Level : Advance (Form 2)

Time : 70 minutes

Aims : By the end of the lesson, students should be able to :
1. Skim and scan for information from the online article to fill in the task sheet.
2. Write a short paragraph using the information obtained using the task sheet.

Technical Requirements :
1. A computer equipped with internet connection for each groups (3 in a group).
2. 10 pictures of famous international and local athletes. (example : Cristiano Ronaldo, Lin Dan, Datuk Lee Chong Wei)
3. 10 envelopes.
4. Task sheet

Preparations:
1. Choose 10 famous international and local athletes that would be easily recognized by students.
2. Look for or print out the pictures of the famous athletes.
3. Analyze the Wikipedia articles for the athletes to determine the accuracy of the facts presented.
4. Make sure the Wikipedia articles are suitable for the students’ level of proficiency.
5. Make sure the computers are equipped with Internet connection.
6. Prepare the task sheet for the students.

Websites :
1. www.wikipedia.org
2. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
3. www.gmail.com

Procedure :

Set Induction (2 minutes) :
1. Teacher shows a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo to the students.
2. Teacher asks the students if they recognize who the person is.
3. Teacher asks one or two students to tell the class what they know about Cristiano Ronaldo.

Activity 1 (3 minutes) :
1. The students are divided into 10 groups.
2. Each group is given an envelope containing a picture of a famous athlete.
3. The group members need to figure out whose picture it is.
4. After the students have correctly identified the pictures, teacher gives out the worksheet.

Activity 2 (30 minutes):
1. Teacher then asks the students to go to the website www.wikipedia.org
2. The students are then instructed to type in the name of the famous athlete in the search option.
3. Teacher goes around and checks whether the students are able to find the right article.
4. Teacher instructs students to read the article silently in their respective groups.
5. Teacher gives the address of an online dictionary http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ so students can look up any words that they do not understand.
6. Teacher instructs the students to complete the task sheet using the information they find in the Wikipedia article.

Activity 3 (30 minutes)
1. Teacher models how to write a short paragraph using the information in the task sheet.
2. Teacher instructs each group to come up with a paragraph using their task sheet.
3. Teacher writes her e-mail address on the board.
4. Teacher instructs students to e-mail the completed paragraph to the teacher.

Conclusion (5 minutes)
1. Teacher asks students to reflect on the achievements of the famous athletes.
2. Teacher asks students to think about the attitude that they think help the athletes be successful.
3. Teacher recaps the lesson and inculcates moral values.

TASK SHEET

BIOGRAPHY

Name :


Date of Birth :


Place of Birth :


Profession :


Achievements :

CALL TASK 2 : ARTICLE REVIEW

Title : PODCASTING : AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ENHANCING LANGUGAE STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION?

http://llt.msu.edu/vol13num3/ducatelomicka.pdf

Journal : The Language Learning and Technology Journal, Volume 13, Number 3, October 2009

Author :

1) Dr. Lara Ducate is an Associate Professor at the German Faculty in the University of South Carolina (USC). Her teaching interests include Second Language Acquisition and Computer Assisted Language Learning. She has published a book titled “Calling on CALL: From Theory and Research to New Directions in Foreign Language Teaching” and written several other articles.

2) Lara Lomicka Anderson is the Associate Professor at the French Faculty in USC. Her teaching interests include French and Technology in Foreign Language Education. She has public\shed a book titled “Teaching with Technology (Volume 1)” and written several articles.

One of the aims of the research is to investigate whether podcasting is effective in enhancing the pronunciation skills of the second language learners. In addition, the research also aims to find out whether the students perception or attitudes towards pronunciation changed over the course of the semester. The subjects of the research consist of 12 learners of German and 10 learners of French. The first language of all the participants is American English. The participants were between 18-22 years old. They were selected based on a convenience sample. Participants were required to record several scripted podcasts in their respective L2 and post it to their blogs. Other students are then free to review their peer’s podcasts and comment on them. The data (podcasts) were then compiled in CD’s and analyzed by language experts. The data is rated in terms of comprehensibility and accent. The findings of the research show no significant differences in pronunciation of the participants. The only significant improvement was noted by the French L2 learners’ comprehensibility and accent. Overall, throughout the semesters, 50% of the students improve their accent, although this could be attributed to factors other than the use of podcasts.

This research interests me because one of the language skills that second language learners or L2 learners struggle with is speaking. Pronunciation is an integral part of the speaking component. In order to enhance the speaking skills of L2 learners, pronunciation must not be disregarded. Using podcasts to help hone the pronunciation of l2 learners is an interesting idea. As mentioned in the article, Swain and Lapkin (1995) suggest that output is important second language learning. Podcasts can be the output source for students as it enables them to listen to themselves and others as well as give and receive feedbacks on their language use. Since podcasts files can also be transferred via cellphones and mp3 players, this makes it appealing to the younger generations. This is why I find a research on utilising podcasts for teaching language very interesting. Regarding the research itself, I think it is not very well conducted. There are several areas in which the research can be improved. For starters, the number of respondents is quite small and focuses on 2 different groups of L2 learners (French and German). This might have an effect on the result of the research. Furthermore, there is no way to control the quality of the podcasts produced by the students. As the researchers themselves noted, there might be other factors that influence the level of comprehensibility and accent used by the students. One of the factors is the students’ attentiveness in producing the podcasts. If they are preoccupied with other works or assignments, they may not be too particular about their pronunciation when recording the podcasts. Although no marked improvement was noted, the research itself opens up new possibilities for using podcasts in language teaching. The implication of the study in terms of its relativity to the teaching and learning of L2 is that in general, technology itself cannot be solely relied upon to boost students’ second language skills. Feedback and guidance from the teacher is still needed in order to fully utilise the technology and make it more effective for the students. In the case of using podcasts, it is proven by this study that simply telling students to record and listen to podcasts is not very helpful in developing their language skills. What teachers can do is to give feedback on the recordings and develop exercises based on the students’ recordings. In the Malaysian context, the implication from this study is for teachers to look beyond traditional audio recordings for teaching purposes. Technology has improved greatly, and using podcasts where students can easily keep with them at all times is an interesting alternative that teachers should look into. In short, teachers need to broaden their minds when it comes to using technology as part of their second language teaching tool.

Journal entry #6

This is a picture of my best friend. I took it when we went out during the semester break. We haven’t seen each other for a while so we decided to go to Gunung Lambak, a recreation spot near our hometown. As it was still quite early in the day, there was only one restaurant opened for business and we were the only customers there. The restaurant was surrounded by trees, giving off an aura of tranquility. We chose a secluded place to sit so we wouldn’t be disturbed. I had earlier realized that she didn’t seem to have spared a thought for her clothes. She had on her black rimmed spectacles, her favourite old red sweater with an old T-shirt underneath. It was as if she just rolled out of bed, grabbed the sweater and tudung, then dash out the door. Turns out, I wasn't far from the truth. She sheepishly told me that the shirt had indeed doubled as her "pajamas". She had an inkling that her mom was about to assign some chores to her, so she quickly sneaked out of the house to avoid them. I was the unwilling accomplice in her “Great Escape”. We spent the time chatting about old times and catching up on the latest news. I was engrossed with the conversation but all the while I was thinking of snapping a candid photo of her to remember the moment. While she was taking the last few sips of her drinks, I took out my phone and got ready. She looked down at her soon to be finished drink, chewing the straw. I called her name, she looked up and I quickly snapped her picture. Her exasperated shouts and threats of not giving me a ride home is well worth it. It may not have been her best moment, but it was her most honest. The picture is a constant reminder of what friendship is all about, giving us the freedom to be confident and comfortable in our own skin.

Journal Entry # 5 : Ordinary Me

My mother shares the satisfaction
Of my success
My father shares the pride
Of my achievement
None shares me for me
And in that I am alone

Their eyes
Looking at a prodigy
Not seeing the child
Their ears
Hearing the accolades
Not listening to the cries

The next Einstein
They want me to be
The next Mozart or Picasso
They call out to me
None wants me to just be me
And in that I am alone

I see other children
Like me
Unlike me
Running towards the future
Of uncertainty

I long to be with them
For they belong to a simpler life
I loath to be with them
For they represent what I cannot have

To watch Spongebob
And not be appalled by the idiocy
To read Harry Potter
And not fret about philosophy
To be common and not extraordinary
To be all this
Is a dream to me

Promises (from a husband)

I wanted to, I swear I do
But I’ve got so much work to do
Come on dear, don’t look so blue.
You do understand, don’t you?

Of course I remember
That promise I made
Long ago during our courtship
Come on dear
Stop pouting those lips
It is, after all
just a silly trip

I promise dear
We’ll go next year.
Just you and me, alone together
Now, now dear
No need for that sneer
I won’t forget
like I did last year

Since I couldn’t
Get you the real deal.
I did the next best thing,
I’m giving you a glimpse.
Happy birthday darling!

Wish you were here...not! (To a friend)

Wish you were here
To see and feel
The beautiful sun, all shiny and bright
The wind softly caressing our tresses
The warm grains of sand beneath our feet
Schools of fish swimming merrily

But,
If you were here
You’ll only see and feel
The sun burning your skin
The wind messing up your hair
The sand getting stuck in your pants
The fish nipping your toes

When
You seek the wrong in all that’s right
And fill my ears with all your moans
You’ll push away tranquil and calm
I realise then that
I didn’t want you here at all


So,
Hear me now
Slayer of peace
Go back from whence you came
And leave me in heavenly bliss!

Missing you (From a secret admirer/friend)

The day he left
A part of you went with him
You tightly sealed your heart
And pushed me away

I find myself
lost without you
I find myself
missing you

I miss the way
you tuck those wayward strands
behind your ears
I miss the way
the room lit up when you smile
I miss the way
my heart skipped a beat
when you caught my eye

Wake up dearest
See the world through my eyes
Feel the music inside
Set yourself free

Memories (To an old friend)

Remember those nights
at the Cotton Club?
Where we danced all night
Till the break of dawn?

Remember those nights
at the Cotton Club?
When we swing, we jived
Away from our troubles
Stamping our feet
On our misery?

Remember those nights
at the Cotton Club?
Where the dance floor bound us
Our limbs tightly wound together
As we moved to the same beat

Those nights are no more
Swallowed by the passing time
But the memory of it lives on
At the back of our mind
Like a revered shrine

A piece of me

My mother hates you
My father avoids you
But you're most precious to me
My sanctuary
Where I can be me

My little piece of heaven
Your walls kept me safe
Standing guard as I roam the world
Knowing I will come back down to Earth
Always

What no one understand is
Every piece of trash
Every chipped paint
Every scribbles on the wall
Every part of you is me

I came back the other day
And was shocked
They've changed you
Painted over our memories
Now will you change me?

Suddenly it rained
And you slyly let drops of it
Fell on me
I let out a sigh
You're still you
I'm still me.

Creating a character

Seth heaved a heavy sigh. It was such a tiring day. Seth threw his worn leather jacket on the couch. That jacket was his oldest friend, bought with his first paycheck. Seth always wore the jacket on assignments, somehow he felt vulnerable without it. It’s worn out now and a little faded, but like an old loyal dog, it still serve Seth faithfully, keeping the chills off his bones as he went around doing his duties.

Seth spied the business card partially hidden under the rug. He snorted. That card was the root of his annoyance. Well that wasn’t entirely true. Megan and her stubborn inquisitive streak are also to blame. If only she hadn’t snooped around his stuff even when she knows he hates it when she does that. That’s just who she is, inquisitive, curious. He knew that card was trouble the first time Boss suggested it. But the first rule of the business is what the Boss wants, the Boss gets. No point arguing about it unless you want to swim with the fishes. Besides, Boss thinks it added a touch of class to the profession. Seth thought they should stick to the old ways, let business come through word of mouths. No need to go around flaunting the card to advertise their services. Everyone in the West Coast knows that if you wanna get something done right, you get Seth to do it.

Anyway, if Megan hadn’t found the card, she never would’ve started asking questions. It’s not like Seth’s ashamed of his job. Heck, no! His real proud about it but over the years Seth realized that if you want to keep out of jail, you keep your mouth shut around women lest they go babbling about it to the neighbours. Women can't be trusted, look what happen to Bugsy. Next thing you know, the cops will swarm all over you. When Megan started to ask questions, Seth did the only logical thing. It wasn't that hard, really. He’s been doing it so long that he could do it without any conscious thought.

The phone beeped. Seth read the incoming message. The Boss wants to see him. He’s got a new gig. Seth got up, grabbed his jacket and walked pass the dimly lit bedroom. Megan was sprawled on the bed. She looked like she was sleeping, the shadow of the room partially hidden her grotesque expression. Something glittered on her neck. Seth knew what it was a silver necklace and locket with the inscription “Seth and Megan forever”. She had made him bought for her last Christmas; it had cost him a small fortune. “Forever sure was short!” he chuckled to himself. He wondered if he could sell it or maybe he could have it melted down to make a new ring for that bartender he met last week. No point in wasting good jewellery. He’s gonna have to take care of the body later, he need to see Boss first. Seth started humming to himself and walked out the door.

Journal Entry #4 : The Fasting Month

The month of Ramadan is here again. We’ve been fasting for almost two weeks now. Wow! Halfway there already…how time flies when you’re having fun...right… It should be how time flies when you’ve got assignments to finish or how time flies when you’re cramming for quizzes, how time flies when, well, you’ve got the idea. Well, just the other day Mr Jaferi told us to write something, anything about the fasting month. I’ve been staring at the screen for several hours now, trying to come up with something. At the rate I’m going I now, I don’t think I’ll finish by sahur time. Sigh…such perfect timing for writer’s block. I’m going back to balik kampong tomorrow…(oops, it’s already pass 12 midnight so technically it’s today) to celebrate the fasting month with my family. And I don’t plan on thinking about this blog or any other work while I’m away so I have to finish writing this blog entry by…well, by now actually.

It would be a lot easier if I didn’t have to go home today, but I’ve already promised my mum I would. Way before the start of the fasting month she had expertly and cunningly extracted a promise from me that I would spend at least 1 weekend at home during Ramadan, excluding the time off we get before Raya of course. I guess if it was up to her, she would want me to come home every weekend. Tempting…but then again Ramadan is all about fighting temptations so I have to be strong. Sure, being home means you don’t have to wander aimlessly back and forth the Bazaar Ramadan, trying to decide what to eat and controlling yourself from buying literally everything. But the bazaar does have its charm. Nothing spells human camaraderie better than mingling your bucketfuls of sweats with hundreds of other people, all aiming for the same thing, something to quench the thirst and satisfy the hunger. As you shuffle your way through inch by inch, following the delicious aroma of the absurdly priced char kuey teow, you started to think that nothing helps to hone your patience like spending time at the bazaar. Not that ridiculously well organized and spacious one at section 17 mind you. Everyone having their own breathing space, every stall neatly arranged, where’s the fun in that? The one at section 18’s the real deal. Stalls arranged along a strip of road so narrow that it’s not uncommon to find yourself being suddenly accosted by other people’s arms,hips,shoulders and rear ends. Isn’t that exciting?

Speaking of bazaar Ramadan, I’ve listed some tips to make shopping experience more enjoyable:

1. There are usually two lanes of human traffic, going the opposite way from one end of the bazaar to the other. Choose the lane you wish to follow and brace yourself for the awesome ride.

2. If you'd missed the stall that you wish to stop at, stay in your lane until you get to the end, then follow the other one to go back to the stall. Think of the journey as a gastronomical experience.

3. Going against the flow of traffic is not reccomended. You could actually end up progressing much slower. Trying to push your way against the flow is like wrestling a brick wall.

4. Sometimes, when the traffic is heavy, a traffic jam may occur. This is when you find yourself stuck in one place, neither coming nor going. Stay calm and try to pass the time by daydreaming about what you’re going to have for berbuka puasa.

5. Be prepared for an attack on your senses, mainly sight, sound and smell. Amped up your defense or you could bite off more than you could chew.

6. If you’re looking for a bargain, go to the bazaar about 5 minutes before berbuka. Some give discounts, or if you’re lucky, you might get food stuff for free. (Try to act as if you’ve just finished your class. Students generally get more sympathy)

Journal entry #3 : Favourite Fictional Character

One of my favourite fictional characters is from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, Rand al’Thor. I’ve followed the development of this character from the first book when he was just a young, naïve farmboy,to the 11^th book where he now held the power and influence equal to or more than a king.

Why I like him? Well, there are several reasons for that. One of them is the enigma surrounding him, like his origin for example. As a baby, he was found abandoned near a scene of a bloody battlefield. His adopted father Tham al’Thor found Rand’s dying mother and she entrusted Rand to his care. All that was known about her (at that time) was that she was one of those called the Maiden of the Spears, a group of highly skilled and much feared female warriors, and had fought bravely in the battle. Rand was the only survivor. Tham brought Rand home to a small isolated village called Emond’s Field and raised him as his own. No one else suspects anything much less Rand himself who was happy being a shepherd. When his village was attack however, Tham was forced to reveal the secret. Rand then decided to travel to seek his destiny and find out more about his parents.

Another aspect of him that I find both funny and frustrating is his love life. Early in the series, it was prophesied that he would fall in love with 3 very different women. A princess, a former Maiden of the Spears and a tomboy. The 3 women had known about the prophecy early on and they took some time to contemplate the situation and how to deal with it. However Rand had no idea about it and he often felt guilty and confused over his feelings for all 3 women whom he loved differently. He loved the princess Elayne, because of her beauty and grace. He loved the former warrior, Aviendha for her determination and courage and he loved Min because of her compassion and understanding. It’s funny that he could face an army of a thousand soldiers alone but he could never get the nerve to confront the women and discussed his feelings for them He could talk to head of nations and gets away with anything but he always felt awkward around the women and didn’t know how to handle them. In fact he often runs away from them, complicating his relationships much further. His background as a shepherd often makes him feel inferior to the women. Unbeknownst to him, the women felt more ill at ease around him because they felt that he is very smart and often gets the best of them, making them more helplessly in love with him. His clueless demeanor despite his confidence and courage in other aspects endear him to me as it shows the rare side of his insecurities despite his tough and confident appearance.

Being the reluctant savior of the world, Rand fought many battles with his trusted friends and allies at his side. One of his most powerful allies is the Maidens who felt strongly connected to him as his mother was one of them. What hurts him is when the Maidens died in battles. He understands that it was inevitable and the Maidens themselves consider it an honour to die for him. However he took it very hard and he vowed not to let another woman die for him. However, the Maiden consider it an insult when he would not let them fight for him. After every battle, he will go around the dead and commit the name of the dead Maidens into his heart. This way he felt that he could let them live on in his memories. He often recites the list of names to himself to remind himself the prize he has to pay for being a leader. I find this very fascinating because I see it is a jab at the leaders of the world. The soldiers are the ones sacrificing their lives for these leaders and their deaths are most often than not brushed aside by the leaders. Rand is always faced with the difficult choice of protecting his followers or letting them fight for him. A part of him recognizes the logic, they are in war and casualties are the norm. Yet he felt guilty for leading these people into their deaths. This did not make him any less efficient as a leader. Instead it made him a better one because he weights his every decision carefully for fear of making the wrong one and causing the deaths of his followers.

His followers either fear him or highly worship him. Those who are in the first category dare not defy him because they fear his temper while those who worship him are too in awe to question his actions. However there are a select few who sees him as a normal human being. They are not afraid to point out his mistakes and reproach him when he goes too far and unsurprisingly these are the people that he trusts the most. I like the fact that Rand did not let power cloud his judgement.

All in all, Rand is one of my favourite characters because of the different layers of his personality which at times confuse both his allies and enemies. At times he is a fearless leader who will stop at nothing to win the war, but he also fears for the safety of his family, friends and followers. Sometimes he is confident and knows exactly what he wants, while at other times he is clueless about what to do and doubts his ability. These conflicts make him real and relatable to the reader because these are common issues we deal with in our life regardless of who we are.