The Nature of Language Learning Activities

    When I saw the title, “The nature of language learning activities”, I was quite interested in it.  I wondered what kinds of learning activities discussed in this chapter.

    In fact, the notion of activity is central to an understanding of teaching.  Activities are the basic structural units of planning and action in the classroom.  A lot of types of language learning activities which were commonly used in ESL classes were discussed in the chapter 8, including presentation activities, practice activities, memorization activities, comprehension activities, application activities, strategy activities, affective activities, feedback activities, and assessment activities. 

    This classification is intended to help focus on the relationship between activity types and the purposes for which they are used in language teaching.  However, this classification cannot be regarded as definitive because some activities can be used for several different purposes and distinctions between activity types can overlap.  On the other hand, such a list can be useful in trying to clarify what it is that teachers do when they teach and why they select the kind of classroom activities that they commonly use.  I believe teachers should completely comprehend these activities.        

My Reflection on my Presentation—Chapter 8

        I was a little sad and disappointed last Tuesday.  I completely knew that I didn’t do well at that presentation.  To be honest, I did prepare before my presentation.  However, unfortunately, I did awfully worse.  Although Carina and I did discuss all the details of the presentation, I still didn’t perform well.  I thought my failure in presentation was because of my nervousness.  Therefore, I surely believe that I need much practice in order to overcome my psychological obstacles.  I hope I can achieve this goal one day.   

Graphic Organizer—Unit 2 Hey, Thanks!

    The graphic organizer used in Unit 2 is “Five W’s Diagrams.”  In order to let students easily comprehend what the story is, I adopt this graphic organizer.  In this way, students can gradually think about and list the “ Who, Where, When, What, and Why” of a story in a simple visual way.  

My Reflection on Visiting Lishan High School

     After visiting Lishan High School, I think that students in Lishan are so lucky that they can study there.  First, I was deeply amazed by its broad and beautiful campus.  While entering the campus, I found a clock which was erected straight in the middle of the campus.  As taking a broad view, I saw a lot of tall trees in the back of the campus.  The spacious corridors and campus just made me feel free and unrestrained.  I believe students in Lishan High School can absorb much knowledge and study freely.  Besides, I really admire the principal and administrators who established all features of courses in Lishan High School.  The school has three main characteristics, including international interaction, scientific researches, and whole English teaching.  Nowadays, the principal intends to not only develop Linshan High School outward but also let the world know more about it.  What’s more, all members there try their best to make Lishan High School become an excellent scientific senior high school in Taiwan.  The way that teachers in Lishan High School teach in whole English is also a good way to cultivate students’ English abilities.

     On the other hand, I observed two teachers’ teaching.  I was surprised that teachers in Lishan High School teach students in whole English.  I believe it is a good way to learn English for students.  The lesson object of my first class observation was The Luncheon.  At first, the teacher helped students think off the topic by brainstorming.  I think it is a good way to lead students into thee lesson.  Besides, before students had a listening test, the teacher gave several questions to them.  In this way, it was easier for students to catch important information.  The lesson object of my second class observation was Body Language.  The teacher invited some popular students in the school to take photos which were teaching materials in class.  In this way, it was not difficult to catch students’ attention in class.  Besides, I think it was fine to train students to find the topic sentence by themselves.  I think a teacher must try his or her best to create a suitable atmosphere for learning and make students think that learning can be fun.  I deeply think that these two teachers did well.  During this visit to Lishan, I discover that all members in the school always try there best to achieve the school’s goal.  I believe Lishan with the best and hard-working principal, teachers, administrators, and students is the best scientific senior high school in Taiwan.