Pilgrims of Literacy: March 2015

Reflection 2: Maybe?

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

As this “reflection” is being written, our 4 “travellers” are reaching their first checkpoint in their journey towards literacy in ENGL4740. And as they continue to walk, they ponder – maybe, the tedious research Dr. Rozina “forced” them into doing is not about the research itself; but it was about the process into completing it. Maybe, it’s because Dr. Rozina knew that they would have to go into a lot of trouble researching and finding references for the assignment, that’s why she asked them to do it. She wants to see how much efforts her students put into completing her assignment. She wants to prepare them to be literate Muslims. Just, maybe.

Maybe – a word for possibilities. That’s what the assignment showed them – possibilities. Possibilities open the door towards improvements; towards developments. Like CALL – it continued to improve and develop because it has possibilities – and it is still developing; towards a better CALL, perhaps? So, to create possibilities is to create room for improvement. That’s what they learn.

And talking about learning, “the lesson plan” should not be out of picture. The lesson plan is also just another “possibility”. What are the chances that any of the travellers would one day become an educator? -Probably none. But why not just be ready for that possibility? Why not be ready to use that lesson plan they create? Why not be ready to learn more and more? Why not learn through every little thing in the journey of life?

And with this final word, our travellers rest their hands from the digital pen - the keyboard.

(http://www.irlandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/MayBe.jpg)

Development of CALL

Lesson Plan - Scriptwriting for A-level students.

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

What our travelers were assigned to do was to create a "lesson plan" which utilizes CALL or Computer Assisted Language Learning for a hypothetical class of their own choice. The title might have given some off but what exactly have they come up with?

Reflection 1: Metaphorically literal

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

When Acap was undertaking Dr. Aishah's South Asian Literature in English class in 2013, he was assigned with preparing a video presentation about a hybrid culture (of South Asia origin) in Malaysia - which was to be presented in Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Jogjakarta. His group chose to highlight the Chetti Peranakan - a beautiful Indian-Malay hybrid ethnicity in Malacca.

"It was a literal journey but there was a heavy subconscious wayfaring. Physically, I traveled on foot; but metaphysically, I was soaring." (Acap)

"Even though I was not directly involved, the ethereal journey to the Land of Garudas through the recollection of a friend sent me there - metaphorically." (Dudi)

"The Chetti Peranakan narrates a story of its own. The hybrid culture can be seen as a physical manifestation of one beautiful journey - a cultural journey. (Aqwa)

"It all boils down to how we travel in life. Everyone has a privilege to travel; some walk the physical path, some do it through the memory of others - nonetheless, we travel". (Hatim)