Please Introduce Yourself
I'm Nor Intan Ezreena Amir Hamzah, going to be 24 years old this coming July 26, the last one in the family (thank god), and I love cats. Alright, done.
Okay let's start over.
Introducing oneself is never fun to the listener or reader as you are doing right now because whatever I'm going to type about myself, it's going to make you feel like 'Ouch. What a pompous student I have here'. Because like it or not, I'm not going to reveal my negative traits, aren't I? But no worries. I try to make it less vain, I promise.
Being the last child in the family makes me the apple, orange, grape and pear of everyone's heart and eyes. I become very stubborn and there's no way that people can say No around me. But (yes there is a but in everything, isn't it) I do, in fact respect the elderly, the people around me, the kids and whatnot. I greet and smile to strangers which is sometimes dangerous but it has become a habit and they say old habit die hard. The love that everyone has given me making me so sensitive towards animals especially cats and dogs and chickens and rabbits and birds and fishes and the list would go on and on.
Whatever it is, I am not perfect but I try my best to cater with everyone's needs and desire. But most of the time, I just don't care actually.
I hope my mark is not determined to how I introduce myself because I'm sure I have to see you again next semester. Which I'm sure it is something that you are trying your best to avoid.
Anyway, I didn't get the chance to see you during the first class because I heard you were testing the efficiency of the padlock on the grill so I had put my most flattering photo just in case you were wondering which one was me.
How would you rate yourself in terms of your computer skills and why?
I am not really a big fan of a computer mainly because I cannot touch and feel the things that I want to do. For instance, if I want to edit my photo using the Photoshop, I need to click click and click over the excessive fats that I want to remove and voila, I look picture perfect. Frankly, I do prefer to use the traditional scissor and cutter to edit my picture. Even though the fat is still there, I feel satisfied because I do it using my two hands. Yes I was born in the year of 1986 where computer is not an alien thing to me but regardless of how enjoyable and easier it makes my life is, I rather do my things conservatively. Mostly, I would rate myself as savvy because I may know how to change my streamyx password using the WWW but I have no idea how to fix it if the modem is unable to connect with the internet because somehow I need to change the password at the modem as well. I like using it but I dislike knowing what's underneath it. Isn't that what the technician supposed to do? I would never dream to steal their career.
What computer software and hardware knowledge do you have?
Again, what is software? Oh you mean the stuff like Adobe Photoshop, Limewire, Microsoft Office? Well I called that as 'stuff'. I do download songs from Limewire, edit so-called pictures using CS4, typing my assignment using the Word and everything. If that is what you guys called as software, I do know how to use the vital ones. More than that, I am more a people person where I rather meet over coffee to chat instead of using Skype or Yahoo Messenger.
So hardware is supposed to be the thingamabob inside the computer? Well I have no idea at all. Go on talk to me about RAM, hard disk, CPU, motherboard and I would straight away go blank. I mean, I heard and seen those stuff when they taught me in previous semesters but I did not like it. So when I dislike something, I won't listen. Told you I'm stubborn. I guess I am used to the situation where other people will solve my problem for me when I need one. I'm sorry I'm spoiled. Then again, there's a reason why the road less traveled is less traveled by.
Have you experienced learning via the computer?
Yeah I guess especially during my primary years where computer was something foreign and everyone was going gaga over it. Computer courses appeared like magic. It was fun seeing animations, video clips and others.
Did you try to incorporate technology in your some of your lessons during your practicum? Was it a success or a failure? If you did not what was/were the reason(s)?
Well, not much mainly because of the LCD was merely a white elephant. Sometimes I brought in my laptop and speakers so that they had something different to do but most of the time, I rather print the pictures and distribute it to the students because it was less time consuming and there was no way I could have problem in handling the technical parts.
What is your opinion on the use of computer/technology in language teaching?
The idea is of course brilliant. Unfortunately, some school is not well-equipped with the latest technology. How to learn the language if there is only one computer that is needed to be shared with 44 students? But then again, the usage of computer/technology in language teaching is surely going to sustain the students' attention because they will love the visuals, sounds and animations. Instead of the teacher drowning them with words and books, they can see something better and probably retain in their memory longer. Books or Computers? There's going to be unanimous vote in favour to computer obviously.
What are your expectations from this course?
I am actually skeptical on why I have to learn this course during the final semester. Of course there's always a reason for everything, isn't it. So here am I, humble and sincere to learn valuable lesson from the great sifu in order for me to accomplish my lengthy journey. I admit there's a lot to learn because I have forgotten most of the things they taught in previous years but I would try my best to participate and deliver the tasks you are going to give me.
And of course, a big fat A will never hurt anyone.
