1. Why do you think evaluation of CALL courseware, websites, materials etc important?

Basically to me it is important because it help to determine the quality of a certain courseware and websites. To me using a courseware and websites as parts of teaching aids is somewhat interesting in classroom. Most importantly maybe it can attract students to participate and to learn. However, in choosing an appropriate courseware and websites materials is important as well as it let us to decide whether or not the materials is suitable to be used in Malaysian context. By evaluating them as well, we are able to identify the weakness of the materials. Hey nothing is perfect in this world rite?? Hence, I do believe that recommendations and suggestions are important to tackle with such weakness. Who knows maybe one day one of us is able to form or create our own courseware or websites materials to teach language.

2. How do you think Hot Potatoes JCloze may help your students learn English?

To me, new method or approaches need to be introduced to help students to learn language in a more meaningful ways. The Ministry of Education had focus on using the old method which is the pen and paper to teach for quite sometimes now and the result is not very satisfying so why not we try new methods that may or may not works. Hey we would know until we actually tried it rite?? Therefore, using this new method, the Hot Potatoes JCloze is maybe what best to tackle with the students interest in learning. The big question here is how to trigger the students interest and so far the old method does not seems to work as it only made the students feels bored in class. Using Hot Potatoes JCloze will enable the teacher to enhance their creativity to an extend where they will be able to introduce new learning pattern which could not be found in the textbooks.

my lesson.!?

me, myself & i

1. Greeting.. First and foremost I would like to emphasize here that this is my first attempt to write a blog. Therefore any mistakes found on this blog may cause by my lack of understanding in operating a blog. Before I start I must say that technology and me does not go along very well as I prefer to do things the old school way, using pen and paper. To me, my honest opinion about technology is that it is too complicated and too difficult of a person to operate. Orait let start with a little introduction about myself, I’m Muhamad Helmey B. Amir, people often call me by the name of hemy, emi or mi. I live in a centre part of a beautiful city call Seremban which is located at the heart of Negeri Sembilan. I’m 22 years old (turning 23 in August). Currently I’m renting in section 16 Shah Alam.

2. When we talked about technology I’m not an expert in that field. You can call me a geek or whatnot but I prefer to do things manually as technology had disappointed me several times. If I were to rate myself, I think I will fall under geek category. To be honest I had some of the basic knowledge on how to operate computer, however, I prefer to use computer only for the purpose of facebook-ing and to do my assignments. Rather than that I must say that I prefer more, to use pen and paper or the old school way as I had faced many difficulties in using and relying on computer throughout the years. However, I think if I am able to undergo some proper training to enhance my computer skills my perception towards computer may changed.

3. Computer software and hardware knowledge that I have... erm, seriously I must say that I only possess some basic information about computer software and hardware. Examples of computer software that I am familiar with is WMP, winamp, mozzila, yahoo messenger, anti viruses and etc. Meanwhile as for computer hardware, I am familiar with the term like graphics card, RAM, hard disk, monitor, keyboard and etc. However, I am only familiar with some of the computer hardware that I mentioned just now as most of it I’m only familiar with the term as I haven’t got the chance to see how it actually look like.

4. Definitely, as I use my computer for the purpose of web browsing to gather info that I needed in order to complete my assignment.

5. Sadly I haven’t got the chance to experience practicum yet. However I must say that I had used technology during lesson while presenting and during my micro-teaching and so far it is a success. However, next semester if I feel computer can be used to make lesson more interesting, why not I incorporate technology in my lesson.

6. It is an interesting idea. As so far all of the method that being used to teach language had not reach anywhere near success, why not we try new ideas or new methods that can tackle many learners interest to learn language.

7. My biggest hope is that this course can change me from a computer geek to a computer expert as well as changes my perception towards technology and how we are able to use it to the fullest.