The Learner and the Teacher

It is often said that the most effective teachers are those who are able to grow not only in the knowledge of their subject but in their understanding of life both in and out of the classroom. This is what I hope for many of you.

To put in simpler terms, for some teachers the classroom is a rut where exams, syllabus and endless requirements constantly drag you down as the years go by, but for others, the classroom can become a fascinating laboratory/ garden, in which they grow to understand their learners, their needs and this help them learn more about themselves as teachers and individuals who can make a difference in the world. These are the people who will go on to inspire the world.

What is your opinion on the above?
As usual, there is always two sides to the coin? Do you agree or do you see a flaw somewhere? Lets talk about this this week.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

In Wood and Head (2004, PBL was used to help students discuss problems and generate solutions in a university in Brunei. The writer talks about treating learning "in a contextual, holistic fashion which was synthethic rather than analytic and matched the needs of the target learners" (p.6). Well, if was a one time situation, I am not sure if it works everywhere. While PBL has been widely discussed as a good technique, it is not used in many classrooms in our country. What do you think is preventing us from using it in language courses? Would problem based learning be applicable in the classroom of tomorrow? Would you be willing to give it a try in any other class?

Alright, in view of the lengthy discussions, I am putting a ceiling on all future discussions. Limit your discussion to a maximum of 70 words. Keep your comments concise and precise. Remember, language is not important, it is the content that makes the difference.