Mini Test Question 2: Environment Writing Lesson

One day, you have received an email that consists of a video from your future self.

“Dear me from the past,

            I am the future you from 20 years in the future. Please pay attention to what I am about to write, it is very important that you watch the video I have attached in this mail. The video shows how the earth would look like in 20 years time. It consists of the causes and effects of global warming. Do not be surprise on how ugly the earth will look like in the video. I am sending you this because I want you to know the importance of conserving and preserving our planet. There is still a little time for you to change things. Please do not ignore this email.

Yours truly,

The future you”

After watching the video, in groups of 5, you are to list down the causes and effect of global warming from the video. You are then required to produce an essay about the causes and effect of global warming. Your essay should be not less than 150 words.

Mini Test Question 1: MAP

Write instructions for students for two writing activities based on the pictures. 

1. The PERMADIK club is planning on organising an event, "Amazing Race, KK Style" for the first year students. You are the person in charge on planning the race in KK town. In not less than 100 words, plan out a route for the race. Your route should include these places:
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Hotel, Wisma Merdeka, CBS Gaya Centre, Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation and Signal Hill Observatory.

2. One day, you bumped into a visitor from outer space at Wisma Merdeka, his name is Mr Alien. Mr Alien is a friendly martian and was lost at Wisma Merdeka. He mentioned that his space ship was at Signal Hill Observatory but he got loss wandering around KK Town. Mr Alien requested that you show him the way back to Signal Hill Observatory from Wisma Merdeka. He also mentioned that he would want to go do some sightseeing at CBS Gaya Centre, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board and Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation.
In not less than 80 words, write down directions to Signal Hill Observatory from Wisma Merdeka in a short paragraph. Remember to include the places mentioned by Mr Alien.

Integrating Technology in ESL Writing

Our world has slowly been taken over by technology; through the use of technology, everything would seem to turn out better and more interesting. Same goes for teaching, teachers who integrate technology in their teaching will definitely make their lesson much more interesting and effective.

Integrating technology in ESL writing brings many benefits to both students and teachers. Technology, or the Internet to be exact, increases the access to the many resources of teaching. By using different online tools to teach writing, teachers are able to attract the attention of students as technology offers a wide range of ways to teach. Teachers are able to choose from the ample online teaching tools to teach their students. This not only attracts the attention of students; it also allows the teacher to increase their skills in technology. In addition, students are able to understand better when the teachers use suitable tools. For instance, when students are asked to write a narrative essay, videos or pictures can be shown to allow the students to have more understanding on what they have to write about. Visual aids also help to enhance one’s creativity.

An example of integrating technology in ESL writing is by using an electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio. An e-portfolio is a collection of work where one uses the Internet to help him or her organise, archive and display his or her work. This is a great tool as students are able to have their own “space” to express themselves creatively. Teachers are also able to assess the students’ e-portfolio easily. Students will also be able to view their peers’ e-portfolio to exchange ideas and give opinions. Through this, students are able to encourage one another and this is able to increase one’s confidence in writing.

I have to say, having been shown the slides presented by my course mates, I was very fascinated and impressed with all the online tools one’s able to use to teach writing. My group presented on online and offline teaching writing tools; and as we were preparing our presentation, we found many of online tools that we can use to teach. It was then when I realised I did not know as much as I needed to about using technology to teach. There are so many other tools besides Blogger, Facebook and Tumblr, and this has motivated me to search for more useful tools to be used in the future. Integrating technology in ESL writing is definitely a good idea.

Inside the Haiti Earthquake

We were introduced to this online game called “Inside the Haiti Earthquake” by Miss Yoon and I must say, this is one interesting game. It was a heart wrenching game too. I have to admit, I never really followed the news when the Haiti earthquake occurred, all I knew was they experienced a major natural disaster and many people were affected. I didn’t really know how Haiti looked like after the disaster, how it felt like being one of the survivors, how everything was like, until I played this game.

They offered three characters to choose from, a journalist, a survivor and an aid worker. I played the game three times as I wanted to know how it felt like being each of them. The footages shown were so surreal and difficult for me to comprehend as I felt the pain of seeing so many people being affected by the disaster. It really allowed you to picture yourself in their position, to see what they see, to hear what they hear, and to feel what they feel. I liked that I was allowed to make my own choices in the game. Also, I liked how they also included footages of people singing and praising God despite what happened. This game is definitely something I would recommend people to play. By committing to the various strategies, we experience the consequences from our choices.

I would definitely use this game to conduct a writing lesson. There are two ways in which I would use, the first would be writing a narrative essay. Students will be asked to play the game and note down whatever they have experienced in the game. Then, I would ask the students to write a narrative essay out of the points they have noted. Students are required to write the essay in 200 words, with titles, "As A Survivor During the Haiti Earthquake", "As A Journalist During the Haiti Earthquake" and "As An Aid Worker During the Haiti Earthquake".

Another activity would be: Students will be asked to play the game and later, write down their thoughts on the game. Students are required to write a passage in not less than 100 words.

One thing I recommend while playing this game? A good Internet connection.

A Scary Experience?

The essay given by Miss Yoon to be marked was quite a challenge. After reading it a couple of times, I finally understood the whole essay written. I realised the errors that the student made was mainly failure to express himself/herself in proper English and grammatical errors. I felt that the student wasn't able to express himself/herself well in proper English as most of the sentences were directly translated from Mandarin to English. The student’s grammar errors were mainly on past and present tenses. I give credits for a good story where you can actually see the plot of the story that consisted of introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion.

The method I'd use would be written comments. This is because not only does his/her essay follow the format of a common story writing plot, it is also not hard to understand. By circling the grammar errors and underlining the unclear sentences, the student would be able to understand where he/she made a mistake. I would also try using the method on talking to the writer about the errors he/she made as it might be easier for me to explain what to do and what not to do in the future. But this may take up a lot of time as there are other student’s essays to tend to.

Peer editing would definitely be a good way for students to improve on his/her writing. I would encourage students to come together in a group to help edit one another’s essay. Through this, students are not only able to identify mistakes and errors, they will be able to improve themselves while helping edit others' essay.

As for the follow-up activity, I would provide some activities on forming simple sentences in a specific structure so that he/she will be able to produce better sentences in the future rather than a sentence translated from Mandarin to English. Besides that, I would also provide activities like changing sentences from present tense to past tense to improve his/her grammar.

I Give You... A TEN!

We were asked to assess the essay written by Miss Yoon's China student in this activity. Our group decided on giving him/her 10 marks-which is halved of the full mark- as he/she came out with quite a good essay. The essay written was appropriate and its language and context were modest. However, there are some inaccuracies, for instance the usage of vocabulary. Though the student's vocabulary is fairly well, the student was unable to use the right vocabulary in expressing himself.

Although this essay has many mistakes, but it is a good essay in general. It has a clear flow in the story line and has a modest command of the language. We give it a 10! :)

Are you HOTS enough? :)

I’ve come out with an activity that integrates the level of evaluating.

One day, you and your friends decided to hike up Mount Brinchang. Unfortunately, you all lost your way and it was getting dark. Your friends decided to rest at an open area for a night because it is no use to walk in the dark. All of you were hungry and tired but had no food supply or a tent to rest in. What would you do? Would you continue the journey in finding the right way back, or would you decide to stay at the open area and wait for it to be bright again? Decide on what would you do and later write a short narrative essay on your adventure in finding your way back. Your essay should be in not less than 200 words.

Global Warming?

Good video for teaching about global warming?

Have Some Fun in Class!

List of songs and movies can that are related to the themes in KSSR and KBSM.

World of Self, Family and Friends

Songs	Movies
You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins	Tarzan
When You Wish Upon A Star - Cliff Edwards	Pinocchio
I Can Go the Distance - Michael Bolton	Hercules
Journey to the Past - Aaliyah	Anastasia
At The Beginning – Donna Lewis
Someone’s Waiting for You	The Rescuers
You’ve Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman	Toy Story
God Help the Outcasts	Hunchback of Notre dame
When You Believe - Stephen Schwartz	The Prince of Egypt
You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up) – Josh Groban	Mary Poppins
Look Through My Eyes – Phil Collins	Brother Bear
Welcome – Phil Collins
Great Spirits – Tina Turner
We're All In This Together	High School Musical
Fix You - Coldplay	Camp Rock
Smile – Charlie Chaplin	Emperor’s New Groove
You Raise Me Up - Brendan Graham	Lilo and Stitch
I’ll Be There For You – The Remembrants	The Incredibles
Count On Me – Bruno Mars	Finding Nemo
True Friend – Miley Cyrus	101 Dalmations
Gift of A Friend – Demi Lovato	Cheaper by the Dozen 1,2,3
Lean On Me - Bill Withers	Daddy Day Care
I’ll Be There – The Jackson Five	Pursuit of Happiness
I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders	Despicable Me
I Turn To You – Christina Aguilera	Hotel Transylvania
Everybody Needs A Best Friend – Norah Jones	Nanny McPhee
Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson	Daddy Day Camp
My Same - Adele	My Sister’s Keeper
A Song For Mama – Boyz II Men	School Of Life
Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle	Freaky Friday
Nobody Ever Told You – Carrie Underwood	Home Alone
See You Again – Carrie Underwood	Little Miss Sunshine
There’s A Place For Us – Carrie Underwood	Facing The Giant
Who Says – Selena Gomez	Marley And Me
Like My Mother Does – Lauren Alaina	Precious
Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson	Real Steel
I Believe I Can Fly – R Kelly	Soul Surfer
For Good – Wicked	Courageous
Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson	Freedom Writers

World of Knowledge & World of Stories

Songs	Movies
Circle of Life – Elton John	The Lion King
A Whole New World	Aladdin
Steady as the Beating Drum – Stephen Schwartz	Pocahontas
That’s What Makes the World Go Round	The Sword in The Stone
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood	2012
Temporary Home Carrie Underwood	Narnia Movies
So Small – Carrie Underwood	Alice in Wonderland
Change – Carrie Underwood	Peter Pan
Wheel Of The World – Carrie Underwood	Robin Hood
Play On – Carrie Underwood	The Jungle Book
Forever Changed - Carrie Underwood	A Bug’s Life
Waiting On the World to Change – John Mayer	The Lorax
To The Sky – Owl City	The Cove Movie
Father To Son – Phil Collins	Happy Feet
On My Way – Phil Collins (Brother Bear)	Yogi Bear
Saltwater – Julian Lennon	Wall-E
Earth Song – Michael Jackson	Night At The Museum
Heal The World – Michael Jackson	Hairspray
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong	Shrek 1, 2, 3, 4
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah	The Adventures of Tintin
The Climb – Miley Cyrus	The Karate Kid
Where is The Love – Black Eyed Peas	The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie
Pray – Justin Bieber	Zoo Keeper
Wake Up America – Miley Cyrus	We Bought A Zoo
Just Stand Up – Various Artists	Up
Somewhere Over The Rainbow -  E.Y. Harburg	Slumdog Millionaire
Walking On Sunshine - Kimberley Rew	Taken 1, 2
True Colours - Cyndi Lauper	Ice Age
Dare You To Move - Switchfoot	Dumbo
Hero – Mariah Carey	Space Jam
Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne	Avatar
Innocence – Avril Lavigne	Kung Fu Panda 1, 2
Move Along – All American Rejects	Three Idiots
Let It Be – The Beatles	Mean Girls
Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey	The Grinch Stole Christmas
Perfect (Clean version) - Pink	127 Hours
Firework – Katy Perry	13 Going On 30
Who You Are – Jessie J	Winnie the Pooh Movie
Beautiful Day – U2	Million Dollar Baby
My Wish – Rascal Flatts	Patch Adams

Comment Reply :)

I've decided to write a new post to reply Miss Yoon's comment on my Article Review post. :)

One's privacy would be disturbed as the usage of SNSs is not guarded. Take Facebook as an example, teachers are to befriend their students if they want to conduct activities and discuss about “school-related matters”. When students are able to access the profiles of their teachers and vice versa, one’s privacy will clearly be disturbed. As much as it benefits both parties’ academic wise, there are risks to be taken also. The private lives of the students can be observed by the teacher and can sometimes be made an issue in class, like how a student spends more time on Facebook rather than studying. Or, for a teacher, students are able to see what they are doing outside the classroom. Imagine yourself being a teacher, and your friends post something inappropriate that can be seen by your student, how would your reflect your image as a teacher?

In addition, there will also be risks of teachers forging inappropriate relationship with their students. As much as there are rules and guidelines to keep a professional teacher-student relationship, there are some who would abuse the convenience of keeping in contact with each other. Some teachers seek to establish social contact with their students for the purpose of strengthening their relationship with one another; this is not supposed to happen. Teachers are to stay in the boundaries of a professional teacher-student relationship. Hence, one’s privacy, regardless of the teachers’ or students’ will be affected somehow.

Unit 2b: Task 3 ● A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

What do you see?	What do you hear?	What do you smell?	What do you feel?	What do you taste?
- Flags of different states - The Malaysian flag, our Jalur Gemilang - A beautiful view of the sky, with different shades of blue	- The sound of the wind - The National Anthem playing in my mind, followed by Pahang state anthem	-	Physically: - The wind sweeping across my cheeks Emotionally: - Sense of pride, when I saw the flag of my state - Sense of patriotism	-