Hectic but interesting week

Hi everyone,
thanks for all your comments on my last blog. I really appreciate it!

This week has forced all of us to give an extra amount of time to ensure that the project is handed over as a draft.

I just cant believe that we are doing our final project.

Just weeks ago, we were learning and being introduced to use technology in our classes. This is great and helping me so much grow as a teacher.

i am now more confident and feel that i can teach to a new level to help my students exceed.

We just can't thank Jodi and Sherie enough for all their hard work.

Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Course needs to give us more references

Hi all,

I really wished this course would offer some help instead of asking us to come up with ideas on learner autonomy or a one computer class. I mean, we have not been able to get the right references that we can go forward on this. I did read the links and researches but i still feel that some pieces of the puzzle are missing.

Maybe its only be thinking like this, but if the course would give us step by step methods on how to use one computer in the class is far more realistic than us practicing an activity that might not even work in our classes and in return turn our students into puppets we are learning through them rather than people we are trying to teach.

I know this is awkward but i felt i had to say it because i really want this course to be a success.

Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Week of Creativity in Teaching English

Hi everyone!!!

Is it me or does this week need more creativity from us as educators?

First we have to find more activities we can teach and enjoy with our students while using only ONEEEE computer.

Then we have to find ways to explain a learner autonomy, which is great, but difficult to find great ideas on how students can learn and benefit in the same time.

I really like the challenge and i tried the one computer in the class project. I did use the projector but the computer was the main focus of the class.

This is something i never expected that i would be doing, but its important to learn such ways.

This week taught me that we should be ready to work with whatever we have to ensure that students learn and in the same time make it interesting for you and the students.

Good week, but long from over.
Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Learning PP from the messages on nicenet

Hi all,

I think the most i learned from the PP in learning English process is from the chats and messages in nicenet.

i just love some of the ideas that many of you are bringing up.

Just to mention a few, i love the idea that Sidi from Morocco had which is to make the students use PP for autobiographies. he is basically trying to make it fun for them to learn and experiment in the use of PP so that they love the idea of using it in class.

I also liked one message that said that teachers should at times focus on the reaction of the students and from there know where to go forward with. I am one of those who believe that all teachers learn from their students more than they learn during their training days.

Week six has been a very productive learning week mostly because of the ideas that are shared by everyone and expressing the difficulties that all of us are facing.

Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Happy that power point is involved in this course

Hi all,

I started working on my power point. Its really interesting because the last time i worked on power point was like two years ago.

I think the most difficult part of the project is not the content because that is simple. 

I really want to make it unique and use it for the future. I also want it to be a good start for me where i can start using more power point activities in classes. 

One point i really liked in the reading to introduce power point, they stressed that some of the best power point slides are not the ones with the most writings on it. Sometimes it needs more brains that words. Make it clear, short, easy, and effective.

I never thought that such a short 10 week course can cover so many different angles. I was not that serious in the first two weeks of the course, but i have been basically crazy about it over the last month.

Hope we have a good and fruitful second half of this course.

Best.

Hakim Almasmari

Yemen

Ask students how they would use technology in learning English

Hi all,
today i tried to introduce to my students a new topic that is indirectly linked to PBL.

I asked them to start thinking of ways to use technology to study English. When i first told them to think of ideas, all of them were silent, but a couple of minutes later, they started mentioning the projector, CD players, DVD's, websites, and one of them even brought up the idea of using Iphone apps to learn English, among other ideas.

I was happy to see them thinking it that direction and they are starting to understand the importance of technology when learning.

Hey, i think people need to time to swallow the idea, but i am pretty sure this course will not end only with them surely loving the idea of learning through technology.

Best
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

PBL in Learning English

Hi all,

Reviewing the PBL, i am trying to figure out where we can use technology?

I understand that the material for the projects can be taken to the web, but lets all brainstorm and see where else in the PBL we can use web technology.

Is there a way that we can make our students present using technology.

I liked Susan's approach in making her students learn English through projects, but i was hoping to expand a little more on that and involving the web even more.
Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Guide Students and Make them Learn

Hi everyone,

With everyday that passes in this course, i start realizing that the goal of this course is to help students find ways to learn English in a faster and better methodology while in the same time the instructor will guide them through rather than teaching them every word they learn.

This will surely make the fruits of learning endless for the student and give us a better learning experience.

The Rubics, PBL, and WebQuests all pour in this direction.

The good thing about this is that as soon as your students get in the mood of this learning change, they will have the power to learn English outside your class (Box) time limit.

One major problem we face is that students focus on language learning only within the four walls of the class, but this can change if our students understand such simple and important FUN learning strategies.

Best.
Hakim Almasmari

Yemen Students Getting Confident in Using Technology to Learn Englis

Hi all,

I feel my students are starting to get in the mood and understanding of using technology in learning English.

They are starting in small baby steps, by i feel they are starting to become more relaxed and confident.

One student even told me that with technology available in the English learning process, he does not think class instructors will be as valuable as the past, though they still need to observe. I think he was just happy to see what you can get from the web when it comes to learning English.

Best.
Hakim Almasmari
Yemen

Learning English Through News (Great Activities)

All right, this is something i never expected.
First to brief, i am a journalist by passion as well. So i love news and reporting as much as i love teaching.

That is why i love the link below.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

It made it easier for me to teach because it involves English learning with news stories.
I then picked a very interesting story in the link below
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1201/120105-lingerie.html
It talks about Saudi Arabia banning men from selling Lingerie in Saudi Arabia, and since Yemen is right next to Saudi i thought it would be interesting.
In my wildest dreams, i never thought that an entirely ready group of activities are ready made for every news topic.
this is great

Best
Hakim Almasmari