a newcomer to the msc
A newcomer to the MSc | Francesca Agresti | June 8th, 2005
Hello,
Introductions- I'm Francesca and I live in Eboli, a small town in the south of Italy near the archaeological sites of Pompei and Paestum. I try to teach Italian children English and they Italian to me. I have been teaching here officially in schools for about 5 years and privately since I came in the 1980s.
MSc- I'm a newcomer to the MSc and I'm toiling at the fnd module. I've read it through so many times, done the individual tasks and started the portfolio ones but I don't seem able to finish them. It's harder than I thought. I've never questioned myself so much, I've got the feeling as though I'm doing something wrong. Has anybody got any advice to give?
Francesca
Re: a newcomer to the MSc | Jerry Talandis Jr. | June 9th, 2005
Hi Francesca! Welcome to this list! Always nice to see a new person here. We just had Francesca graduate from the program recently... Francesca from Brazil.
I've read it through so many times, done the individual tasks and started the portfolio ones but I don't seem able to finish them. It's harder than I thought. I've never questioned myself so much; I've got the feeling as though I'm doing something wrong. Has anybody got any advice to give?
Anyway, it seems to me you're having a typical reaction to master's level study. Looks like you've done a lot of work, but from what you wrote, I gather your self-confidence is taking a beating.
I have a couple of questions for you. First of all, have you had a chance to take a look at the various websites Aston CPs (course participants) have put together that offer support to people in your position? There's a lot of good stuff there. In case you don't know about them, here are several great places to start:
Discussion List Archive
I'd recommend checking out the FND section; there's a lot of help there. Once you read up on how others have tackled these tasks, you may find that learning what's expected helps calm your nerves.
David Anderson's "Quick Start Guide"
Paul Raper's "Links for Aston MSc"
Phil Quirke's "ESL Support Site"
My next question: which of the tasks is giving you the most trouble? I bet it's the MET one... still, give us some idea of what exactly you don't understand. People will help you out on this list.
Thanks for posting! Good luck sussing those PT tasks out.
Jerry
Japan
Re: A newcomer to the MSc | Martin Lovatt | June 9th, 2005
Hi Francesca,
Welcome!
I'm a bit pushed for time today - and Jerry's comments have covered your enquiry very well I think - so I'll keep this unusually short!
If I were in your situation, I'd probably...
1. Talk to/e-mail my tutor and get some guidance
2. Explain my problem on this list in as much detail as I can & ask for input
3. Finish just one of the portfolio tasks (whichever I liked the best!) and send it to my tutor for specific feedback (they recommend sending one in for guidance before we submit the whole thing anyway).
4. Drink a large cool beer, glass of wine (or whatever your poison is!), sit back, relax and wait for the feedback!
It worked for me!
Best,
Martin
Fukuoka, Japan
Re: A newcomer to the MSc | Mike McDonald | June 9th, 2005
Hi, Francesca. You say you feel as though you're doing something wrong. Is that because you're questioning yourself a lot? If so, I would say you're doing something RIGHT. One of the important things I've picked up from the course is that there is no right way or wrong way of teaching: the important thing is that you question what you are currently doing and see why you do it that way and whether you could do it differently.
I spent six months on the FND course and went through the same doubts as you. I don't regret it, but I would suggest that you remember the purpose of the FND, which is to give you a taste of all the various possible options available later in the course, and an idea of the academic disciplines involved in each. Don't try to get too deeply into anything--treat it as a wine-tasting session, find out what interests you most, and move on. Remember--whatever you do in FND, you'll have a chance to explore later in more detail.
FWIW
Mike McDonald
Hi all | Chris Baldwin | June 10, 2005
Hi all
Just been given a bottle of grappa (the local poison) by a class as an end of year present, so I'm feeling good! Time to work now, though.
Francesca - It's nice to hear from someone else in Italy. I'm in Verona, in the north. In addition to the other good advice, I think that you need to focus on one task at a time, rather than read everything repeatedly - that could help you to think only about the task in hand.
Have a good one!
Chris
Italy
Re: Hi Francesca | Elizabeth Renshaw | June 11th, 2005
Hi Francesca,
That's a good point about doing just one of the tasks and sending it in. I find that the reading takes ages and its difficult to tell if any progress is being made. This is what I feel like with GLE at the moment. However, you have the luxury on FND to just choose one (only 500 words I think) to do and send it off if you like for feedback.
All the best,
Elizabeth Renshaw
Bonn, Germany
Purpose of FND | Jake Kimball | June 11th, 2005
Hi everyone,
I've been reflecting on what Mike has said about the purpose of the FND module. I was at first caught by his advice to newcomers.
Don't try to get too deeply into anything--treat it as a wine-tasting session, find out what interests you most, and move on. Remember--whatever you do in FND, you'll have a chance to explore later in more detail.
This is true, of course--there's nothing for me to disagree with here. However, I would say that the "wine-tasting" is more of a happy by-product of reading, studying, and doing the tasks. I would like to add that all of the modules do have goals, aims, and objectives. I went back to the old Study Companion for a look at the FND module.
What's helped me with a little confidence is that for each module (end of unit unit?) I often write down the goals and objectives noted in each unit and sometimes even try to quiz myself to see if I know what I'm talking about. Can I talk or write intelligently on the given topic? I think this would also make for a profitable journal writing session should I start up that again. This is one way to measure how well I'm latching on to key concepts. It also helps to have a study buddy (I wish I had one for each module!) or engage in dialogues on this list or on the new Blackboard system.
In addition to "wine-tasting," I think there are core competencies we should all strive to work towards so that we're at least on equal footing with our peers in the TESOL community.
For example, stated goals for FND:
1) Have an enjoyable learning experience.
2) Be motivated
3) Demonstrate an ability to pursue MSc level studies
4) Prepare for DL study mode
5) Introduce key concepts, skills, etc.
6) Demonstrate interconnectedness between areas covered
7) Engage in AR projects
8) Introduce approaches
Competencies or tasks for FND:
1) Discourse analysis of text
2) Prepare aproposal
3) Collect data
4) Record and transcribe
5) Compare lexical density of two texts
6) Evaluate a syllabus
7) Evaluate materials
8) Evaluate concordances
Jake
Re: Purpose of FND | Paul Raper | June 11th, 2005
Hi Jake,
That's all very true but I would support Dave's view to the letter. I can honestly say that when I started out I was highlighting every thing that sounded like a gem of information. True, I found Julian's style immensely motivating but if I had continued at the pace I was setting then, I'd still be doing the FND today. As it is I'm trying to finish off my first assignment.
Whilst I was doing the FND I found it much easier to focus on what I wanted to do at the end. To that end I skimmed the sections that were not of any relevance to my end goals, and concentrated on those which I wanted to include for my final masters. Now ok it could turn out that I have a change of course, but the essence is still there. The FND serves to establish whether or not you have the sort of stuff a masters requires.
I have to say that Dave Anderson and Jerry very well supported me. I got through my FND in some 6 months and I have to say that without their advice and help I'm sure it would have taken longer.
Paul
A bit of FND Philosophy | Joe Alvaro | June 12th, 2005
Hi, everyone.
I have been reading all postings, but in particular, following the FND thread with great interest.
I think the FND was one of the most difficult things I have ever done for several reasons. First of all, if I may resort to metaphor, it is very much like taking on a new culture. It is a baptism into the academic ESL community- for me it was a baptism of fire. In fact, in the final assignment I wrote that my desk was no longer a benign piece of wooden furniture...somehow it had become an anvil and I was being pounded and forged on it. Intense? you bet. I would not be exaggerating to say that doing the FND changed my life.
One of the hardest things, as Paul mentioned, was pacing. I found that on that first bit in the FND about journal-keeping, I was going overboard. I spent weeks reading everything about journal-keeping and had no sense of perspective regarding time and when/if I should move on. As a result, I became panicky, and felt like I would never make it through. One trait of a weak language learner is that when reading the L2, they labour over every word instead of accepting the fact that there are words, terms and even concepts that they will not get handle on quite yet. There must be a certain understanding that learning may be a bit painful and when it is, just say 'ouch' and move on and content yourself with the bigger picture realising that you may not be able to know and undestand everything just yet. In a sense, I was exactly like that, fretting over everything I didn't understand.
All that to say: over time, one gains a sense of relativity, of how things should be paced and ordered. After all, if we were to compare titles of assignments done by CPs even on just one module, ASD for example, there would be an incredibly wide range of topics--no two alike, all within that one general field.
The pressure is there and it spurs you on. But life became a lot less stressful when I realized that I could never know everything and that I should just major on the majors--what was interesting and relevant to me and my context.
Some who have done the FND have written in excellent practical suggestions and I don't think I could add to that other than to say that it is not all about technique and practicalities. For me, a kind of inner or spiritual determination in the face of failure was the key.
I hope that helps someone. Have a great summer!
Joe
Guangzhou, China
FND et cetera | Dawn Grant-Skiba | June 12th, 2005
Hi Joe and all,
I'd like to add my two cents worth about tackling the FND. Just a couple of days ago I came across my assignment and course pathway. I am not boasting but I did the FND in less than 3 months. One big part of that was due to the excitement and motivation of starting post-grad studies. I was so motivated that I did actually spend around 2-4 hours a day on the thing although my life was quite busy. I must admit though that I abandoned journal entries halfway through - it's a great idea but it's just not my thing. And I didn't write the answers to every single task. Come on now!! Another big help was my study partner, fellow participant, Neil from Germany whose name I continually misspelt (I hope it's ok now). We just kept on sending each other our assignments for feedback and he really helped me a lot. I wonder if he's still around? Actually, the idea of getting a so-called personal study partner was enforced when I got THAT first call from Steve Mann - bless him! I guess what I'm saying is that for those of you working on the FND, it is really VITAL to find such a person. By all means, make use of the rest of us who are further ahead but nothing (or no-one) beats the person who can fit in your shoes. Good luck.
Alas I'm not able to be superwoman, Jerry!! I have resigned from my ambitious whatever-you-want-to-call-it to finish the TEYL assignment in 2 weeks. The biggest reason is that I'm just too excited about my upcoming trip to the Caribbean to do justice to it. Besides, I'm still putting in the finishing touches to my CMD assignment that I'll be handing in this weekend. However, Robert, you are still on for March. Let's go for gold. One of my philosophies for situations like this is: "Reach for the stars, if you can't catch 'em at least grab a cloud. Either way, you'll be riding high." In this case, if not March then July but I'm still gonna try for March.
Enjoy ya weekend!
Dawn
Poland
A word of thanks | Francesca | June 15th, 2005
Hi to all of you,
Thanks for the welcome and advice you have all given me. I've been following the various points discussed for the past two weeks and I'm overcome by you all. I've acquired so much that I feel I need to get back into shape fairly quick to keep up with you.
To Paul, I liked your comparison- fnd to a wine-tasting session. The underlining implications have given me the appropriate attitude to adopt.
To Jonathan, Chris, Martin, Verona and Elizabeth, you all have put me on the right pathway, I'm finally writing and trying to ignore the inner speculative voice that lures me onto interesting but time waisting routes. I'm keeping to the main objectives of p tasks and I've listed them out in bold letters.
Francesca
with 
and 
