Proudly Stepping Forward

Sisyphus

With my teaching load and all other work and social commitment for this week, I predicated a tough week towards the end of last week. So I started with my readings as early as Monday setting plans to complete my assignments way before the deadline.  

The first half of the week started hectic yet according to schedule. Despite all the difficulties, I managed to post my assignment discussing Reading/Writing Skills Building and commenting on couple of my classmates’. By Thursday, things started to look shaky. By the time I finished preparing for my courses on Friday morning, it was 2:00 AM and totally drained of energy and left with only 4 hours of sleep before I start yet another long day. I decided to retire to bed, hoping I will make up for my work during the weekend. The weekend came late this week and had company! My weekend knocked at 6:00 PM, Saturday evening and brought an uninvited guest along, Prof. Migraine T. Headache (T for terrible).

I spent the amputated weekend sitting by my laptop, looking productive, but feeling and ending otherwise. My concentration was hitting bottom and bouncing back slightly with the impact (or maybe I am confusing it with my head). I was unable to squeeze any juice out that melon to write a logical word in neither my Project Task nor my Lesson Plan assignment. At several time, I was lost between the two. All the pain killing white pills and the countless cups of black coffee I gulped down with did nothing to lubricate my brain. By this evening, I felt stuck, trapped in my own sorrows. I stopped, took distance all the way to the kitchen, made myself a nice meal and ate it with words echoing in my head “You can do it, Hassan, and you will.”

I came back to my keyboard on full belly and empty mind. Worked for 4 hours straight to post all my assignments and commenting on couple of my class mates’ to leave this blog piece to close my week duties with.

This week folded on couple of “Building Blocks” in my learning process:

• I learned that no matter how important Reading Comprehension exercises are for students to acquire new vocabulary in context, CALL programs are indispensable tools for students to enhance their vocabulary bank.
• I was exposed to few more ideas on how to use the technology to help students be more of “independent learners’, specially building their writing and reading skills.  I am eager to try those ideas with my students and see what work best for them.
• I compiled a nice collection of website links to add to my library of resources. It makes it much easier to pick from those interesting and tested material to build a lesson plan and try to apply it in class. It saves time when you just have to modify few things instead of re-inventing the wheel.
• This week I had a chance to re-think about some issues and problems in my classes and formulate them to share with my colleagues hoping that the mere use of technology might solve. 

Yet the most important lesson I've learned this week remains the importance of positive attitude and perseverance for accomplishing your work against all odds and feeling proudly one step closer to your goal.

I would like to end saying that there is no power stronger than the support of your colleagues to give you this extra push when you need it the most. When you feel you are about to give up with all the force you are putting into pushing the rock and it is stubbornly not rolling, a simple “Missing your active discussions!” and a good luck wish could be just enough! Thank you Nihmat.