So this is my attempt on my personal reflections on this site! 😁

Today we are going to talk about Padlet. Before this I have only known Padlet as a place for creating mood boards. And I have never taken an action to try it out before. My first experience with it was when we had to do a short comment on social media for this class. And at time I was interested on how this site is very similar to a blog but much more versatile and modern. Now when I have the chance of using properly for my entries. I just fell in love with how easy it is to alter it to my taste. You can't do that in Microsoft Word or WPS Office.

Of course Padlet has its own pros and cons. I believe that there's more benefits to it especially for students and creators online. They can freely out their ideas in a more organized way in here. Again, how customizable this site is is such a sight for sore eyes. I think I like it here very much.

Media can be a component of active learning strategies such as group discussions or case studies. Media could be a a film clip, a song you hear on the radio, podcast of a lecture or newspaper article. Students can also create their own media. For example, video projects or blog posts like what I am doing right now.

There are also a number of cautions that people should keep in mind in utilizing media. Using media requires a complete understanding of copyright law, an appreciation of the workload involved, and some skill in recognizing content that will enhance learning, instead of becoming a distraction.

Speaking from a perspective of a teacher, I believe that the internet contains a plethora of resources that teachers can access and use to prepare teaching materials. These range from sites that are specifically designed for teachers and learners to sites from national and international newspapers, museums, galleries and so on. Teachers can use these materials much the same way as they would other print-based resources, to create worksheets and exercises for their classes.

On the other hand, for students like myself, internet is VERY handful when it comes to searching materials, inspiration, and ideas when I am about to do my assignments. Plus, what I like about TESOL is that since its about "language", it is well documented, all of the studies, theories and methods are posted online so references are all around you. I don't really understand how some ELT students can't find their materials🙄.

Social media is a way to write about ourselves and interact with others.

There are lots of different types of social media: social networking sites, online forums, sharing photos and videos, writing reviews, blogs and vlogs.
Like how I am doing my journal right now online, Dr.Karthi is implying the usage of social media in her class as a way of language learning. 

But in my humble opinion, I feel like social media has its own cons. Because internet is a scary place, when you are using social media, no matter for what purposes, you'd (at least once in your lifetime) come across something that you shouldn't see. It would be nice if we can come with a safe space for students to use social media for their studies. Maybe a creation of a unique internet world specifically for students would be splendid.

I came across with this particular video on Youtube on media filters by Noam Chomsky, an American Linguist. It is about the filter media have and what is going on behind the scene of what media has put out to us. There's 5 filters in total :

I have searched on Youtube for more clearance on this topic. So I came across this interview of Professor Brian Tomlinson on materials development in TESOL.

Based on an article by Learning English with Oxford, they have suggested some best and popular social media accounts and pages for learning English.

1. Learning English with Oxford

- Their Facebook page consists of videos, tips and explainers provided by The Oxford University Press.

2. Learning English with Lucy
- English with Lucy is a fabulous YouTube channel for English language learners but it is especially interesting if you want to focus on learning British English. Covering pronunciation, grammar, verbs, accents, and many other topics, it’s a very popular series with over 3 million subscribers.

3. In English With Love
- Sama, English teacher, uses inspirational quotes and beautiful design on Instagram to offer you English tips and teach lots of interesting language, grammar and phrases. The Instagram account is @inenglishwithlove. Below is a snap of her Instagram account.

Using games and fun activities in class is an important part of teaching ESOL. Playing games is a fun way to help students make connections between words and grammar. These connections quicken the process of building language skills. These ESOL games can help both native and foreign speakers of English improve their language ability. Playing games in class also helps to focus attention, improve interaction, increase energy levels and build confidence. Furthermore, shy or quiet students would begin to open up and speak English when playing games in class. 

Like this one time when I was in Academic English class, my teacher Madam Pramita decided to let us play a describing game much like charades. We were separated into two groups and each one of us takes turn to come up front and describe a word to our groupmates without using the word to describe it in just a minute. It was so much fun and it really does improve our describing skills as we have to think fast and speak in a unique way to give a hint of the word.

Recently, amidst the ongoing pandemic and online learning method, the government have created a television that is specially focused to highs school students in Malaysia to prepare them for SPM. The name of the program is DidikTV. I have watched DidikTV myself and I am impressed that for the first time, the media uses real life educators to educate on the screen instead of celebrities. Celebrities that have been in similar programs before usually would have to memorize or read of a scripts to "teach" the audience. But since we have the presence of a real teacher, they come off as more natural and what they know how to simplify and explain what they teach better than the celebrities.

I personally like to watch the English segment. Even though the level of education is for SPM students, but I believe that their syllabus teaches a lot on the foundations of language skills. High school student are at that age were they learn, focus, and train on the basics. That is why I prefer to go backwards and refresh what I have learned in my years of high school. Below is my recap on English SPM Paper 1 and 2 from Madam Jojo.

Dr. Karthi had us write in her Padlet on our thoughts on print media. I strongly believe and side on print media's importance. Whilst we are living in an increasingly digital world, print media is still an incredibly important part of the marketing mix. Investing in print media can help businesses to extend their reach to potential customers, gain exposure and engage their target audiences with campaigns. Print media is important because it creates credibility.

Also, I think students need something printed in front of them, otherwise they get distracted. The smart phone has become a largely negative experience, populated by their friends and families, and tending to that is a chore. It’s not a great place for actual reading. The fact of the matter is, students want something to read between classes, or when they are awkwardly alone. At least the smarter students do. They tire of their smart phones, or not all instructors allow phones in class, so a free newspaper is something different for them.