mending mana ya??? which one do you prefer??? March 5, 2009

sebagai pengguna fasilitas happy hour warnet yang aktif,, saya masih bingung…
manakah yang lebih baik??
– warnet dengan kapasitas pengunduhan data cepat. Namun,, ketika saya mencoba untuk menyimpan data ke dalam USB drive, perlu waktu lebih dari 5 menit untuk penyimpanan…

atau

– menggunakan PC saya,, yang tergolong brilian dalam penyimpanan data.. namun bermasalah dengan koneksi internet..
saya pernah membeli modem salah satu provider ternama,, dan lemot setengah mati. 1,3 juta terbuang sia2. Pada akhirnya saya menyerah… dan modem tersebut saya berikan kepada adik saya yang penyabar… Terputuslah koneksi saya dengan dunia maya.

and here i am… just practically on the brink of utter doom (taken from a monologue by .. (lupa) Crimes of the heart)

The use of word processor in english language teaching March 4, 2009

Here are some lesson plans that can be used in the English classroom equipped by computers:

Lesson Plan

Junior High School grade 7

Subject: Writing Procedure

Classroom profile:

- 1 computer for 3 students ( classroom type 2)

- Member of the class : 40 students

- Students are able to use word processor

Activities:

1. Teacher gives the features of procedure text
2. Students are divided into group of 3 or two.
3. In the screen, the students find ungrammatical and random steps cooking recipe. Their task is to put the step in order and revise it by rewriting the cooking recipe using word processor. They are given 20 minutes to do that.
4. After that, each group will move to another group’s computers. Their task is to check their friend’s work, whether the cooking recipe’s steps are in order and whether the steps are grammatical. They will put comment in their friend’s work in the word processor. They are given 15 minutes to do this task.
5. Then, each group has to move to their own computer. Then, their next task is to revise their work based on their friend’s comment by rewriting the cooking recipe in another black document. They are given 15 minutes to do this.
6. After that, the teacher asks the students to save both of the documents (the commented one and the revised one) in the computer.
7. Teacher and students discuss the material together.

Material:

(in the worksheet)

This are one of the yummy foods that you have to eat. And you could made it at home with this simple way.

The materials needed are:

· 1 pack of uncooked spaghetti

· Mushrooms

· Cheese

· Garlic

· ½ large yellow onion

· Tomato catsup

And then, follow these steps below:

1. And now, your Cheese Mushroom Spaghetti were ready to serve! =)

2. Scraped the cheese, and poured it on the spaghetti.

3. Then, stirred fry them. Poured the mushrooms and tomato catsup.

4. Boiled the spaghetti about 4 minutes.

5. For the sauce, sliced the garlic and the large yellow onion very thin.

6. After that, putted it on the plate. And then, poured the sauces.

Answer Key

Taken from: http://assyifa14.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/how-to-make-cheese-mushroom-spaghetti/

This is one of the yummy foods that you have to eat. And you can make it at home with this simple way.

The materials needed are:

· 1 pack of uncooked spaghetti

· Mushrooms

· Cheese

· Garlic

· ½ large yellow onion

· Tomato catsup

And then, follow these steps below:

1. For the sauce, slice the garlic and the large yellow onion very thin.

2. Then, stir fry them. Pour the mushrooms and tomato catsup.

3. Boil the spaghetti about 4 minutes.

4. After that, put it on the plate. And then, pour the sauce.

5. Scrape the cheese, and pour it on the spaghetti.

6. And now, your Cheese Mushroom Spaghetti is ready to serve! =)

Lesson Plan

Senior High School grade 10

Subject: Narrative Writing

Classroom profile:

- 1 computer for the whole class

- Member of the class : 40 students

- Students are able to use word processor

Activities:

1. Students are divided into group of 5 ( group 1 to eight).
2. The teacher gives the each group a short unfinished narrative text which is grammatically incorrect.
3. The teacher will call each group one by one to use the computer to revise the provided story and try to continue the story it using word processor. Each group is given 10 minutes write down in the word processor.
4. After that, the teacher prints the students’ work right after they finish the story. Group 1’s work will be examined by group 8. Group 2’s will be examined by group1, and so on. Their task is to check and comment their friend’s work, whether the story accurate and well-sequenced. The teacher provides the rubric. Each group given 15 minutes to do this task.
5. Then, each group has to return their friend’s work. Then, their next task is to revise their work based on their friend’s comment by rewriting it. They are given 15 minutes to do this.
6. After that, the teacher asks the students to submit both of the documents (the commented one and the revised one).
7. Teacher and students discuss the material together.

Material:

Revise this text and continue it.

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kindest and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen’s life were that she wished for a child but did not has one.

One winter day, the queen were doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flies by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, “Oh, how I wish that I have a daughter that has skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.”

…… (student’s own version)

Answer Key:

Taken from: http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/snowwhite/story.htm

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kind and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen’s life was that she wished for a child but did not have one.

One winter day, the queen was doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flew by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, “Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.”

…..

Grimm’s Fairy Tale version – translated by Margaret Hunt – language modernized a bit by Leanne Guenther

Lesson Plan

Senior High School grade 10

Subject: Narrative Writing

Classroom profile:

- 1 computer for 1 students

- Member of the class : 25 students

- Students are able to use word processor

Activities:

1. The teacher gives the each student a short unfinished narrative text which is grammatically incorrect.
2. The students have to revise and finish the story. The students are given 25 minutes to do this
3. After that, the students move to the seat next to them. Their task is to check and comment their friend’s work, whether the story accurate and well-sequenced. The teacher provides the rubric. Each group given 15 minutes to do this task.
4. Then, each student has to return their friend’s work. Then, their next task is to revise their work based on their friend’s comment by rewriting it. They are given 15 minutes to do this.
5. After that, the teacher asks the students to save both of the documents (the commented one and the revised one) in the computer.
6. Teacher and students discuss the material together.

Material:

Revise this text and continue it.

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kindest and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen’s life were that she wished for a child but did not has one.

One winter day, the queen were doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flies by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, “Oh, how I wish that I have a daughter that has skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.”

…… (student’s own version)

Answer Key:

Taken from: http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/snowwhite/story.htm

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land. The queen was kind and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her. The only sadness in the queen’s life was that she wished for a child but did not have one.

One winter day, the queen was doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow. A bird flew by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger. A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window. As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, “Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.”

…..

Grimm’s Fairy Tale version – translated by Margaret Hunt – language modernized a bit by Leanne Guenther

Lesson Plan

Speaking : Procedure

Condition: 1 computer for the whole class

1. Divide the students into a group of 5

2. The first group come to the front and read the cooking recipe in then computer screen

3. Then, they have to retell the steps of the cooking recipe in front of the class

4. The whole class tried to guess the name of the food

5. The group who can answer correctly get 1 point

6. Do this until the eighth group

Lesson Plan

Speaking : Procedure

Condition: 1 computer for the 2 or 3 students

This game will be called a “cooking academy”

1. In the computer screen, the students will a see a cooking recipe, which are different to each other. The name of the recipe is confidential

2. Each group consist of : the chef and the student(s)

3. ‘The chefs” holds 10 green cards

4. The students and the chef read the recipe

5. The chefs move to the group next to them

6. The chefs tell the students the steps of their cooking recipe

7. The students guess what is the name of the dish

8. If the group can answer correctly, the chef will give a green card.

9. the chefs move 10 times

10. The group who collect most of the card can ‘pass’ the cooking academy

Lesson Plan

Listening : Procedure—how to make an account in Gmail

Condition: 1 computer for 1 students

1. the students will hear a listening passage of how to make an account in Gmail

2. The students will fill in the blank of the missing words in the listening passage

3. The students choose true or false to the statements made by the teacher related to the listening passage

4. The students write in their own words about “how to make an account in Gmail”

Lesson Plan

Speaking : Descriptive

Condition: 1 computer for the whole class

1. Divide the students into a group of 5

2. The first group come to the front and see a picture of an artist and the descriptions in then computer screen

3. Then, they have to retell the descriptions of the artist in front of the class

4. The whole class tried to guess the name of the artist

5. The group who can answer correctly get 1 point

6. Do this until the eighth group

Lesson Plan

Speaking : Descriptive

Condition: 1 computer for the 2 or 3 students

This game will be called a “beauty academy”

1. In the computer screen, the students will a see a picture of a famust artist and his/her general description which are different to each other. The name of the artist is confidential

2. Each group consist of : the makeup-artist and the student(s)

3. ‘the makeup-artist” holds 10 green cards

4. The students and the makeup-artist read the recipe

5. the makeup-artist move to the group next to them

6. the makeup-artist tell the students the steps of their cooking recipe

7. The students guess what is the name of the artist

8. If the group can answer correctly, the makeup-artist will give a green card.

9. the chefs move 10 times

10. The group who collect most of the card can ‘pass’ the beauty academy

Lesson Plan

Writing : Descriptive

Condition: 1 computer for 1 students

1. the students will read a reading passage of Luna Maya

2. The students choose true or false to the statements made by the teacher related to the reading passage

3. The students compose their own writing of their favorite person.

Summary on Classroom Management and General Tips February 24, 2009

There are many things that teacher can do in the class to help the students to learn and use the language. These things are things to be considered in the classroom for a language teacher;

The seating arrangement.

The appropriate seating arrangement will help both the teacher ad students because the seating can suggest that the students are encouraged to talk to each other. the seating should help the teacher to move freely.

Standing up.

It is very important because students will se the teacher’s mouth and eyes.

Eye Contact.

It can be very helpful because it can get the students to listen. Eye contact also makes everyone feels involved. Teacher can also use eye contact to indicate who will answer of a question, avoid unnecessary language and check whether the students are understand or not.

Hand movement to direct students.

It will help the teacher to avoid unnecessary language, indicate who will answer the question and save the energy.

The use of back hand to point.

It will provide less intimidated and conveys an invitation rather than directive.

The use of pauses

It will help the teacher to avoid confusion among the students

Voice variation.

It is easy for the students to grasp the meaning if the teacher vary his voice.

The use of minimum language when students are doing something.

Teacher should not:

• Interrupt students unnecessarily when the students are preaparing something

• Dominate discussion

• Tell the students what they want to say

• Use more language than is necessary to direct and control classroom activity

Too many comments.

Any commentary the teacher give should be of help to the students, and not used either to reassure teachers’ or simply to fill up silence

Teacher should not be afraid of silence.

It does not mean that students are not thinking when they are in silence.

Teacher should not be afraid of noise.

When the students are trying to use the language, the class must be so much noisy.

Pair work can be a good chance for the students to speak.

Group work will also be a good chance for the students to speak because the atmosphere of group work is more relaxed.

Being explicit will be very helpful for the teacher. The more explicit the instruction the teacher give, the easier the students will understand it.

The teacher should not ask “Do you understand” because it is teacher’s responsibility to make the students understand.

The teacher should not go round the class if the individuals can prepare particular examples.

The teacher should admit ignorance. It is very bad to give students wrong answer.

If the teacher wants to find an answer of a question, he can consult to colleagues or even, his students.

The teacher should demonstrate new activities. It can be very helpful to avoid confusion and unnecessary language. Then, the students know what they are expected to do.

The teacher should also exploit real events. It will help the students to understand and use the language. if the examples are unnatural, the students will never use it.

Appropriate media selection will be a crucial thing to be considered. Teacher should know how to use the blackboard, overhead projector and another media. The teacher should also remember that the machinery can solve all of the teacher’s problem.

The teacher should be able to tackle unexpected events or questions. One thing that the teacher can do is relaxed and do not be panic.

This is the summary of the text given by my lecturer, Mr. Prast. I do not know the book yet, so i ca not cite the book here. i’ll ask him immediately and update this post.

another nerve February 24, 2009

Actually, I was afraid to come to the class. I did not want to be the “victim” for the class teaching trial. It was not because I had not prepared the material. I was just nervous. Teaching in front of my friends is different when I have to do the presentation in front of my friends. The tension was completely different. First round, the fiercest round, came and Nike was chosen for the first victim. Nike taught very well. She made me completely down. I got many input from her by seeing her teaching in the observation room. After Nike taught, it was another hell because the second round would come soon. Well, lucky me, I was not chosen for the next victim. The second victim, although he did not that well prepared, he gave us many inputs. From the both victim, I could draw a conclusion that I should be well prepared and let my body move freely. Therefore, those are what I am going to do. The other thing I got in the class was that I had to set my voice lower when I stay in the observation room. It was a silly thing I had done in the room. I tell you, I put my headset on and talked to Tita, my partner in observing Nike. I heard no Tita’s voice because I only can heard the voices of my friends in the observed class. Therefore, I talked aloud to Tita and Mr. Prast told me to set my voice lower. What? Lower voice? I did not think that Tita would hear me. Then, I realize that it was the headset which made both of us speak aloud.

Another Microteaching Class February 17, 2009

It was the third class, but it seems to me that my body could adapt to the air conditioner. I also have another reason why i still could not stay calmly in the class.  It  is because this is 2 credits class with 4 contact hours. Imagine! four contact hours.

In the last teaching session, i found that i was not a good teacher because i spoke in most of the time. i do not know that i was doing that, until my lecturer told me. well, the time seemed to tick so fast while i was teaching.

i also feel so nervous for the class teaching. in the other class, i accustomed to presentation. Nevertheless, i can hear my heart beating so fast every time I try to recall it.  I tried to kill my hard time by thinking that i will not be ” the victim of the day”.

GOd save me please!!!

February 10, 2009

I never thought that it would come to me that fast. As long as I can remember, it was just yesterday I attended class in which my seniors practiced how to teach. In those classes, I always commented the way they taught me. Whew, I can’t believe that in a matter of day I will also teach my juniors. I worry about what they will think about me. Although this will not be the first time I teach a class, I feel that I am not ready for that. No matter what happen to me, I still have to teach my junior. This is an inevitable position. I HAVE TO BE READY. Peer teaching is one of the best ways to start over the teaching experience. It is the right time to practice and have comments. I love that. Since I only taught one person, it was not that frustrating. In my microteaching class, half of the class had to teach in the same time. Well, there were voices everywhere. It was a kind of funny. My peer’s comment of my 15 lesson was that it seemed to her that I am a bit nervous. Well, I did not even realize it. She also told me hat she loved the way I teach.  I hope, in the mext class, I can do my group teaching well. Hohohoho, who is afraid of teaching? Me? Not!

Go green???? February 4, 2009

Yakin ni go green???

apakah kamu beneran go green?

apakah kamu yakin kamu save the earth?

apakah kamu join macam-macam group di friendster/ facebook atau apalah yang mengatas namakan go green? or save the earth?

nggak yakin???

apakah kamu membuang sampah sembarangan?

apakah kamu mencabut charger HP kamu saat sudah enggak kepakai?

kamar kamu AC nya atau kulkasnya ada freonnya ga ya?

apakah kamu sudah mematikan lampu garasi dan kamar mandi?

apakah kamu bisa dan sering enggak naik motor atau mobil untuk jarak tempuh 200meter?

apakah kamu sudah mematikan tombol off tv kamu dan mencabutnya kabel tv sebelum kamu pergi?

apakah kamu tidak bisa tidak pakai tissue basah atau kering? pernah kepikiran itu dari pohon?

Apakah kamu yakin kamu udah hemat kertas?

apakah kamu yakin kamu nggak nyia-nyiain plastic bag???

sekarang,,, apakah kamu yakin kalau kamu go green???

First day in Microteaching class February 1, 2009

Well, i hope that my lateness on the first class will not be a symptom of bad luck.

The greatest thing I’ve learned is that I shouldn’t have been late for every first class. it is because not only I missed some points, which is probably can be categorized as VVIP ( very very important point), but also I might disturb both the lecturer and my friends.

In this first class, I don’t think that we learned many things new. Most of the points are older points we have learned in another class. anyway, reinforcement is very important due to age-related-memory loss. As we are getting older, the older items will be kicked out from our brain. Things that will be easily fade away are the things we got when we :

1. are sleepy, as for example, my AMT class was at 11 p.m – the right time to do the daydream and i was always getting very hungry-

2. do not like the subject…I don’t mean to say that I don’t like the whole LLA, ID, CMD and AMT classes, but somehow in certain period of time, I didn’t have my strength to attend the class. Structure and linguistic classes are just another scary things. It is inevitable that most of the PBI students do not like it. I think this can be a subject of a questionaire.

Therefore, reinforcement is absolutely important. In the first class, my lecturer facilitated us to recall our memory on what is the characteristics of a good teacher.

We got 11 features. Wow. I wonder how those 11 things can be done in the same time. What kind of thing to be made into an action? I guess I will soon find the answer.

There two thing that made me stay comfortably in the class:

1. I like how my lecturer teach us. I think I’ll figure out the reason of it.

2. I’m in the same class with friends who have been in the same class with me for five semesters.

Anyway, there was something that bothering me throughout the process of the class. The air conditioner made me frozen.

KEEP FIGHTING

- sighing, crying and stop fighting are easy but I’ll make sure it is not me -

Perhaps… March 26, 2008

Perhaps what I really need no is a hot cup of chocolate

Or a glass of beer

and another glass of fruit cocktails

or a bottle of champagne

Or another bottle of the most expensive whiskey

Perhaps what I really need is no sun shining

Or just no gleaming moon

Neither the sparkle of the stars

Neither a light from the torch

Neither which comes from the candle

Perhaps what I really need now is no waves

The stopping tides

All of them set in inanimate

The hanging birds

The dangling wind

Perhaps what I really need today is just stop talking

For the next argument, stop thinking

For the next step, stop walking

For the next challenge, stop struggling

For the next war, stop fighting

A broken heart March 26, 2008

A broken heart is a broken cup

Though I tried so hard to fix it

It never looks the same as it was

The cracks

The lost part