Re-envisioning Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners

RRJ#6

Re-envisioning Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners

Reference:

Iwai, Yuko. (2010, April 4) .Re-envisioning Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners. The Internet TESL Journal 4(10). Retrieved January 10, 2010 from http://iteslj.org/Articles/Singhal-ReadingL1L2.html

Summary:

            In this article, the author talks about understanding for the context of the reading. She explains that readers for any passage can use methods to help them understand the text. Also, she says that the second way is the best because it is a good way to understand the context without need to translate words or concentrate on other things that will take more time and efforts. Moreover, she clarifies that the reader who has good background in English can use that help him to understand any text more easily than others. In addition, she adds when students use topics they have an idea about, they can understand what the comprehension is about. Some students use their own language to understand the context, but they could not understand the appropriate meanings because in the English language one word has different meanings. This thing will confuse the readers from other languages. Furthermore, many students from Asia use their first language habits in understanding comprehension in English, for example reading loudly and trying to connect their first language in connecting the second, which is English. Besides, good teachers must respect the differences between learners, and try to make things understood to be easy for them to understand the information and the context of the reading.

Reaction:

            I enjoyed reading this article. It has very important information for all English teachers to develop their students. Also, the author explained different methods of reading and what the sufficient way is. She clarified how brilliant teachers guide their and advise their students to good approaches in understanding any reading passage. Moreover, her advice is to use known topics for learners to let them understand the context easily, so I agree with her about all these things she discussed. I wish that all English teachers beware towards these things because they are very important for both teachers and students to make the class very active. In this case, students can share and participate with their teachers positively. Really, I faced these difficulties with my students because they did not know too much vocabulary, and I could not even choose texts which were suitable to their levels.           

      

How Can a Chinese Teacher of English Succeed in Oral English Classes?

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How Can a Chinese Teacher of English Succeed in Oral English Classes?

Reference:

Jie, Z. (1999, July.7) How can a Chinese Teacher of English Succeed in Oral English Classes? Retrieved July 7, 1999 The Internet TESL Journal.http://iteslj.org/Articles/Zhou-SuccesslTeacher.html

Summary:

            In this article, the author explains very important things about how an English teacher can make oral classes very effective and interesting for students. She describes different ways to avoid students being frustrated or being depressed because they cannot understand what is going on through the teacher’s explanation for the lesson. She advises English teachers to change their strategy to make their classes very interesting for their students like talking or discussing something they love to talk about, make the class as group work so that each group has various students’ interests. In addition, she mentions some difficulties which may face English teachers in using various dialogues between their students, how to keep them away from exhaustion for a long time when discussing a subject in English which they do not have enough words about. Also, how to make reading in text books help students effectively and let them interact with each other all the time in English without need to open a Chinese dictionary to look at the meaning of the word. Furthermore, she guides English teachers on how to be successful in oral English classes. They must let their students talk about interesting things to attract their attention to learning the language.

Reaction:

            Really it is a very interesting article. I would like all English teachers to follow her advice to be good English teachers. In addition, I like how English teachers add more fun to their classes to make it easy for students to gain the language. I like her illustration of many strategies about how to avoid difficulties in oral English classes, and they will be more effective for both students and teachers. She guided teachers to the correct way they can run classes and keep their students away from boredom. In my opinion if all English teachers follow all these instructions, they will create a new generation of students who love learning English. Moreover, teachers will not find any constraints in teaching English or any skill.               

  

Are We Responsible? For Whom and for What?

RRJ4

Are We Responsible?

For Whom and for What?

Reference:

Groenke, S. L. & Scherff, L. (2010, October).  Are We Responsible? For Whom and for What? English Leader Quarterly 32, 3. National Council of Teachers of English. 

Summary:

            This article discusses the conflict among faculties which considers what humanities departments are, and how they are good for universities. Also, some educators are responsible for how they will prepare their students to be good English teachers. They talked about a code of ethics for issues which English teachers face on a daily basis. The writers agreed that cooperation between those educators will foster many things, such as reflection and help for new teachers to form their identity. This urges them to seek out a search among collaborators. In addition,  the formation for teachers to be able to teach learners correctly.  Moreover, they advised English teachers to be a countable to their students and their peers. They should know how to improve themselves to face any difficulties through their teaching, and they will be able to avoid any hard situation with their students. Finally, new and veteran teachers will be alike.

Reaction:

            I love learning languages very much. One of my dreams was that I would speak three languages in addition to my mother tongue, Arabic. I specialized in English. Reading this article was very interesting for me. There is a relation between this article and my major. Also, I agree with the subject because if this will apply all over the world, the result will be great teachers who will teach with honesty and sincerity. As a result of this, all nations will have learners with high levels of skills. In my country, Saudi Arabia, our curriculums were British English, and our teachers were from Arabs; they could not teach us as native speakers even in simple things. I and my friends faced many problems to avoid many mistakes in our pronunciation because we did not receive good education from Americans or British when they pronounce English. Really I want this thing to happen in my country to avoid big mistakes from employing unfaithful and undedicated teachers. Teaching is a great message and we should teach English language or anything useful for people properly.            

Smoking, Secondhand and Health!

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Smoking, Secondhand and Health!

References:

Lay, J.S.(2011, Jan.18)  Smoking , Secondhand and our health! HealthNewsDigest

Retrieved on Feb.8, 2011 from http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/health_Tips_620/Smoking

Summary:

            In this article, the author discusses the danger of smoking cigarettes. She says that it is not too late to tell or advise any person who smokes to stop smoking. He describes the real danger around us from smoking even we are not smoking cigarettes. Also she explains the bad side effects from smoking on the persons who are around smokers themselves. She mentions many diseases which are caused by cigarettes like different kinds of cancer and respiratory diseases. In addition she mentions how smoking affects  DNA in people. However, she advises all persons who are in the same area with smokers to be in an open area to decrease the dangers of chemicals like ammonia and other substances on their bodies. Furthermore, she emphasizes the effects on the smokers if that quit day after day on their health and how their bodies return their health step by step, after giving up. Moreover, she explains the benefits from quitting like decreasing many problems of breathing and of the heart. 

Reaction:

            Really we are in great danger from smoking, which affects our bodies from smokers around us if they are members of our families or friends. I wish that all countries prevent the production of cigarettes to prevent the side effects on the humans. In my country; Saudi Arabia, smoking is allowed for men, but for women, generally this matter is prohibited, because just they are women, and that thing is very shameful for them to do except in the west region. There are many solutions to prevent smoking in the public areas like what happens in different places over the whole world, changing some habits as daily habits in the morning when the person wakes up and immediately tries to smoke, under stress and hard situations. When I was in my country, I always advised my brothers to stop smoking gradually for their health. Moreover, as for the side effects of cigarettes, I hate the smell of cigarettes.  Consequently, the benefits of quitting are many, such as the decreasing of blood pressure and heart diseases. We should cooperate together to help smokers to make their efforts to give up and live normal lives.           

 

Teen Attitudes Toward Smoking Linked To Likelihood Of Drinking And Using Drugs

RRJ # 2

Teen Attitudes Toward Smoking Linked To Likelihood Of Drinking And Using Drugs

Reference:

ScienceDaily (2009, oct.3) Teen Attitude Toward Smoking Linked To Likelihood Of Drinking And Using Drugs

Summary:

            In this article, the author discusses the danger of smoking cigarettes. He says that will guide teenagers of both genders towards using other things like drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and doing drugs. Teenagers who smoke or do drugs can also affect their friends to do the same as well. He advises all parents to be good examples for their children, and be aware of bad relationships which certainly will affect their children with negative results especially among high schools student. Also, if those teenagers see their parents have ambivalent and permissive attitudes towards these forbidden things there will not be sanction for them from doing the same.

Reaction:

            When I read this article, I felt that the effect of teenagers on each other is considered great because of their influence. In my opinion, all societies are suffering from this thing, but in my country using drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and marijuana are more popular among males than females. I wish that all parents take care of their children and be careful of everything around them to prevent danger and bad things from happening as they can as they could. I am very sorry that teenagers are being influenced by drug dealers who present the devil side and greed of human beings even if this thing will spoil the whole community. When I was a teacher, I always advise my students to be a good example for their friends and their young children in their families. Understanding the influence teenagers have on their friends, I will continue to instruct them in the dangers of doing bad things such as smoking, or drugs.

Race and Literacy

RRJ # 1 

Race and Literacy

Reference:

Groenke, S.L, and Scherff, L. (2010, February). Race and Literacy. English Leadership Quarterly 32, 3. National Council of Teachers of English.

Summary:

            In this article there is discussion about race and literacy in the United States of America. I was interested in reading it. All this information which is given explains that the American society suffers from classification between white people and persons of color in education. Even after the first black president, they claim that they live now in a “post-racial” society. Some persons of color are named in public schools as lazy, violent, uneducable, and at risk. The writers had the opinion that the teachers, school leaders, and colleagues should discuss race matters in front of pupils if this thing is to end in their society. In addition to that one high school American literature teacher’s attempt to change her traditional canonical curriculum to one more inclusive of diverse voices and experiences was described.

Reaction:

            My major is the English language. I was very interested in reading about this issue of race and literacy. I much admired with space of freedom for writers to talk about this matter freely for the benefit of their society to live in connecting between each other without racism. Officials also were very concerned with students without looking to their skin; if there was not any kind of discrimination, the society would live in happiness with equal chances in many aspects. I like this article because of the efforts which activists made to try to improve the importance of discussion of this subject if their society is free from racism. They wanted all students to have all the same rights in learning. I think that article reflects the humans’ behavior towards each other. It gives me much information about the American community and the struggle with racism against colored persons. I feel that because of this article I can avoid racism in my curriculum by designing it to include everyone, not just one specific group. In my country we do not have racism issues, but have gender inequality which I feel that I can help solve by including coursework which is designed to close the gap between genders.