Reading Past Year Questions

Dear friends, we have two good news. First, if you wish to do English Semester 11 session 2008/2009 Reading Comprehension with your students, please get the copies from Puan Norhayati, Puan Wan Nor A'sikin or Puan Kazrina. The great news is we have the answers too!

Love,
Kaz, Yatie and Syikin

English Week 2012

Dear friends, these are some pics taken during our English Week 2012.

reading comp - past year questions

Hello fellow mates,
These past year questions sets are really useful. In fact, the questions are better than the book we are using for practice because the answers are controversial and some are wrong.
I think we should pool together the resources to create the questionnaire bank. It would be really helpful for both lecturers and the students.
Cheers.

Love,
Kumar.

MUET Reading past year questions

Dear friends,
If you need to use Reading past year questions with your students, I have both Mid and End 2010 Reading papers plus the answers. Feel free to get a copy from me if you wish to use them with your students.


Love,
Kaz

MUET Speaking Practice

Salam and hi everyone,
I noticed that my students perform better in MUET speaking practice in class after watching the recording of Mock MUET Speaking Test by Pearson. It shows not only the recording of the MUET speaking test but also explicit comments and marks given by the examiners.

For those who do not have this CD, feel free to come and borrow it from me.


Love,
Kaz

A Winner's Journey

Salam and hello everyone. Just want to share with all of you one of my must-do-activities in class with my students. I have shared this poem with my students since 2001 and the result is indescribably AWESOME! It has been given to me by a dear friend but too bad that both of us do not know who is the writer of this lovely poem.

When I started my teaching here, I noticed that the students always looked down, demotivated, lack of self-esteem and no self -confidence. Well, until now we can say that one of the most serious problems faced by our students is lack of self motivation and confidence! The problems seem to be more noticeable during their early few days here.The words "CONFUSED, PETRIFIED, WORRIED, PUZZLED, ANXIOUS", etc are clearly written on their faces. I hate the idea of going to class and have to teach a bunch of gloomy, depressed and somber students, thus I know that I have to do something to cheer them up. This poem, entitled "A Winner's Journey" is one of my approaches to help to motivate my students and it fruitfully works!

A Winner's Journey

Sometimes when life gets tough

as the smooth journey becomes rough

just close your eyes and pray

Tell yourself that it will be okey

Stay calm, be wise and think

Of where this journey is taking you

And the fine result that it will bring

Once your dream comes true

And if sometimes you happen to fall,

Remember, your struggle is not in vain

Remember, please, you are worth it all

For you have so much more to gain

Though the road to success may seem far

Just trudge on through with dignity

And be proud of who you are

For you are on your way to victory

And once you reach your journey's end

You can tell your foes and friends

Of what you have done, where you have gone

And proudly say....

The battle is over and I HAVE WON.....!!

This poem will definitely uplift their spirits if we can apply each of the stanza to real life experience of ours or others to be shared with the students. Normally, I will ask all of the students to read it silently before I ask for volunteers to recite the poem aloud to the whole class.Then, the most crucial part which will determine the effectiveness of this lesson is the elaboration of the poem. I will go through each of the stanza with students by clarifying, explaining and sharing experiences of my own, my friends, my ex-students, etc that are related to the meaning of the poem. I will also relate to some of the stories, experience and success of my ex-students to further illustrate the poem to the students. The elaboration part will take up to 30 minutes depending on how you elaborate the poem and relate stories with them. Of course some motivational skills are required here (ehem, ehem) And my favourite part is when I talk about their parents hope and wish that they have to fulfill.  Believe me, the whole class will be in tears including myself, hehe! 

After the elaboration, I will discuss with them the meaning of certain words and phrases in the poem such as "dignity, in vain, trudge on, worth, struggle and foes". Then, I will ask the students to write their own poem entitled " My Journey to Success". At the end of the class, I will collect the poems, mark them and return to the students in the following lesson. I will ask them to write their poems nicely on a piece of paper, laminate, and paste it on their lockers in their rooms.

Some might think that this lesson is not 'English" enough and will not help the students to answer their English paper later. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that we must help the students not only to pass the examination, but also to pass their lives successfully and meaningfully.Until now, I am proud that this simple but nifty poem has touched so many hearts and souls and most of my ex-students remember me for this poem and also other poems that I have given to inspire them from time to time during my English lesson.

Ok then, have a nice day everyone!

Love,

Kaz

WELCOME!!!!

Hi everyone...

Since this is our unit's first blog, all of u are welcome to join this blog and share your thoughts.

Hopefully all of us will get some inputs that can be used in our P&P later. Tq.