DAILY REPORT – DAY#4

(EFL537 – SPRING 2009)

Today is the fourth day we study EFL537. I have tried my best to finish all the
tasks that my teacher requested for the last 3 days. We are accustomed to using
all the new tools, skills; therefore, we are not worried as same as the previous
lessons. I myself feel that this subject is very interesting and useful to me
although at first I felt much strange and surprised. The more I learn, the more
interesting and attractive this subject is. I have tried to learn new things in order
to finish all the tasks given by my teacher.

While I was doing all the tasks, there were some troubles as follow:
1. “Screenshot 1” task: due to not reading the instructions carefully so at first I
did it wrongly. Later, thanks to my teacher’s help, I had no trouble with the task.
2. “Bookmark”: I registered and download the program but while I ran setup, I
ignored “add button” so I couldn’t carry out. With Van’s help, no worries came
to me.
3. “Image editing”: at the beginning, I didn’t download the Infran view so I
could not do the task. Once again, Jeff helped me deal with this and success
smiled at me. Later, I myself found that this task could be done with Paint/ Fast
Stone Editor.
4. “Audio”: it was impossible for me to download “LAME program” according
to the instruction in the web as well as the one my teacher sent to me. Then I
copied LAME setup from another computer and set up with my laptop to finish
the task.

Concerning all the tasks and tools, skills, I am much interested in Bookmark
software and Hot-potatoes. With Bookmark, we can store interesting webpages
or even some parts we need from the webpage quickly and conveniently for
later use. With Hot-potatoes, we can design all kinds of exercises such as: J
Quiz, J Match, JMix, JCloze, JCross, The Masher.

However, there has been a remaining problem:

- Up to now, I have just bookmarked 8 tasks out of 12 that my teacher required.

Last but not least, I would like to say: Have a nice day to you all!!!
Reading reflection on pronunciation
After reading the passages focusing on pronunciation, I myself would like to
share some personal viewpoints as follow:
In foreign language teaching, no one can deny the role of pronunciation and in
fact, it proves to be very useful and effective to both teachers and learners. As in
the articles, in the 1970s, pronunciation did not receive much and special
attention in language learning and teaching. In fact, at that time, the role of
grammar gained a huge attention from all teachers and learners. But in the late
80s up to now, we can see the predominant role of pronunciation. Why is that?
It is because all teachers and learners see the importance of pronunciation. We
cannot have a successful communication purpose without having a good
pronunciation. Many teachers especially non-native English teachers complain
to much because they think that it is quite difficult for them to teach
pronunciation effectively. As the article listed, all the approaches to
pronunciation Instruction are very useful such as: Intuitive-imitative approach,
Analytic-linguistic approach, Current integrative approach. These approaches
have shown their role as well as their effectiveness in the teaching and learning
process.
In order to have an attractive pronunciation lesson, teacher must employ the
help of technology. It is not often for every class to have native teachers so non-
native teachers sometimes find it difficult for them to instruct students how to
pronounce word or sounds correctly especially like native speakers. With
technology (from the simplest type as cassette to modern one as computer,
internet, CD-Rom, internet…), non-native teachers somewhat reduce their hard
work with pronunciation. For example: teacher can play tape for student to
listen and then imitate the sound and rhythms of the target language or teacher
can play video which shows students how to pronounce sounds or words
correctly. Technology has changed teaching and learning outcome very much.
Thanks to technology, teachers only play a role as an instructor in the class and
students have chances to listen to authentic voices. And most importantly,
students increase motivation in learning pronunciation which is considered one
of the most difficult skills in a foreign language learning.
Under my viewpoints as a language teacher, the pronunciation goals which my
students can speak English as naturally as native speakers are the ones I think
the most difficult and important. Once their communicative purposes are
achieved, my students will feel confident to exchange ideas with both native
and non native speakers.