Busy Week 3

Ok, ok, ok... so it is Monday, and I was meant to write this post at least by yesterday... oops! Well, I completely missed this assignment. I thought I had done it all! I guess being back a student brings me down to the level of my students: how they feel when learning something new, how they cope with so many activities after school and on top of that, exams, projects, homework,family, social life, etc. So, I shall write about my week 3 anyway (Jody, is there a way we could delete the actual date on the heading of this exact post???? ;) LOL).

So this week, what I liked the most was being taught how to use Delicious web page. A very simple yet extremely useful tool. I am glad I know about it now, as I have been telling my coworkers about all the cool web pages we have been discovering so far. By showing them my delicious web page, makes it much easier and simple to tell them about it. There are still a lot more web pages needed to be included in it, which shall be done later. I still have not had the opportunity to show my students yet. But as soon as I have the time I will.

The readings about aural/oral skills were also very interesting. What draw my attention from Developing Listening Skills with Authentic Materials, by Lidsay Miller was the high percentage of listening we do during the day: " More than forty percent of our daily communication time is spent on listening, thirty-five percent on speaking, sixteen percent on reading, and only nine percent on writing (Burely-Allen 1995). " I doubt if men also tend to have the same percentage on these skills as women do.... I'd say women talk way more than men and men "may" listen more than women, or simply tune off! :) Either way, brings me back to the importance of teaching our students better listening skills. To be honest, I only plan one listening activity per week, which I now notice, it is not enough any more.

Reading about previous projects made my brain speed up. So many ideas, so many skills to improve on my students (and myself!), so many new tips learned now all waiting to be put into one big project. I know there is still a lot more to learn about, and I shall not rush into it. As Jodie said, we'll do one step at a time. Jessica: Breath!!!

Let us all enjoy week 4!