I was at the First International Language Conference (ILC) organized by the IIUM early this weak - 3rd March to 5th March 2008. Participants and presenters were from 26 different countries around the world. This is a great meeting of great minds - sharing plans, projects, noble intentions, and strategies to upgrade the quality of teaching of three main languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia and Arabic. My paper presentation is entitled : Let Learners Learn from Experience: Ethical Decision Making in the ESL Classroom.
As an academician, I always try to improve my knowledge on ELT as well as teaching methodology to promise more effectiveness in the ESL classroom. This is definitely not an easy task. It entails a lot of reading, some kind of experimenting, and rigorous research initiatives. At conferences like the ILC, I also learn about other methodologies and pedagogical approaches that educational practiotioners can use in the classroom. Some of these ideas evolve, and some are new hybids - technology + ESL methodology, etc.
Most importantly, I also make new friends who are academic researchers like me - glad to know Dr Fawzia from Oman, Brenda-Davies the dynamic Irish duo from Brunei, Dr Farouk from Universiti Kelantan Malaysia, and Monica from Hong Kong. Well, when I present my research paper in Hong Kong, I'll definitely meet Monica again...and we'll find time to see places there, hopefully. I also met my favourite teacher back in MRSM Jasin, who is now Dr Umi...hmm..isn't this great, and isn't it a small world?
Now, coming back to my point of writing this post; I believe that great minds should meet at a platform where there is a sharing of ideas, exchange of opinions, a deliberation of new discoveries. Knowledge is abundant that one person cannot possibly handle it. Knowledge is so majestic that we shouldn't keep it to ourselves. Knowledge is the thrust to all other accomplishments that it should be recorded properly.
The mind works and the mind connects.The mind speaks and the mind hears. The mind is indeed so powerful. Winston Churchill once said, "The empires of the future are the the empires of the mind". But it takes the man and woman possessing the minds to elevate the dormant states of minds to be proactive and thus contribute to an empire.
Let's bring this deliberation closer to the context of an ESL classroom.In the Academic Writing class, students choose a research topic, engage in extensive reading to explore the topic, and write a research paper for submission (15%). For this activity to benefit the students, the process should enrich their knowledge, make them think and connect the reading material to their everyday lives and observation; thus, making them more knowledgeable and matured at the end of the day.
What about the Public Speaking class? The student selects a topic out of interest or curiosity. Then, he reads further on the topic and later presents his research to his classmates (20%). On the presentation day, some minds may remain idle. But, the minds that are most alert, busy processing the input and making sense of the new and interesting facts and ideas, shall leave the class with rich extended body of knowledge.
Knowledge exists everywhere - even in the classroom. Sometimes, students stand in front of the class and present their insights and ideas - hey, that triggers a new idea, a different perspective. Stduents read and write their research paper, write articles and responses in the blogs and newspaper - these are all active minds contributing to "the great empire of the minds".
Research and expansion of knowledge is not an activity that is exclusive to academicians, researchers, and writers alone. When we meet in the classroom, the students should be made to understand that they are themselves researchers, learners, and writers, from their own special domain. They are intellectuals who are entitled to their own opinions and stance; also the freedom to express their thoughts and observations in a non-threatening avenue.
Hence, the classroom is itself a great platform for knowledge-sharing. Yes, the classroom is "The International Learning Conference" where great minds agree to disagree, share insights and discoveries, unravel truths in their everyday experience and encounter, record as well as present their learning and research experience.
Isn't the classroom full of great minds? Doesn't the classroom produce charismatic speakers and dynamic leaders? Isn't the classroom a smaller version of the society outside? Well, we cannot deny that whatever we do in the classroom will shape our habits and behaviour, perspective and attitude, in the real world to a certain extent.
What about you? Do you feel like a budding researcher, writer and presenter, already? "A stitch in time saves nine", so work on it, and you'll graduate from this semester with more fulfilment and self-discovery, hopefully.
Think about it:)
ESL = English as a Second Language
ELT = English Language Teaching
IIUM = International Islamic University, Malaysia
