Someday I’ll do it..

   Since this is a personal reflective blog, I always write stuff about my previous experiences and try to compare them with what has been learned during the week. As this week was about writing, I’ll share with you my own experience in writing.

I remember two years ago when I was in the States I was very interested in writing so that I took a course in technical and professional writing and another one in news writing. I recall how much we suffered with these two courses, especially the first one. We would spend a lot of time just in very simple stuff, like those mentioned in Krajka’s article. Every time we wrote something we would feel very satisfied that we did a graet job. But once we go to the professor she would make lots of comments and corrections.

She might have been right, and I don’t blame her, on the contrary, I give her credit for that because she wanted us to master all style of writings. However I still don’t agree with the way we were given that course; lots of stress, time, and energy which all lead to disappointment and discouragement. We spent lots of time in very little things that could have been gained on the road. We could have spent that time in much better way.

I could say the whole course could have been taken in two weeks or so, and the rest of time could have been used for practice. Just as Krajka suggested “ I am in favor of devoting at least two periods to teaching one genre” which means totally 22 periods, which could be broken down into two weeks give or take a few change.  

Like other skills in English language, writing takes time to be mastered. You can’t judge a person by one piece of writing, rather you show him the techniques and he goes by himself.

I am amazed at the way the writer dealt with each genre individually, the description, and the resources. I could Imagine how great benefit students would gain if they join such course. I hope, I could someday do a similar course with my own students…you hope so too for me.. don’t you? Thank you..

Week 3. The more you learn the more you realize how little you know.

Once you start to feel you got to the zenith of something, you come across, from time to time, with bunch of facts make you rethink of your convictions.

We sometimes overestimate our own merits when we think we know every thing about our specialties.

This notion becomes quite clear when you get involved in a discussion with people from the same specialty as of yours. They enrich you with resources you never had known at all. They might make you look at something in a different way.

At the beginning of this week I said to myself “this is my week... ESL websites..! What a coincidence..! I know the most important ESL websites” and to be honest, I would not expect any addition to what I already have.

I, gradually, began to read my classmates’ posts. I started with Mbarek’s. He recommended www.eslpod.com and www.manythings.org. I said “OK..! there we go, the first two websites.. let’s see what they contain.” I went through them and found amazing information which I wish I had known at earlier stage of my life, when I was graduating from high school and starting out as an English learner.

I went down the page and as I read a new post I found new things which have never been known to me at all.

I finally got to be best of the best, which I could not find words to describe it but to say ‘it’s second to none’. It’s www.elllo.org/english. What a blessing..! Nothing is better..! No more excuses not learning English. English language has become approachable by anyone, anywhere, at any age. No language, as far as I know, has been simplified as English. All one needs to do is just to stretch a hand and take the grape..!!

Thanks for everyone for these great information 

Week 2. Old habits die hard..

Sometimes we get so used to the status quo; the uncomfortable comfortability of our old habits, that we are afraid to make any changes or don't even realize that we have choices.

There is a saying which says “the man always hates what he does not know..”. That’s exactly what happens to most human beings. If you ask him/her; why don’t you like that thing? They would answer: I just don’t like it.. I don’t know why.

There is a short story where a little girl saw her mother cut the head and the tail of the fish before cooking. She asked: Mum, why do you do that? The mother replied: Well, I’ve never thought of that before.. but I saw your grandma does the same thing.. let’s call her and find out why. She called her, and surprisingly enough, the grandma answered: I don’t know why either.. I saw my mum did the same, I’ll call her and let you know. She called and asked her. Her mother said: well, honey, actually I used to have a small frying pan, and that’s why I would always cut the head and the tail of the fish..!!!

Sometimes the same thing happens with us. We repeat doing what most people do without thinking of “why”. We think that is the only thing in the world and nothing is better, whereas, in realty there could be much better things out there; we need just to expose ourselves to.

This attitude becomes quite clear when it comes to technology-related things. For instance, personally I used to use Google for quite long period of time for all my searches and I would think it is the only search engine that would never say “I don’t know” but, having seen other engines during this week I realized that the search could be much easier and I could save a lot of time. However I am still a big fan of Google no matter what..!! Why?! I don’t know, Maybe I need to get a big frying pan..!!!

Week 1. First Step..

How good it is to be able to create a blog. Not so much has happened.. You just follow the instructions and you’re right in your own small world; a world where you can share your ideas, thoughts and experience with others.

I like it.. I like every practical thing.. that’s what we really need; something practical, something copes with 21^st century..

In the old days, not so long ago, teachers were compelled to stick to certain ways of teaching, but not any more.. we can simply have our students visit our blogs and share with them what we want.. not everything could be said during the class,, Am I right??

Having a blog keeps you connoted with others, keeps you updated with what’s going on around, and enables you to widen your experience and knowledge.

OK, I don’t want to talk too much about blog. It’s just a drop of the huge ocean of technology stuff.. which I hope we’ll, all members of this class led by Robert, be able to go 

so deep to discover more..

Have a good day.

Faisal