How can the standard-features word-processing programs be exploited for teaching writing skills?

Word processing programs allow people to produce typed documents on a computer screen. Although the lines between word processing and desktop publishing have become increasingly blurred, the programs still differ in the way they produce documents. Word processing programs essentially produce documents as a stream of text, whereas desktop publishing produces them as individual pages. Despite this difference, most word processing programs allow at least some desktop publishing capabilities, such as inserting text boxes and graphics at any location on the page. 

Some of the features we can use are:

Basic features help us to save time writing text and make changing text easier and more flexible.

Language features help teachers and students to correct their work and do various languages, spelling, and usage exercises, check and correct spelling, suggest words, check grammar and usage.
Web features allow teachers and students to connect documents with Internet resources and create web page announcements, reports, and projects.

On the other hand, when students do receive instruction in typing and text editing, it is not surprising that they become skilled at these tasks because they are in contact with them and the instructions give them a guide for using them in the appropiate way.

 

 

Do you think technologies (e.g., videos, computers, etc.) should play a central or a peripheral role in second language teaching and learning? Why?

I think technologies should play a central role in second language teaching and learning because teachers can take a lot of advantages of technology in order to make the teaching and learning more effective. The usage of technology in the classroom can make the classes more intesting for students due to it is an unusual way of teaching; therefore, students learn more since they are interested and they pay more attention to the classes. Moreover, technology offers a wide ways of improving a second language. Students who study a second language need to learn how to use technology to improve their skills because it is not enough only with the classes their resive. However, technology sometimes can distract students with other things such as social networkings (facebook, twitter, hi5, tagged, etc) or web sites like youtobe. And they will not use internet or technology for the right purpose insted they will waste their time in unnecessary things and learning will not take place. In order to avoid this, teachers need to educate first themselves on the good usages of technology  and then educate their students , as well. Technology is an important and big source of knowledge but we have to learn how to use it; if we do this we will see the results on the improvement of students. But we also need to be really careful  and we need to make sure we use technology to a rela purpose. For example, a computer can`t teach studentsany more than a blackboard or a cassette recorder can. It will all depends on what you do with the tools. By using technology we allow students to be an active part of their own learning because they use it to go over their classes out side the schools or in their  houses. It is important to use different methods that technology offers us due to studets do not take seriously or they get bored when they have to read a book or when they have to go to the libraryand investigate, but if they have to read an information on a blog, they watch a video, or they have to make a discussion with their classmates on facebook, they will feel these more interesting and they will be more willing to participate on them. As a conclusion, we as future teachers do not have to be afraid of using new methods of teaching or using the technology to give our classes; indeen this has to play a principal role in our teaching.

What do you think is the role of research to understanding teaching?

The role of research in improving our understanding of teaching is truly important becuse we need to know some theories about teaching and also how to develop them in class. By researching about different methods and techniques teachers can know which of them fit better their students` needs. Moreover, teachers can see that there are many different ways to manage a class and do different things to avoid monotone. And this will be helpful for students because they will not feel bored in class and they will be more interested on the class. As  result, they will  learn easily and their affective filter will be low,since doing different activities in class help students to overcome shyness or fear to participate.

Even though research is important and very necessary to understand teaching, it is more important to have experiences on teaching. There are alot of things teachers cannot learn by research; therefore, they need to live such experiences that can be good, sad, bad, dissapointed or exciting. And these experiences are more valuable at the end, since it is something teachers live by themselves in which they take decisions and act according to the way they see things. They can react differently depending on the kind of situation or their personality.

MY EXPERIENCE STUDYING A SECOND LANGUAGE

During the last years I have been studying a second language, I have gone through many good and bad experiences. I have had all kind of teachers, some of them had a pasotive influence on me, but some others just dissapointed me with their teaching methods. I know teachers have their own way to teach, but they are  supposed to adapt their methods to students´ needs. And some of them do not like to change their methods, even if they see these methods are not good for students. 

 

I faced with teachers that have a lot of experience because they have teach for many years, but they do not change their methods. They have always given the same classes and they do it in a very simple way, which can be boring for students. Also they do not like to do anything interesting or unusual, they are just in their comfort zone, that is why students can not learn as much as they should. And even worst is that these kind of teacher expect students to get excellents grades. Teachers have to care not only about giving all their classes but also about teaching significant knowledge to students.

On the other hand , I know a teacher that really enjoys his job and he seems to put a lot of effort in preparing his classes. His teaching methods are very effective because these are appropiate for his students´ level. He also change his methods and techniques according to his students´ needs in every class. Moreover he encourage us to give our best every day in any subject. Now that I am learning about different teaching methods I have realize that he uses these methods very well and that by doind it he has become in such a good teacher. I really learned a lot in his classes and enjoyed every class