ESL Speaking: Enquiries About Jobs by Ben and Wadi

Another way of motivating students to participate intrinsically in ESL is by asking them to come out with a dialogue in the target language on controlled topics. Students can choose to memorize the dialogue or just by reading it with the right ESL intonation and pronounciation. Here's an example of a dialogue based on my controlled topic which are related to the course that I taught.

 

Ben: Hello, good morning. This is Celestica (AMS) S.d.n B.h.d?
Ady: Hello, good morning. Yes, this is Celestica (AMS) S.d.n B.h.d. Can I help you sir?
Ben: My name is Marzuki Bin Muhammat, I’m calling about your advertisement in jobstreet.com.
Ady: Owh, which job you want apply?
Ben: Actually, I want ask you about qualification do I need to apply job in your company as a technician?
Ady: In technician post, you must have at least certificate in mechanical engineering.What qualification do you have?
Ben: I have a certificate in Mechanical Petroleum from Kuching polytechnic.Am I qualified for the post?
Ady: Yes, I should think so.
Ben:Do you require candidates without work experience?
Ady: Actually, we accept a fresh graduated also. But,i f you have some experience it’s is an advantage for you.
Ben: Could you please tell me some of the responsibilities of a technician?
Ady: Well, the technician is directly responsible to check any machine if have any problem could happen and you must fix it.
Ben: What are the working hours like?
Ady: You must be able to perform permanent 12 hours day or night shift.
Ben: Oh, I see. May I know how much the salary is?
Ady: Well, the starting pay is RM 1800.00, after three months probation it will be increased to RM 2400.00.
Ben: That sounds reasonable. I’d like to make an interview appointment. May I know if it’s possible for you to arrange that?
Ady: Yes, of course. Can I have your full name and contact number please?
Ben: My full name is Marzuki Bin Muhammat. My cell phone number is 010-8888567.
Ady: Do you think you can come tomorrow at ten in the morning for interview?
Ben: Of course I can.
Ady: Please refer to the address in the advertisement when you want to belong to this company.
Ben: Thank you for you information and help.I’ll be there for the interview tomorrow.
Ady: See you then, bye.

ESL Speaking: Meeting New Friends by Mohd. Redhuan, Mohd. Sizal & Hii Kuang Soon

First day arrive at Politeknik Kuching Sarawak.

Wei : Hi, what is your name?

Kwang : Hi, my name is Hii Kwang Soon.

Wei : Oh ya,nice to meet you. For your information, my name is Teng Jing Wei. I Came from Sarikei Sarawak. Can you tell me more about yourself?Kwang : Nice to meet you too. I can from Sibu Sarawak. Just beside your hometown. The journey only takes me 1 hour to arrive.

Wei : Eh, Kwang there is a boy that looks handsome. Let’s go to make friend with him.

Wei & Kwang : Hey , handsome boy.

Wei : How are you? Can we be friends?

Michai : Of course. My name is Mohd Sizal Bin Mohd Nor.

Kwang : Can we know more about you?

Michai : Can. I am from Sabah. I am taking Diploma in Air Conditioning Engineering. My age is 18 years old. For your information I am still single. I am very glad to be here at Politeknik Kuching Sarawak today.

Wei : Thanks for information. I am glad to meet you. Beside Kwang and I also take the same course as you.

Kwang : Let us have some drink at cafeteria.

Wei : Yeah, it’s a good idea. Let’s go. Hey, see that guy. He has lot money. We can have some benefit from him.

Michai : Yeah, sure he will have a car. In this condition we will not having problems to find transport for us to go the city. Hello, can I be your friend?

Idan : Oh yes, sure can. Do you have your lunch already? If not me can eat together.

Wei : That’s great.

Idan : If like that when me finish buying our food then I gather at table number 2.

Michai : Great, so me buy our food first then.

Kwang : Wah, your food looks great Idan. Sure in a rich family right? Oh ya, I forgot to ask about background. Can you introduce yourself?

Idan : Hmm.. As you know my name is Mohd Redhuan Bin Masarapi. I am 18 years old. I came from Sabah. I am taking Diploma of Air Conditioning Engineering.

Michai : Wow! Same as what I am taking. Look like me 4 people can be good friends. My room number is A329. If you need any helps then you can come and find me anytime.

Idan : Michai, I am in same room. My room number also A329. Look like me are roommates now. That’s great.

Wei : Kwang, how about you? What is your room number?

Kwang : Oh ya, my room number is A 227.What about you Wei?

Wei : Kwang, we are also roommates. That’s good, if like that, when we are having difficulty then we can find each other to discuss. It is ok?

Kwang, Michai & Idan : Yeah, it’s ok.

Wei : Sorry guys, I have things to do right now so I got to go now. See you guys later in the evening. BYE!

Kwang, Idan & Michai : Ok…BYE!

Teaching Speaking To Non- Speakers

One of the difficulties in teaching English as a second language is teaching speaking. Speaking is one of the major skills beside reading, writing and listening. Most second language or ESL learners can master reading and writing throughout a lot of practices and tasks overtime but the same thing never or rarely happened to speaking skills.

Speaking skills required not just the commitment but also determination from second language learners. First students need to overcome negative attitudes for example shyness (feeling afraid of being laughed by their friends), refusal (not willing to try at all) and denial (switching off/ not motivated to learn to speak). These attitudes will block the learning even before it starts. And it will be very difficult for the ESL teachers to give once was a well- planned instruction specifically for the target skill.

On the other hand teachers’ task would be the motivators to second language learners. Teachers can come out with interesting, authentic and essential topics that students can discuss or talk about especially in the target language. The related topics should be easy and understandable. As a start ESL teachers can relate the topics with students’ interests before moving to serious topics like national issues or the world politics.

As an ESL teacher I realized teaching speaking is not as easy as it may sounds like. From my experience it actually started within the students, as long as they are willing to try, usually and normally they will succeed by the end of the day with flying colours. In learning speaking, the motivation and determination can only come from the second language learners most of the time. Teachers are just the facilitators and examiners. The process itself is like a trial and error but it really worth to try something which will become a very important skill in the global future.

Teaching Oral Communication Skills to Diploma Students

Starting this semester (Semester July 2010) year one students will need to take a new subject in English which is AE101 Communicative English. This subject would not only new to the students but also to some English Language tutors including me. The subject (according to the syllabus that is given to me) will focus more on communication skills like listening and speaking especially. The subject will not have any final test since every single assessment or the 100 percent will be implemented in classroom throughout quizzes, writing tasks, group discussions, assignments and individual oral presentations.

It’s is a norm to have some students with difficulties in speaking for instance, but in another way they are good in term of writing skills or comprehension and the situation goes vice versa. Tutors tasks or responsibility here are to be the facilitators to students and the rest is depending on them whether they willing to try and succeed or stop trying and remain at the same level all time.

For the past 2 weeks everything seems to goes very well in my class. In my observation, most students are giving their full commitment and cooperation in class and ready to take their language learning experience to the next level. It’s a very good start for both parties; language learners and tutors. And I hope the positive situation goes the same way until the end of this semester. As far as I am concerned, the students listened to my instructions in class and get along very well with my explanations on related topics.

Teaching and especially learning communication skills does take time. The most important thing to remember is to make sure students know what they are doing especially in using the communication skills appropriately in the future. The focus now is in making sure that the class will have 100 percent participation and develop speaking skills from time to time.