Week: 4 Four tasks of the fourth week

I have almost finished the assignments of the fourth week. And I am looking back to this week. This week was another milestone in our e journey. I remember this week for mainly four tasks .Firstly, I explored many websites dedicated to build reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary  .Secondly, I learned to make technology enhanced lesson plan. Thirdly I identified the problem that I want to solve with using technology. Finally, I took part in experiment with Google document.

 I began my week’s journey with some interesting articles on using CALL in developing reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary. I went through ‘Using the Internet in ESL Writing Instruction’ by Jarek Krajka; ‘Three Extensive Reading Activities for ESL /EFL Students Using E-books’ by Mei Ya Liang; and ‘Using Technology to Assist in Vocabulary Acquisition & Reading Comprehension’ by Andreea I. Constantinescu. Krajak has given number of ways how to use internet component in writing personal letter writing to description of place. I got some ways of using internet technology from the articles. Liang has given tips on engaging students in pre-reading, while reading and post reading phases with study guides and e-books. I seriously thought urgency of time to use Internet technology and posted  on Nicenet discussion. I explored   reading and writing websites. I like Breaking News English for   detail lesson plan and multi skills building exercises. There is long list of websites .I have to test and consider their usefulness.

  I learned to make technology enhanced lesson plan. I used the template suggested by our course instructor. What I think now is that I should  calculate approximate time for each steps of lesson plan and try  if the time  calculation applies in my class or not. I should study other lesson plan and revise my model in future.

 There are many challenges to teach English Language to under- resourced, low motivated and irregular students in EFL context with very little exposure in limited time. I remember how people laugh at us when we use English outside class. I understand that one hammer can’t fix all nails with single stroke no matter how power full the hammer is. Technology can be effectivetool for language teaching learning. Technology is not magic wand. So I want to start change with few problems. I  Identified number of problems of my class. I chose   to deal with reading and writing habit to limit the scope of my course project.

 Our course instructor, Courtney, had given us optional task with google doc. Creating Google doc was new experience for me. Finally I did it .But I did with many trails and errors. I nearly gave up the process. At first it seemed unbeatable challenged but finally it gave me sense of satisfaction.

 I couldn’t go through all the websites suggested by my e friends. We have to wait few more years for reliable Internet connection. So some messages were posted twice on Nicenet as I was posting from cell phone. I beg for pardon for inconvenience.  I attended training session conducted by NELTA , GORKHA .One session was on Trace Effect. I thought it would be great for young learner as in combine gaming with language learning. I have been elected as executive member of NELTA, Gorkha branch( professional   development forum  for English teacher working in Nepal). I should be more responsible for professional development of fellow teachers as well.

 Let’s see what next week brings for us.