Reflect on the live session we had with Peggy

Reflect on the live session we had with Peggy

The topic of the presentation is about the influence of Arabic on the pronunciation of English sounds. The presentation argues that English and Arabic have different consonant systems and vowels systems. Also, there are differences between the two languages in the stress and the realization of sounds.
According to the presentation, one of the problems that prevent the correction production of L2 sounds is that Arabic speakers overlap their phonological knowledge with that of the English language. Arabic speakers may overlap /p/ and /b/ as the differentiation between these two sounds are not existent in Arabic. This interference is the main source of the pronunciation problems of Arab students who learn English as a second language.
This presentation was given on 24 Febayray 2014 by Peggy Tharpe, M.A. TESOL, Monterey Institute of International Studies in the attendence of Professor Hala Fawzi's CALL class at Yanbu University College, Saudi Arabia.






Advantages of Virtual Classes
1. Students save time and efforts that may students may lose when going to real classes.
2. Students interact and cooperate as if they are in a real class.
3. Virtual classes can be accessed by students at their on pace at any time
4. Teacher can design virtual classes as they like
5. Students interact with their teachers and their peers.
6. Students can get immediate feedback.

Disadvantages of Virtual Classrooms
1. The institution must have the required resources to virtual classes
2. Students may not be motivated to learn
3. Virtual classes need much time to prepare and design
4. Teachers must have the technological skills to design the virtual classes.
5. Virtual classes are not effective for evaluating students’ understanding.


Certainly, I will use the virtual classes in my context. The students in the modern age have become good users of technology and they have become more acceptable of internet-based learning. Also, some Saudi schools have computerized classes and labs and this helps in creating virtual classes.
However, virtual classes should be used together with the traditional classrooms. Virtual classes are needed when conducting conversations and seminars. Also, students in my context still need traditional classes so that they work hard and do not see the class as a matter of entertainment.
Virtual classes are a source of motivation and interest, they maintain learners’ activeness, they are a source of fun, they make students feel comfortable an unstressed, and they are easier and faster than the traditional methods. Eventually, virtual classes enable social interaction, participation, and competition while teaching to young learners.

Virtual classes cannot be successful if the teacher does not explain the tasks and roles of students clearly in the class. Using virtual classes in sometimes fails due to the lack of cooperation among members of the class. Virtual classes need all students' involvement and they promote friendly competition, therefore, it is very important that students have a cooperative attitude.