Tuesday, March 26, 2013 8:52 PM
From
Salam Madamme,
I really enjoy reading your blog and all this while i have been your silent reader. As an inexperienced teacher (posted last year in january) i have a lot to ask you. I am teaching in one of SBPs in Pahang. This year, i have to teach SPM level and english is the killing subject for this school. I am teaching 2 classes - the creme and the last class. My concern is on how to let my students (majority sit in B level) to buck up and score A+ 
I am thinking of doing extra classes with them. The main concern is
 what are the contents of my extra class. How to go through extra class 
with them.
My next concern is my last class. 
Should i create a module for them where i go through all the grammar 
items? I am thinking of compiling numbers of rational cloze, grammar 
exercises and reading comprehension texts. For writing, should i supply 
them with samples of good essays and let them identify useful phrases to
 be used. Later let them write a similar one?
I keep on thinking and haven't started on anything for 
the module. Oh, i just sat for anxiety test and YES my anxiety level is 
to its max! :D
My response
| 
Wassallam xxx,  
I assume this is your name tx for visiting my blog. I didn't realise I hv a fan hehe...so you're teaching in sbp too..let me try to 
answer your questions. For the first question, yes why not? Go ahead with 
your extra class idea. You can make use of those classes to focus on 
writing for example..just writing. The normal classes can focus on the 
other skills. In the writing class, you can think of strategies for 
writing e.g. paragraph level before you do full essays, elaborations 
techniques, the five para essay, cont. Writing n d different genres.... 
anything that helps them write better. Don't be too ambitious. They will need a lot of support e.g.s topic vocab list for different topics.  
Regarding your second 
question- since this the poorer class, my suggestion is you focus on 
what helps them score. I would go for directed writing, reading comp n 
summary n info transfer but of course you know your students better so u
 will b d best judge   no worries, just set your mind on something 
and get it going. Improve as you go along. Do consult senior teachers in
 your panel for advice too. Best! | 
The Thinking Teacher
Cikgu,
ReplyDeleteHaving no formal training in teaching I have devised my own way of teaching English, Mathematics and Science, modifying here and there to suit my children’s ability. In teaching English I have found translation work a useful means. I make copies of selected simple models of Malay essays from books available in the market. It is possible for me to use this method as all the children are Malay. Discussing children's work bring home the need to avoid direct transfer of thought into sentences in English, and the need for a lot reading with a purpose.
Dear pakcik, translation is a useful method in teaching english. But i guess it depends on the kind of students you have too. I get ss to translate the poems in the literature component for better understanding for example. Tx for sharing :)
DeleteDear pakcik, translation is a useful method in teaching english. But i guess it depends on the kind of students you have too. I get ss to translate the poems in the literature component for better understanding for example. Tx for sharing :)
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