THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND PRACTICES OF MOBILE-ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING AND MIND MAPPING IN THE TEACHING OF WRITING IN ESL CLASSROOMS

Mobile assisted language learning (MALL) is a highly popularmultidisciplinary study field which increasingly attracts the attention ofscholars around the world. Moreover, it has attracted the scholars whohave realized the potential to apply mobile technologies to enhancelearning. This paper explores the perspectives and practices of mobileassistedlanguage learning and mind mapping and their practices inteaching of writing in the ESL classrooms. Few aspects are covered likedefining MALL, theoretical perspectives drawn from MALL, relatingthese to the practice of MALL and mind mapping in writing, pedagogicalapproaches used in MALL and issues faced in the ESL writingclassrooms. Thus, it is showed that MALL can be incorporated intowriting by using it with several writing approaches and techniques whichcounterparts the pedagogical advantages in mobile language learningcontexts. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the reviewedstudies and it implicates that mobile learning and mind mapping has goodprospects for teaching writing to ESL students

CIRI-CIRI USAHAWAN DAN KORPORAT MELAYU TERPUJI DI DALAM RIMBA HARAPAN DAN SAUDAGAR BESAR DARI KUALA LUMPUR

Fokus makalah ini untuk membincangkan ciri-ciri positif watak koporat atau usahawan Melayu terpuji yang terdapat di dalam Rimba Harapan dan Saudagar Besar dari Kuala Lumpur hasil tulisan Sasterawan Negara Keris Mas yang boleh dijadikan contoh yang baik untuk generasi muda. Tidak semua ciri-ciri seseorang ahli koporat berbentuk negatif. Keris Mas ingin menonjolkan nilai-nilai yang positif yang terpuji dan bersifat sejagat serta mulia untuk membantu insan lain tetapi tidak terserlah disebabkan pandangan masyarakat yang lebih terarah kepada ciri-ciri ahli koporat yang kaya selalunya bersifat negatif dan tidak perlu ditiru. Artikel ini turut membincangkan ciri-ciri ahli-ahli koporat atau usahawan Melayu yang positif, berbakat dan berkebolehan ini untuk menjadikan bangsa Melayu sebagai satu kuasa ekonomi yang signifikan.    The focus of this article is to discuss the outstanding positive characteristics of the Malay corporate figures in Rimba Harapan (Jungle of Hope) and Saudagar Besar dari Kuala Lumpur (Big Businessman from Kuala Lumpur) written by National Laureate Keris Mas which can be become good examples for the younger generation. Not all characteristics of corporate figures are negative. Keris Mas wanted to highlight positive traits which are of universal values to help people but were shadowed by the society’s perception that the rich people’s values are only negative and cannot be emulated. The article also discusses these values which can help the Malays to be a a significant economic power.&nbsp

PEMBIKAIAN CERITA NOVEL SAYANGKU PUTERI KARYA ABU HASSAN MORAD

Novel ini menjadi fokus makalah ini disebabkan penggunaan alat pembikaian cerita (story framing device) melalui suratsurat yang ditulis. Makalah ini memperlihatkan bagaimana plot novel ini dapat difahami melalui luahan rasa watak utama Julia dalam surat-surat beliau. Novel ini boleh dikategorikan sebagai novel epistolari merangkumi penceritaan menerusi alat pembikaian atau framing device melalui dokumen-dokumen seperti surat. Satu kelebihan penggunaan teknik ini ialah keupayaannya untuk menambahkan aspek realisma kepada sesuatu karya. Pembaca berfikir seolah-olah ianya adalah satu kisah benar yang telah terjadi. Ini adalah daya tarikan novelnovel epistolari yang agak popular bermula dalam kurun ke lapan belas. Antara penulis-penulis Barat yang menggunakan teknik ini adalah Jane Austen dalam karya agung beliau Pride and Prejudice. Perbincangan makalah ini juga melibatkan tema dan persoalan terpilih dari novel yang amat menarik ini. Antaranya ialah kasih sayang, semangat tidak mudah mengalah dan persahabatan yang menjadi nilai-nilai sejagat.    This novel becomes the focus of this article because of the usage of the framing device through the letters. The article describes how the plot of the novel can be understood by reading what was written by the main character Julia in her letters. Generally, this novel can be categorized as an epistolary novel since it tells the story through framing devices such as letters. One advantage of employing this technique was to add a sense of realism in the writing. It made the readers think it was really a true story. This is the main attraction of epistolary novels which was popular starting from the 18th century. Among western writers who had used this technique was Jane Austen in her great work, Pride and Prejudice. The discussion in this article includes selected themes and issues of this interesting novel. Among the issues discussed are love, perseverence and friendship which are universal values.&nbsp

Framework for conference management system.

This paper presents a Web-based Conference Management System framework that is intended to support multiple conferences and facilitate the conference management starting from the conference preparation until the attendance tracking process during conference day. The framework derived from the analysis of several web-based related applications. The framework is presents and the results are discussed

Exploring TPACK domains of Malaysian non-option ESL teachers in an online flipped learning course through Blendspace

The purpose of this paper is to explore teachers’ Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) domains in planning digital tools-based activities. It discusses a small part of a major study that investigated Malaysian non-option ESL teacher’s flipped ESL instructional design of teaching and learning in their own classroom context.  Participants were involved in this case study. The miniscule analysis was done for a digital tool called Blendspace (a learning management system – LMS) in order to investigate teacher’s classroom activity plans. The digital tools introduced to the participants were meant to support their ESL flipped learning instructional design. Findings show that new input ameliorated the existing TK domain and made it developmental. This has resulted an improvised TPACK which I coined a term ‘Augmented TPACK’ – an inclusive TPACK domains that consists of developmental TK and non-developmental PK and CK. Participants used Augmented TPACK to plan digital tools-based activity

A Preliminary Study on the Barriers in Listening Section of English Proficiency Test: Students’ Perspectives

  Abstract This study intends to find out the problems or barriers faced by Indonesian students in studying for an English proficiency test (EPT), especially in Listening section. EPT becomes a standard English test and a compulsory test for students since it is used as one of the requirements for their graduation at the degree level, and also for a job application. Those requirements increase the demand of the test. However, the fact shows that the test takers of the EPT took the test for times since they cannot pass the targetted score. This fact led this study to investigate further about the barriers they face in EPT. The study also describes kinds of English Proficiency Test and the kind used in University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. The design of the study is descriptive qualitative with 40 students as the subject. The data will be collected from questionnaire and follow-up interview to answer the question and reveal the barriers they face during the test.   &nbsp