Literature Component 2010- Kota Tinggi & Johor Bharu

Date   : 26-27 Jan 2010
Venue:  PKG Laksamana, Kota Tinggi - 41 teachers
Date   : 28-29 Jan 2010
Venue : SMK Tasek Utara (2), Johor Bharu - 43 teachers

Poetry in Motion- 'The River'

Me in SMK Tasek Utara (2) Language Room

Boy don't I look tired...

The chocolate cake special I baked for Aisyah & the KT gang..No secret ingredient :)

Johor Bharu was my last training centre for the new literature component. I've been training in four districts since last week and finally Kota Tinggi and Johor Bharu this week. JB was the only centre where I could bring the teachers out to act out 'The River' as the training room was next to this large open space. Although it was rather hot the teachers were sporting enough to carry it out.  It has been a great experience and an enriching one. The teachers were simply splendid!  Now,  time to get back on track with school work :) Thanks to all co-trainers (Azri and Hajariah), teachers, Language Officers from PPD Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Johor Bharu and Pontian (Farid, Mahyudin, Radziah and Hood) for the hospitality and to Pelangi and Setia Emas for the freebies.  A special thanks to Khairiah, a sweet  teacher from the host school who showed me the way to Sri Malaysia Hotel although I couldn't stay for the night after all (silly me left my 'baju kurung' at home!!). All the best to you teachers- be sure to make literature come alive in the classroom!

Johor Bharu District

Kota Tinggi District

Gulp & Gasp: Kluang Teachers in Action

Best Group Performance: Group 2

From left: Hajariah (trainer), Noraini, Ida Soraya (Best Lord Septic), me,

 Farhan (always wriggling her toes happily despite being tied up as Rose!), Azri (trainer)

You can't beat Kluang coffee after two days of hard work!

Hmmm...Azri deep in thought on becoming a good trainer :)

Date: 21-22 Jan 2010

Venue: SMK Tinggi Kluang

Trainer: Azri, Hajariah and I

Hi everyone! Just got back from Gunung Lambak after three weeks of no exercise!! Boy was I panting but it sure felt good to sweat. My second pit stop in the training circuit- Kluang, my own homeground. Well-done to Kluang teachers for their participation in the Literature Component Course conducted recently. I thought they were wonderful and the drama was superb. I definitely saw a lot of potential in the young teachers. They have a lot of ideas and enthusiasm- they surely impressed me. We showed them their performances right after the session before announcing the best actor and actresses. I couldn't do it in Pontian as urs truly forgot to bring the videocam cable. Am trying my best to upload the video although the link seems to be missing from my blog! Photo bucket too failed and am now trying Youtube. Well-done to all teachers and co-trainers Azri and Hajariah! You made me proud. Results of the Golden globe Award:

Best Percy: Khoo Cheng May

Best Crouch: Roslinda Dollah

Best Rose: Mary Thomas

Best Lord Septic: Ida Soraya

Best Group: Group 2

Literature Component 2010 Training- PKG Pontian, 19-20th 2010

The Best Group

I'm a friendly ghost!

Rahman and co.

Help! Help! Microphone wire used to tie Crouch & Septic!

Met old friend Roslee

Discussion at work

Group work

Yesss! That's what I thought...

What do you think?

Lord Septic and Crouch in action!

We hit the training trail at our first stop- Pontian. This being our first pit stop, it served as a benchmark to the rest of the sessions later. Our experience in Pontian was flipping fantastic! Teachers were very sporting although a bit shy at first. They really impressed us with their drama performance despite the set up of the room. We managed to get teachers moving and to try 'Gulp & Gasp' and I think they really enjoyed themselves! Azri handled the session fantastically. Our next trail- Kluang! My homeground!!

Classroom Ideas: Teaching Adjectives

http://www.librarything.com/work/book/55391104

Yesterday during the single period in 5S1, I taught 'adjectives' by playing two interesting games that I learned from '700 Classroom Activities, David Seymour and Maria Popova (Macmillan). I purchased this book during the 2008 MICELT conference. As I had been teaching adjectives for the whole week, this was a wrap up lesson for reinforcement.

 The first game was called  'Someone who...'

1. Tell ss you are going to read to them (listening in progress) some descriptions of people. I chose 18 out of 20 descriptions as the other two were not suitable.
2. For each one, ss shout out the adjective that describes the person. T writes the adjectives on the board.
3. Ss write the number and name of the person they know is like that.
4. SS compare their list with partner.

The second game was 'People and Places':

1.  Divide your class into Team A and B.
2. T say out the nouns (e.g.s house, river, actress) . Group A shout out a positive adjective of the place and Group B shout out the negative adjective e.g. house- A- stylish  B- old
3. Compare your descriptions.

Since this was a good class, I asked for three adjectives instead of one and extended the nouns outside 'People & Places'.
+ points: minimal preparation needed, reinforcement of adjectives learnt for the whole week.
Try it and share your experience.