Followers

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Guest Lectured Today...;-)

Had a good session today at UiTM, KK lecturing about MUET reading comprehension to abt 150 students.. this is actually my second time there as i'd given a similar lecture last year to a different group. anyway, how DOES one teach reading comprehension? yikes.. the first problem is that they dont read enough, therefore their vocabulary sucks and on top of that the level of english in muet is astronomically high when our students these days cant even string a single sentence flawlessly!

anyway, to help them along i've divised two approaches... Content analysis and Vocabulary analysis.. here's the general breakdown..

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Techniques:
1. Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing. Look before or after the target word/phrase to locate the answer. (I can send u my powerpoint if u like.. just drop me a note in your email)
2. Paraphrasing.
3. Inference.
4. Predicting.
5. Summarising.

VOCABULARY ANALYSIS (more interesting!!!)
STEP BY STEP:
1. Eliminate all illogical/impossible answers.
2. Is the word Positive, Negative or Neutral?
3. Identify the root word.
4. Identify prefixes and suffixes.
5. Use anaphoric or cataphoric referencing to extract clues from context.
6. Select the best answer.


Plastic surgery involves the reconstruction of physical aspects of the
human body to make it more aesthetic or symmetrical.
The word ‘reconstruction’ refers to
A. the study of chemistry
B. building or shaping something again
C. a place where structures are being built
STEP BY STEP:
1. Eliminate impossible answers. = A: Not possible, consider options B & C only
2. Positive, Negative or Neutral word? = Positive
3. Identify the root word. Sounds like? = ‘construct’ : build
4. Identify prefixes and/or suffixes. = ‘re-’: repeat something (ie replant – plant again)
‘-tion’: a noun (ie information – noun)
5. Use Anaphoric or Cataphoric referencing = Anaphoric : refers to ‘plastic surgery’
= Cataphoric : refers to ‘phy. aspects of body’
6. Select the most likely answer. = B : to build again or reshape body parts

Of course nothing in life is as simplistic as this but for weaker students
especially it is a good place to start. The trick is to get students thinking
and analysing for themselves on a completely conscious level..
hahahahahhaha with our spoonfed ones, not many will
rise above this tall order! lol.. ah well we can die tryin right!?!?!?

Anyway, like i mentioned above.. drop me an email at queendrey@gmail.com
and i'd be happy to share my stuff with anyone who's interested. better yet,
invite me to your school to give a talk! ;-) i train both students n teachers..
lol.. muet courses (all components) or perfect grammar in 3 hrs! haha..

20 comments:

  1. Hi,I'm an upper six student from Perak, can I get your "Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing" power point?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ....got heart attack after reading this...sounded damn proXD

    ReplyDelete
  3. thanks dear.. nice of u to drop by. cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi..Ms Audrey.
      I found that ur blog is really useful for me as i am going to have MUET test soon. Can u drop the slides into my email: happyrainbowday@gmail.com

      Delete
  4. HI AUDREY...UR BLOG REALLY HELPFUL..CAN I HAVE UR ANAPHORIC POWER POINT...MY EMAIL IS..MRMISYKAT@GMAIL.COM

    ReplyDelete
  5. hii Audrey,me also wan ur anaphoric powerpoint...thanks a lot...my email is meichyi_89@yahoo.com.my

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Audrey ur blog really helpful, can i have ur " Anaphoric and cataphoric powerpoint?? thanks.. my email is hunny.wani90@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. hi audrey, can i have ur anaphoric ppt?? my email: annyss88@yahoo.com.au..thanks a lot :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Audrey!! ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! Your blog is very very informative. Keep sharing as the information you have given is invaluable. Can I also request a copy of your power point? My email add is : darshini.hardisk@gmail.com.
    Thanks a lot..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Audrey~ I just found out your blog. It is very informative!! Thank you for sharing it to us. Can I have your "Anaphoric and cataphoric powerpoint" please?? My e-mail add is cheryl_pink14@hotmail.com
    Thank you~~

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm happy reading your blog, it is so helpful :)
    I would like to have a copy of your power point too. my email add is sapphire0112@gmail.com. Thanks~

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi! I came across your blog tonight and it's really helpful. Kudos! By the way, would you mind sending me any powerpoint presentations that are useful for teaching MUET students? I'll be having my first class tomorrow.
    My email:ms-book1@hotmail.com
    Thanks. Dani

    ReplyDelete
  12. first time here..very good blog..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello, your blog is recommended by my sir that will teach me Muet this year.When I openend it, I cannot understand it at all. But when I openened the 1st post of yours I slowly understand the meaning and importance of this subject. I will try to defeat my brother( band 3 ) result in muet by getting band 5(insyaallah ).
    Please send me your powerpoint to achieve my dream please.
    This is my email=lost_army93@yahoo.com
    p/s Sorry 4 my bad english....

    ReplyDelete
  14. HI! I was a form six student from Penang,I wish to improve my MUET result for the next test.
    May I have u Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing" power point?
    my email is= yukino.scc@hotmail.com
    Sorry for my poor English sentences
    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. May i have a copy of your Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing" power point?
    My email address is baobao1852@hotmail.com
    thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi, Ms Audrey.
    can I have your "Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing" power point??
    my email is sehfong921205@hotmail.com
    Thank you so much!! =DD

    ReplyDelete
  17. Please check my recent archives as i have already posted my muet reading slides on this blog. i will no longer be emailing my slides to anyone. tq for understanding.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tqvm madam audrey..sorry for the short form..hehehe..i found your blog very useful to me since that i will be taking my MUET this coming October and November..

    Since that i already left my study for 6 years and now working in government sector where English is less used..right now I am trying to catch the rhythm of studying especially English..Gosh..It's not that easy..hope I can do my best for this exam..wish me luck madam..

    Shakirin

    ReplyDelete
  19. hi, Audrey!Your notes are awesome!can I have your "Anaphoric and Cataphoric referencing" power point?.My email is yee20128@yahoo.com
    thank you

    ReplyDelete