ICT in ELT

Dictionary - Monolingual or Bilingual

2011-12-13T11:04:00.003+04:00

I think both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries have their own place in language learning and whichever dictionary lets learning happen effectively can be used in class.

I would let students use a bilingual dictionary when I want students to understand the meaning of a not very common word (mostly common nouns). It’s much easier to let them refer a bilingual dictionary (if the teacher doesn’t speak the students’ L1) than waste a lot of time trying to explain the meaning in English especially with lower level students. Later the teacher gets a chance to let the students write the word when English meaning is given to test their understanding.

In most other situations I would prefer a monolingual (English-English) Dictionary because it has much more than just definitions (e.g. word class, pronunciation, common collocations). It also lets students to see/use the language they are learning more and get familiar with it.

Devil's Dictionary

2011-12-12T19:04:00.003+04:00

Here are the two definitions of the word I have chosen. The first one is from the Devil's dictionary and the second is from Merriam-Webster dictionary.

I don't think you'll have to scratch your head to find this one :D

One upon whom we set our hopes when ill and our dogs when well.
One exerting a remedial or salutary influence.

Very interesting blog

2011-12-07T14:09:00.002+04:00

Very interesting blog and visually engaging. Looks like a nice place where you live. Is it hot all year round?

My hobbies

2011-12-01T18:47:00.007+04:00

As a child I learned South Indian classical music called Carnatic Music and also a south Indian dance form called Bharathanatyam. Though I don't dance like that now, I like to and I can spend hours listening to Carnatic music.

Here is a playlist containing both Carnatic Music and Bharathanatyam. I have included Carnatic music vocal and instrumental.

Another thing I like to do is draw :-). I do it a lot in class to elicit situations, stories etc to the amusement of the students. Irrespective of the age or type of students I draw in class and that generates a lot of interest in them, not because I am that good at drawing, but probably because they like to see me 'at work' creating pictures on board.

My family

2011-12-01T16:07:00.018+04:00

This year so far hasn't been an easy one with my mom-in-law and my grandma passing on at a gap of three months, the latter just two weeks ago. I'm just back from India after attending some functions post demise. With my dad too not keeping very well, I was very reluctant to join this course, though I have been planning to for months.

Thanks to my husband for encouraging me to join and supporting me.

Here is collage of some pictures.

My boys, born eight years apart, have birthdays on the same date - 18 May.

An old photo of my boys enjoying their stay in Kerala.

I never lived in Kerala, after my marriage. Only went for visits.

I live on the first floor of this house. And you can see the hill behind.

Here are the hills that surround us on all sides. You can see them behind the buildings.

About me

2011-12-01T14:41:00.014+04:00

I was born and brought up in the capital city of Kerala, called Trivandrum or
Thiruvananthatpuram.

Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple, which shot to fame after a century old treasure of over $ 10.49 billion was unearthed in the secret cellars, is here in the heart of the city.

I drew inspiration from my dad, a college professor, to become a teacher myself and perhaps, from my mom -an amateur writer, I must have got the love of languages.

I completed my education in Kerala. Following my fathers footsteps I did my post graduation in Commerce and Accountancy. But later I underwent training to become an English language teacher.