictures in the internet and print them to present their lesson using the Power Point, which provide installed software to include pictures, animations, music and even videos. This certainly made learning fun.

Besides teaching aids, teachers can keep track on his/her students’ work too. The creation of blog sites and online forum has made life even better. Students’ work can be kept even more secure when it is stored as cloud computing, meaning that to be stored in the computer memory when uploaded.

Furthermore, many sites are providing tools to prepare teachers with their lessons both online and offline tools. For example, Prezi. This is another presentation tools that provide more animations and graphics that can actually impress students. For online tools, technology has made things easier by providing templates for teachers in preparing his/her students’ handout.

Despite the fact that technology may not be easy for some teachers, there are many other ways to improve such as attending courses and keep teachers updates with the latest teaching aids in schools. This at the same time improves the standards of our teachers in their teaching.

Therefore, the integration of technology has many advantages. It has made bot teachers and students’ life easier. Aside from its commonly use as a tool for communication, it also can modify our teaching methods better.

MINI TEST 2

a)      Prime Minister of Malaysia just visited Kota Kinabalu last Sunday and he attended a conference in one of the hotels. As a newspaper reporter, write a summary of the places visited by the Prime Minister to be submitted to your Head Officer. By including at least 3 prepositions, your summary should not be more than 100 words.

Places visited was listed respectively :-

1.       Signal Hill Observatory

2.       Australian Place

3.       Wisma Merdeka

4.       Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Hotel

 b) You are Tourism graduate and currently working with the Tourism Department of Sabah. A tourist from Australia called from Kinabalu Daya Hotel. He lost his map and he needs to go to Australian Place and soon to Wisma Merdeka. Create a telephone conversation between you and the tourist. You may start you conversation as below.

Me: Good evening. This is the Tourism Department of Sabah. May I help you?

Tourist: ……

Mark it 10!

New task!! Remember previously, we were asked to respond to the students’ essay? Well this time, we were asked to assess their essays. This was done in a small group actually, and we decided to give this essay 10 mark out of 20, at it falls on the 9-12 mark range in the marking scheme. The writer actually has the development of ideas and was able to explain his/her understanding towards the topic even though it contains mechanical errors. Well done writer, you PASSED!

Haiti Earthquake

Previously, I thought Haiti's Earthquake terrifying tragedy was not that bad. I was one of the minorities of people out there who does not really concern about things happening around the world. It was an honest mistake, as there are factors contributing to the ignorance *wink*. But, the very first few minutes of playing this game, I started to realize how bad it was. I choose to be a survivor (because I felt bad for being such an ignorant...). The footage shown was such an eye opener. And personally, I felt like I am actually experiencing the aftermath. It is more like a lesson than a game for me. I remembered seeing my neighbor in that game, Magalie, was crying surrounded by destroyed buildings, houses and also belongings. 

Enough for the rough idea about the game, and now time to get to real business. How this game can actually help students in their writing lesson?

Well actually, this kind of game can really help the students to guide them in their writing including those with intermediate English proficiency. This is because, in this game, they were given choices to choose what step to be taken next. By actually thinking and asking themselves what step they wanted to choose, by that time, they are applying their critical thinking which later helps in their writing. Examples of writing activities that can be done are like, writing a newspaper report, journal and even writing an informal letter to a pen-pal who stays in Haiti. Thus, in short, I find this type of game can contribute to the students writing besides being the eye opener to the students about recent issues the world are facing today and in the future.

  

The reason why it's HOTS!

Well, after getting familiar with Bloom's, I have come up with an activity on Analyzing. J

Redang Beach Resort, Terengganu, Malaysia	Pimalai Resort & Spa Krabi,  Thailand
·        4 days 3 nights ·        RM 2530 .00 (inclusive of tax and transportation) ·        Adults : 2   Children : 2 ·        Breakfast included ·        Snorkeling, Marine Park, Diving, Camping, Cycling, Rafting, etc.	·        3 days 2 nights ·        RM 3250 .00 (inclusive of tax and transportation) ·        Adults : 2   Children : 1 ·        Breakfast not included ·        Island hoping, Snorkeling, Spa, Sunset Horse Riding, etc.

 School holiday has arrived! You and your family are planning to go for a vacation to either one of these place below. Write an essay on about place that you chose to convince your parents to choose that as your holiday destination. Your essay must be written in less than 200 words.

Scary Shopping Experience

Last week, we were given a task, to look at students' essay with low proficiency of English. The title of their essays was "A Scary Experience". Each of us was given one essay to respond to, and I got mine.

At first, it was a little bit hard for me to understand what the students are trying to say. What’s impressive was that the development and the flows of the stories were there and can actually be seen. Putting aside the grammar errors, the essay was quite well written.

I would use the written comment for this work to correct his/her common grammar mistakes and the usage of correct vocabulary. This is because, if I were to see the student personally, I may not afford time for the rest of the students. Thus, unfair for the rest of the students. Written comment is another way to actually give a motivation to the students. The comments do not have to be negative for example using red pen to mark, which actually lowers the confidence of the students in their next writing. Creating my own symbols to correct punctuation and word repetition, are among the ways to avoid scribbling all over the students’ paper.

In my point of view, how can I help the students to improve their writing is by introducing the “word of the day”. Every lesson, I would bring to class and spend a few minutes of idioms or phrases that can help them in their essays. The idioms or phrases must be related to the topic of essay they are about to write in the lesson. This can promote a better usage of vocabulary and use of famous idioms or phrases to enhance the understanding of the flow in story.

Enjoy Learning!

Here are the lists of songs and movies based on a few themes that can be useful, in teaching English. Learn in a fun way!

SONGS

Friendship                                                                                    

Lenka - Trouble is a Friend with Lyrics                                                  

Song For A Friend:  Jason Mraz

Graduation: Vitamin C

Prettiest Friend - Jason Mraz

You're Beautiful: James Blunt

Don’t you remember: Adele

Viva Forever: Spice Girls

Family                                               













Mariah Carey: Hero

Because you loved me: Celine Dion

I will always love you: Whitney Houston

A Song For Dad - Keith Urban

Through The Eyes Of My Father: Brianna Haynes

Train: Hey Soul Sister

Daughters: John Mayer

                                                                  Environment

Michael Jackson: Heal the World

Earth Song : Micheal Jackson

                                                      
Self-encouragement

Welcome to my life: Simple Plan

Yolanda Adams: I believe

Christina Aguilera: Beautiful

Independent Women (Charlie's Angels): Destiny's Child

Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come

Spice up your Life: Spice Girls

Breakaway: Kelly Clarkson

MOVIES

Friendship

How to Train Your Dragon (2010) - The story centers around a Viking teenager named Hiccup, who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life.

Shrek (2001) - "Only a true friend would be that truly honest."

Marley and me (2008) - American comedy-drama film about the titular dog, Marley.

Family

The last song (2010) - A story about father and daughter’s love.

Lovely Bones (2009) - American supernatural drama film directed by Peter Jackson.

Environment

Free Willy (1993) - The story of Keiko, everyone's favorite whale.

Gorillas in the Mist (1988) - Sigourney Weaver plays Dian Fossey in her work to save the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Avatar (2009) - Avatar is a 2009 American epic science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron.

Self-encouragement

Rudy (1993)  : About a huge football fan who always wanted to play for the Notre Dame Football team. He is told he is too small for the game but he perseveres on.

Boys don’t cry (1999) - A story about the courage to be who you truly are in the midst of horrible opposition.

Oliver Twist (2005) - Based on Charles Dickens movie about a young orphan boy and the troubles he finds as he tries to survive in a harsh world.

We went Outdoor!!

   Word choices : Clean, Rubbish, Government, Risk, River, Community, Oil, Beach

 

 

Last few weeks, we were asked to play this game. Those were the words that we managed to find in the newspapers. Later, we were asked to come up with topic sentences using hse words, on preserving the sea.

 

Topic Sentences

 

 

1. Government and community come together to keep the beach free from rubbish.

 

2. River became cleaner when there is no oil spillage.

 

3. Marine lives can be preserve when the sea is clean.


Reflection
In my personal opinion, I find this activity very interesting. It was carried out outside classroom, thus it gives this game another alternative of carrying it out. This activity is also very helpful as the students are also having fun aside from their learning process in theories. :)

Expanding a Text Message.

Original message:
"Jeevy wake up!"

Expanded:

Her head feels so heavy she can't even lift it from her white, fluffy pillow. Her deep sleep was disturbed by the sound of birds chirping. As loud as they were screaming turbulently. She feels irritated and looks around the room half-consciously. She startled when her eyes caught up to one of the post-its she pasted on her wall. She has a library induction to be attended! She grabbed her phone hastily and texted her friend, Jeeivita right afterwards. A bundle of nervousness travels down her whole body. She grabbed her towel quickly and rushed for bath.

Group: Jeevy, Nabila, Stennia

Describe a place in UMS!

Location : Stadium of Sports Complex ,University Malaysia Sabah

See	Taste	Smell	Feel	Hear
students, lecturers, dancers, chairs, grass, sport attire, speakers, dark sky, lights	-	freshly-cut grass	cooling, thirsty	musics, students talking, microphone feedbacks.

Let's Describe!!

Face   

                                      

Gorgeous

Charming

Round

Dreamy

Wanly (looks sad)

Unreadable

Sullen (unhappy)

Glowering (angry)

Beatific (happy)

Brooding (worry)

Expressionless

Eyes

Sleepy

Wide-eyed

Shiny

Weary

Beady (small, round)

Doe-eyed (big, attractive)

Pop-eyed (stick out)

Sunken (ill, old)

Rheumy (sick)

Piggy (small, not attractive)

Lidded (eye half closed)

Nose

Big

Snub

Beaky

Pointed

Hooded (nostril pointed down)

Aquiline (hooked like beak)

Small

Cute

Roman nose (nicely shaped)

Wavy (after injury-Boxer’s)

Button nose (babies)

Lips

Tight-lipped

Soft

Attractive

Thin

Glistening

Warm

Sexy

Pouty

Wet

Pursed-lips (concentrating)

Full

                              

Complexion

Tanned

Bronzed (attractive brown)

Albino

Pasty (pale, unhealthy)

Rosy (pinkish)

Swarthy (dark)

Fair

Sallow (yellow, unhealthy)

Ruddy (red, healthy)

Pallid (very pale)

Florid (red)

                                   

Hand

Sweaty

Shaky

Firm

Rough

Cold

Soft

Big-knuckled

Thin

Scrawny

Blue-veined

Check

Chubby

Plum

Blushing

Glowing

Radiant

Loathsome

Hollow

Glorious

Dimpled

Curved

Body

Sexy

Slim

Muscular

Tough

Curvy

Fit

Flabby (poor muscle tone)

Plump

Slender (thin but healthy)

Tattooed

Accessories / Clothes/ Shoes  

Elegant	Conservative
Presentable	Modest
Scruffy (untidy)	Comfy
Baggy	Inexpensive
Striking	Tall
Clingy	Ladylike
Skimpy	Youthful
Sloppy (loose)	Eclectics
Sleeveless	Classy
Washable	Stylish

Places

Market	Village	Haunted House	Busy City	Beach/riverside
wet, dry, noisy, crowded, dirty, smelly	clean, peaceful, serene	quiet, scary, dark, huge, old	noisy, dirty, dusty, polluted, crowded	peace, beautiful, nice

Talking about THESIS statement and TOPIC sentences..

Thesis Statement
There are many causes of motor vehicle accidents such as drunk driving, distracted driving and also bad weather condition.

Topic Sentences
1.    One of the main causes of motor vehicle accidents is drunk driving.
2.    Other than that, distracted driving also contribute to the causes of motor accidents.
3.    In addition, bad weather condition can also causes motor vehicle accidents.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Note:  Thesis statement (the MAIN IDEA of the whole essay)

Topic sentences (focused idea in EACH paragraph)

So much of being Mariah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LTLEVC-sfQ

Another teaching tools?

    Using social networking as tools in the teaching of writing, both has its advantages and disadvantages. Besides providing space for students to socialize and interact virtually with one another, it may also develop writing skills in students specifically. Students, mostly teenagers, tend to try their best updating statuses with bombastic words, maybe just to get 'likes' from their friends. Looking at the positive aspects, this could actually give themselves and their friends who is reading it, a motivation. Thus, everyone will start finding their very own eloquent statuses! In contrast, social networking sites, are actually leading to a different path and aspects. Social sites are meant for interaction in a community of millions subscribers. It has higher possibilities, that it may distract the learning process. With the presence of more and more types of threads and viruses, not everyone actually dares to open sites. Hackers can easily create an educational-looking sites, that actually contains threads! In conclusion, it all depends on an individuals, what type of learning methods they prefer. But as for me, books are still the best tool to be the "creme de la creme"!

A letter to MySelf

Dear Self,

                 It has been nineteen-years drawing paths in the book of life. Full of chapters, happy and also sorrow. The journey of life, has made You who You are today. Despite all the circumstances You have been through, a ‘TESL-lian’, it is! Getting not-so-bad grades in both primary and secondary school, has made You one of the so called, ‘top achiever’ in the family. Motivations by parents and also friends, are always remembered until today.

                Like others, I wanted to see You, on the stage, wearing the squared-hat, smiling-proudly looking towards the camera in the year Two-Thousand-Sixteen! Which is approximately four-years to come. Then, You will be teaching in one of the matriculation college, where You met Madam Madeline Liew, your former English lecturer and also your senior in University Malaysia Sabah, where You are currently at now. She’s like the 2-in-1, your former lecturer and also senior!

                 Not looking at only four-years from now, years after that also matters! Family comes first. You must make sure that You at least, buy yourself a car, and do not touch any single cent of your mom or dad’s. Your two little sisters, they will be grown up’s by then. Do help your parents in paying their school fees. Well, it is all mostly about money. As an older sister, moral support is the most in need to your two sisters! So, advise!

                Pheww! Now, here comes the personal life part. Getting married? Having a family with perfect husband and adorable kiddies, for sure, is everyone’s dream! I really hoped, by then, You will have all of these. You will also have big house, with large garden (so you could plant a lot of your favorite flowers!), wide living room (so that all of the family members could gather every weekends J) and also sophisticated machines in your kitchen (as you really love cooking!). You have always been talking about this with your best friend, aren’t you? *big smilessssss*

                All of these, are dreams that highly achievable if You work hard from now. By the time You read this letter in maybe four to five years to come, You probably would smile.

                                                                      

                                                                All the best to You. J

12^th September 2012