The 4th Reflective Journal of TLL

According to me, writing is one of the hardest skills even more in English. If we want to have good writing skill, we have to practice it a lot. We cannot have good writing skill instantly. We need to conduct our idea and English which is very hard. We should master English first then, it can help us in conducting our idea in writing. The problem is sometime we are strong in speaking but weak in writing, so it is about talent or interest. Nowadays, we have technology which could help us a lot in improving our writing skill. Step by step, we can sharpen our writing skill by learning the process of writing itself.

Based on Raimes (1991) the focus of second language writing has changed but it can still give effect on today’s writing skill. in 1960s writing was viewed as a means of reinforcing speech patterns but in 1980s till present as a text understood by the reader. There are also some approaches that can be used to L2 writing instruction. One of them is Form-focused approach, this approach includes two types. Those are Grammar-based and Discourse structure-based instruction. This emphasize on accuracy. I am going to relate this approach with myself. I am in progress in acquiring English and this approach demands the correct grammatical sentences. Sometimes, I made mistakes in grammar so that is why I am a little bit afraid of writing.

Once more, I am glad to know that there are so many websites which can provide us easier way to learn writing. In Grammar-based instruction, we can open ESL Blues, Guide to grammar and Writing, and also Grammar Safari. There is Reader/audience-dominated Approach that gives better attention to the reader and reader expectations. In this approach there is Computer-mediated communication (CMC). It is online discussion forums and email exchange projects, we can discuss something based on our interest. The examples are Dave’s ESL Cafe and Englishforums.com.

As the next generation of teachers, I can reflect it based on the perspective from the students. I am a student ,now and I know that writing is hard. I can try to teach them appropriately because writing skill is one of the hardest skills.

The 3rd Reflective Journal of TLL

To be able to compete with other people from across the world, we need to improve our skill in English. In this case, we talk about speaking skill. As the next generation of educators, we are demanded to master English well. We are going to teach English because we are English teachers so there is no other reason for us to ignore this thing. When talking about language acquisition, I was reminded to memorize some theories which have relation with it. For the example: Krashen’s Hypotheses and Swain the Canadian.

For Indonesia, English is a foreign language. Thus, it is a little bit challenging for us to teach English to Indonesian students. They will get difficulties in learning English in the class so we need to use technology to teach speaking. Beside of that, as English teachers we have to know the theories which related in acquiring language. If we know the principal in acquiring language, how students can absorb language, what steps we should do, find out what kind of thing that can affect the students in acquiring language it will be a little bit easier for us to teach.

Students can learn English from many things. Nowadays, we could not judge that learning process must happen in the class. Although, when they play games in computers or internet we can call that as learning process. In that media, there is English as media for the communication. So, indirectly, they also learn about English. In the class we can also use those technologies. To teach speaking skill, we can use computer as a Tutor like Triple Play Plus and My English Tutor. For the communication skill, we can use MOOs, Chat Room or IRC so the students can learn from the conversation. We can browse that in internet, by the way there are so many software that was provided. In teaching pronunciation skill we can use Articulatory Charts, Dictations, Minimal Pairs and etc.

As the next educators, we should use all things that could help us in teaching language. By doing that, we hope our students can master English and reach the good achievement.

Resources from: http://www.google.co.id/imgres?q=chatting&hl=id&client (On Thursday, October, 13th 2011)

The 3rd Reflective Journal of TLL

To be able to compete with other people from across the world, we need to improve our skill in English. In this case, we talk about speaking skill. As the next generation of educators, we are demanded to master English well. We are going to teach English because we are English teachers so there is no other reason for us to ignore this thing. When talking about language acquisition, I was reminded to memorize some theories which have relation with it. For the example: Krashen’s Hypotheses and Swain the Canadian.

For Indonesia, English is a foreign language. Thus, it is a little bit challenging for us to teach English to Indonesian students. They will get difficulties in learning English in the class so we need to use technology to teach speaking. Beside of that, as English teachers we have to know the theories which related in acquiring language. If we know the principal in acquiring language, how students can absorb language, what steps we should do, find out what kind of thing that can affect the students in acquiring language it will be a little bit easier for us to teach.

Students can learn English from many things. Nowadays, we could not judge that learning process must happen in the class. Although, when they play games in computers or internet we can call that as learning process. In that media, there is English as media for the communication. So, indirectly, they also learn about English. In the class we can also use those technologies. To teach speaking skill, we can use computer as a Tutor like Triple Play Plus and My English Tutor. For the communication skill, we can use MOOs, Chat Room or IRC so the students can learn from the conversation. We can browse that in internet, by the way there are so many software that was provided. In teaching pronunciation skill we can use Articulatory Charts, Dictations, Minimal Pairs and etc.

As the next educators, we should use all things that could help us in teaching language. By doing that, we hope our students can master English and reach the good achievement.

Mixed Name

Everyone has different name because they were born from different culture and place. Both of my parents are Javanese. My parents gave name to their children by using the element of java. They are quite good to keep the Javanese culture, even I was always ordered to speak Javanese at home.

I am the middle child, it means that I have one elder brother, one elder sister, and two young sisters. Actually, my name does not reflect Javanese, thus which made me confused. My name is mixed between modern name and arabic word. I know the meaning of the arabic one but I do not know the modern one. But, I knew why my parents gave that name to me. When I asked them about the parentage of my name, my parents told me that there were two people who contributed.

My first name was given by my aunt, but when I asked them why my aunt gave that name, they said that they did not know. So I tried to find the meaning by asking my aunt but my aunt also did not know about the real meaning. She just told me that she gave that name because she liked with that word. It represented her idol at that time. She told me that her idol was so handsome and smart.

So I took conclusion by myself that my first name had good meaning. The meaning of my first name is handsome and smart based on my aunt explanation. Unfortunately, my aunt passed away when she was puerperal the third daughter. So that is why I thanked to my aunt for giving the great first name. I hope that my first name could lead me to be a handsome man and smart one.

My last name was given by my grandfather when he still alive. My grandfather passed away when I was six years old. I do not have a good memorize about him, I could only remember the moment when I played shoot gun with him in the yard. By the way, he gave me the arabic name which is according to the meaning is mercy. Maybe, my grandfather wanted me to be the one who could get abundant mercies from God.

I think that nothing special with my name but I thanked to God for having this name. Since I am as a student of elementary school, I hate to introduce my name and tell the meaning of my name. For introduction, I needed to tell the long time to share and I hate to speak a lot. So, I tried to avoid the long process of introduction when I was a student in elementary and secondary high school. I still remembered why I hate to introduce my name, it is because of when I told the truth about the meaning of my name a lot of my friends kept laughing. They thought that I was a liar. Since that day, I hate to introduce my name.

I will try to keep their expectations of me. They gave my name to me because they believe that the good name can bring the good personality. So they trust me that I can be a good person so there is no reason to me to be ashamed of my awesome name. My name is Andik Hidayat and I was proud of having this name.