Blog - Lawan Dalha

Developing and sustaining students’ motivation in a language class

Posted on December 25, 2017April 14, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Applied Linguistics, Educational Psychology, Language Education, Linguistics, Teaching Methodology

A lot of people around the world have begun to develop interests in learning a second language. This is not unconnected to the fast and innovative development in science and technology as well as in communication, transportation, migration, internet and computer sensitisation. By learning a second – or even third – language, people can not only gain more access when it comes to discussing and learning about other cultures or people around the world but will also enable them to blend well in case they visit those areas in the future. Continue reading “Developing and sustaining students’ motivation in a language class” →

10 easy steps for writing a college paper

Posted on November 20, 2017April 14, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Applied Linguistics, Linguistics, Research, Research Methods, Writing

Writing a college paper can be a challenging task, especially given the many academic tasks a student has to accomplish within often a limited time. Following the ten easy steps below will not only help reduce the amount of time students spend in writing a research paper but will also increase the quality of research. Continue reading “10 easy steps for writing a college paper” →

Understanding various kinds of essay

Posted on November 2, 2017May 15, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Language Skills, Linguistics, Writing

An essay is a precise writing on a particular subject, which is composed of paragraphs, usually the introduction, the discussion and the conclusion. (Read my article on how to write a good paragraph here) Different types of essay have different sets of rules which, if not followed, makes the writing dull and pointless. On the other hand, it becomes difficult to remember all sets of rule and recall when you sit to write an essay. Usually, the kind of question or situation we have determines the type of essay we compose. Here is a short practical way to help you write a good essay, by understanding its major manifestations. Continue reading “Understanding various kinds of essay” →

Developing students’ critical thinking skills in writing at a Saudi Arabian writing centre

Posted on October 19, 2017April 14, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Language Skills, Linguistics, Research, Writing, Writing Center

Working for more than three years with amazing colleagues to experiment the Writing Center at Yanbu Colleges and Institutes has been both a challenging and rewarding experience. What you are about to read is one of those success stories. We worked for almost a year with the immediate past Director of Yanbu English Language Institute, Dr Osman Barnawi, as our editor, and MacMillan Palgrave, as our publishers, to produce a 14-chapter book about the current state of Writing Centre practices in the Arabian Gulf.

Continue reading “Developing students’ critical thinking skills in writing at a Saudi Arabian writing centre” →

What teachers need to know about their students’ learning styles

Posted on October 8, 2017April 14, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Education, Educational Psychology, Teaching Methodology

Learning style varies from student to student. Every student acts differently in acquiring, absorbing and retaining information. Some may understand the verbal instructions while others may need video demonstration as well. In short, every student is different. It is very important for teachers to understand the difference between their students’ learning styles so that they can implement appropriate strategies into their lesson plans. Continue reading “What teachers need to know about their students’ learning styles” →

How to write a simple and compelling paragraph

Posted on October 4, 2017April 12, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Language Skills, Linguistics, Writing

Simplicity is the key to perfection. Thought process involved around composing a perfect paragraph can be quite intimidating for many writers. However, to write a good paragraph, it’s important to inculcate the basics of paragraph writing and experiment around it. Hesitant writers should practice this craft so that their thoughts and ideas can easily be transformed into their writing. Writing is a powerful tool for communication and requires coherence and conciseness for its effectiveness on the reader. Don’t try to flower things up too much as it’ll lead to an abrupt structure of your paragraph. Continue reading “How to write a simple and compelling paragraph” →

You don’t need to be a legislative member or even a governor to serve your people: A message to Taraba youths

Posted on April 18, 2017April 12, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Nigerian Politics, Perspectives, Politics, Taraba State

Today, my thought, hoped it’s not skewed, is about my brothers, the youths of Taraba state. From time immemorial, everyone knows the future of every society rests on the shoulders of its youths. This is true in Taraba state. But, I don’t see a secured future with almost every young person aiming at one target – to be a House of Assembly member, a chairman or a governor. Folks, politics is now an old-fashioned game for the youth. The buzzwords are education, technology, entrepreneurship and partnership. Continue reading “You don’t need to be a legislative member or even a governor to serve your people: A message to Taraba youths” →

Jalingo chairmanship election: A choice between confidence and hope

Posted on February 23, 2017April 14, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Jalingo, Leadership, Nigeria, Nigerian Politics, Perspectives, Politics, Taraba State

Often, people face choices in life, especially good ones, that pose challenges to their conscience. I don’t know what most people of Jalingo local government think about this Saturday’s chairmanship election between Abdul Nasir Bobboji and A. A. Liman. It appears to be a challenging one that perhaps many, as of now, have not yet made any decision. In times like these, putting aside what does not matter and focusing on a common goal could help. Continue reading “Jalingo chairmanship election: A choice between confidence and hope” →

We need confidence in our governance to succeed collectively

Posted on February 11, 2017April 12, 2018 by Lawan Dalha in Africa, Economy, Nigeria, Nigerian Politics, Perspectives, Politics

With all these discoveries and recoveries of looted billions of dollars (cash in apartments) from government officials who were trusted with the nation’s revenue sources, you still doubt why Nigeria is on its knees? We’ve never seen this before, not as far as I know. We had seen such amount of money taken to chambers’ floor for gratification, but not taken out of residences as evidence of criminalization. Fellow countrymen, this is a clear path to the sanity we all prayed for so hard. Continue reading “We need confidence in our governance to succeed collectively” →