29 Days Left

Daily Journal

29 Days Left

Monday, 18 November 2013 ---This morning, the sun was so sunny. Today was so bright day. When I arrived at NIE campus, I went directly to the library, my workplace. I greeted my old friends in this library (those who work to collect the books and put them on the shelves back) and sat in my favourite place. What a daily routine that I like. However, today it seemed I had two big tasks that should be accomplished.

I opened my laptop to do the most important thing which should be submitted today before 5 P.M. It was a last task from the course I take here. It was about eLearning Discussion Forum. I had to read chapter 7 relevant to mixed-methods research (Dornyei, 2007). There were nine (9) methods for mixed-methods research (e.g. QUAL+QUAN, QUAN+qual, or QUAL+quan, etc., see page 169-173). I was asked to describe on how I can combine my quantitative proposal (mid-term test assignment) with qualitative proposal (final examination assignment), so they would become a mixed-methods proposal. By writing it not more than 500 words, I stated my research questions (I had 4 questions). I used the type concurrent designs of QUAN+qual mixed-methods research and explained why. I also mentioned about the kinds instruments I used for this research. I felt it was challenging to combine both research methods especially in a dissertation. Now I am thinking about implementing it in my own dissertation. I will discuss further with my beloved supervisors in State University of Malang. Okay, it was my first task which completed and submitted at about 1.30 P.M. Then, I had my (late) lunch.

The second task dealt with my responsibility to my workplace in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. Tomorrow, I will hold a Business English (BE) Competition for my students who this semester take this course. The best student per class will present and be competed in this event. For all the preparations there were helped and done by my best English lecturers, my academic supports, and my colleagues. Even my body is not there, but my mind and soul are given to them and this event too. Today, I did the last important things such as reminding the judges (and thank God, they all had replied me and will come as have scheduled: Mr. David Pranata, Mr. Ronald Sitolang, and Mrs. Mediahna Kusuma), reminding the lecturers (Mrs. Shierly, Ms. Mintjie, Ms. Nophita, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Selamet, Mr. Andi, and Mr. Thomas), checking one-by-one the needs for the auditorium, the consumption (it was very important), the trophies, the vouchers for the juries, the video recording, the laptop for the stage, etc. Many thanks to my Dean (Mr. Johan), my Ass. Dean (Ms. Lili...any vouchers left for me? LoL), and also my academic supports (Mrs. Tantri, Ms. Yani, Mrs. Nuriel, and Mr. Herman) who had helped me preparing everything there. Hope tomorrow morning, you all could start at 9 sharp and finish at 12.30 P.M...and smooth. Congratulations for all the best students who will be competed tomorrow. I am proud of you. And for those who have not had this chance, by participating in this competition as audience tomorrow and giving your biggest support to your friends, hope this could open your minds and thinking that presentation skills could be learned by everybody as long as you practice, practice, and practice a lot.

I was so happy because my two main tasks today had been done. I had tried my best.

Be blessed and be blessing.

Cheers,
Natalia C.