RESEARCH
Members of the Communication Department at the Polytechnic of Namibia are doing research about the use of English in Namibia. NETA members are invited to join the project, or to provide information and comments. For more information regarding this investigation , please see the NETA blog, http://www.namneta.blogspot.com.
STORY-WRITING COMPETITION
We would like to announce a short story competition for non-professional writers. There are two categories. For the first time writers the length is 2000 word. for others who have published earlier, the length of the story should be 7,500 to 10,000 words. For more information contact Tracy Grellmann (tel. 207-2190) and Sarala Krishnamurthy (tel. 207-2402).
NETA MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION
We would like all English teachers to join NETA and participate in our activities. Please tell your colleagues about the Association. We would also welcome any contribution to the newsletter, and are looking for workshop presenters. Please contact Jeanne Hunter, tel. 207-2419.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
NETA NEWS
Hello Friends
I am really excited to announce the Mini-conference and workshop we are holding this weekend at the
Polytechnic of Namibia. The over-arching theme of the Mini-conference is "Language Assessment". Last year
more than 25,000 students failed in Grade 10, which is indeed a cause for concern.Therefore we believe
that the workshops are timely and beneficial to all the participants who are going to attend.
The Presidential Address will be given by Dr.Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, the Deputy minister of Education, who is a
renowned academician in her own right and the Key note speaker is Dr.Dolores Woolfaardt,
who has worked tirelessly for years as the Examinations Officer for the Cambridge IGCSE and HIGSCE exams
in Namibia. They bring a wealth of experience that all teachers of English can draw inspiration from.
The two addresses will be followed by four plenary sessions which deal with different aspects of
assessments. The Plenary sessions will be followed by workshops to provide an opportunity to teachers
to try out whatever has been explained in the plenaries so that they can go back to their classes
having learnt some useful strategies and apply them for successful learning.
I hope you will all be able to participate in this endeavour and make the Mini-conference and Workshop
successful.
Best regards
Sarala
I am really excited to announce the Mini-conference and workshop we are holding this weekend at the
Polytechnic of Namibia. The over-arching theme of the Mini-conference is "Language Assessment". Last year
more than 25,000 students failed in Grade 10, which is indeed a cause for concern.Therefore we believe
that the workshops are timely and beneficial to all the participants who are going to attend.
The Presidential Address will be given by Dr.Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, the Deputy minister of Education, who is a
renowned academician in her own right and the Key note speaker is Dr.Dolores Woolfaardt,
who has worked tirelessly for years as the Examinations Officer for the Cambridge IGCSE and HIGSCE exams
in Namibia. They bring a wealth of experience that all teachers of English can draw inspiration from.
The two addresses will be followed by four plenary sessions which deal with different aspects of
assessments. The Plenary sessions will be followed by workshops to provide an opportunity to teachers
to try out whatever has been explained in the plenaries so that they can go back to their classes
having learnt some useful strategies and apply them for successful learning.
I hope you will all be able to participate in this endeavour and make the Mini-conference and Workshop
successful.
Best regards
Sarala
Friday, September 14, 2007
Neta news
Dear Friends
Here is the latest update on NETA.
We had a workshop on Reading last week. It was well attended with nearly 80 teachers from different places such as Reheboth, Swakop, Walvis Bay, Karibib, Gobabis, Okahandja and of course, Windhoek.
Prof. Malaba from UNAM and Mr. Fred Opali from Polytechnic were the main speakers. Subsequently we had workshops looking at different aspects of Reading such as reading poetry, short story, passages from a novel and, also developing a vocabulary for the tertiary level and developing critical thinking through reading African texts. The participants interacted fully and engaged with the material provided to them.
In the last session of the day, the rapoteurs from the different workshops reported to the general assembly of teachers what happened in their respective workshops.
Most participants felt that they were very rushed and that they needed more time for the sessions.
I believe that more than ever there is a need to conduct several workshops and involve more teachers in them.
Next year we will extend an invitation to all English teachers in Namibia to join NETA.
Cheers !
Sarala
Here is the latest update on NETA.
We had a workshop on Reading last week. It was well attended with nearly 80 teachers from different places such as Reheboth, Swakop, Walvis Bay, Karibib, Gobabis, Okahandja and of course, Windhoek.
Prof. Malaba from UNAM and Mr. Fred Opali from Polytechnic were the main speakers. Subsequently we had workshops looking at different aspects of Reading such as reading poetry, short story, passages from a novel and, also developing a vocabulary for the tertiary level and developing critical thinking through reading African texts. The participants interacted fully and engaged with the material provided to them.
In the last session of the day, the rapoteurs from the different workshops reported to the general assembly of teachers what happened in their respective workshops.
Most participants felt that they were very rushed and that they needed more time for the sessions.
I believe that more than ever there is a need to conduct several workshops and involve more teachers in them.
Next year we will extend an invitation to all English teachers in Namibia to join NETA.
Cheers !
Sarala
Thursday, September 6, 2007
NETANEWS
Here is the NETA newsletter.
Would you like to contribute to the Newsletter ?
Why don't you send your article to <> ?
We welcome all contributions.
Cheers
Would you like to contribute to the Newsletter ?
Why don't you send your article to <> ?
We welcome all contributions.
Cheers
NETA Questionnaire
Did you realise that there were almost seventy participants present at our launch in April ?
We had distributed a questionnaire during our launch to find out our teachers' needs. The analysis threw up some interesting results. Briefly:
1. All teachers felt that they need help to develop students in the four skill areas :
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
2. Some teachers felt that they needed help in the teaching of Grammar and Vocabulary.
3. Certain others expressed the need to be helped in the area of Literature teaching
with an emphasis on Poetry.
4. Some teachers wanted to be trained in: Lesson and Curriculum Planning/Dealing
with Learning Disabilities/Materials development/ Developing Critical Thinking/Games
and Fun Activities to develop language skills.
5. A few expressed interest in action, empirical and applied research.
Clearly all of us concerned about the lack of language and study skills in our students.
How do you tackle this problem in your classroom ? Why don't you post a small note about the strategies you use in class to teach your students ?
Cheers !
Sarala
We had distributed a questionnaire during our launch to find out our teachers' needs. The analysis threw up some interesting results. Briefly:
1. All teachers felt that they need help to develop students in the four skill areas :
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
2. Some teachers felt that they needed help in the teaching of Grammar and Vocabulary.
3. Certain others expressed the need to be helped in the area of Literature teaching
with an emphasis on Poetry.
4. Some teachers wanted to be trained in: Lesson and Curriculum Planning/Dealing
with Learning Disabilities/Materials development/ Developing Critical Thinking/Games
and Fun Activities to develop language skills.
5. A few expressed interest in action, empirical and applied research.
Clearly all of us concerned about the lack of language and study skills in our students.
How do you tackle this problem in your classroom ? Why don't you post a small note about the strategies you use in class to teach your students ?
Cheers !
Sarala
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
NETA NEWS
My favourite aphorism when I was in school was: " If at first you don't succeed, try , try , try again".
I see that nobody has tried to access my blog. Is it because people are afraid to try blogging ? But really, it is the easiest tool in the world !
Or is it because I haven't posted my photo ??? Surely that should not deter you !!!
Pl. feel free to contribute whatever you would like to my blog.
The launch of NETA was a huge success. Now we are conducting a workshop on Reading which is indeed a matter of concern for all of us teachers.
I read a very interesting book last week which is a reworking of the Bram Stoker novel, Dracula. It had an interesting technique quite different from the epistolary form of the original and the story was plausible despite being set in our times. I also read Africa: A Shackled Continent, a very insightful book comprehensively written, though it is not a work of fiction. My serious reading at this point in time, is about language policy and discourse.
Of course, the excitement in the past few days has been about J.K. Rowling's last novel in the Harry Potter series. My daughter booked her copy days in advance and went to CNA at midnight to collect it even though it was dead cold. She said she wanted to be part of a global phenomenon !!!
Tell me what you have been reading and what you like/don't like about the books that you have been reading
Cheers!
Sarala
I see that nobody has tried to access my blog. Is it because people are afraid to try blogging ? But really, it is the easiest tool in the world !
Or is it because I haven't posted my photo ??? Surely that should not deter you !!!
Pl. feel free to contribute whatever you would like to my blog.
The launch of NETA was a huge success. Now we are conducting a workshop on Reading which is indeed a matter of concern for all of us teachers.
I read a very interesting book last week which is a reworking of the Bram Stoker novel, Dracula. It had an interesting technique quite different from the epistolary form of the original and the story was plausible despite being set in our times. I also read Africa: A Shackled Continent, a very insightful book comprehensively written, though it is not a work of fiction. My serious reading at this point in time, is about language policy and discourse.
Of course, the excitement in the past few days has been about J.K. Rowling's last novel in the Harry Potter series. My daughter booked her copy days in advance and went to CNA at midnight to collect it even though it was dead cold. She said she wanted to be part of a global phenomenon !!!
Tell me what you have been reading and what you like/don't like about the books that you have been reading
Cheers!
Sarala
Friday, April 13, 2007
Discussion
"Technology has revolutionised the way we work and is now set to transform education. Children cannot be effective in tomorrow's world if they are trained in yesterday's skills. Nor should teachers be denied the tools that other professionals take for granted."
--Tony Blair (7 October, 1997)
How far would you agree with this view? Please comment (100 words).
--Tony Blair (7 October, 1997)
How far would you agree with this view? Please comment (100 words).
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