Wednesday, April 27 2016

Week 14: Providing feedback using technology.

Rate: 5

Susana Constanza

The short reading for this final week was really interesting. I felt interested to know more about this topic. Firstly, I consider that using technology to provide feedback is a challenge; teachers tend to give assessment in a traditional way. In another hand, it is useful instead of spend hours with each student. Suddenly, educators of a foreign language are not trained about how to use technology because in our country is not used massively and explored, but it allow me to think about the challenge that we have as a future teachers and to be open to technologies as a resource of the new education and how it would work in term of to provide a formative assessment and assessment for learning.

Second, screen cast is a term that sounds familiar, but in the area of CALL I didn’t notice, but I found interesting. It is a great idea because it break the barriers between teacher-student, student –teacher and is a new way to give feedback. At the beginning it can appear complicated, so in my own opinion is would  be complicated because we are not adapted to use those tools or software or in order cases teachers prefer  not use it because is a challenge for them , but if we have the training how to do it : Why we can’t use it?. I want to conclude saying that assessment is important for students, in this subject Instructional Technology we tend to receive it on line most of the time and I notice that it works very well. Now, it is a guide for me to apply in the future with my future students. 

Wednesday, April 21 2016
Week:13. Project Work
Rate:****3
Susana Constanza.

The weeks are almost finished . The readings are being showed us important lessons related on the teaching field.
In terms of teachig a foreing language (not only English) as teachers we can bring some benefitsfor students through to make proyect work in the classroom. Those projects, allows students to act activaly,look for  information, procesing and increase their content knowledge etc.However, I would like to focus on the article:"Seven Essencials for Proyect Base Learning", because I consider that we can take abvantage of this article. that proyect works wre significants among students . A well designed proyect will help students a lot I noticed 10 steps to maxime the potencial of proyect work and how it works.In another hand, something that call me the attention was some importanys words which I would like to repeat and it says:" A project should give to students the oportunity to build collaboration, communication , critical thinking and using technology .It allows students studets to have success in ther proyect-base learning.

Sunday, April 17 2016
Week 12: " Community Classroom
Rate: 5
Susana Constanza

" Ideas are likes rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them and pretty soon you have a dozen " .John Steinbeck (1902-1968).
Comparing rabbits with the pair work is kind el funny but trutful as welll.After the reading of this article I learned two important things things.Firts , think pair allows students learn through the interactions. I want to mention The Communicative Language Teaching is a method employed into classroom for students to listen less teacher and speak more such as community because the focus is the participation of student . As a result to this, student have a hights participation than teacher and is the moment when teachers listen students what they are producing .It reminded me teachers Sandra Duran and Lorena Pere'z method . Most of the time talking with a partner and explain to each other about the different task , comparing, sharing .Now , in our class lessons we are applying this method because students need to have a change to each other .
Second, the benefits of getting students to participate in the classroom discussion. Saddly, in our system of education teachers tend to participate more than students like the leader of the orchestra , who are controlling each stage in every single task
 I want to conclude saying that encourages dialogue among and between students participation gives studets the change to practice using a different vocabulary, developing important speaking skills , allows teachers observing how much they talk to help them .

Wednesday, March 16 2016

Week 9: Using Mobile Phones

Rate: *****5

Susana Constanza

The reading for this week is very unusual. After the reading I found twenty interesting ideas for using Mobile Phones. I consider that those are ideas are practical; unconsciously we are using Mobile Phones for everything. If we use those phones for learning a second language as a result to this, the learning would be easier for us. Nowadays all of us we have one , but in the case of children they don’t have, for that reason I consider that this method  is  for teenagers, young and adults who are learning a second language.

One significant phrase the author of the article claim is that phones are social tools that facilitate authentic and relevant communication and collaborating among learners. Also, students can control over their own learning.
Firstly, one of the idea that call me the attention was using the text messaging feature to reinforce vocabulary learning .I used to do this and I can say that it works because it allow us to remember better the words because is a different strategy to reinforce vocabulary learning . Another was use the voice Memo Recorder Feature to record conversations outside de classroom. I think that it so benefit to collect information about interviews and conversations trying to use the language as much as possible . Finally one of the well know strategy is use the mobile phone for social networking, specially facebook and whatssap .It allows students interact to each other using the language , by a conversation, sharing information, photos, post comments, to be part of a group, discussing  etc .Actually  this idea is used by many students .

In conclusion, those ideas are planned to students with the purpose that they take a lot of advantages while there are learning the second language. They always are carrying  one, and this is practical , easy and significant to use in the daily life and for teachers is useful to provide tasks. 

Wednesday, March 16 2016

Week 9: Increasing vocabulary using online resources

Rate: *****3

Susana Constanza

One of resources and the most common which we can assist vocabulary are dictionaries. I remember  at the begnning, when I was studying English in the school, I used to use English-Spanish, Spanish –English dictionary, the most famous dictionary and all of my classmates used to use it as well. We didn’t have access to online –dictionaries because technology was not close us. However, nowadays, dictionaries on line have been increase and we are able to have access to them, and also those appear as applications on cellphones. When I start use online Cambridge, Webster, McMillan dictionaries on line I noticed that they are so helpful and easy to use them.

In general terms, vocabulary and reading are closely related. Now I won’t talk about dictionaries, I will talk about using technology to acquire vocabulary. I consider that students feel more motivated learning vocabulary online or through different activities using computers, such as games, power presentations, websites, etc. We have a lot of advantages compared with the last years where technology has not been increase in the teching field. The article remarks the benefits of using multimedia which plays an important part in reading comprehension. In my point of view, I consider that teacher is the facilitator to provide students meaningful task using technology in  which they can work and make a comprehensible reading and then acquire the vocabulary, and students need to be oriented about  the pronunciation and look for the most reliable resource which provide meaningful learning and enrich the vocabulary

Wednesday, March 9 2016
Week 8. Promoting Collaborative Writing .
Rate *3
Susana Constanza

The article for this new week are following the secuence of the previos article. According that I learned, the main idea for this article is that learners use wiki pages such as an useful tool which can allows them to practice, grafting , rewriting , editing and proof reading , at the same time promoting collaborative writing task outside the classroom. After de reading , I could say as a students of languages ,I analyze how teachers can promote wikis and how it could helps students specially in a Composition I and II.

Using wikis is another different method to motivate students to develop writing skill through community even though if  some of the sites are not relialable . Community allows students to narrow each other as a team work , creating learners autonomy and critical thinking.So, in firts place , learners need to be oriented about the use of wikis on line  and the task or evaluations assigned during the course will be planning .In my opinion , this method could be useful for learners, because wikis is free, easy to learn and use.Suddendly, teachers not tend to use those kinds of online resources in Compostion, they use traditional methods and students can not discover diversity of materiasl which could help them to think critically and freely.

Wednesday, March 02 2016
Week 7:Using diversity of websites in ESL.
Rate *5
Susana Constanza

 In general terms, I have been analyzed the articles readied the recently weeks. All of them were talking about using technology to helps students to acquire the second language and to develop listening, speaking, grammar skills, but this week one of the article is focused on writing skills. 

During the reading I learned two important things. In first place, I learned how to use the technology for teach writing. Suddenly, teachers not receive a trainer about how to include technology in the curriculum. So, if we include it in the  lesson is necessary to adapt according to the age, and level of the students .Actually, in internet we can find a helpful websites , I checked some of them such as letters, bibliography, an argumentative essay, notices and advisertment, description or review of a book, film or play, etc. I found interesting for students, because assigning activities in those websites, students can develop not only writing skills, also reading and speaking skills. Teachers must provide them not only materials for learners because students need real materials which allows them interact with real situations.

In second place, I learned how to use the internet for children focused in the reading skill. There are some creative websites designers for children. The teacher  can do make the reading experience more productive and interesting by planning creativity  activities .Finally, I would like to say that nowadays we have some resources on line designed to develop the skills, so we need to take advantage of those websites and select the best for our students .

Wednesday, February 24 2016
Week 6: Develping speaking skills
Susana Constanza.
Rate :5
   After the readings of the articles of week 6, something that comes to my mind is our native language. Since birth, humans are acquiring the first language; the first thing that children learn is speak. Similarly, learners of second language should learn to speak firts.The first article is based on speaking. I notice that computers are significant to help students to develop their speaking skills, through the creation of situations that allow learners to communicate, interact with others, and work together. In the spoken language competence I found interesting aspects: mechanical and meaningful aspects. In general terms, computers provide  a diversity of opportunities to help learners to develop their speaking skills, focus on pronunciation and communication .It remain me the Communicative Language Teaching  method focused on students to use the second language in the classroom for communication, so this situation students could develop their speaking skills through  the use of technology .

Further, a quotation that calls me the attention was many learners feel more comfortable when they practice in front of their computers (Kataoka 200). The principal purpose of using CALL to teach a second language is provide to students an authentic  and stimulating conversational environment .The internet can be used  to generate communication and students could use their target language .Also, is remarkable to mention that using videos can provided an significant learning , in terms of teaching writing, grammar and vocabulary . We are enriched by those tools, however we can discover advantages and disadvantages, but as a future teachers we could analyze and categorize the best methods and tools to applicant CALL in Teaching Spoken English .

 Wednesday, February 17 2016

Week 5: Developing a critical thinking
Susana Constanza
 Rate: 4

The article of this week I found really interesting. In first place, as we noticed before, we are naturally curious and at the same time, we are rational and emotional creatures. Further, as part as our nature, God give us the capacity of thinking, as a consequence to this, we are able to understand and making mental processes. Actually, as teachers we are called to help students to provide the learning in which they can involved by themselves. In second place, something which I would like to point out is that teachers must deliberate help students to acquire specific abstract reasoning capacity. This means that we must teach to the students to understand, analyze, synthesize and evaluated information .
The article mentioned a truthful argument about teachers should do less telling and more asking. Also is important to take in mind that students are not like a machine, they shouldn’t produce the same of the teacher, as an individual learner they need to get involved and produce the learning by themselves, they have different kinds of input and teachers should provide diversity styles of teaching because they need to respond them as an individual learner with different personalities.
In terms of technology, the use of computers help us them to achieve the learning, by sing visual representations of auditory information. In addition, using short discussions and interactive environment and lastly, using  visual to help students to learn .In conclusion the method and objectives should be focus on the growing and developing of critical thinking in the students and use productively the technology  to helps them .

Wednesday, February 10 2016
Week 4: Websites adaptated to language learning .
Susana Constanza
Rate : 4

   After de reading, I found interesting information which as teachers should analyze and take in consideration. Above all, I learned some important aspects. One of them, the integration of internet in English Language Teaching (ELT) as an alternative. In consequence to this, internet is incorporated with the purpose to help learners in different areas. Another, Internet allows learners to produce creativity in English on a number of sites, moreover, allows learners to communicative with native speakers and other people by the use  of interactive chat tools even if some programs or students activities are limited.
   Also, I share the affirmation of Clark (1989) about the supplementation and adaptation of authentic materials; actually we can find a variarety of programs on line with help learners in their target language. In other side, is important to consider the selection of materials eve if they are authentic or semi authentic materials according to the interest or needs of learners. Further, the use those websites well selected provided task for learners, increasing the motivation to learn and reducing anxiety in learners.
   Finally, something that I noticed about the reading is about some limitation that it present and not all of those websites are reliable, this means that we should be careful and be conscious about the resources which we going to use. Unfortunately, to be realistic some teachers and students might not have access to use internet at home or in the classroom and they are in traditional education yet. 

Wednesday,February 3 2016
Week 3 : A challenge using podcasting 
Susana Constanza
Rate :3

In general terms, I going to mention that those articles have allowed me to understand the function of technology into de classroom and how important it is, including some advantages and some issues that our teachers affront .Teachers could make a significant difference if they receive a trained about how to use technology and programs into the classroom to develop specific skills in learners .Besides, I discovered  an relevant method called “ Podcasting” that is integrated into Computer Assisted Language CALL. After the reading the two articles, I noticed an important thing.

  

The integration of podcasting in education as a tool for learners. Podcasting is a new method that contain audios and videos files in the web language learning. This method is used to teach listening skills, allowing students to improve their listening comprehension. Consequently to this, as far I’m concern most of the teachers tend to live the reality of Salvadorian education. A large number of schools teachers not have an access of those programs in the classroom .They cannot use iPods, laptops or tablets because they not have access to those tools. In terms of develop listening skills; teachers tend to use radio as an accessible tool. In another hand, in higher education tend to happen the same. They are well – equipped but some teachers are not aware to take an advantage to use those programs to improve listening skills. As a result, this issue creates a barrier between the developing and the independence of learner and the blending technology which could as far as practicable enrich the learning through ESL programs

Wednesday , January 27, 2016

Week. 2 In the research of Learning autonomy and ICT tools.
Susana Constanza Rate: 4
  
 Something important that I learned for this article was the fostering of awareness through of the integration of ITC in a study during one academic semester English language students. I found two important interesting things of this study.
     
 First, the developing of metacognitive processes is a base of behavior and attitudes that evidence in the students the process of autonomy. Metacognition allows students to be aware of their own   process in the learning .When they are aware about their own learning, they state separately from others, and become autonomous learners, in this sense, the sing of autonomy becomes when learners analyze their own process and attach their own goals learning, achieving high language proficiency.
   
  Second, the independent activities and the use of ICT in language learning allow a positive impact in the student’s work. It allows learners the develop of linguistic competences , in this case, CALL allows learners to explore large number  of resources available for them on the internet and multiple of possibilities  of using web tools according  their learning styles and preferences indicating the skill or area of focus , according to the necessity  of learners .
   
  Finally, a possible method we could apply in English class is the implementation of platform virtual in which students can interact to each other, using their target language in the areas: speaking, writing, listening, and reading, allowing them to be more independent and autonomous. I would like to remember is teachers should engage student’s through different activities using ICT, and promote self evaluation, self correction and self monitoring to help them to acquire the knowledge by themselves. 

Friday, January 22 2015

Week 1. Technology in Language Teaching
Susana Constanza

Rate: 4

The article for this week shows engaging information about Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL). In general terms, something I learned from this article is that technological and pedagogical development now allow us integrate computer technology into the language learning process. Moreover, as future innovated teachers should know how to take advantage of the use of technology for learn a language an easier and efficient method.

The authors of the article “Computer –assisted Language Teaching “ give a brief history about how computers have been used fof Language Teaching . Those programs are adapted for diverse of learners with the purpose of providing an authentic learning .Adittionally ,integrating learners in a genuine environment and also developing their skills. 

A large number of software programs are being designed with the purpose of help learners to develop their skills and acquire the language in a particular way. In consequence to this, variety of areas are reinforced such as pronunciation , grammar, speaking, listening, writing because of the diversity of programs and multimedia systems, such as videos, animations, interactions with others people around the world , text reconstructions, interacting activities , games, blogs and others. All of those, allows to learners enjoy the learning and they not become frustrating and the target language is acquired as well.

The article explain that  the teacher has become as facilitator of learning based of  what the student must  learn in order to meet diverse needs and the teacher seeks provide students the solutions of theirs needs . This means that teachers should be aware with the new technology which is a tool that facilitates meaningful and challenging classroom work. There is no doubt that technologies will an increase presence in education.