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American TESOL Institute |
| American TESOL Institute Updated : Tue, 04 May 2010 18:47:08 EST TESOL Lecture Online TESOL Lecture presented by Dr. Lex Coleman. Publ.Date : 13 May 2009 22:38:22 EST TESOL Lecture TESOL Lecture Publ.Date : 26 August 2009 10:20:22 EST TESOL Lecture Teaching Writing in the TESOL classroom Publ.Date : 14 August 2009 15:38:22 EST TESOL Lecture Teacher-Student Assessment Publ.Date : 10 September 2009 11:00:00 EST TESOL Lecture Communicative Language Teaching Publ.Date : 8 September 2009 10:00:00 EST TESOL Lecture - Dr. Lex Coleman Online TESOL Lecture presented by Dr. Lex Coleman. Publ.Date : 27 August 2009 9:44:22 EST TESOL Lecture TESOL Lecture Effective Speaking Publ.Date : 4 May 2010 11:00:00 EST |
 Manzaka's Xanga Updated : TESOL I have just finished the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course I took on line from the American TESOL Institute. I submitted as part of the requirement the following thesis which I took as part of a survey I conducted in 2007. It was about the teaching method and technique preferences of Korean ESL (English as a Second Language) students. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thesis: L2 students have their own teaching method and technique preferences that must be considered by L2 teachers in order to be effective in their classes. ____________________________________________________________ With the massive advancement in technology and information systems, countries from different parts of the world are just a click of the mouse away from each other. More intercultural communication needs need to be addressed as peoples from different cultures and languages interact. Through this globalization, people need to be connected through a common language or the lingua franca of our day which is English and through skills that the global market demands. These developments make more non-English speaking countries feel the urgent need to learn to speak English. They have become eager to study the language and come out from their culture so that they can study abroad, learn English and get an edge in their chosen field. This factor contributes to the number of Koreans studying in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and even countries that use English as a second language. Foreign students study in these countries because not only is English the medium of instruction but more so because of the good quality of English Education that schools and universities offer. With the influx of Koreans in English-speaking countries, teaching English suddenly becomes a huge business and English teachers are suddenly in demand. Thus, English teachers are somewhat unprepared to cope with the idiosyncrasies of teaching Korean students. To cater to this need, private learning institutes as well as colleges and universities offer courses that are geared towards equipping English teachers to handle this new group of learners. It is common knowledge that every person is unique and individuals are different from one another. No two persons, even twins, are completely the same. In fact, social psychologists have consistently argued that individual differences among learners influence learning outcomes (Mitchell, 2004). According to Gardner and MacIntyre (cited by Mitchell), there are two factors that influence success in second language learning. These factors are what they call cognitive and affective. Cognitive factors include intelligence, language aptitude and language learning strategies while affective factors include language attitude, motivation, language anxiety and willingness to communicate (p.25-26). According to one study, many ESL teachers experience student resistance when they introduce an instructional activity in the classroom. Some students want more opportunities to participate in free conversation, expressing their wish towards a more communicatively oriented approach. On the other hand, there are those who would prefer more emphasis on grammar teaching. Teachers, in making decisions regarding the type of activities to conduct in a language classroom, should take into account such learner diversities (Bada & Okan, 2000). The same study observed that students’ preferences do indeed correlate with those of teachers in many instances. It concluded that effective language teaching and learning is only achieved when teachers are aware of their learners’ needs, capabilities, potentials, and preferences in meeting these needs. In 2007, this writer conducted a mini-survey among Korean students to find out what are the Korean Students’ preferred methods and techniques in learning English. These students were enrolled in a local high school using the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum. To ensure that all students understood the questions, the questionnaire was translated from English to Korean. The results of the survey were as follows: • Half of the students preferred the Direct Method. This method disallows the use of the mother tongue and begins with dialogs and anecdotes. • Far second is Grammar-translation which emphasizes translation of sentences from target language into the mother tongue of the students. • Communicative approach which often uses role-plays or dramatizations in class came in third. • The Audio-lingual approach which utilizes dialogs, mimicry and memorization is the fourth preferred method. • Suggestopedia, Community Language Learning, the Silent way and Total Physical Response (TPR) are some of the least preferred methods. In the same survey, language games came as the most preferred technique in ESL classrooms followed by the use of songs, chants, debates, question and answer, and brainstorming. The survey, yielded the following conclusions: • The Korean students’ surveyed preferred the Direct Method of teaching English. • The students prefer to have the teacher speak English all the time (for example, no use of either Korean or other dialects) and the whole class be conducted in English. • Language games are the most preferred technique in their ESL classroom. Thus, ESL teachers must consider the preferences of their students so that students will learn better, retain more and practice a lot. Teachers can also tailor their syllabi with the preferences of the students so that the class will be stimulated to learn efficiently as their educational needs are being met. REFERENCES Book Mitchell, Rosamond & Florence Myles. 2004. Second Language Learning Theories 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Internet Sites Bada, Erdogan & Zuhal Okan. Students’ Language Learning Preferences. http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/information/tesl-ej/ej15/a1.html. May 2000. Diaz, David P. & Kevin F. Bontenbal. Learner Preferences: Developing a Learner- centered Environment in the Online or Mediated Classroom. http://home.earthlink.net/~davidpdiaz/LTS/html_docs/rnprefs.html. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope I would be able to teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language) again. I would love to teach in a university. I am also studying about Alternative Education as part of my graduate studies. I hope to teach in these areas.  Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:53:04 GMT Youth Development Through Academic Activities By GB Nam 7.28.2009 Youth Development means a holistic formation of the young. Holistic formation connotes integral development that addresses the needs of young people not only intellectually but emotionally, spiritually and physically. Academic activities are the vehicle of achieving this holistic development. However, for so many years, we have been confined to the notion that academic activities are limited to the bounds of formal education. If this notion is to be maintained, young people such as the drop-outs from formal schools will be effectively marginalized. According to the Department of Education, there were 4,000 drop-outs in the Cordillera Administrative Region in 2006. Every year, scores of young people are added to this number. This should shake us to the realization that academic activities must include not only activities in the formal school but also that of the Alternative Learning System. The Alternative Learning System encompasses both the non-formal and informal education. While non-formal education includes educational activities carried outside the formal school framework, to benefit a segment of the society, informal education includes lifelong learning through every day activities. When academic activities are taken from both the context of formal education and the alternative learning system, then youth development becomes inclusive. When it becomes inclusive, that means youth development is free for all and every one has a chance to grow and mature into responsible individuals that will someday become a vital part of our citizenry. Through academic activities the youth can develop into a) Good communicators that are able to express themselves be it written, verbal or non-verbal; b) Critical thinkers who function responsibly in society; c) Productive and creative contributors in economic development; d) New generation of Filipinos that are firmly established in their rich cultural heritage; e) Global citizens who are able to maturely embrace interdependence and diversity. As parents, one can contribute in youth development through academic activities by: 1. Parent Empowering Parents- Some parents need help for example in the area of reading so that it is difficult for them to teach reading to their children. This is an area where parents can teach other parents to read (if they don’t know how and assuming that they want to be taught to read) so they can teach their children how to love and appreciate reading. 2. Parent Supporting Learning Institutions- Parents must support institutions that promote learning so that their children will follow their good example and will appreciate not only learning per se but more so, the process of learning. When parents support the learning institution where their child is in, there is a collaboration that takes place between the parent and the learning institution. 3. Parent Promoting Learning- Parents must promote learning. This is where informal education comes in. Every situation whether good or bad must be processed and transformed into a learning experience for children. Parents must teach their children how to learn for themselves and not just become a recipient in the learning process. Children or learners for that matter, must be an active participant (and not a passive recipient) in their own education. _________________________________________________________ Publ.Date : Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:49:44 GMT Grow Old With You GROW OLD WITH YOU (Adam Sandler) I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad Carry you around when your arthritis is bad All I wanna do is grow old with you. I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches. Build you a fire if the furnace breaks Oh it could be so nice, growin old with you. I'll miss you, kiss you, give you my coat when you are cold. Need you, feed you, and even let you hold the remote control. So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink. Oh I could be the man who grows old with you. I'll miss you, kiss you, take your shoes off and rub your feet. Need you, feed you, and when we play checkers i'll let you cheat. So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink. Oh I could be the one who grows old with you. I wanna grow old with you. _______________________________  How beautiful it is to fall in love.... and be loved. I wish you all the love you deserve..... mwaaahz Publ.Date : Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:24:51 GMT God by choice  Someone sent this pic in my inbox.... thought it was funny  The past few days, some schools actually closed because of the A(H1N1) scare. I found myself panicking. O my goodness, what can I do if the library is closed?... I have a deadline to meet.... the final submission for my thesis proposal is July 20..... and I can't use the library for more than a week???.... total bummer! Our housemate is also sick and showing symptoms like.... fever, vomitting, diarrhea..... and I am feeling weak all over.... I don't know what to do.... I am just imagining the worst.... what ifs?..... No way! I can't afford to get sick....not this time.... so I had to take Vitamin C and decolgen my fave med for common colds.... coz I have a headache and sore throat....ehemmm....ehemmmm... (clearing throat) Tomorrow, I will see Mr. T. at 8:00AM to talk about .... what else? ..... Alternative Learning System.... I am so caught up in that these days .... everyone in my family is complaining... Anyways, aside from my now usual thesis blues, I read an urgent message that in the coming days, there is a need to prepare for a 30-day supply of food and fuel.... so I am doing my best to do it..... just in case... we never know if it becomes true or not... anyways, I will not lose anything if I prepare, right? I also thought about my friends, family.... and the worry bug started to bit me.... I realized that after praying about it, I have to choose to believe in the goodness of God.... God knows all my needs and He is ready to help me.... I am thankful with the kind of God I worship..... very much involved in my whole life..... I choose to trust Him...and He is my God....by choice... Tonight, "I shall lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone O Lord makes me dwell in safety". (Psalm 4:8) Good night..... sleep tight... Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:39:37 GMT Thank you DepEd I would like to thank Dr. Gloria Felipe Chief of ALS Division. She had been very supportive and gracious in helping me with my thesis. Actually I told her, I kind of regret that I just met her.... she should sit in my panel.... sayang talaga! But anyway, my panelists now are okay... they are trying to help me at least..... There's just something that I noticed.... in SLU teachers are kind of allergic to students trying to be thankful to them.... they are afraid perhaps that they will be accused of favoritism... but thats odd because I think, specially in Grad School, the students are adults and professional so they should treat us like colleagues but still be objective.... Also, some panelists love to play the devil's advocate..... but for what? they are there to help the students in their most critical moments in Grad School and not to intimidate or put them down..... I was told today that my study is the first one in the city so Dr. Felipe was really happy I was doing it. She even told me if I can include the province... but the panel already approved my locale so I think it's too late to change it..... I hope I can come up with a research work that is really scholarly done and is worthy to be used by future researchers. I am dead tired.... good night. (Lights Off) z z z z z z z z z z  Publ.Date : Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:38:21 GMT Monday, June 29, 2009 Thesis writing is such a pain in the **** . I already spent so much for this so I have to graduate!!!!! I am tired of school.... period. I started writing my proposal last April but in the middle of all my excitement to write, we had to do a major move..... move house, stuff, utilities. Right after that, I had to play wedding "consultant" for two of our staff.... I ended up organizing the bridal shower, making sure my daughter goes to the rehearsal two days before the wedding, dolling up the bride and entourage, entertaining guests that came over for the wedding. The week after that, there was a tropical depression so the school library was not open until a week later. So I was only able to work in the library after that..... Thankfully, there was only one night that we didn't have electricity in the house. This was because the lady that lived in our newly rented house, did not pay the bills for two months!!! So we had to bear the brunt of BENECO who made sure that the unpaid electric bills were settled. I can't count anymore the number of times I did revisions and the number of times I printed, photocopied and got sick in the process. Last week, my helper had to go on a one-week leave because her dearest uncle died. So I sent her because I want to respect her and her family. I love my helper and her sister by the way. They are like family too. So there you go, the week before my proposal, I had to wake up early morning to cook, wash dishes, clean, do the laundry, marketing, pay bills, go to the bank, send emails, teach modules, and research some more.... in anticipation of my oral defense. My conclusion in all this chaos? Listen SLU.... Thesis Writing is nothing inclusive. I think we should be given an option whether to do a thesis or a non-thesis program. I have spent about 27k in my tuition alone. It does not include the materials, reproduction fees, transportation fees, food, and allowance for a trip to the spa or manghihilot because my muscles are ULTRA sore. I don't want to die of stress..... period (again!) So what did I do for my much needed R&R? I took a quick drive to John Hay and went horse-back riding....It was good to be with nature even just for a while....I also made a trip to Asian Aesthetics but their sauna was wierd so I went to another place-- Spa de Soleil.... they have great sauna that's well-prepared for its users. After my proposal, which took about two hours... my panel members were gracious but gave me the impression that they will leave no mercy for me in the final defense.... just a hunch....hmmmmm. After the proposal, I drove to the regional office of DepEd because of necessary papers that the panelists suggested. It was good to drive. It gave me a chance to regroup. So now, I am going to the library again just to have a place where I can certainly work. I need to do a lot of revision specially for my questionnaire... (sigh!) Laters.... Publ.Date : Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:07:37 GMT Teambuilding Voila! Today was my last day of practicum. I did the team-building workshop seminar that the school asked me to do. We all had a wonderful time because I did three activities. The first one was values clarification and divided them into groups. The second one was they will comment on a famous quote about teamwork. Last but not the least, we did a shore-to-shore activity where each was given a rubber tile. They were to cross a designated "ocean" using only their rubber tiles and they have to go back to their original place together. It was challenging but exciting and tested their ability to work in teams. When I asked the participants which of the activities they liked, they all said they liked all three of them.... yeeehaaah! Was I so happy? You bet I was. If they were satisfied and learned something from what I prepared for them, that's so cool...  God You're so good to me.... Thank You.  Lookey here... my accomplishments!
 Publ.Date : Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:00:34 GMT Practicum highs and lows I am taking a practicum in educational management and I am in a small school that's seven years old ... and I guess you can consider as just starting out. It had been draining at times. I realized that the school being new and with a history of changing administrators, this institution has suffered a lot. What bothers me most is its chronic lack of facilities. Kids can't access a decent library, no guidance office, a dirty clinic with no nurse on call to tend to the sick. The playground is only half functional with rusting equipment. The canteen is ok but is less than spick and span. What to do in this situation? To be honest, I struggled for a week trying to reconcile my faith in this institution and its seeming mismanagement. I spent sleepless night trying to figure out why this is happening and what can be done about it. At the end of the week (Friday), during one of the culminating activities, I noticed something that energized me and raised a spark of hope inside me. I noticed that the children or pupils in the school were much much more well behaved than those who are in public schools. They were noisy at some point alright but they were quick to listen and obey their teachers. Then I came to this realization that although the school lacks facilities, they are able to effectively mold their students to have good moral character.... and that is something that facilities by itself can't really guarantee. It means that the school offers definitely more than the few books in its small library. I am not downplaying their lack of facilities but I think that even if this problem exists, the school is still able to fulfill their vision and mission as an institution. To the school's credit, it has taught good moral values that has started to be emulated by the students, and they have a strong outreach or communitry involvement in the place where they are located. Academically, they are also doing well. So what has been done about the facilities or the lack thereof? I ended up spending money for books and bought a boxful for the library. I also spent two weeks covering books, documenting and organizing them so students can borrow and take them home for the week. Later on, one of the teachers came to help me and we are now ninety-five percent complete. Hopefully, the kids can start borrowing books next week. The administration also is currently fundraising to be able to buy more books for the library. As to the playground, I plan to buy paint and ask an artist-friend to paint murals in the area so it will look presentable. I also want to ask some friends to help repaint the playground equipment. I am really ecstatic about these developments and I thank God for what I learned the past two weeks. Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:31:22 GMT Di Matapos-tapos Yo, am back to finishing my masters..... and as expected I am having a stressful time. I am at my last subjects but I can't feel the excitement of the prospect of actually finishing this degree.... Up to now, I am still wondering if I should take this or not... will I continue or not.... and this struggle is aggravated by the fact that I am often sick. It's so pathetic. Sometimes, I don't understand statistics and my comprehension is very slow... so I can feel my younger classmates irked at my slowness.... Oh well, they will have their chance to become old. But the other day, I remembered that I am only 38 years old.... I am not THAT old!!!! am I? well, compared to some people ..... therefore I ought to be strong and still standing firm in this battle called life. Oh my, anyways, these are my thoughts and I am living life one day at a time. God is always good..... Go is good all the time! I also found out that it helps to have a dream or some kind of goals to pursue coz it makes you focused and purposeful... Some of the things I want to accomplish in my lifetime:
Publ.Date : Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:41:58 GMT Grad Skewl Blues :-) Sigh! I am enrolled originally in four subjects but have to withdraw two because I don't think I have enough time. (Sigh again). I hope I can still finish MAEM in four years???? (gasp! Oh good Lord, help me!) Anyways, I am happy to get my grades for last sem. Thanks to all my teachers who sure had different ways of motivating us!!! I thought about teaching the Intel Teach to the Future Program for one of the local schools but until now, it seems like the principal is too busy to mull over the proposal.++++++++++++++ Publ.Date : Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:46:48 GMT |
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TESOL Certification for teaching english abroad in non-native English speaking countries.
