Reflection on Tutorial Task Week 7

In this week’s task, we are to develop a language learning material using any media from the technology ranging from videos (with sound and visual) to texts (with graphics).Sketch out a digital language learning material interface and explain your concept using the information you have read from the Your DLLM can either be thematic based or language form based.

Our group had decided to use ‘MakeBeliefsComix’ in designing our learning material. The reason is because we find it simple to be used. Anyone can have to access to it as long as there is an internet connection. In addition, students do not have to register or sign up for an account. All they need to do is just design their own comic based on their creativity. When they are done, they can type down the title of their work and their name in the columns provided. Teachers can give them any titles related to what they are learning. For instance, if they are learning about ‘Environment’, teachers can assign them to create comics with topics such as ‘Recycle’ and ‘Cleaning’.

Frankly, my group member and I were quite confused at the beginning of the task. This was because we could not differentiate between language learning material and language learning tool. I, myself could not ‘see’ the line that separated them from each other. On the morning of our tutorial task presentation, our confusion was answered when our lecturer mentioned that there were certain groups that had mistaken language learning tools as language learning materials.

From there, I realized that Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and Tumblr are examples of language learning tools. It is important to be able to differentiate between the language learning materials and tools. So, students use tools to learn language and I wondered if it is in the sense of to improvise what they had learned in class. In other words, I would put it as; tools= an aid for students in learning a language and putting them to use (posting own status on Facebook, viewing and reading others’ status updates or blog entries). As for learning materials, I think it would function as an activity that is to be carried out by students in order for them to learn a language. I think it is important for a future teacher to be able to differentiate between language learning materials and tools.