Daffodil International University
Human Resource Development Institute => HRDI => Topic started by: ymislam on June 21, 2009, 05:32:51 PM
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Dear Members of the English Department,
Our first workshop on "Finding ways to help our students develop English Language Skills" is tomorrow, June 22nd from 3pm to 6pm.
This is a participatory workshop where we will use our collective experiences to look at how the English Language Skills of students attending ENG113 can be improved and develop an implementation plan for Fall 2009.
Looking forward to seeing all of you listed below. Pls use this forum to record your thoughts as the workshop progresses and feedback.
Dr. Binoy Barman
Prof. Dr. Shusil Kumar Das
Ms. Irina Ishrat
Ms. Umme Kulsum
Md. Mustafizur Rahman
Ms. Asma Alam
Ms. Nahid Kaiser
Ms. Shamsi Ara Huda
Ms. Nusrat Jahan
Ms. Lina Ferdous
Kh. Atikur Rahman
Ms. Fatema Begum
Ms. Sushmita Rani
As you know the workshop will be in 306 and the workshop dates are:
June 22nd, 29th, July 6th and 13th.
As we would need our full concentration, it would be great if all mobile phones are on silent. Pls use the tea-break at 4:30pm to make the calls you need.
Thanks.
-Yousuf.
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Dear all,
Day 1 of the workshop--
We-
Md Mostafizur Rahman Sameen
Ms Nahid Kaiser
Kh Atikur Rahman
fell under group-3 bearing the title"Student activities".
In our title we jot down the following ideas:
1.Students MUST speak in English.
2.Student-Teacher communication MUST be in English
3.Student-Student communication MUST be in English
4.Frequent Extracurricular activities should be held.the medium of communication and interaction MUST be in English
5.Everyday 30 minutes English reading & listening.
On the whole, we must ensure and encourage Students' exposure to English.
Kh Atikur Rahman
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Good, keep it up.
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Dear Atik,
Thank you for your post!
Could you pls help the other two groups to upload their presentations also could you pls elaborate a little on your bullets. If the other members of your group could also elaborate, i.e. explain the bullets it would be helpful.
Thanks.
-Yousuf
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Dear all,
Day 1 of the workshop--
We-
Md Mostafizur Rahman Sameen
Ms Nahid Kaiser
Kh Atikur Rahman
fell under group-3 bearing the title"Student activities".
In our title we jot down the following ideas:
1.Students MUST speak in English.
2.Student-Teacher communication MUST be in English
3.Student-Student communication MUST be in English
4.Frequent Extracurricular activities should be held.the medium of communication and interaction MUST be in English
5.Everyday 30 minutes English reading & listening.
By point 1,2,3,4 we mean students' only means of communication in the campus MUST be English.We know it is difficult but they have to make it.As teachers we should give them motivation.We must inform them It does not matter even if they make silly mistakes, they should not worry about that. Rather they should carry on their conversation anyway.They should be motivated saying eg-"Don't worry if people laugh at u when u make mistake.U can certainly learn through mistake."
Point 5 refers to students' getting enough Input. According to Great linguist Krashen--Output in case of language learning is possible only when enough Input is ensured. Sufficient Input helps learners immensely in having Output.
On the whole, we must ensure and encourage Students' exposure to English.
Kh Atikur Rahman
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When we are learning English, it is important to use and practice our English as often as possible.
All we need to do is
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice
Let us consider the 4 skills that we need to use a language well.
1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing
The more we listen, speak, read and write in English;
The more we will be able to be comfortable in using this language.
Listening: We don’t need to try too hard to understand everything.
We just have to listen and we will soon understand.
There are cassettes and CDs available in the market.
We can listen to BBC, CNN and Voice of America.
On television, we have a big choice of programs: films, chat shows, documentaries, news.
Speaking: Speaking is one thing that we cannot do alone.
So we should practice as much as possible where there are people to speak to.
Nobody will create English speaking environment for us unless we do it for ourselves.
We should choose a partner or a friend with who we can practice speaking English everyday.
Reading: We can make a habit of reading English newspapers(like The Daily Star) and Magazines (like The Readers’ Digest) daily.
We need to read the right level of English. If it is too easy, we will make no progress. If it is too difficult, we may become discouraged.
Also, we can become a member of the library of the British Council.
There are short stories and classic texts in english.com English Reading with notes to help us.
Writing: The medium of instruction in our university is English.
All teachers of each course are giving a lot of assignments.
So there are lots of scope of developing written skills for students.
In effect, we can keep a diary and write at least one page everyday and students must do so and get it checked by respective teachers.
This is how we can improve our English.
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Dear Shibli,
Your suggestions are very valuable. According to Krashen, without extensive reading and listening, speaking and writing cannot be developed.
So we are looking for ways in which our students can listen and read more so that they can speak and write better.
We are looking for implementation ideas across the university.
Would be delighted to hear your views.
-Yousuf
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Hello everybody!
This is Nusrat Jahan, Lecturer, Dept. of English, DIU. With all other faculty members, I attended the workshop on "Finding ways to help our students develop English Language Skills" on June 22 from 3pm to 6pm. It's always enjoyable attending such workshops. We were talking and sharing our classroom experiences and thus we were actually trying to find out some ways to give our best to the students. Our main concentration was the students of Level 1 term 1.
We were divided into three groups and I was in Group 1. In this group, Ms. Fatema Begum and Ms. Shamsi Ara Huda were also with me. We, the trio, proposed the following points to be stressed for classroom management:
1. Knowing individual students,
2. Motivating them towards English,
3. Identifying the weaker students and arranging their seats,
4. Encourage them to participate in conversation,
5. Maintaining noise-free teaching environment with interesting teaching materials,
6. Introducing language inputs ( news paper, poster, story books, e-books, websites etc.)
7. Making students respond,
8. Introducing pre-reading activities,
9. Extended activities must be encouraged ( Home work, assignment etc.),
10. Presentation should be given importance,
11. At the end of the class, let them to sum up the topics covered,
12.Using technology in the classroom.
We focused on classroom management that can ensure a better learning environment and we think better environment in classroom can break the ice between new students and teachers and It will certainly create an opportunity for the students to improve their communication and expression skills.
Nusrat Jahan
Lecturer,
Dept. of English
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Nusrat,
Thank you for posting your group's presentation. It would be great if you could elaborate, i.e. explain each point in a bit more detail.
Also, can you bring your posters to the workshop tomorrow. Thanks.
-Yousuf
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Dear Sir,
U r welcome!
And thank u for your suggestion.
We'd started our points from the first class of language course. That's why we included knowing every students. The second task would be motivating them towards English through which we'd be able to identify some shy and comparatively weaker students in class. We should rearrange their seats i.e. the first row will be reserved for them. In question-answering session teacher may ask for opinion from them so that they can understand how much important they are to their teachers and that feelings can encourage them to participate in conversation. Next, we said that interesting teaching materials should be introduced that at the one hand will meet students' needs and on the other hand help the teachers to make the environment cool and calm. After that we stressed on introducing language inputs ( news paper, poster, story books, e-books, websites etc.) that will make students respond. We believe, pre-reading activities are the way that can also grow students interest. As we generally meet twice a week with our students, we need to focus on extended activities ( Home work, assignment etc.). To improve students' presentation capabilities, more presentations can be introduced in a course. At the last part of the class, students will be asked for summing up the topics covered and finally we said that teachers should use technology in classroom to make the class more effective.
nusrat
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Dear sir,
I enjoyed yesterday's session that was our second session of the workshop. The stress-reducing part was very useful for us 'coz we, the English teachers, need to keep patience all the time and keeping patience may generate stress. Thanks a lot for your tips!
nusrat
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Dear Sir,
Can you please send me stress-reducing tips?
Regards,
raju
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Dear sir
I do agree with Krashen that without extensive reading & listening, speaking and writing cannot be developed. But the thing is very often an intructor finds it difficult to improve the students' reading skills. so, i think an instuctor of English should keep on motivating his/her learners all the time. Most of the researchers say learners hardly make good process if they are given intensive-reading. Real process takes place when they are motivated to read extensively and if they read for pleasure. So i think students should be encouraged to do self-study, which has paramount importance. Alongside, they should be incited to read their text books and reference books thoroughly. Nothing can help them more than self-study, i suppose.
Regards
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Dear Participants of the English Department Workshop,
This post is made on behalf of Asma Alam,
Steps for Ensuring English speaking environment in the Campus:
1. Speaking English compulsory for Counselors: At the very beginning of the admission process, if the students get the impression that an English speaking environment is prevailing here that will be a positive and effective step.
2. Admission Test: The system of Admission test should be introduced and it must have a positive psychological effect on the students.
3. Attitude towards English Department: It is essential for the inspiration of the teachers of English Department.
4. Involve other teachers of other departments to speak English.
5. Campus language should be English.
6. Any kind of presentation on any topic must be in English.
7. For the proper practice of speaking English: Teacher- student, Teacher-teacher, student-student conversation should be in English.
8. All official programs (especially orientation program) should be in English.
9. Self access centre should be introduced: In students’ common room TV set can be set and there various interesting and instructive programs (such as: Discovery channel, BBC TV, National Geographic channel) can be shown to the students.
This will indirectly contribute to enhance students’ speaking capability.
Steps to be taken to involve all (Teachers, students & even the authority):
1. Arranging Teacher-Student mock debate in English. This will provide pleasure to all,
Create a harmonious relationship among the teachers and the students and will help
students to speak English fluently.
2. Arrangement of various English programs (staging English drama, poetry recitation,
creative writing competition) in semester break.
3. To encourage students about growing reading habit- Reading session from
12:45-1:00 everyday in the varsity.
4. Classes should be well equipped with multi-media and internet facilities.
5. The effort of the teachers should be acknowledged by the authority. This
appreciation can inspire others also.
Over to the others for comments.
-Asma
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Dear All,
The workshop dates have been shifted to:
Monday July 13th, July 20th and July 27th.
As you all know, the VC is looking forward to implementation of the results of the workshop. We will invite him to the final presentation of our implementation plans.
If you all agree, we can invite VC on July 27th, 4pm to see the final implementation plan. He can give his comments and support for the entire university.
Pls post the THREE action plans we decided to implement.
-Yousuf.
-Yousuf
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English Department Workshop - Day 3 (13.07.2009)
We-
Md Mustafizur Rahman Sameen
Ms Nahid Kaiser
Kh Atikur Rahman
fell under group-3 bearing the title"Student activities".
Our suggestions:
1. All interections MUST be in English:
a) students-students
b) students-teachers
c) students- Authority
d) students- officers
Steps to ensure this:
a) Regular monitoring
b) Chief monitor---teachers by turn
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10 students also taken
2. A reading room should be introduced.
a. Each student must attend it for 20 minutes.
b. their attendence must be recorded.
c. Diverse Reading materials should be provided.
d. 5 marks should be awarded for this activity.
3. Teachers should encourage students to WRITE DIARIES in English.
a. Diaries can be written in Blog.
b. 5 marks should be awarded for this activity.
We know it will be a challenging and massive task, yet we must make it happen.because NO effort, No gain.
Expecting everybody's active participation we end here for today.
Kh Atikur Rahman
On behalf of my group.
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English Department Workshop Day 3 13th July 09
Group # 2, Members IRINA ISHRAT, ASMA ALAM, UMME KULSUM
We were supposed to think how AUTHORITY and OTHERS can contribute for improving students' proficiency in English
MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION
a)Emphasize more on the necessity of English in every sector of DIU
b)Marking system in test taking should be reviewed ,more marks in speaking and presentation can be proposed
c) Forums and Clubs can be more active and participatory for motivating all in this regard
d) Visionary, appropriate and dynamic senior professors from renowned public university who are considered as experts in home and abroad can be employed
e) Teachers' training and seminar can be organized in this regard for making teaching technique more effective
f)university library should subscribe for more research journals so that teachers can get more research materials for improving their skill.
INVOLVING OTHERS
a) All speakers in any formal programmes of the university must speak in English, specially in orientation programmes
b) All faculty members of all departments must speak in English in and outside class and they also can be benefited for self improvement and higher studies
c) Any official conversation between student and officials should also be in English
MORE IMPORTANCE ON READING
a) Everyday in campus there can be a reading hour for all only for 15 to 20 minutes
b) Best reader of the year can be rewarded.
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Dear all,
We have already participated in three sessions.Last day( 13th July) we, Nusrat Jahan and Shamsi Ara Huda of group 1, jot down the following suggestions to improve our classroom management:
1. Marks Distribution:
# More marks should be allocated on presentation
# More marks should be allocated on reading
2. Motivation
# Students should be motivated to reading
# Realistic goals should be connected to motivate learners
3. Teaching Writing
# Selective extracts can be used for improving writing
# Students can be instructed to rewrite selective reading materials
# Editing should be emphasied by peer review
4.Teaching Materials
# Need based innovative materials can be used
# Diverse sources like Readers' Digest, Star Insight, Star Campus etc. can be introdued
# Some extra story books can be introduced for each semester and learners' progress has to be assessed.
5. Equipments
# Internet
# Multi-media
#E-book
#Blog
We gave emphasis on presentation as in many cases, speaking is the only skill to be tested to evaluate a person's level of communicative competence.We have also emphasised on reading as it is realated with the improvement of writing.By building a habit of regular reading,a person can himself/herself improve his/her style of writing.Here the teacher can only play the role of a facilitator.
We have connected assessment with almost everything as our students are very much instrumentally motivated.They have always a tendency to secure a good grade in exam.Moreover, they are suggested to be motivated integratively by connecting realistic goals.For example:if a teacher , now and then,reminds his/her students about the importance of English in their real life,they are bound to address this need.
By innovative materials, we in fact meant authentic materials.We felt that students will feel motivated if they can attach themselves personally with the reading materials.Besides a smooth support of technology is a must to ensure more exposure in English.
Shamsi Ara Huda
Lecturer
Department of English
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I totally agree with your views and suggestions, Samsi
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Thank you sir.Your guidelines to improve our classes also deserve appreciation.We the English teachers infact think a lot about how to improve our students' English but sometimes their 'no reaction' attitude makes me frustrated.At present, I am thinking about some specific plans.I hope to share it very soon.
Shamsi
Department of English
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Thank you all for posting the results of the workshop.
Thank you all for being so enthusiastic - this is what makes life interesting - aiming higher all the time. Most of all we would be adding to our professionalism as teachers!
When you have time, we could all reflect on the three postings and put the ideas on the back boiler and let them simmer. I am really looking forward to the next workshop to see how your ideas blossom and bloom!
-Yousuf
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Developing Students' Speaking Skill:
1. Resolution from the VC & top management that Campus Language MUST be English.
2. Meeting by the VC to motivate all faculty members & officers
3. Workshops by Dr Yousuf to motivate all faculty members & officers
4. Using posters to create awareness & motivate.
Trial Period - First Phase -2 months:
1. Class language should be English.
2. All the interaction in the class must be in English
3. If student speak Bangla, They must be instructed to speak in English otherwise his/her questions will not be answered.
4. All the classes of ALL department must be in English.
Second phase: 2 months
1. Students' interactions in the faculty room & offices in English
Final phase:
1. All the interactions in class and out of class in English
Monitoring:
1. One monitoring team of 10 members for each floor of the campus- 1(teacher)+ 9 (students)
2. One faculty will monitor the other faculty.
3. Every student must hung ID over the neck to be identified easily.
Monitoring team's identity will be kept secret.
4. The team will work for 1 semester by turn.
Extra marks:
Provision for Extra/bonus marks for using English while in the campus can be kept.It will work as impetus to use English.
Penalty:
If a student is caught 3 times using Bangla for doing any sort of communication, he/she will be penalised in form of marks deduction.
READING ROOM:
1. Setting up a reading room for each department with essential & diverse reading materials and other equipments.
2. Students MUST attend the reading room for at least 60 minutes per week.They may attend on every alternate days for 20 minutes or on those days of a week when they are in the campus.
3. Attendance must be recorded.There will be option of PENALTY for not attending regularly.
4. Students will be given fixed time of attending the reading room.
5. Membership in the reading room is Compulsory.TK-100/200 per semester.
Extra marks:
Provision for Extra/bonus marks for attending it will be kept.Say 5 marks. It will work as impetus.
Monitoring:
1. Regular monitoring must be ensured.
2. Teachers by turn will work as monitors.
Reader's Blog:
1. The students will write the summery or opinion about the article they have read and post it in the blog.
2. It may be Daffodil University Forum.
3. The aim is to make a habit of writing.
We repeat once again that We know it will be a challenging and massive task, yet we must make it happen.because NO effort, No gain.
Expecting everybody's active participation we end here for today.
Kh Atikur Rahman
On behalf of my group.
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wow its really a great step i think. t wd also be great for the students. Hope its gonna start soon.
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Hello everybody!
Here are some ideas on classroom management from group 1 of the workshop. The group focused on the ways to develop reading and speaking skill inside the classroom. special thanks to my group members Shamsi & Fatema who prepared powerpoint slides and presented some excellent ideas on classroom management.
Class Room Management
Reading and Speaking
How to implement reading
20 MINUTES TEXT BOOK READING IN EACH CLASS :
o Teacher’s Briefing on the topic.__ 2 min
o Students’ Reading __ 8 min
o Students’ Discussion ___ 5 min
o Presenttation in 1min(5×1) __ 5 min
Teacher's Role :
-Dividing the class into 4/5 groups.
-Advanced planning on the materials to be read. Making lesson plan.
-Selecting students randomly to speak on the topic and maintaining a register.
-Encouraging students to bring the text book.
-Forcing the defaulter students to collect the text from the library/ seminar.
-Recording information of the students’ performance and assessing continuously.
-Giving bonus marks for good reader and speaker.
Department’s Role :
-Encouraging the teacher’s to start the reading practice.
-Keeping at least 10 text books of each subject.
-Charging 50 taka for not bringing the text in the class.
That's all. Hope we'll get feedback from others soon.
Thanking u all.
Nusrat Jahan
Lecturer, Dept. of English
On behalf of Ms. Shamsi Ara Huda & Ms. Fatema Begum, Lecturers, Dept. of English
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Dear All,
The Vice Chancellor has given one-hour for presentation on the implementation plans on Aug 19th from 10:30am to 11:30am in 306.
All senior faculty including the Advisor will be invited.
Do we need to rehearse the entire presentation for the 19th? If yes, when?
I can come to the English department at around 2:30pm on Monday Aug 17th. Is this time ok with you all? Pls let me know.
-Yousuf
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Dear All,
It is our pleasure to share with you all that our final presentation before VC sir and senior officials of DIU was successfully made. All of them specially our Honourable Vice Chancellor Sir and Advisor sir appreciated our ideas and they are going to take positive steps in this regard immediately.
I would like to thank Dr. Yusuf Sir who played the role of facilitator for generating our ideas. I congratulate my team members and all participants of ENGLISH DEPARTMENT who made the plan for developing English speaking Environment in DIU.
Here is our plan. Plz feel free to share your views and opinion.This is only a plan and suggestion from our part, we all can modify it further with your active participation.
Thank you.
Umme Kulsum
on behalf of group 3
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Dear Kulsum and workshop members,
Alhamdulillah, it was a great effort and good show by all of you!
Congratulations!
Pls add your presentations here. Kulsum, thank you for being so prompt. Could you pls upload you presentation in 2003-2007 format. Thanks.
Next we have to work out how to formulate to start the implementation plan for next semester.
-Yousuf
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Dear Dr. Islam & your team,
Congrats !
Hope u and your team make DIU a unique campus in our country. Any support pls let us know.
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Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your interest and appreciation.
Hope we will be successful if we all work together and feel in the same spirit to create an English speaking Environment in DIU.
With best regards,
Umme Kulsum
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Dear Yusuf Sir,
Thank you for your reply.
I am trying to upload in mentioned format but repeatedly it's showing file is too large. May be i have to delete the older one but i am facing problems doing that.
I will try again when i can manage some time.
Best regards
Umme Kulsum
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Dear All,
It is our pleasure to share with you all that our final presentation before VC sir and senior officials of DIU was successfully made. All of them specially our Honourable Vice Chancellor Sir , Advisor sir and Golam Mowla sir appreciated our ideas and positive steps are going to be taken in this regard immediately.
I would like to thank Dr. Yusuf Sir who played the role of facilitator for generating our ideas. I congratulate my team members and all participants of ENGLISH DEPARTMENT who made the plan for developing English speaking Environment in DIU.
Here is our plan. Plz feel free to share your views and opinion.This is only a plan and suggestion from our part, we all can modify it further with your active participation.
Thank you & Best regards.
Kh Atikur Rahman
on behalf of group 2
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Dear All,
Some of the guests at the presentation wrote out their comments to the three presentations of the English Department. I am reproducing the comments below:
Comments A:
1. All three presenter's ideas are acceptable and need to be implemented.
2. To implement these ideas presented we need a regulation from the higher authority, e.g. DMSC & BOG to make it possible to practice English language within the campus.
3. Three tier English Language training should be given to the following: students, admin people and teachers.
Comments B:
1. To ensure favorable atmosphere in the classes, class size should be not more than 30.
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Dear Kulsum and Workshop participants,
I have converted the file to 2003-07 format on your behalf and attached it. But the server says file is too large. Somehow it is 906 kb. Anyway, I have the file and can print it out.
I need the first presentation on reading as well. I would like to put these together in a forwarding letter to the VC for approval for implementation.
In the covering letter, I would like to add the following words. Pls go through and add your suggestions.
Dear Sir,
Under your guidance and instructions in a meeting held in your room in June 17, 2009 with Dr Sushil K Das, Dr Binoy Barmon and myself. Four English Department workshops of 3 hours each were planned to find ways to improve the English communication skills of DIU students. The workshops were held and the English Department teachers drafted three implementation suggestions that were presented to you on August 19th, 2009 at 10.30am in 306.
The suggestions covered three areas:
1. Inside the classroom
2. Outside the classroom
3. Administration and other areas.
The powerpoints for each suggestions are attached.
Each of the suggestions are based upon solid experience with Daffodil students, teacher feedback and language learning needs of our students. Although a textbook in each subject is mandatory, practically it has been found that only between 20-30% students actually buy textbooks. Teachers complain that students do not read; instead they memorise notes given by the teacher and regurgitate in the exams.
Reading of textbooks is essential not only to develop subject knowledge skills but also helps the student find out how to communicate subject knowledge. Good reading skills in the subject will also help the student continue to find latest knowledge in the subject area. Of the three recommendations the recommendation regarding reading is most essential to develop communication skills. With good reading habits sentence construction will automatically improve as it has been found that 40% sentence errors come from poor word choice and subject-verb mismatch. Teachers have tried a variety of methods to improve reading but have failed. If the suggestions given in 1 will force students to read under the guidance of the subject teacher and hopefully reduce copy-pasting of teacher notes.
Under your guidance we would like to implement the suggestions in the Fall 2009 semester. Looking for your kind approval. Your approval will allow us to finalise implementation plans.
For launching the implementation we would like to hold a seminar with all teachers in the auditorium.
Thanking you.
-Yousuf
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Dear Sir,
Sorry for late reply.
I also agree strongly with the first presentation about inside classroom reading.
I think you also can highlight the major propositions of #2 and #3 presentation in cover letter so that they can have a look about our whole plan.
Next semester is from 17th Sep , we have to calculate the time as well.
With best regards
Umme Kulsum
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Respected Sir
There is a single typing mistake as it happens many times in my writings as well.
"Each of the suggestions are based upon solid experience with Daffodil students"
Correction
Each of the suggestions is based upon solid experience with Daffodil students................
Rgds
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Dear Shibli,
Thank you for pointing out the mistake. I have corrected it in the actual letter to the VC.
Regards.
-Yousuf
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Dear Yusuf sir
Let me tell you... Allah has given you a great skill. It is writing skill. You must have other skills that i didn't happen to know but one thing for sure you can write beautifully and convincingly.
So sir, please keep writing every now and then for the betterment of our valued students as well as for our beloved university.
May Allah grant you a long life, ameen
rgds
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Respectable all Sir,
Take my Salam. I have some que to very very favourite sir mr Yousuf sir. How the benefit of your workshop find the student? Do you got any report from your workshop Teacher? After finished the workshop what's the outcome?
If I have ask any wrong, I beg forgiveness to all my honorable teacher.