Writing
Today is our last session and we go to class with mix feelings. We are both excited to deliver the last lesson and sad that it is going to be over soon. After almost two weeks in Yogya, all five facilitators have grown an attachment to her people, her culture and her cuisine.
Back in class, we share with our participants how to use Cloze Passage, Crossword Puzzle, even Charade to help expand our students' vocabulary for writing. The teachers certainly has a lot of fun trying out the lessons for themselves.
We truly respect and admire our participants corporate discipline. They are always on time if not early for our lessons. In addition, they also find the time to complete a couple of assignments that we have given them. This is on top of what P4TK has assigned them. In fact, the teachers also have to submit Scheme of Work and detailed Lesson Plans based on what they have learned from our sessions.
The facilitators are also touched by our participants' warmth and generosity. Inspite of their tight schedule, they actually find time to design a t-shirt for us and produce a movie clip to commemorate the TWA. At the end of the day, we feel that we have learned so much from our Indonesian teachers - passion, dedication and sincerity.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
3 Dec Session 8
Writing
Today's lesson focuses on text types and writing techniques. We share with our participants various letter and report formats, as well as how to teach vivid verbs and vocabulary using exciting activities. It's interesting how teachers find it difficult at first to write. We finally have to admit that we can empathise how the students must have felt when we reprimand them for not being motivated to complete their writing assignments. We realise that like us sometimes, students need more scaffolding before they can embark on a new writing task. We are also tickled that even though we know "roughly" what all the words in the vocabulary list mean, we may not necessarily be able to give their exact meaning and how they differ from one another especially in degree on intensity. Last but not least, we are touched by our participants' hospitality who visited us the night before bearing much appreciated snacks. We spent quite a while to interact with one another in an informal setting. Some of the teachers shared with us more about their hometown and their lives back home. We couldn't help but to be even more appreciative and grateful that they came all the way to Yogyakarta to learn more from us.
Today's lesson focuses on text types and writing techniques. We share with our participants various letter and report formats, as well as how to teach vivid verbs and vocabulary using exciting activities. It's interesting how teachers find it difficult at first to write. We finally have to admit that we can empathise how the students must have felt when we reprimand them for not being motivated to complete their writing assignments. We realise that like us sometimes, students need more scaffolding before they can embark on a new writing task. We are also tickled that even though we know "roughly" what all the words in the vocabulary list mean, we may not necessarily be able to give their exact meaning and how they differ from one another especially in degree on intensity. Last but not least, we are touched by our participants' hospitality who visited us the night before bearing much appreciated snacks. We spent quite a while to interact with one another in an informal setting. Some of the teachers shared with us more about their hometown and their lives back home. We couldn't help but to be even more appreciative and grateful that they came all the way to Yogyakarta to learn more from us.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
2 Dec Session 7
Reading & Writing
Our participants share with us more about their students, their pedagogical approaches and the form of assessments in their schools. Although we are not surprised that there are many similarities, we are motivated by how the teachers are highly dedicated despite the lack of resources for some areas. The passion and selflessness that they show inspire us all.
Today we tackle comprehension question types and introduce silent reading. The teachers find the former very helpful while the latter is novel. One teacher shares that the activity on formulating questions motivate her to read the given passage more carefully because she does not want to let her group down. From this exercise the teachers realise how collaborative work is very effective in engaging students who are less motivated. Positive peer pressure, a little competition and peer marking are some strategies that our participants can use. Our participants share with us how the segment for structured silent reading return their passion for reading. They usually do not have time to read for leisure due to work and other commitments.
Our participants share with us more about their students, their pedagogical approaches and the form of assessments in their schools. Although we are not surprised that there are many similarities, we are motivated by how the teachers are highly dedicated despite the lack of resources for some areas. The passion and selflessness that they show inspire us all.
Today we tackle comprehension question types and introduce silent reading. The teachers find the former very helpful while the latter is novel. One teacher shares that the activity on formulating questions motivate her to read the given passage more carefully because she does not want to let her group down. From this exercise the teachers realise how collaborative work is very effective in engaging students who are less motivated. Positive peer pressure, a little competition and peer marking are some strategies that our participants can use. Our participants share with us how the segment for structured silent reading return their passion for reading. They usually do not have time to read for leisure due to work and other commitments.
Monday, December 1, 2008
1 Dec Session 6
Reading and Writing
We begin the reading and writing components by sharing with our participants how to use a variety of sources to motivate their students to read. This includes sources like newspaper articles, advertisements and comics. We understand from them that English newspapers may not be readily available in some districts so the facilitators have to think on our feet to come up with other sources from the internet. Today's lesson has taught us not to assume that students are not reading simply because they are disinterested. There are various social factors that may come into play. As teachers we need to understand these social factors and be prepared to come up with equivalent alternatives to engage our students without sacrificing any learning outcomes.
We begin the reading and writing components by sharing with our participants how to use a variety of sources to motivate their students to read. This includes sources like newspaper articles, advertisements and comics. We understand from them that English newspapers may not be readily available in some districts so the facilitators have to think on our feet to come up with other sources from the internet. Today's lesson has taught us not to assume that students are not reading simply because they are disinterested. There are various social factors that may come into play. As teachers we need to understand these social factors and be prepared to come up with equivalent alternatives to engage our students without sacrificing any learning outcomes.
Friday, November 28, 2008
28 Nov Session 5
Speaking & Listening
Today concludes our speaking and listening segments. Next week we'll be introducing the reading and writing components to our participants. We have been very encouraged by their response to our facilitation. The organisers were at first worried that they may not be responsive yet as the day goes by, we notice that our participants are opening up and becoming more vocal. As a conclusion to this week's lesson, we also introduce new techniques and strategies to engage students who are more kinesthetically-inclined for example debate and drama. We also introduce dictation to improve pupils' spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and listening skill. Our participants share with us that many of the tools and strategies that we have been using in class are new to them and they truly appreciate it. Upon reflection, we realise that by coming together to plan and organise this TWA, we also "sharpen the saw" at the same time. It forces us to re-evaluate our own teaching with fresh eyes and surface each other's assumptions on teaching and learning. Last but not least we humbly admit that sometimes the teacher becomes the student :)
Today concludes our speaking and listening segments. Next week we'll be introducing the reading and writing components to our participants. We have been very encouraged by their response to our facilitation. The organisers were at first worried that they may not be responsive yet as the day goes by, we notice that our participants are opening up and becoming more vocal. As a conclusion to this week's lesson, we also introduce new techniques and strategies to engage students who are more kinesthetically-inclined for example debate and drama. We also introduce dictation to improve pupils' spelling, vocabulary, punctuation and listening skill. Our participants share with us that many of the tools and strategies that we have been using in class are new to them and they truly appreciate it. Upon reflection, we realise that by coming together to plan and organise this TWA, we also "sharpen the saw" at the same time. It forces us to re-evaluate our own teaching with fresh eyes and surface each other's assumptions on teaching and learning. Last but not least we humbly admit that sometimes the teacher becomes the student :)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
27 Nov Session 4
Speaking and Listening
Our hosts Yuli, Irene and Rin take us out for dinner tonight. We're both intrigued and amused at the thought of having roast pigeon but the're truly delicious!
Today's lesson focus on public speaking and metaphorical language. We use songs, poetry and games like (blindfolded) obstacle course and "show & tell". These exercises provide the participants with ample opportunities to see English in context and in action. For the listening comprehension component we also introduce inference techniques. Now that the facilitators know the participants a lot better, we're able to communicate our instructions effectively. Strong relationships certainly break all barriers.
Our hosts Yuli, Irene and Rin take us out for dinner tonight. We're both intrigued and amused at the thought of having roast pigeon but the're truly delicious!
Today's lesson focus on public speaking and metaphorical language. We use songs, poetry and games like (blindfolded) obstacle course and "show & tell". These exercises provide the participants with ample opportunities to see English in context and in action. For the listening comprehension component we also introduce inference techniques. Now that the facilitators know the participants a lot better, we're able to communicate our instructions effectively. Strong relationships certainly break all barriers.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
26 Nov Session 3
Speaking & Listening
We have the privilege of meeting the DGE of Indonesia who is based in Jakarta today for lunch. In spite of his tight schedule, he takes the time to chat with us and find out more about education in Singapore.
Back in the classroom, we engage our participants in more activity-based lessons so that they may use them to engage their own students. It is almost amusing to discover that teachers in both countries have such similar concerns when it comes to keeping our students meaningfully occupied. We are very grateful that our participants are fully present everyday although it can be a rather long day. They motivate us further to do our best with their active participation, positive attitude, their passion to learn and dedication to their students.
For our speaking and listening components, we focus on presentation skills and expressing emotions. We are touched by our participants' sincerity and willingness to share with us. We believe we have created 20 Critical Friends.
We have the privilege of meeting the DGE of Indonesia who is based in Jakarta today for lunch. In spite of his tight schedule, he takes the time to chat with us and find out more about education in Singapore.
Back in the classroom, we engage our participants in more activity-based lessons so that they may use them to engage their own students. It is almost amusing to discover that teachers in both countries have such similar concerns when it comes to keeping our students meaningfully occupied. We are very grateful that our participants are fully present everyday although it can be a rather long day. They motivate us further to do our best with their active participation, positive attitude, their passion to learn and dedication to their students.
For our speaking and listening components, we focus on presentation skills and expressing emotions. We are touched by our participants' sincerity and willingness to share with us. We believe we have created 20 Critical Friends.
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