Mr Harold who is our tutor for EDU 3217 has been asking us to bring in something creative in our teaching. Well, it was good in way, as it made all of us to come up with different activities and tasks. We might have repeated the same aspect, but it was not in the same way.
This actually encouraged us to come up with interesting activities. Some of my friends come up creative ideas such as drawings, using masks of the characters when reading the dialogue, completing diagram, and group works. By doing such activities, it actually encouraged the students to participate actively. It would be good if we manage to keep it up this kind of creativity when we teach in a real life. ;-) It can actually create a different atmosphere for the students in literature class.
Unfortunately, there was time constraint during the presentation. Many of us had to cut short our teaching because there were a lot of us who had not presented. This however led to disappointment to some of my friends. They were really very keen in doing their simulated teaching. Maybe they can do it in two years time when they are in school. :-) Thus, in my opinion, next time when we are doing simulated teaching, we must start earlier.
This simulated teaching allows me to overcome the fear to teach in front of the class. The evaluation forms that I have received from my friends allow me to know my strengths and weaknesses. One of the weaknesses that I read was my friend asked me to be more creative in future in developing my activities, which I will improvise. I really appreciated such comments. Thank you for evaluations and comments.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Pre- reading and while-reading
As I was doing on the play, ‘Dance Like a man’ by Mahesh Dattani, which has never been read by my friends, I decided to concentrate on the character and character traits. There were three of us did on the same play, so we divided on what we wanted to do so that we don’t end up doing the same. My friend, Ahmad Syazwan did on the theme, meanwhile Sivaranjini did on character and character traits, but she was focusing on two characters only, which were Jairaj and Ratna. So I decided to do on the other major character in the play, which is Amritlal.
For my pre-reading, I started off by asking the students what is a character and character traits. Then, I explained them briefly about it. As for my activity, I gave them a worksheet which consists of six short extracts. Based on the extracts, I asked them to identify the characters and come up with a diagram showing the relationship between the characters that have been identified (task 1 and 2) . I chose to do this activity because it will give them a rough idea of the characters that are involved in the play. It will also avoid them from being lost when doing my tasks as they have never read the play before.
Meanwhile, for my while reading activity, I decided to ask my friends to identify Amritlal’s traits based on the extract given. However, I decided to it a bit differently. I divided my class to two groups, group A and Group B. Then, I asked the students in group A to get into pairs, and gave each pair an extract each. I gave the students in group B a personal trait each. After that, I asked the students with the extract to identify which personal trait that their friends having matches their extract best. I also asked one representative from each pair to read their extract and the personal trait of Amritlal based on the extract. Due to time constrain, I only manage to get one pair to do so. However, I read out the answers for them and asked them to write the personal traits for each extract in the space given in their worksheet (task 3). This task allowed them to know more about the traits of the character Amritlal. I also posted them a question in their worksheet asking them to determine the kind of relationship Amritlal is having with his son. As they have gone through the extracts and the personal traits of Amritlal, the students were able to answer the question.
So far, I think the activities that I did for my pre-reading and while- reading was able to enhance student’s understanding of the play. It could have been better if there were no time constraint to finish up the activities.
For my pre-reading, I started off by asking the students what is a character and character traits. Then, I explained them briefly about it. As for my activity, I gave them a worksheet which consists of six short extracts. Based on the extracts, I asked them to identify the characters and come up with a diagram showing the relationship between the characters that have been identified (task 1 and 2) . I chose to do this activity because it will give them a rough idea of the characters that are involved in the play. It will also avoid them from being lost when doing my tasks as they have never read the play before.
Meanwhile, for my while reading activity, I decided to ask my friends to identify Amritlal’s traits based on the extract given. However, I decided to it a bit differently. I divided my class to two groups, group A and Group B. Then, I asked the students in group A to get into pairs, and gave each pair an extract each. I gave the students in group B a personal trait each. After that, I asked the students with the extract to identify which personal trait that their friends having matches their extract best. I also asked one representative from each pair to read their extract and the personal trait of Amritlal based on the extract. Due to time constrain, I only manage to get one pair to do so. However, I read out the answers for them and asked them to write the personal traits for each extract in the space given in their worksheet (task 3). This task allowed them to know more about the traits of the character Amritlal. I also posted them a question in their worksheet asking them to determine the kind of relationship Amritlal is having with his son. As they have gone through the extracts and the personal traits of Amritlal, the students were able to answer the question.
So far, I think the activities that I did for my pre-reading and while- reading was able to enhance student’s understanding of the play. It could have been better if there were no time constraint to finish up the activities.
4 in 1...
Journalist, writer, playwright, and an actor... 4 in 1. That’s Kee Thuan Chye. March 30, 2009 was a memorable day. Dr.Edwin arranged a session for us to meet Kee Thuan Chye. Thanks to Dr.Edwin.
He was so humble and frank when he told us about him. He started to write at a very early age. I felt like ‘WOW’ at that time, as I compared myself when I was young. I sometimes felt difficult to write even an essay, not to mention stories that need imagination.
I got to know about him when I was in my first year degree itself. We read a short story ‘A Sense of Home’ written by Kee Thuan Chye. It was a story which I will never erase from my memory. It is an interesting story due to its special English language. He...he...he...
His literary works are very interesting to be read. There is always an underlying meaning beneath it. One should be a real alert reader to get the juice of it.
For this semester, we read about his play, ‘Swordfish, Then The Concubine’. At first I just read for the sake of examination, however after the session with him, it actually enhance my understanding of the play. He actually manipulated two historical events in our history to highlight the current issues that we are facing now. It is not an easy work to be done to inject in those issues in a play. He is good in doing that. Not all of us were aware of the issues that he actually brought forward in the play. A lesson for us at that time was, ‘ Be an alert reader’.
As the play that we had was just a manuscript, one of my friend asked when will he publish the play. Well, his answer was just, “I had revised his manuscript again.” That really reminded me of what Dr.Edwin told us prior to read the play, “The difference between reading a play by Shakespeare and a play by local writers such as Kee Thuan Chye is, a Shakespearan play will not be revised anymore.” Ha...ha...ha... It’s so true. However, I really hope to get the latest manuscript as it contains some other new issues.
When we asked him when his play be perfect, he only said that life can’t have perfection, we must just try to make it as good as it can. A very meaningful phrase.
A matter of what he said that really captured my mind was we should not really accept whatever we read as truth, because it only represents the author’s truth.
This meaningful session with Kee Thuan Chye had actually made me to think of a few matters. :-)
He was so humble and frank when he told us about him. He started to write at a very early age. I felt like ‘WOW’ at that time, as I compared myself when I was young. I sometimes felt difficult to write even an essay, not to mention stories that need imagination.
I got to know about him when I was in my first year degree itself. We read a short story ‘A Sense of Home’ written by Kee Thuan Chye. It was a story which I will never erase from my memory. It is an interesting story due to its special English language. He...he...he...
His literary works are very interesting to be read. There is always an underlying meaning beneath it. One should be a real alert reader to get the juice of it.
For this semester, we read about his play, ‘Swordfish, Then The Concubine’. At first I just read for the sake of examination, however after the session with him, it actually enhance my understanding of the play. He actually manipulated two historical events in our history to highlight the current issues that we are facing now. It is not an easy work to be done to inject in those issues in a play. He is good in doing that. Not all of us were aware of the issues that he actually brought forward in the play. A lesson for us at that time was, ‘ Be an alert reader’.
As the play that we had was just a manuscript, one of my friend asked when will he publish the play. Well, his answer was just, “I had revised his manuscript again.” That really reminded me of what Dr.Edwin told us prior to read the play, “The difference between reading a play by Shakespeare and a play by local writers such as Kee Thuan Chye is, a Shakespearan play will not be revised anymore.” Ha...ha...ha... It’s so true. However, I really hope to get the latest manuscript as it contains some other new issues.
When we asked him when his play be perfect, he only said that life can’t have perfection, we must just try to make it as good as it can. A very meaningful phrase.
A matter of what he said that really captured my mind was we should not really accept whatever we read as truth, because it only represents the author’s truth.
This meaningful session with Kee Thuan Chye had actually made me to think of a few matters. :-)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Blog it out...
“Oh no... Blog....”That was what popped in my mind when we were asked to blog for EDU3217 by Dr.Edwin. I am not the blogging type of person. Initially, I found this task was a real burden on me.
However, towards the end of blogging, I realise why Dr.Edwin asked us to do so. First of all, there are some ‘morons’ (well that’s what Dr.Edwin calls us) who does not know about blogs, and this provided them an opportunity to know about it. :-)
Blogging for this subject allows us to reflect on what we have learned in the class. We also are able to reflect and give a piece of our mind on others post, this in a way makes the learning process continue through blogging. As we are required to reflect when we blog, we go through discovery learning. For example, when we were required to blog about Teiresias, we had to Google to find source about him and in a way did our learning about him.
Besides, blogging gives us the freedom to write what we want (for this particular blog, as long as it is related to EDU 3217). It is not necessarily should be for 400 words. You can even post a post which has 200words, as long as it reflective. Blog also let us to get individual feedback from our friends and lecturer. Further, using a blog allows us to publish and share our ideas, and others are able to read and respond on it. This blog for EDU 3217 actually engage each of us in an open conversation regarding this subject.
I think that using a blog helps learners improve their writing competencies. When Dr.Edwin informs that my post were not reflective, I asked my friends on ways to make it reflective. I edited my previous post to make it better. I realised that my following posts were more reflective that the earlier four posts. Thus, it shows that participants get better at reflecting and expressing reflections in writing.
Another advantage that I notice using blog is we are able to edit our posts. It is not like the forums that we participated in last semester. Once we post in forum, we cannot change anymore. If there is a mistake we have to post another one. However, in blog, we can still edit in the same post that was done earlier.
If anyone ask, “Will continue to blog after this?”
My answer will certainly be YES. Maybe it might not be for educational purpose, yet I will continue to blog. Adios!!! :-)
However, towards the end of blogging, I realise why Dr.Edwin asked us to do so. First of all, there are some ‘morons’ (well that’s what Dr.Edwin calls us) who does not know about blogs, and this provided them an opportunity to know about it. :-)
Blogging for this subject allows us to reflect on what we have learned in the class. We also are able to reflect and give a piece of our mind on others post, this in a way makes the learning process continue through blogging. As we are required to reflect when we blog, we go through discovery learning. For example, when we were required to blog about Teiresias, we had to Google to find source about him and in a way did our learning about him.
Besides, blogging gives us the freedom to write what we want (for this particular blog, as long as it is related to EDU 3217). It is not necessarily should be for 400 words. You can even post a post which has 200words, as long as it reflective. Blog also let us to get individual feedback from our friends and lecturer. Further, using a blog allows us to publish and share our ideas, and others are able to read and respond on it. This blog for EDU 3217 actually engage each of us in an open conversation regarding this subject.
I think that using a blog helps learners improve their writing competencies. When Dr.Edwin informs that my post were not reflective, I asked my friends on ways to make it reflective. I edited my previous post to make it better. I realised that my following posts were more reflective that the earlier four posts. Thus, it shows that participants get better at reflecting and expressing reflections in writing.
Another advantage that I notice using blog is we are able to edit our posts. It is not like the forums that we participated in last semester. Once we post in forum, we cannot change anymore. If there is a mistake we have to post another one. However, in blog, we can still edit in the same post that was done earlier.
If anyone ask, “Will continue to blog after this?”
My answer will certainly be YES. Maybe it might not be for educational purpose, yet I will continue to blog. Adios!!! :-)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Set induction- foundation for the make up
Simulated teaching is back. Oh god... this time we had to teach an aspect for any play that we have learnt. The play that I have chosen to do on is ‘Dance Like a Man’ by Mahesh Dattani. I had never thought there could be so many steps that we had to follow when we teach. The first step is set induction. I was clueless on doing it. Our tutor wants our set induction to be as interesting as possible.
I started my set induction by giving my students the main difference between a play and other literal text. As my play was regarding the traditional dance of Bharathanatyam, I decided to show the students (my classmates) the pictures of some traditional dances from other races (power point presentation) and pictures of a few dance ornaments (power point presentation) required them to guess those pictures. This play that I choose also revolves on prejudice towards male who dances bharathanatyam. So I posted a few questions towards the students:
1. Which gender participates more in this dance?
2. Why do male participate less in the dance?
My tutor did give a few comments on my set induction. One of his comments was the speed of transaction of the pictures in the power point presentation was a bit too fast, thus it was difficult to identify some of the pictures.
Through all the set inductions that I saw, I realise that it is a very important aspect in order to attract the students. It is the step that gives the first impression towards the students regarding the lesson of the day. ;-)
I started my set induction by giving my students the main difference between a play and other literal text. As my play was regarding the traditional dance of Bharathanatyam, I decided to show the students (my classmates) the pictures of some traditional dances from other races (power point presentation) and pictures of a few dance ornaments (power point presentation) required them to guess those pictures. This play that I choose also revolves on prejudice towards male who dances bharathanatyam. So I posted a few questions towards the students:
1. Which gender participates more in this dance?
2. Why do male participate less in the dance?
My tutor did give a few comments on my set induction. One of his comments was the speed of transaction of the pictures in the power point presentation was a bit too fast, thus it was difficult to identify some of the pictures.
Through all the set inductions that I saw, I realise that it is a very important aspect in order to attract the students. It is the step that gives the first impression towards the students regarding the lesson of the day. ;-)
Mahesh Dattani's Dance Like a Man... ;-)
I have selected this play for my simulated teaching. This play is written by Mahesh Dattani. It is about an old couple reflecting upon their life as dancers and their long struggle against the stigma attached to Bharathanatyam, in the 1940s and 1950s, as the dance of the devadasis, compounding the problem for the male dancer.
Throughout reading this play, I noticed that the phrase “be a man” is being repeated. It indicates that a man is suppose to behave like a man and should not learn the art of Bharathanatyam. Jairaj, who is interested in bharathanatyam, was being controlled by his father, Amritlal. Amritlal wants Jairaj to be man, as he thinks that is where a man’s happiness lies. However, I believe that he does not understand that his son’s happiness lies in the dance he loves most, and dancing it makes him happy. I also notice that Amritlal looks down on the dance and believes it’s a dance for prostitutes. In my opinion, he should actually uphold the bharathanatyam dance, which is one of his tradition and encourage both Ratna and Jairaj to pursue the dance.
This play also reminded me of a man named Vishnu. He is a Malaysian. He is a classical bharathanatyam dancer, who participated in ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’. His conflict was more less same as Jairaj. His passion towards bharathanatyam was disliked by his father, and lead to his father to disown him. However, with the help of his sisters, he was able to learn this art from a ‘guru’. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his final stage due to financial problem. Nevertheless, he was a great bharathanatyam dancer.
Thus, I strongly believe that there should not be any stereotyping or prejudice on which gender should learn bharathanatyam. There is no harm if a man learns bharathanatyam. I have also seen male bharathanatyam dancers. One of the examples is Ramli Ibrahim. He still is being a man. So, what is wrong in learning this art? If we ourselves do not uphold our own root, who will?
Throughout reading this play, I noticed that the phrase “be a man” is being repeated. It indicates that a man is suppose to behave like a man and should not learn the art of Bharathanatyam. Jairaj, who is interested in bharathanatyam, was being controlled by his father, Amritlal. Amritlal wants Jairaj to be man, as he thinks that is where a man’s happiness lies. However, I believe that he does not understand that his son’s happiness lies in the dance he loves most, and dancing it makes him happy. I also notice that Amritlal looks down on the dance and believes it’s a dance for prostitutes. In my opinion, he should actually uphold the bharathanatyam dance, which is one of his tradition and encourage both Ratna and Jairaj to pursue the dance.
This play also reminded me of a man named Vishnu. He is a Malaysian. He is a classical bharathanatyam dancer, who participated in ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’. His conflict was more less same as Jairaj. His passion towards bharathanatyam was disliked by his father, and lead to his father to disown him. However, with the help of his sisters, he was able to learn this art from a ‘guru’. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his final stage due to financial problem. Nevertheless, he was a great bharathanatyam dancer.
Thus, I strongly believe that there should not be any stereotyping or prejudice on which gender should learn bharathanatyam. There is no harm if a man learns bharathanatyam. I have also seen male bharathanatyam dancers. One of the examples is Ramli Ibrahim. He still is being a man. So, what is wrong in learning this art? If we ourselves do not uphold our own root, who will?
Reading a play or watching a movie…??
Oh my god… What am I reading…?? That was the phrases that appear in my brain when I read a play especially the plays that we read for this semester such as Oedipus Rex and King Lear. However, Dr.Edwin asked us to watch the movie of these plays. I think he knows that each of us is totally lost reading the play and watching the movie might help us out with it.
Well, watching the movies does bring me a few benefits. It somehow enhances my understanding if the play better. Besides, there were also some parts and scenes of the play that I cannot visualize. However, through watching the movies, I had a clear visual of the scenes and also had an idea of the setting and lifestyle of the people in the play in those eras. Additionally, the scenes that I watch in the movies leave a greater impact rather than the same scenes which I read in the play. Visual does stay longer in mind rather than words.
However, I realize that I should not rely fully on the movies. I should read first the play to get a rough idea of what it will be about. Reading plays is as though putting a base, meanwhile watching the movie gives a better support to the base.
In a way this idea could actually be used in future when I will be teaching in schools. Even though the students will not be learning on plays, the same tactic can be used for novels. I could actually ask them to read the novels first before allowing them to watch the movie. This in a way will interest the students to read the novel. After that, I can reward them to watch the movie. In a way, it attracts students yet builds their understanding of the story.
Both reading the play and watching the movies compensate each other to make us understand better. :-)
Well, watching the movies does bring me a few benefits. It somehow enhances my understanding if the play better. Besides, there were also some parts and scenes of the play that I cannot visualize. However, through watching the movies, I had a clear visual of the scenes and also had an idea of the setting and lifestyle of the people in the play in those eras. Additionally, the scenes that I watch in the movies leave a greater impact rather than the same scenes which I read in the play. Visual does stay longer in mind rather than words.
However, I realize that I should not rely fully on the movies. I should read first the play to get a rough idea of what it will be about. Reading plays is as though putting a base, meanwhile watching the movie gives a better support to the base.
In a way this idea could actually be used in future when I will be teaching in schools. Even though the students will not be learning on plays, the same tactic can be used for novels. I could actually ask them to read the novels first before allowing them to watch the movie. This in a way will interest the students to read the novel. After that, I can reward them to watch the movie. In a way, it attracts students yet builds their understanding of the story.
Both reading the play and watching the movies compensate each other to make us understand better. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)