Online English Learning 101

February 25, 2011 at 7:04 pm (Uncategorized) (, , , , , , , , , )

In this day and age, language learning have caught up with modern technologies most especially English. We have Apple products such as iPhone, iPad and Mac books. There is also Amazon’s Kindle. And of course, the vast resources in the Internet and the New Social Media. Combine all of it  with the English language, what will you get? English online. There have been many companies that have taken advantage of this. A lot of companies have opened up online tutoring services that operates internationally and the medium they use? Skype.

How does it really work? Let me give you an overview.

The tutor will apply to the company who will mediate between the client (tutee) and the tutor. Once the tutor has been accepted, he/she will undergo training and assessment. Afterwards, the tutor will have to send her available time according to the company’s available schedule. The tutor will not be endorsed by the company so as it is up to the tutee to choose who he/she wants.

Both the tutee and tutor need Skype accounts. As long as you have Skype accounts, it doesn’t matter if you have the lesson on your iPhone, laptop or any gadget that has the program. The interaction that will take place during the lesson will be highly dependent on the tutee. He/she will be the one to tell the tutor how she/he wants the class to be handled. The tutor’s role is to make sure the tutee learns and understands while having fun during the lesson. The tutee will be given several options; free conversation or article reading for example. In free conversation, the tutor and the tutee will talk just about anything that the tutee recommends or wants. The tutor may correct any grammar slips that the tutee will commit within the conversation. On the article discussion, they tutee will be asked to read an article or the tutee may choose what article to be read. After reading, the tutee and the tutor will discuss the article. The tutor will answer questions the tutee may have. In turn, the tutor will ask questions related to the article to assess the level of comprehension of the tutee.

Basically, it is no different from a normal or face-to-face learning. It may even have more advantages.

At the end of the day…

Nevertheless, learning English on skype is a great experience weighing more benefits than detriments. You will have all the resources at hand. Google is your best friend and there’s no need to reach for a dictionary and flip the pages. With just a click of a button and you’ll see everything you want to know about it. You also have the home advantage; nothing will be more comfortable than learning at your own home. There will be no traffic to hinder and lessen the time of your study.

In addition, having different resources, different materials and different tutors would help you asses yourself in different areas for improvements as everyone else has different expertise. One may notice your accent and the other may note your grammar construction. Since you have the freedom to choose your tutor, you are also responsible to tell them every time your preferences.  At the same time, it also means giving chances to others and gaining perspectives. It also provides anonymity since you have the choice to have a web cam while the lesson is on. It will give chance to save face.

Who knew it was possible to learn English online? More so, learning English on skype. It was hard enough to learn English normally, now it’s online. But no worries, the quality of learning may increase or decrease according to you and your choices.

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Blogging on my nerves

September 11, 2010 at 9:56 pm (Uncategorized) (, , , , , , , )

It’s the first time I had the eagerness to blog about my experience, maybe this class requirement has gotten on my nerves, that when an idea pops out of my head regarding NSM and even if it’s not related to it (an apple can be an orange, right?), I immediately process it to conceptualize a blog. This is my second one that came out in just one incident. When I think about what I did, my preparations for today and my plans, I have this strong urge to blog about it. I even want to start my own personal blog and make it my first entry. But, I also learned something new and/or realizations came in. So it’s not entirely negative, on the contrary, I’m somehow thankful. As I’ve said on the first one, maybe it’s a gift from above. There’s a reason why this happened, there’s always a reason.

I now know why blogs, statuses and online posts are THE authority. It’s because, emotions are attached to it; it may be subjective but it still deals with the people’s perceptions, the way we see and understand things.

 Again, what is it’s implication to OrCom practice?

  • Since we know the feeling of blogging, we would be able sense the emotions in a blog that we read. It will be somehow easy to tell if what we’re reading is a lie.
  • Most people will not blog without emotions attached to every word that they type. An article in an event will not be posted if it’s not news worthy (news worthy = positive and negative) or mind buggling unless you are paid to do so or you seriously need to get a hobby.
  • Humans will not be humans without logic and, of course, emotions.
  • Some say, NSM can be insincere. Yes, to a certain extent. But we should know that through choice of words and style of writing, given that emoticons are not present, feelings can still be expressed.
  • Humans and interaction are necessary in communication, be it online or offline.
  • We believe what we read because we can relate to it. We have this “he has experienced this and that and wrote about it like what I do/did” mindset when we see something.
  • Therefore, emotions are what drive us but objectivity should still be present. We should be able to weigh these things. Now we know.

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