Reading Reaction Journal # 5

Reference:

Case, Alex (2008). "Why does my teacher make me use an English-English Dictionary?" Just landed from English Usage+ Why does my teacher make me use an English-English Dictionary?. Retrieved on Oct. 4, 2010 from http://usingenglish.com/articles/why-dies-my-teacher-make-me-use-an-englishenglish-dictionary.html

Summary:

In this article, by Alex Case, it shows the good reasons for using an English-English Dictionary in a classroom. It is hard work to use a monolingual dictionary, but it is worth it at the end. Teachers should ask thier students to use an English-English dictionary by stopping translating any word into their own language and letting them in order to get them try to know the meaning of any word in English. There are different monolingual dictionaries available according to the students' level such as Intermediate Learner' Dictionary. Consequently, they can learn vocabulary and grammar words at the same time. So, students can learn the English language by trying to do some excercises in the textbook, speaking with a teacher who doesn't speak their own language, and reducing the use of electronic dictionary which takes more time.

Reaction:

I gree with Alex Case that using an English-English Dictionary is gard in the beginning but it is worth it at the end. So, all English teachers shouldn't allow the students to use any bilingual dictionary because by using it, they will not take the benefit from studying vocabulary. Also, some students depend on memorizing the meaning of any word in their own language without trying to look up the meaning from the monolingual dictionary. Actually, I don't mind knowing of the word in your own language, butthat doesn't mean you ignore the definition, grammar, and synonym of that word from the dictionary. Moreover, I recommend that all my students use Cambridge Dictionary of American English because it is very useful and helpful. I really like to use it to translate any difficult word. Students also can practice their vocabulary by asking their teachers to explain the meaning of any difficult word, and doing some textbook exercises require writing definitons or aynonyms. In short, using a monolingual dictionary is very important for the students to improve their vocabulary skill.

Reading Reaction Journal #4

Reference:

Lee, Michael (2008, Jan.30). "Improve Your Reading Skill-Great Speed Reading Tips". Just landed from Improve Your Reading Skill-Great Speed Reading Tips. Retrieved on Sep. 27, 2010 from http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/improve-your-reading-skill-great- speed reading-tips-319929.html.

Summary:

In the article, "Improve Your Reading Skill-Great Speed Reading Tips" by Michael Lee, it shows how the readers can improve their reading skills by following some helpful tips. The first tip is keeping your focus on the information and the material that you read. But if you get bored, try to take a break then go back to your reading. Second, try to use your hand to follow your reading and to keep on your concentration. Good readers know how to be selective on reading any material. Finally, practice and regular reading are the most important tips because the reader will notice his or her reading skill improve in a short time.

Reaction:

I agree with Lee that reading skill is very important and it needs to follow some tips to become a good reader. Many people, even me, face many difficulties in reading long materials. I think that the situation depends on the lucidity of information and the vocabulary which the writer uses in his or her writing. That is because some writers use difficult words in one sentence that make the reader very confused and feel bored. Others write about the same topic with simple words, so the reader becomes interested and feels happy through reading. In addition, practicing your reading skill is very important. The person who is used to practicing reading newspapers, magazines, articles, and books is able to focus on some important information on the material which he or she is reading. He or she knows how to do scanning, previewing, and skimming to get the important information. Unfortunately, when I was a small student, my teachers taught me how to copy the answers from the passage. They did not teach me how to paraphrase the answers by my own words. We really need to practice how to pick up the significant information which can help.

Reading Reaction Journal # 3

Reference:
Evans, Lynne (Sep. 3, 2010). Shared Writing is not Just For Early Years and Young Learners. Just landed from Language Study+English as a Second Lamguage (ESL). Retrived on Sep.20, 2010 from http://www.suite101.com/content/shared-witing-is-not just-for-early-years-and-young-learners-a281871

Summary:
In the article, " Shared Writing is not Just For Early Years and Young Learners", Lynne Evans explains how shared writing is useful for the students who want to take an exam and who are weak at writing. It is also helpful for the students who learn English as a second language. teachers have to follow different techniques to teach students how to write a good paragraph. Teachers can use shared writing in the classrooms by dividing the students into groups and asking them to write a story. In addition, Students write some sentences on the board until the story is completed. Then teachers correct the grammar and spelling mistakes. After that, hey reject some sentences which are not related to the topic. The teachers make more practice for the students until they develop thier writing skills.

Reaction:
I agree with Evans that writing skill is very important for the weak people and non-native speakers. Some students have learned this skill for 7 years or more, but their writing skills have not been developed. In fact, those students didn't find the perfect atmosphere that enables them to learn, such as extra classes in their schools. Also, some teachers don't use different ways in teaching this skill. They just give the students the types of writing and tell them how to write orally. After that, they ask them to write an essay at home. This is absolutely wrong way in learning writing. I really like Evans' way when he explains how to write a complete story by using shared writing in groups. This is very helpful for the beginners to understand how they combine sentences together until it becomes a complete paragraph. Finally, when I come back to my country, I will follow some interesting techniques that I have learned in CESL and that I have read about in this article.

RRJ #2: English Tutoring Activities

Reference:

Grover, Sam (2010,Sept. 1). English Tutoring Activites. Just landed from Language study + English as a second language (ESL). Retrieved on Sep. 7, 2010 from www.suite101.com/english-tutoring-activities-a281057.

Summary:

This article discusses some aspects of teaching English to speakers of other languages. There are many activities that attract the students to learn the speaking skills. First, the students can play some simple games by using the note cards. Also, the age is not an essential issue in learning. Second, the adult can listen to the popular songs while the children can listen to some children's songs to learn good pronunciation. Third, the students should try to improve thier conversation skill by writing about some topics and trying to talk about them in front of the tutor and the students.

Reaction:

There are many ways that enable the students to improve their speaking skills. I am totally agreed with the writer that games, songs, and conversation activities are the successful ways in learning English. I think that the students, even me, are very interested in some external activities more than the standard classrooms at the schools. They prefer to work as groups and prefer it when there are no tests or grades. The students can also practice their English by speaking with their friends outside the classrooms. They can go to the bank or any restaurant to practice their conversation skill. Actually, most of the American people are friendly and they can understand you by listening to you very well and trying to help you to reach your point in the conversation. So, don't worry about your grammar mistakes; just try to speak as fluently as you can. Then you can pick some grammar mistakes and try to avoid them eventually.

I think that teachers should have more activities, and fewer tests and homeworks. I have a vital insight that supports my point. Actually, Students can memorize the material and copy it in the test's paper. they also can do their homework with others. After that, they will forget everything. BUT when the teacher gives them more activities inside the class, He or she will observe them and he/she can judge who is good and who needs more practice. The teacher should give them some activites which depend on their speaking skills. He or she can ask them to make some dialouge with others and write down their journals or reports about their coversation. By this way, the teacher can evaluate the student's skill in speaking and writing. He or she will tell them what should they do and how they can improve their skills.

RRJ #1 : Teaching English in Saudi Arabia

Reference:

Robert Hughes & Graeme Chesters. (2003 - 2010 ). Teaching English in Saudi Arabia. Just landed from Living and Working in Arabian Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. Retrieved on Aug.28, 2010. From http://www.justlanded.com/english/Saudi-Arabia/Saudi-Arabia-Guide/Jobs/teaching-English-in-Saudi-Arabia.


Summary:

This article discusses where we can teach English Language in Saudi Arabia. English Language is the second language in Saudi Arabia that all people can use to communicate with foreign people in some hotels, air ports, and hospitals. There is some private tuition that gives private English lessons for those who failed and wanted to pass the exam. There is also a British Council that teaches English with native speakers. Saudi Arabia offered some private schools that teach English language from elementary school. There are many language schools that teach the students who have work in the morning and then they attend the class after the work. In the end, some fluent people who can speak English and Arabic can work as translators.



Reaction:

My major is English Language and Literature. I am also an English teacher in a university. I really appreciate what my country does for the students to learn the English Language. But, I admit that it still lacks many things in teaching processes. I started studying English since I was in the first year in the intermediate school. However, My English teachers were Arab. So, that was not a helpful way to learn English at all. I remember one of my Egyptian teachers was pronounced "thing" as "sing". They always exchange some letters and pronounce it wrongly. As a result, we should have native speakers to teach our students the true language. I am thankful that my country taught me an English Language for several years, but I want to say that I still need to improve my English. It has developed since I came to the United States. I hope that I can maintain of my good pronunciation that I picked it up in the US. So, when I return, I will be a better teacher.

Edward Hopper Film (NGA)

According to this movie Edward Hopper was born in New York in 1882. His exhibition is the first to have been seen in 25 years. Everybody thought of him like a God. He invented or developed a lot of ways of picturing the America experience. He was a realist because he painted what he saw. The idea came to him very slowly. His subjects increasingly became uncommunicative figure often alone and empty rooms. He was famous for his monumental silences. He talked very little. He painted factories, telephone poles, small town streets and touring cars. He did not belong to a movement, or a group, or a school. He just belonged to himself. Art critics saw his works as the leatest chapter in the hisory of American history realism.

I really like Hopper's art, which is like a puzzle. His paintings showed loneliness, isolation, emptiness and unclear endings of stories. His paintings make the viewers think more than twice about the secret of the story. He painted "Early Sunday Morning" with no people present. It was a lonely scene with shadows. I totally agree with some of his statements, which are, "If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.". He also said: "The only real influence I've ever had was myself". I love the simplicity style that he used in his paintings. Actually, I became one of his fans. :)

Assignment # 2

This piece of art is one example of Caribbean Art. It shows a wonderful and simple wedding. It concerns the mermaid who is seated with her back to us. Friends and family of the groom are gathered around a table under the palms. Some of her friends are in the lower left corner of the painting. Another mermaid swims just offshore. There are different kinds of fruits and drinks. People seem happy by sitting beside the beach to celebrate together with mermaid, birds, and cats or dogs.

This kind of painting refers to the happiness and loving life. People, mermaids, animals, and birds participate in the mermaid's wedding. That refers to the quality and no matter who you are. We can share with others their fun. ^_*