REFLECTION WEEK 3 (PRONUNCIATION/MIME/TONGUE TWISTERS)

PRONUNCIATION

The first lesson of Week 3 is about pronunciation. This week we learn about phonology which is the study of sounds made by human when they talk. Phonemes are the smallest unit of sound in a language which carries distinctive meaning. We identified several speech organs in producing every sound we make every day.

I found it is quite difficult for me to pronounce the correct pronunciation for each alphabet. At first, we listened to the interactive pronunciation chart provided by Madam Ira. From that chart, we followed after the sound produced by the interactive pronunciation chart. It is quite interesting to learn about pronunciation. I hope that I can master the correct pronunciation for each sound of the alphabet so that it would be easier for me to teach my students in future.

I love to learn pronunciation for it really teaches me the correct way of saying some words. After I know the correct pronunciation of some of the alphabet, I realized that I made many mistakes in pronouncing some words. Again, I learned something new and valuable. I really like the session when the computer software produce the sound. It sounds funny but we must pronounce the alphabet according to the sound made. We all enjoyed the moment. Some of us really put on effort in pronouncing the correct pronunciation which makes me realized that any slight mistakes made in pronouncing the word, it may run a little bit from its meaning.

More info, access

1. English Pronunciation/Speaking.

2. Interactive Phonetic chart for English Pronunciation

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MIME: THE DUEL

The second task in the coursework is to design a short mime which represents the non-verbal communication. The mime must either taped or directly in front of the classroom. However, everyone decided to tape the mime into video which will be added up with music and animation.

So, each group had discussed on their topic. We had chosen a topic which we think it is funny where the situation involved two men that were fighting against one another for two women. Each everyone of us given a character where I am as a judge in the battle, Tiong and Shahrol are the one who battle for the women and Khairul as the cameraman as well as a massager. You should watch the video rather than I summarize it here. The film making took about 3 hours to finish the recording parts and it took about 3 hours to complete it in a video.

So, in the second period of the week, we watched the mime prepared by each group. All the mime was funny and attractive. I enjoyed watching all the mime. It is so amazing and I can see that the entire group trying their best in order produced a good mime.

The following is the video of our short mime.

I think everyone should watch this video because of the idea of this mime. In this mime, the people are always trying to compete on something so that they will be number one. But, there will always be one winner and the other will be losing. It motivates me on keep on trying to be a better person in future as well accepted any results in my life because life is just like a wheel, sometimes you are on the top and somehow you at the bottom side.

I love to do some short video. This type of activity helps us, especially me, so that I can be able to cooperate more with my group members. And this will strengthen the bonds between us as group members.

TONGUE TWISTERS

The third task in the assignment is tongue twisters. We need to find two tongue twisters and presents it in class. The aim of the task is that to promote and helps us as pronunciation drills. This drill will help us to pronounce the word correctly without mistakes. So, each group already choose their own tongue twisters and checked among each other so that there will be no groups with the same tongue twisters.

Our tongue twisters are:

If you can't can any candy can,

how many candy cans can a candy canner can,

if he can candy cans?

And

A big black bug bit a big black dog on his big black nose!

I found out that these tongue twisters are very hard, especially when we say it in a faster way. Sometimes you can say it wrongly, and it is terrible if you say it wrongly. Besides, we need to say it in a correct intonation so others can understand on the meaning of the tongue twisters. I, myself still need more practice to speak good English. So, I need to practice more on tongue twisters so that I will be able to master good pronunciation in English.

Tongue twisters really help me especially to speak in the correct pronunciation. I admit that before this I would always not interested in tongue twisters because I found it is hard to pronounce it correctly and meaningfully. But now, I would love to read more on tongue twisters so that I can improve my pronunciation in English.

Anyway, we also learned about pronunciation again after the tongue twisters. I think this week was an enjoyable week for us.

REFLECTION WEEK 2 (LANGUAGE/LANGUAGE FORM AND FUNCTION)

LANGUAGE

In this week, we learn more about language. Language is so unique. That's all that I can say about language. Language helps us to express our feeling and language enables us to communicate with others.

LANGUAGE FORM AND & FUNCTION

Another thing that we did in the classroom is we have to carry out a dialogue session where we insert as many functions as possible in the dialogue. This is the first task of our project for Task 2 in the coursework for ELE3103 English For Language Teachers. So, my group (Tiong, Mohd Shahrol, Khairul and I) decided to choose a topic on beauty pageant. We discussed the function of each sentences so that we know the reason of each sentences and how it is effect the conversation.

We need to know and understand about language form and functions. This really helps us in understand on what the person trying to show us. Through form and function, we will able to identify the reason on why the speakers wanted to told us. If there is no form and function of language nowadays, I think that, what we are talking about is no sense at all.

The following is our script.

Prepared by : Kelvin Andreas Anak Apaw Khairul Azlan Bin Mohd Faizul Mohd Shahrol Bin Matrimau Tiong Kung Ling Class : PPRMT5 Two young men are having their conversation in XXX Café. Both of them are talking about Miss Universe 2011 pageant. They are arguing about the winner of the pageant. Shah : (Approaching the café) Hey Kel, it has been a while. How are you? Kel : Wow! Look who is here? Glad you are still alive… Kay : Any drinks, gentlemen? [To ask] Kel : I would like a mango juice. Shah : Hurm… there are too many choices. I do not know which one to choose. Kel : Want me to choose for you? Shah : Sure. Kel : Just give him a glass of sky juice. [To suggest] Kay : One mango juice and one sky juice, table 2567! Tiong : One mango juice and one sky juice, coming right up! Shah : So have you watched Miss Universe 2011? Kel : Oh yes! I think Miss Malaysia, Deborah Henry should get the title for Miss Universe 2011. Her body is perfect! You know what Shah? Through my 22 years existence in this world, the judges were major major super major major biased. [To give opinion] Shah : Are you kidding me? Miss Angola, Leila Lopes deserved her title. Just look at the curves. (whistle~) The elegance, the bikini, the size, the… Kel : Yeah! Yeah! Whatever. As long as my mother is more beautiful than your mother. It is all that matters. Shah : Duh…are you insane? If your mother is more beautiful, then why did my father marry my mother and not yours? [To argue] Kay : Stop it… Here you are, sir. For your information, my parents are more attractive than your parents! Tiong : No, no, no… My parents are more attractive, okay? So do not get jealous. Kel : Hey, what’s up with you two? Do not interfere our conversation! Shah : Yeah, it’s just between me and him. (Points to Kel) Tiong : You want to know something? My mother was the Mrs Sibu for three years in a row! Kel : Humph! Perhaps your mother won because she was the only contestant for those three years! [To tease] Tiong : How dare you! She joined it fair and square! Kel : It’s so lame to promote your mother as the beauty pageant winner for just a small area. My mother is the second runner-up for last year’s Mrs Sarawak! I repeat, Mrs Sarawak pageant! Shah : Oh please. My mother was a candidate for the Mrs Earth last year! Kay : Guys, just stop it, you guys! Tiong : Humph! My mother will join Mrs Universe this year! Don’t get jealous! Kay : I said stop! Shah : My mom too! Kay : Please stop, all of you. Kel : My mother does come from a small town, but she will join the brawl too! Kay : Can you guys please stop quarrelling?! You’re disturbing the customers here! [To stop an argument] Shah : Oh, OK. Kay : We should be happy because we still have our mothers on our side! You know what? I’m glad that I’m here! Kel : Hey, you sound familiar. Kay : Do I? Tiong : Yes, the Filipino “Engrish” beauty pageant. Shah : Major major! Oh please, improve your English! [To advise] Kay : Okay okay, that’s enough. Enjoy your drinks, guys. Don’t start another debate on it. Tiong : Aaa… Excuse me? Waiter, I don’t have the drinks. How should I enjoy it? Kay : GO BACK TO WORK, YOU FOOL! I’m only talking to the customers! (Tiong runs back to workstation, and the café is as peaceful as before) - THE END -

After the presentation, we need to choose three members in our class to identify the function of the dialogue that we used. Well, I’ve learned that in our daily talk, we actually already use many types of functions which we never realized. We used form and function almost the time and we should know that form and function will help us expressing our points or opinions.

Nick's group was announced of the best role play by Madam Ira. This makes me more motivated in future so that we can do our best. More info about

LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS and FORMS

REFLECTION WEEK 1 (LANGUAGE)

LANGUAGE

In this semester, I need to take a new subject which is English For Language Teacher. This subject is being taught by Madam Ira. From our first lecture, I found out that the whole course would touch about language.

Language produces to communicate

Actually, we do learn about language but I am sure that we did not go any deeper into it. So, this time we would peel off the subject in detail. We are going to learn about phonology, morphology and syntax. We have learned that before but in Bahasa Melayu. I think that learning language in Bahasa Melayu is much easier than in English. This subject will test my ability in learning language in English.

Before I go further, I would like to share a quote about language. This quote is taken from Robert Louis Stevenson who is a Scottish Essayist, Poet and Author of fiction and travel books in year 1850-1894. He stated that:-

“The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean”

I think that I agree with what he said, because without language, we can express our feeling, thoughts and ideas. Beside language, we cannot communicate with one another.

Based on the lecture from Madam Ira, I found out that language can be defined as a code that enables us to communicate or express ideas and thoughts with meaningful words. Language also needs a structure which enables the users of the language easier to understand what we are trying to tell them.

The following can describe more about language:-

1. Language is a Code

2. Linguistic symbols have function and form

3. Linguistic units are constructed according to rules

4. Language use is creative

5. Language use is constrained by culture

6. Language use is constrained by people, media, dialect etc.

Besides that, we also learn about language and culture. Language and culture are related. Both phenomena are unique to humans. Language, of course, is determined by culture although that there are many people debating on this topic. More information about language and culture, visit http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/la5.shtml.

Now, we are moving to communication. Communication can best described as followed:-

Conceptual components in communication (from Dance)
1. Symbols/Verbal/Speech	“Communication is the verbal interchange of thought or idea” (Hoben, 1954).
2. Understanding	“Communication is the process by which we understand others and in turn endeavor to be understood by them. It is dynamic, constantly changing and shifting in response to the total situation” (Anderson, 1959).
3. Interaction/ Relationship/ Social Process	“Interaction, even on the biological level, is a kind of communication; otherwise common acts could not occur” (Mead, reprinted 1963).

This shows that communication can be symbols, can be for understanding as well as social interaction. Communication can be divided into two, verbal and non-verbal. For me, both types of communication is important because both of it represents meaning for us to understand. The following videos explain more about non-verbal communication.

Now, we are moving on speaking and writing. Both of this skills is important because usually we need to speak and writing to express our feeling. More information, http://www2.wmin.ac.uk/eic/learning-skills/literacy/sp_vs_writ_dif.shtml

I like language actually especially when it is English. I feel grateful to learn English for I can speak another language in my life and of course speak to foreigners. Language is an expression of ideas, feelings through sound, body language, gestures, writing and facial expression. Wow! I never thought that about half of what we are doing daily involved language.

In the lecture, we were only being introduced into some parts of the whole course which is the introduction about language. I hope that I can enjoy the other lesson in future.