This will be the second time I am teaching this course. I usually teach a different course each semester but because I am not teaching 102 this semester, but rather 101 again, there hasn't really been enough time to design another course. Besides, the course worked rather well last semester and so it will be interesting to see whether it will run as smoothly this semester.
I have a number of concerns. Firstly, as I am teaching this course for the second consecutive semester, there is a danger that I myself may lose interest. However, by choosing different texts on which to base the main assignments, I will ensure that I get a completely different character of essay than I got last semester. This should help. Also, last semester, I myself had to do quite a lot o f learning as it was the first time I had ever made a podcast myself, hosted podcasts on my website, written a blog, converted sound recordings from mobile phones etc. Now that I have been through the process once, everything should run a lot more smoothly this semester. Also, from the students' perspective, I will be able to give them clearer instructions as I have learned a great deal from difficulties that students experienced last semester - I will be able to anticipate difficulties and warn students in advance.
Another concern I have is that the profile of the students this semester is completely different to those of last. As it is the second semester of the year, students are arriving from different sources. Many of them are repeat students or students who have had to do a remedial English course. Many of my students last semester were direct entry with practically native English fluency. This means of course that many of the students this semester are going to find the course rather tough and demanding. I hope that they are fully aware of their capabilities and that because of their weaker skills they may have to work a lot harder than others and despite their hard work they may still be disappointed with grades. However, I feel that as long as they remain confident that they can pass and continue to make the effort they will still be able to succeed .
It is now week two but I am still receiving new students into the class. It is very disruptive for all when students are being constantly moved from class to class. About half the students have written a diagnostic essay for me but by Thursday of this week I should have received the remainder. From those I have seen so far, there are no surprises. As some students are repeating there is a larger contingent - than last semester - of students who appear to know what to do with a text and how to incorporate it into their writing.
Later this week I will brief students on the writing of their blog and the production of their podcast. From a quick preliminary pole, there is only the odd student in each class who knows what a blog is. None apparently know what a podcast is. So, lots to learn and here's hoping it will be a successful semester for all concerned.
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