Latest Edition for Teaching Writing

Here's a sharing of the latest edition of my book with Jenny Ho. It is not sold in bookshops though. To order, you can contact your local salesman. This book can be used in Forms 4 or 5 to help your students improve their writing skills.



  

 Happy Teaching!






Those who can DO, Those who can do more TEACH

Young Readers Programme

credit: google images

Next year, in sha Allah I'm planning to start an extensive reading programme with the Form 1 students in my school. As teachers we all know the level of English these children display after graduating from primary 6. Down memory lane, I remember clearly those who couldn't pronounce the word "could" and "would" correctly. Instead of /kud/ and /wud/  it was /kuld/ and /wuld/. Took a while for me to defossilize that! Next year am thinking of a reading programme to improve the students' reading and vocabulary. If you guys have any idea where I can start, please do message or email (rahmahs@yahoo.com). 

I'm thinking of stories, newspapers... A4 paper which optimises both sides (passage and questions/activities). There is a lot of literature around on extensive reading but I need something simple and impactful and fun for perhaps a six-month programme or so. Can these children just do reading and vocabulary instead of OPS-English for example? They just have to read to do well in English really. Speaking is an important skill but given two groups doing OPS-English and another doing extensive reading, which do you think will improve their English at a faster rate? No study has been done on this I bet but it's worth thinking about. Teachers are in the dark as to the success of OPS-English in the first place. I think there needs to be sharing of information especially impacts of programmes involving teachers in schools. This information should not be exclusive to the researchers, ELTC and the stake holders. If something is successful or unsuccessful, share it. As one of the writers, I too would like to know the impact of the programme. Meanwhile, I will do some research on extensive reading and hope to carry it out next year :)

 Happy teaching!

Those who can DO, Those who can do more TEACH

Kintamani and the 62nd Teflin Conference, Bali, Indonesia (14-16th September 2015)

Been postponing this post for a bit. Alhamdulillah I was in Bali for the 62nd TEFLIN conference to present my paper. My action research was on journaling in my classes. I must say though that ICELT or MELTA is more happening than this conference but the strength in TEFLIN was in the research rigour of the presenters. The presenters, although mostly Indonesians, showed a lot of rigour in research methodology. Missed Pak Willy Renandya's (National Institute of Education, Nan Yang Technological University, Singapore) plenary though due to a lack of ticket and so I settled for Dr Jayakaran's session. Dr Jaya was a witty as ever and had us in stitches and his students' videos were refreshing. As usual Dr Jaya will always touch on Malaysian textbooks :)

Of course I went sightseeing in Bali too. Would be silly not to take that opportunity. Went back to Kintamani- the food on the hilltop restaurant tasted the same but the crisp air and the view of Mount Batur was unforgettable. Never quite like the food to be honest but the view from the top was majestic. We prayed Zuhur in a nearby mosque and the cold water to perform the ablution reminded me of the winter days as a student in England.There's something about Kintamani that makes me want to come back again and again :)

Alhamdulillah for the opportunity to share in this conference.

Happy teaching!

Sanur Paradise Hotel, Bali

Registration

 

 

Barong Dance

Love Sunda food!

Those who can DO, Those who can do more TEACH

Random thoughts: Muharram (Part 2)

Muharram is here- a new year and a new beginning! The second holiest month in the Islamic calendar is surely significant enough to make that hijra to become a better person or to do that (good) thing you've always been postponing.  The coming of Muharram will, I hope, renew my energy and enthusiasm. To be fair I've had some issues with health this year (spondylosis may be a common problem but speaking from experience, it's not something you would welcome) Remember the good days when you had good health and you walked into the classroom with that spring in you feet and that everything was possible? Time to start anew, to rejuvenate and to live life fully. May this holy month  bring all the good things in my life and yours :)

 

Those who can DO, Those who can do more TEACH