NSS course

Dear NSSC participants,

This is my third year to teach this EDB-tendered professional development course. I hope you like the ideas I delivered in this morning and trust that they can be utilized in the real classroom context.

The syllabus, despite designed by Tim, is largely based upon the EDB curriculum guide published in 2007. You may find some ideas too idealistic or impractical in your classroom situations. That's why it's significant to remember to fine-tune whatever teaching models or suggestions proposed to you as there is no one-size-fit-all pedagogical model that suits all contexts.

Lastly, the most important thing is that you can get to know one another who also works in the same field, or who is, like you, still struggling in the NSS teaching. However, after hearing what is happening in other schools, you may become more relieved that you know you are not alone. Instead, we are all in the same boat! Perhaps, you may make new friends through this occasion.

Good luck and enjoy.

Ricky

SSLW 2009

Last week, I attended the SSLW 2009 in Tempe, Arizona.


The symposium was well-received and very successful since participants from more than 20 countries joined this function. The 3-day symposium has a very thought-provoking as well as philosophical theme - the future of second language writing, so in other words, this year symposium aims to give writing scholars opportunities to think and plan ahead how the field continues to develop and even pass on to the next generation.


Presentation sessions, plenary sessions and colloquia were all inspiring and enlightening. I am sure the symposium attendees might fly home with tons of good ideas on their research agendas given it consists of so many themes and topics which could stimulate the thoughts of the audience.


To round up, my trip to Arizona State University was quite an eye-opener.