4/24/2010
Can Students in Hong Kong Learn English through Second Life?
I think it is difficult for students in Hong Kong to learn English through "Second Life". One of the reasons is that it is not very convenient. First of all, they have to sign up and design their own appearance. Not many students in Hong Kong have Broadband at home. Some even do not have their own computer. All the sign up process may take very long if they are not using Broadband. Also, when they want to communicate with someone they know, both of them have to be on-line on the same server and at the same time. However, why don't they just chat face to face or talk on the phone or use MSN or ICQ? Won't it be a faster and more user-friendly tool? Some may say that it allows more than one person to talk at the same time, however, MSN or ICQ also have this function. I can't see any reasons why they have to use Second Life. Finally, as a language teacher in a Hong Kong secondary school, I notice that students are more misbehaved whenever they are in the MMLC or computer room, they won't listen to the teacher. They will simply go to the Internet and check email or browse through the websites they like. It's so difficult to manage them if you allow them to use computer during the lessons.
4/21/2010
Reflection on Week 8
Copyright in Education Field.
The aim of the leaflet is to let teachers and students know how to make reasonable and fair use of copyright works for teaching and learning purposes in appropriate circumstances without violating the law. A new "fair dealing" exemption has been added to the copyright law in order to facilitate teaching. The law applies not only to printed works but also to works online. The objective is to allow teachers and students to make use of reasonable portions of copyright works in a fair manner for teaching and learning in a specified course of study. That course must be endorsed by the Curriculum Development Council or the course involves an assessment of students' ability and skills which leads to an award of qualification. If students make use of some of others' work, they have to cite the source and tell other where they find it. If teachers play a movie which is shown on screen, they cannot do it without any educational reasons nor can they do it just for killing lesson time.
I think many students do not pay attention copyright. It seems perfectly okay for them copy from others' work as long as they can submit the assignment. I have an experience of marking a student's composition and found that I had so many words which I did not know. The reason was because that student copy so many ideas online. Obviously, I knew that he copied the assignment. But when I told him it was not right, he just laughed at it. I think teachers need to emphasize the copyright ordinance to students so that they know the reasons behind. Otherwise, the situation will appear in universities and the education of Hong Kong will finally suffer.
The aim of the leaflet is to let teachers and students know how to make reasonable and fair use of copyright works for teaching and learning purposes in appropriate circumstances without violating the law. A new "fair dealing" exemption has been added to the copyright law in order to facilitate teaching. The law applies not only to printed works but also to works online. The objective is to allow teachers and students to make use of reasonable portions of copyright works in a fair manner for teaching and learning in a specified course of study. That course must be endorsed by the Curriculum Development Council or the course involves an assessment of students' ability and skills which leads to an award of qualification. If students make use of some of others' work, they have to cite the source and tell other where they find it. If teachers play a movie which is shown on screen, they cannot do it without any educational reasons nor can they do it just for killing lesson time.
I think many students do not pay attention copyright. It seems perfectly okay for them copy from others' work as long as they can submit the assignment. I have an experience of marking a student's composition and found that I had so many words which I did not know. The reason was because that student copy so many ideas online. Obviously, I knew that he copied the assignment. But when I told him it was not right, he just laughed at it. I think teachers need to emphasize the copyright ordinance to students so that they know the reasons behind. Otherwise, the situation will appear in universities and the education of Hong Kong will finally suffer.
4/20/2010
Reflection on Week 10 Reading
Technology in testing: the present and the future. (Alderson, 2000)
This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of computer-based tests using the examples of the Test of ENglish as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and DIALANG.
The disadvantages mentioned in this paper include: 1) computer-based tests (CBTs) are limited in the item types they allow. Some item types may not be easily written using computers, 2) test taker should have known some computer knowledge, otherwise they may not be able to do the question due to the insufficient knowledge of computer skills, 3) productive skills may not be easily tested using computers when compared with receptive skills.
The advantages mentioned include: 1.) test takers can do the tests anywhere and anytime they like, 2.) the results will be available very quickly after the test. 3) some software allows test writers to construct tailor-made tests.
The writer also mentions computer-adaptive testing. In the tests, the computer estimates the user's ability level. Once it has reached a rough estimate of the candidate's ability, the computer will choose the next item which may close to the candidate's ability level. In other words, if the test taker can get it right, then a more difficult question will be shown.
I think computers do play an important role in testing. To certain extent, computer-based test can help teachers or employers know the candidates abilities without wasting much time and manpower. However, as mentioned before, computer-based tests restrict some question types. In other words, it may affect the validity of the tests. For example, MC items are difficult to write but easy to mark and most of the question types in computer-based tests are MC questions. Therefore, if teachers or employers do not pay attention to the distractors in MC questions, students may get the answers correct by chance or elimination and therefore affect the validity of the test.
This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of computer-based tests using the examples of the Test of ENglish as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and DIALANG.
The disadvantages mentioned in this paper include: 1) computer-based tests (CBTs) are limited in the item types they allow. Some item types may not be easily written using computers, 2) test taker should have known some computer knowledge, otherwise they may not be able to do the question due to the insufficient knowledge of computer skills, 3) productive skills may not be easily tested using computers when compared with receptive skills.
The advantages mentioned include: 1.) test takers can do the tests anywhere and anytime they like, 2.) the results will be available very quickly after the test. 3) some software allows test writers to construct tailor-made tests.
The writer also mentions computer-adaptive testing. In the tests, the computer estimates the user's ability level. Once it has reached a rough estimate of the candidate's ability, the computer will choose the next item which may close to the candidate's ability level. In other words, if the test taker can get it right, then a more difficult question will be shown.
I think computers do play an important role in testing. To certain extent, computer-based test can help teachers or employers know the candidates abilities without wasting much time and manpower. However, as mentioned before, computer-based tests restrict some question types. In other words, it may affect the validity of the tests. For example, MC items are difficult to write but easy to mark and most of the question types in computer-based tests are MC questions. Therefore, if teachers or employers do not pay attention to the distractors in MC questions, students may get the answers correct by chance or elimination and therefore affect the validity of the test.
Reflection on Week 11 Reading
Learner Autonomy and Tandem Learning: Putting Principles into Practice in Synchronous and Asynchronous Telecommunications Environments. Computer Assisted Language Learning. (Schwienhorst, 2003)
In his paper, he mentions three different perspectives to learning autonomy.
The first one is "individual-cognitive" perspective which reflection and awareness are paramount to learner's learning progress.
The second one is "social-interactive" perspective which students learn through meaningful interactions with native speakers and peers. In addition, interactions which involve scaffolding and feedback can help learners develop linguistics awareness.
The third one is "experimental-participartory" perspective in which learners are supervised and control during their learning process. It is believed that learners' awareness of language will be raised.
Tandem learning involves two learners' of complementary L1-L2 combinations so that they can learn from each other.
I think with the advance in technology, it is easier for students to meet people from all over the world. They can have more chances to practise using English to communicate with foreigners either orally or in written forms. I personally believe that all three perspectives are very important. The key notions mentioned in these three perspectives do help students in their language learning.
In his paper, he mentions three different perspectives to learning autonomy.
The first one is "individual-cognitive" perspective which reflection and awareness are paramount to learner's learning progress.
The second one is "social-interactive" perspective which students learn through meaningful interactions with native speakers and peers. In addition, interactions which involve scaffolding and feedback can help learners develop linguistics awareness.
The third one is "experimental-participartory" perspective in which learners are supervised and control during their learning process. It is believed that learners' awareness of language will be raised.
Tandem learning involves two learners' of complementary L1-L2 combinations so that they can learn from each other.
I think with the advance in technology, it is easier for students to meet people from all over the world. They can have more chances to practise using English to communicate with foreigners either orally or in written forms. I personally believe that all three perspectives are very important. The key notions mentioned in these three perspectives do help students in their language learning.
4/19/2010
Writing and Speaking Appropriately
My friends sent me this video. I have watched it many times and each time I can't help laughing. However, I think it brings out a problem which is commonly neglected by many Hong Kong students, that is writing and speaking using the right tone and language. In fact, even adults will think that if a student's English is good, he or she can write and speak good English. Nevertheless, the fact is that we have to pay attention to genre and audience as well. One can write and speak very accurate English but fail to communicate effectively. This is not because of the accuracy but because of the context the language is used.
I showed this video to my F.4 students and they all laughed. You may show it to your students as well.
3/08/2010
The Use of Hot Potatoes in English Lessons
Using Hot Potatoes, teachers can create their own online exercises where students can get access at home. Online exercises such as cross word puzzles, open cloze, matching, etc can be easily created with a few clicks. I think it is very a convenient and effective tool in English lessons. By varying the types of exercises students need to to do, they will be motivated. For instance, instead of repeating doing reading exercises, students will get bored easily. But with the use of IT and Hot Potatoes, students can experience something new. Therefore, by changing the types of exercises students do, they find the experience of learning English more interesting.
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