Reflection on Learning Skills

Reflections on Learning Skills

Learning progresses commonly involve various skills such are listening, speaking, grammar, reading as well as writing. Each distinct skill carries different impact upon learners. As for listening, learners tend to shape their language or learning skills through bunch of listening programs. For instance, the usage of Youtube.com may help learners by playing the audio sound related and started to learn through it. Besides, the scope of learning by means of listening may demand for a world wide coaching which naturally will assist learners in studies.

On the other hand, one of the learning processes which existed at all times is speaking skill by which most learners will display a better self-confidence as well as some English improvements at the end of the process. This is owing to learners started to develop confidence when they are commanded to undertake presentations via Microsoft Power Point which basically call for computing exercises yet at the same time sharpen their learning development. 

Meanwhile, in terms of grammar, frequently learners carry out several grammar exercises through computer applications in order to gain better understandings. One of the examples of grammar application which can be used by computer is grammar checker through which it will undoubtedly assist learners to achieve the best result in grammar particularly entailing language learning activity.

Last but not least, the notion of reading and writing skills can be enhanced into and out of the usage of dictionary as well as creating various of sentences or paragraphs in computer application like Microsoft Word. Both skills intensify each other by which consequently will aid learners in both forms of processes. Also, Microsoft Word could do someone a good turn by offering spelling checkers as a gratuity for utilizing the computer application.

Therefore, the usage of computer application gives various and numerous numbers of advantages for learners outstandingly in learning development.

Reflection on 3 Stages of CALL and Applications

The first stage of educational cycle which is behaviorist CALL accommodates learners with structured information as well as learning pattern. There is drill or practice and it must be repetitive for the students to fully acquire the skills. In Behaviorist CALL, computer act as a tutor and also a knowledge provider to students. It can be illustrated through an video-lingual teaching method by which it has always been applied in several courses of BENL. For example, the students might require some information through videos to train themselves in gaining more information about the syllabus. 

In 'Varieties of English' subject, students were drilled with videos of phonetic and phonology from various English varieties all around the world which give students more information's about the subject. It also encourage them to have a better idea to understand the course.  Also, some other instances might demand for exercise drills through which learners can grasp knowledge in depth. For example, the subject of Grammar Analysis requires us to do a lot of exercises until we understand the method to solve the questions.In addition, it is a very product-oriented and an effective learning  to students.

Communicative CALL is the collaboration of students working as a group together with a computer as a resource provider which react or give feedback to students. Learners were expected to discover knowledge by themselves by working together with the peers which need them to interact with computer. In other words, communicative CALL can be defined as students working together by using computer as a tool. While Integrative CALL refers to computer as a tool for interaction. Students use computer to assist or assign assignments through interaction with other students and lecturers. In addition, anything that is Communicative is Integrative as well.

For example,  as for edmodo.com application, it can be applied as both communicative and integrative CALL when the students and lecturer can interact in the language learning process and students at the same time are able to explore through online sources like journals, articles, and etc. on language learning. Other applications like Microsoft Word and PowerPoint can also be regarded as communicative integrative CALL where students incorporate many elements and materials in creating a presentation for instance. In addition,  some lecturers might need to use 

itaaleem.iium.com.my, gmail.com, yahoo.com or facebook.com in order to send emails, make announcement, and interact with students.

Islamization of Knowledge (IOK)

Islamization of Knowledge (IoK)

"And He found you lost and guided [you]"  93:7

The significance of knowledge in Islam is salient. The first Revelation bestowed upon the Prophet SAW was on knowledge where he was asked to read by the Angel Jibril A.S.. Being students of English before coming to IIUM, we never imagined that learning all the western knowledge of English like Literature and even Linguistics would actually bring us to value and realize the greatness of Allah the Almighty and knowledge as a whole.

Studying in International Islamic University Malaysia, we are glad that we had the opportunity to know about the Islamization of Knowledge which is also one of the postgraduate courses offered by the university. There are a few arguments on the term itself where it is seen as forcing Islam on knowledge studies and so on. Instead of forcing, it is more of an integration of Islam with knowledge studies and in our case, English studies particularly. Guided by the Islamization of Knowledge in our studies, we were taught to not only study for instance, a western piece of poetry on its own, but also think about it from the perspectives of Islam. Initially, we thought that it was not conceivable; to be able to look at English Literature of Shakespeare for instance, from an Islamic perspective. However, as we go along, we tend to understand what IIUM and Islam has been emphasizing about. Not only that, we also came to know a lot of great Muslim scholars and writers who produced impressive works but unfortunately they are not recognized by the world. Instead of using only Western authors or philosophers’ pieces as references, it is our job as Muslim students to elevate great Muslim scholars’ works as well and make them renowned as not only just reliable but also impressive source of knowledge.

Besides that, the Islamization of Knowledge will also lead us to the purification of oneself. By integrating Islam into knowledge, we will be amazed by how everything is actually relevant to Islam and studying English language and literature will not hinder us from practicing the Islamic way of life. Not only that, we also came to know a lot of great Muslim scholars and writers who produced impressive works but unfortunately they are not recognized by the world. Instead of using only Western authors or philosophers’ pieces as references, it is our job as Muslim students to elevate great Muslim scholars’ works as well and make them renowned as not only just reliable but also impressive source of literary knowledge. 

As for Linguistics, we have learnt how beautiful languages are, be it in English or Arabic. Besides, the language can be in terms of metaphorical, allegorical and can be represented in various distinct ways to express different feelings. After learning all the linguistics elements, we can infer that, the language of the holy Quran; the style of language, the choice of vocabulary, metaphors and rhyme are perfectly in sync. This perfection seen in the Quran shows that the Creator is Absolute and Perfect; that no one could have ever created a masterpiece like that.

The Islamization of Knowledge is also relevant to the Computer Applications in Language Learning subject that we are taking. In the course, we learn that there are so many applications and softwares with the advancement of technology made to our convenience. This advantage can be used to ease the spread of knowledge and greatly help in language learning. As we are free to post anything online, we should set a good example of how good Muslims should be while promoting knowledge relevant to our studies. For example, publishing articles or works on the internet, setting up a website or blogs which aid students of various levels to learn language, and more. While doing those, we should adhere to the etiquettes in academics like not violating any copyrights, no plagiarizing, and such. The most important thing is that to ensure that everything we do to help the community or even the world with the help of technology is with the intention of making us better Muslims to please Allah.

The CALL Experience

1    1)  Experience in the BENL courses taken

Who would have thought that we would be English majors? 

In the BENL courses taken, we are taught to value language, its learning processes and uses. We are also taught to discover more than what are included within the syllabus with the help of computer be it the internet or even computer software with regards to language learning. 

For instance, the course English Literature: Romantic and Victorian. The courses helped us by boosting up our self-confidence to voice out our opinions and speak up in front of audiences. In addition to that, we were also required to act according to our creativity as one of the assessments for the course. 

2) Assignments which required the assistance of computer applications

In the era of globalization, technologies have grown to be inseparable with human lives where it is involved in everything that we do in our daily lives. It can't be denied that it has made human lives a lot easier.

As far as we are concerned, most of the subjects in BENL required us to apply the use of computer to assist us in completing the assignments. Subjects that involve written reports, looking up for references and even video-making obviously necessitate the use of computer applications. These uses of computer contribute a lot in our learning process and can be considered as one of the perks of the technology development.

We have come to a point where these computer applications are exceedingly significant used by students and lecturers in assisting language learning process.

3) The assignments

“True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather,true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allaah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated]."

[Related by Abu Na`eem]

Students are usually assessed through assignments, mid- semester test, quizzes, participation, presentation and students performances throughout the semester.

Assignments give us deeper understanding of what we have learned by letting us discover more than what we are expected from the course. Assignments are usually written but also can be interactive; it can take up the form of video-making, advertisements, education poster-making, etc..

The use of computer applications and software in assisting  the courses' learning progress is very common. In fact, we can say that all students need computers. Throughout the subjects that we have learned, we have experienced all three behaviorist, communicative, and integrative CALL in learning or completing our tasks. One common technique used by the lecturers falls under the category of behaviorist CALL. Exercises and drills imposed on students are aimed to assist better understanding through familiarization and memorization. In the subject Phonetics and Phonology for instance, to remember the symbols representing the phonetic sounds students are given a lot of exercises when the lecturer will display the words on the screen for the whole class to answer.

Besides that, example of a subject is the Varieties of English in which the subject continuously engages students in online discussion as a medium to complete the tasks given. An example of a communicative CALL is Edmodo.com used in the subject Pragmatics where students can engage in online discussions, online quizzes, and share their assignments. It can also be a medium of interaction between students and lecturers where lecturers can also monitor and give feedback on their students' learning progress through the application.

As for integrative CALL, in some subjects, we were asked to create a video by using video or movie- making applications or software. This helped us to discover a new skill which is making a short film or video which we have never done before while expose us to the tons of its benefits in helping our improvement in language learning. In this matter, the computer software, or the video used to convey and present information is used as a medium in language learning.