getting to know CALL and ourselves better...

I owe an apology to those who are reading my blog as I haven’t have the chance to put so much in there.
The reason is that the equipment in CALL courses is really vital. I was telling those learners who have access to the equipment and still not interested enough to enjoy the course, I didn’t have computer since the first or second week of the first semester, but I managed to use friends and net café ‘s computers. It was really difficult for me as I am working fulltime. Coming back from a job that you hate and not being able to access computer anytime that you want was a disaster, especially when I was living far from the computer lab and Unitec.
I have heard giggles and seen smiles but I told them that it is not an excuse when you have the instrumental motivation for that.
Your rest of the life will be affected by a simple mistake or laziness or what ever you call it.

They are not in a situation to understand how time consuming it can be if we can’t online study.
The distance is a barrier, the life difficulty is another one and there might be more to count.
Computer assisted language learning a phenomenon to free us from the existed barriers, to help each and every learner to achieve their goals.
I believe that when we are stepping up in this path we will realize how easy our life will be. We as the new generation who use computer for every purpose, when we are actually using computer so many times in our daily life, why not in our education, that saves time and money?

When for a first time one of my best friends completed his PHD online I wasn’t even thinking that I can do it. Now that I have done this course I know that it is not that scary as it was.
As a second language learner I am sure that I have learnt how to use CALL in my own learning process and I have helped few people in their learning.
I believe that every one can do it but it depends how bad they want it. Considering all of the barriers and hindrances that can stop us from our goals, being hopeful and confident that we can do it will help us through all problems. Having a clear idea about what we want and how we want to achieve it will motivate us and there are always help around.
Believing in ourselves will keep our step steady in our path. And the last but the most important aspect is trying hard and harder every day will enhance our motivation and makes us closer to our goals.

Do not consider that CALL courses is to keep you away from people, schools and teachers, but it is there to show you your potentials, how far you can go and how much you can achieve by yourself, not forgetting that there are always hands reaching for you to help you.

my experience of CALL

My first experience of CALL was really different. I had the required computer literacy and English language still I wasn’t happy with the course.
I really wasn’t enjoying doing that paper with computer. I was expecting my teacher to be there for me every time and tell me straight away my problems and the reasons. But that never happened. I was a beginner at CALL classes and the first time studying in New Zealand educational system.
I told my story to my learners. About my awkward situations and how much I hated myself and the course at that time. But later on, when I was doing my second paper it wasn’t that bad. I still had so many problems but I knew what I am going to do. The reason that I didn’t like it first time round was I never new about CALL. I didn’t know that this is the concept of CALL that leaves students on their own. But I am sure that no where in CALL mentioned that students should be left alone. Students should be supervised and guided until they can make planes for themselves.
I am sure that my learners are not as scared as I was. And I never let them to wonder and get lost in their learning process.

CALL first session went well..

I was worried about the first session. I have a bad experience last year, half of the learners didn’t come, and their understanding of the teacher was really affecting on my feelings. All of the learners were there and I am really happy about it. The introduction of the CALL resources went well and learners seemed enjoying all of CD-ROMs. One of the learners was disagree spending time looking at the resources. He told me that he used them before and he didn’t like them. After the session the same learner told me that he had no idea that we can use these CD-ROMs in different way which is interesting and it’s not boring him. I am really happy. It seems that my plans have worked quite well and I know that last year experience helped me out with it.
At the end of the session I gave my email address to the learners. I did the same thing last year as well; I have received a few emails. I am glad that I have students who are truly interested in learning English with CALL, or it seems like they do…

getting to know each other

Last year on course design I have designed a course for refuges. I really enjoyed doing it and I think I have done a good job. The idea of that course really helped me today with my students. My CALL students
Students are about 20 to 30 years old and all male learners. There are between pre- intermediate and intermediate. I have seen them using internet sending email and chatting they know about computer and internet to some extent. Some of them using Google for investigating and finding information, although the information is about singers and songs and different models of cars but I believe that putting a step forward.

I have taken them to computer lab at Unitec and showed them the CD-ROM but before that I asked them to tell me about their background and they all filed a questionnaire.

I believe that learners like to integrate computer and computer resources in their learning. I have found them really interested in learning English, they told me what they want to do in future and that is a situational motivation that can help them to be successful.

CALL class..

It’s been a long time that I don’t have a computer. My lab top has heaps of problems beside it doesn’t have java so I can’t do much with it. With the limited time that I have am struggling to get time to use Unitec computer lab.
It is interesting that work occupied most of my time and makes me really busy and tired. Anyway I am back and I’d like to talk about a few things.
About my students, I should say that they are really good; their level is between elementary level and pre-intermediate. They are a group of people who lived in New Zealand since two years ago approximately.
They are keen to learn with computer as they are familiar with internet to some extent.
What I have done so far is to help them start using the program to learn English better. I have tried to build their motivation and it seems that I was slightly confident to do that but there are many problems that we are encounter with. First of all, the hours of computer lab, low speed of internet and difficulties with the CD-Roms, and lots of others …. I am enjoying using computer to learn and I hope that they don’t fake their joy too! Lol.
I will be back to give you more information pretty soon.

Call

A year before I was doing this course ( Call ) unfortunately lots of things happened so I withdraw the paper, now I have this paper again and I am enjoying it, because I know what am I suppose to do and I am ready to benefit from each moment of it.

stuendents expecting to see an old teacher

His first expression was really bad. my student is older than me. When we first met they were upset because I am young. To them being young means being inexperienced. That is true but, how am I going to be experience when I can’t have a single opportunity. After the first time that we’ve been introduced to each other it was hard to find them becasue they did not turn up for the first session. But I managed to contact with one of them and carry on. I tried to show him that I am not his teacher I am just a facilitator and leader. And I would like to help him. He was happy but I think he was embarrassed to say no. after all I showed him how to use 2 different programs and now I have decided to have another session with him. To carry on with some of the web sites that I have found and I would like to thank to jenny for that web site it is really helpful.

I am very busy!

Thanks to Jenny For keep on sending things to my blog. Unfortunately being too busy since last 3 weeks made me not to be able to contact her, but I will do my best to keep up in this week.