OBJECTIVE DRAFTING

OBJECTIVE DRAFTING

     I  have  also  learned  that  the  way  we  write/draft  our  objectives  has  such  a   great  impact  on   how  they  are  perceived, implemented, and even attained.  There  is  to pay  attention   to  what  is  expected  to  get,  taking  into  account  on which resources our project depend.  A  misunderstanding  of  what  is  attainable  with  what is  available  may  take  a  toll  on the implementation  of  one’s  project. People  often  fantasize  about  things  they  would like  to  do;  however, such objectives  may  not  be realistic  or  suitable  in terms  of  need  and  purpose.

     Learning  the   existence  of   different  and  more  specialized  browsers  for  academic  search was  certainly encouraging  specially because  I  would  like  to   pursue   a higher degree  as  I  move  into the  teacher–training  field . There is so much information of which the average researcher has no idea. The more information available, the   more   in depth one’s research will be.  One of  my  professors told me once that  the  best  way  to  know  someone  (professionally)  is by  the   rigor   of his/her  research.  In Ecuador, language-teaching- research has been neglected; thus, most language-teaching programs obey trend, not need and reality, as in other countries.  

 Fernando Minda

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED IN WEEK 2?

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED THIS WEEK?

WEEK 2

(SEARCHES)

  It  is   incredible,  how  dependable   on  the  internet  and  its  sources   for   information  people   have  become.  There  is  only  to   ask  people   what  the  easiest  way  to  find  information  is to know about  how  familiar  with  the  internet  they  have become. However, there is to  be careful  and  selective  of  the   websites  and   search  engines   one  uses since  not  everything  that  is   on  the   web  is   reliable  or  properly   researched;  therefore,    citation  may  require  a  more  exhaustive/detailed research.

     By  far,  the   greatest   source of  information  not  in  a book  form  is ,  of  course, the  Internet. However, its  sheer   size  and  range  make  it   potentially awkward for  users,  who often  find  it  difficult  to  locate  the  exact  information they  are looking  for .  This is partly because searching is a skill in itself which students and teachers need to acquire. Both teachers and students can find almost anything they want on the internet. They  can  go  to online  newspapers  or  broadcasting  associations such  as   the BBC or CNN; they  can  find song  lyrics  or  access  history sites;  they  can  find   film guides  and  jokes sites (Harmer, 2007). 

     In  Ecuador,   a great many students do not  have  an  internet-based  research  culture;  therefore, they  mostly  rely  on the  first thing  they  find on the  web (which  is  a  typical mistake).  Teachers  are  to  teach  them  how to  be  more  critical   of  what  they  read  rely  on, and  cite.  On  the  other  hand,  the  internet  when  properly  used  is  such  a  great  tool.  I cannot   even picture myself without it.   As  a  student,  researcher or  professor  one  is  able  to  do, find  and  share so  much.  

     In  conclusion , searching  on the  web  requires  a  certain degree of skill, accuracy, and patience  to  properly  select   what  is   suitable to one’s request/purpose.  An internet browser often   retrieves  thousands  if not  millions of responses  to  what  is  typed; thus, people  must  be  as  specific  as  possible not  to  waste  time  browsing through unnecessary  websites,  which  may  lead them  off  their  target-search. 

Fernando Minda

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED IN WEEK 2?

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED THIS WEEK?

WEEK 2

(SEARCHES)

  It  is   incredible,  how  dependable   on  the  internet  and  its  sources   for   information  people   have  become.  There  is  only  to   ask  people   what  the  easiest  way  to  find  information  is to know about  how  familiar  with  the  internet  they  have become. However, there is to  be careful  and  selective  of  the   websites  and   search  engines   one  uses since  not  everything  that  is   on  the   web  is   reliable  or  properly   researched;  therefore,    citation  may  require  a  more  exhaustive/detailed research.

     By  far,  the   greatest   source of  information  not  in  a book  form  is ,  of  course, the  Internet. However, its  sheer   size  and  range  make  it   potentially awkward for  users,  who often  find  it  difficult  to  locate  the  exact  information they  are looking  for .  This is partly because searching is a skill in itself which students and teachers need to acquire. Both teachers and students can find almost anything they want on the internet. They  can  go  to online  newspapers  or  broadcasting  associations such  as   the BBC or CNN; they  can  find song  lyrics  or  access  history sites;  they  can  find   film guides  and  jokes sites (Harmer, 2007). 

     In  Ecuador,   a great many students do not  have  an  internet-based  research  culture;  therefore, they  mostly  rely  on the  first thing  they  find on the  web (which  is  a  typical mistake).  Teachers  are  to  teach  them  how to  be  more  critical   of  what  they  read  rely  on, and  cite.  On  the  other  hand,  the  internet  when  properly  used  is  such  a  great  tool.  I cannot   even picture myself without it.   As  a  student,  researcher or  professor  one  is  able  to  do, find  and  share so  much.  

     In  conclusion , searching  on the  web  requires  a  certain degree of skill, accuracy, and patience  to  properly  select   what  is   suitable to one’s request/purpose.  An internet browser often   retrieves  thousands  if not  millions of responses  to  what  is  typed; thus, people  must  be  as  specific  as  possible not  to  waste  time  browsing through unnecessary  websites,  which  may  lead them  off  their  target-search. 

Fernando Minda

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED THIS WEEK?

This is Fernando once again!

      I  must   say   that   using  technology  is  certainly  an  advantage;  it  has   in fact  revolutionized   the   way   things  are  done, learned, and  taught .  This week, I have learned   how to create a blog.  It has certainly been an adventure.  I  am looking  forward  to  creating  one  for  my  students   so  that  they  work  on their productive  skills in English (reading  and  writing).  It will certainly benefit them   to read   what others have to say about a particular topic.  I  have  had  some  experience   with  blogging; nevertheless,  I  have never  had  a  blog  of  mine before; thus my blog will be better developed it as time goes by. 

        All   this  connectivity  allows  people to  talk,  whether  or  not  they  are  geographically near each  other.  Indeed, one of  the great  glories of  the  Internet  is  precisely  this  breaking  down  of  physical  barriers  so  that  we  can  be in  contact  with  each other ,  wherever  we  are, and  whatever  the time is (Harmer, 2007)!    

Looking forward to reading from everyone,

Fernando 

MYSELF

   This is Fernando Minda. I  am  from  Quito-Ecuador, and  I  am  so  pleased  to  be   part  of  such  a  great  cohort .  I  was  browsing  through  the  messages;  I  am   indeed  amazed  of  how much knowledge language-professionals (from  all  over  the  world)  have   to  share.  I will learn so much from every one of you. Being part of this course will be a life changing experience since everybody has vast experience as well as great expertise. I am so  sorry,  I  have  not  introduced myself  any  earlier, but life is  hectic  when   you  run  on  a  six-day- a week  schedule. Do not get me wrong, I love what I do; however , I  have  to  acknowledge  the  fact  that real-teachers never leave the classroom regardless of where they are.  

     I  have   been  in the   ESL/ EFL  field  for 12  years,  and  I  cannot  get  enough  of  it. The more I teach, the more I learn. Every time I  teach an aspect  of  English, I  perfect  my  methodology  and I improve my  approach to  students as I  work  on their needs and meet  their  goals in the target  language. There is so much knowledge that life seems too short, at times.  However, teaching  is  such  a  privileged  way  to  learn,  and I  have  been  taking   full  advantage  of  it.  Ellie, I love your quote!  It is the truth indeed.  

     Three  years  ago,  I  started  working  at  the  College-level, up  until  then, I had mostly  worked  on  tutoring by  helping  all  kinds  of  students   with  specific  requirements  in  the  English  language.  I  have   had  the  opportunity   to work  as  a translator  and  an  interpreter  as well, and  every day, I grow more and more aware of the opportunities for  language –professionals of  in such fields. Pursuing a degree in those areas, sometime in the future, has been in my mind for a while.   

     At  university, I  work with students  who come  from different  backgrounds  and  have  so much  to bring  to  the   learning- table.  I  look  forward  to  using  the   technological  tools  we  will  learn  in  this  course to  boost   my  students’ potential  and  improve  their  command  of  English. Teaching is such a privileged opportunity to learn and help others succeed in their learning. Life cannot get any more rewarding than that, can it?  There is no point in learning something   that will never be shared.  Knowledge is never to be hidden from others.  Learning how to incorporate technology into my teaching will be fun, interactive, and encouraging. Technology is a teacher’s best friend (a great resource as well as a vast source of tools and information).

I am so looking  forward  to  hearing  from you  all and  sharing  knowledge  as  much  as possible.

Sincerely,  

 

Fernando Minda