i am a Filipino heir of a CURSED land;

A land once home of GREAT MINDS and NOBLES;

Now a soil lair of MEEK and POWER-THIRST people!

i am a Filipino successor of a government;

A government founded by PURE-HEARTED souls;

Now a government manhandled by BUWITRES;

i am a Filipino great grandchild of strong-willed ABUELAS;

Abuelas who were not vendors of PRIDE and DIGNITY;

And child of PUTO SIKO-HEARTED and BUBBLEHEADED seed-bearers….

i am a Filipino weaver of an UNCERTAIN FUTURE;

A Future once visible in the HORIZON;

i am a Filipino…i am a Filipino…still…

I know that this seemingly absurd or garbage query would elicit a sardonic parroting, a querulous look, and a mocking smile from many or from the so-called intellectuals. I care less! Why? Simply because, I see this as the first step for beginners in learning how to speak or talk the English Language never minding grammar and pronunciation at first. We are non-native speakers of the language so it is understandable if some people are using Karabao Ingles. My only wish is that for these people not to use this to a fault or without doing something to correct or improve their English. I know also that my arguments are absurd or shallow but just try to see the other side of the coin and maybe you will understand what I am trying to point out.

Idealistic? Ambitious? Call it what you want. I won’t mind.I’m just dreaming of becoming an effective teacher. Being a teacher, per se, is no big joke. How much more becoming an effective English teacher? Here are some steps that somehow will lead us to the right path, especially the neophytes like me.

1. Step 1 Preparation, preparation, preparation. This cannot be stressed enough. Have a clear goal for every class you teach and have a lesson plan that will give the students good practice using the target language. If you come into class with a well-thought-out lesson plan, you’ve already done 90% of the work.
2. Step 2 Be confident. It can be quite daunting and nerve-wracking when you’re up in front of the class with eight pairs of eyes staring directly at you, but don’t let them see you sweat. Remember that you have the answers they’re looking for. You are the resident expert on the subject at hand. So take your time, make as much eye-contact as possible when you’re speaking to them, and have confidence in your tone.
3. Step 3 Promote a comfortable and professional learning environment. It may be hard to believe, but sometimes students are afraid to speak English in English class–primarily because they fear making mistakes in front of everyone. Encourage your students to practice speaking in class and tell them that it’s OK to make mistakes. In fact, that’s the best way to learn.
4. Step 4 Be patient. Remember that your students are learning an entirely different language. It’s easy to forget that sometimes. What may seem easy to you is probably not for them, so give them the time to learn. And try to avoid rushing them or showing frustration at any point during the lesson.
5. Step 5 Inject your personality whenever you can. If you want to create a comfortable environment, have fun in class. Let that side out of you every once in a while. It relieves tension by providing the necessary breaks to the serious task at hand. In addition, it reminds the students that you are a person and not a robot. Plus it can put you more at ease as well. Thus, making the class more comfortable and fun for you.

Source:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2268057_become-effective-english-teacher-abroad.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

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A Piece of String

The Author

Henri Rene Guy de Maupassant, a famous 19th-century French writer, was born on August 5, 1850, near Tourville-sur-Arques in Normandy France where he spent most of his early life. He lived a life full of twists and turns. Among his popular works are “Boule De Suif” (“Ball of Fat”, 1880), Une Vie (A Woman’s Life, 1883), about the frustrating existence of a Norman wife and Bel-Ami (1885), which depicts an unscrupulous journalist. To read more about the author just “Click Me”…

The Story

A Piece of  String is probably one of the greatest stories ever crafted by a writer.The  story is about a man (Maitre Hauchecome) who was judged wrongly or was charged for something he didn’t do,because of someone’s false account. He lived in great shame and carried it to his grave, for no one believed the words of a man who’s living a rat’s life.

He died in the first days of January, and in the delirium of his death struggles he kept claiming his innocence, reiterating:

“A piece of string, a piece of string–look–here it is, M’sieu the Mayor.”

In addition, the story touches one of the social problems that is very evident here in our country, discrimination. Read the story if we share the same perspective.

Strategies in Teaching a Short Story

Have you experienced having students sleeping while discussing a story?If your response is yes. We’re sharing the same sentiment. Before, I am scolding the student who slept during discussion . I just realized that maybe am part of the blame. The reason was  sticking to the old ways that bore the students. So, I  adapted the following strategies:

• Accelerated or individualized math: a system of having students work at different levels individually in  one classroom. They progress by passing tests for each unit and move at their own pace.
• Acting out a story: Having the students act out a part of a story. Using physical movement to demonstrate and improve comprehension of the story. Could also be used on a smaller scale with puppets, etc. but includes physical movement of some sort.
• Adjusted speech: teacher changes speech patterns to increase student comprehension. Includes facing the students, paraphrasing often, clearly indicating most important ideas, limiting asides, etc.
• Book on tape: Using books on tape to enhance reading development in some way. Having students use the tapes to go over the story after partner reading, to make sure they
  have not missed a vocabulary word, etc.
• Chunking and questioning aloud: The process of reading a story aloud to a group of students and stopping after certain blocks of text to ask the students specific questions about their comprehension of the story and some key features of the text.
• Collecting anonymous student generated questions: During, or at the end of a lesson, have students write any questions that they might have on a card. Collect the cards and answer the questions without identifying a student. Students might be more willing to ask questions they have anonymously, instead of in front of their peers.
• Combine kinesthetic and phonemic awareness: Associating different movements with phonemes in order to anchor sounds during practice drills in order to build phonemic awareness and remembering of sounds by the students.

Source:

Glossary Of Teaching Strategies

		

Books are not dead they metamorphosed into electronic pages to complement the so-called virtual
learning environment, the net.

To read more opinions/perspectives about this mind boggling question."Click Me"