Friday, April 16, 2010

Something New; Something Interesting; Something Puzzling

Share with us your thoughts on new, interesting and puzzling things you've encountered since we began our study in February. Write no more than 200 words in a single or multiple paragraphs. Due before class on Wednesday, April 21.
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11 comments:

Brad said...

Something New

Teaching diversity through the use of Temple Grandin was a new direction in my career. It appears to have touched a nerve! Her story motivated us to consider how we treat others and how that might prevent us from receiving useful contributions from those who are different from the majority. “We need all kinds of minds!” Yes indeed.

Something Interesting

Haiti. The recent earthquake provided an opening for student interest in a story I had held on to for awhile: “Ghosts.” Knowing a country with such an interesting history was so little known gave us all a real education. It’s a harsh place, where suffering is the norm and adding to their misery, the deaths of thousands of citizens of Port-au-Prince. Edwidge Denticat’s fiction (and nonfiction) was filled with the awful detail we need to truly understand others who are very different from ourselves.

Something Puzzling

As in the past, I have continued to be puzzled by my being unable to “set to rights” some of my students’ difficulties with, for example, ordering ideas according to some logical principle. On my holidays, I discussed this with an Italian student who wasn’t sure he agreed with me. In my experience, some students have great difficulty with logic and seem, at times, to be almost unable to grasp it. He felt otherwise, that logic could be taught to everyone. A professor of mine once said that she had been unable to teach logic to a group of students who were otherwise quite diligent, and motivated. She argued that abstract thinking, needed for utilizing logical principles, was a level some do not attain. What do you think?

—270 words

I was in England on Thursday, sitting on a runway at Gatwick Airport only 30 minutes before the airspace was due to be closed. Needless to say, I was nervous. But, thankfully, I was also very very lucky. Our plane was the last one to leave airspace in England on Thursday. To my knowledge, no other plane has flown in or out of Gatwick since! So, I'll be back with you on Wednesday, well rested, and with tales to tell.

April 17, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Tiffany said...

I heard that many travellers are affected by the Iceland’s disruptive volcano, for almost all the flights of the European route were forcedly cancelled. http://blogs.tampabay.com/photo/2010/04/iceland-volcano.html

People who want to enter to Europe now have to flight to the south countries, such as Spain and Italy, and then transfer train up toward other countries…

Nice to hear you are heading home. :)

April 18, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Tiffany said...

Something New

To write a respond/paragraph after watching a film, listening a speech, and looking at a photo is the freshest experience for me. It's also the most difficult practice, especially when I need to immediately respond to what Barry Schwartz's mean by "practical wisdom" in his TED lecture. I feel it's a quite challenging test since I've never been trained in this way before. Although this new learning is arduous, I realize it helps me to climb the upstairs English levels.


Something Interesting

Although the "Ghosts" leads me down to the abyss of misery, it widens my eyes to see the unfamiliar world on the earth. Edwidge Danticat's vivid descriptions as well offer me clear images. I'm especially interested in what teacher said, "Show Not Tell," and I just see this one of the examples. I also like the film of "Temple Grandin." I was moved by the images and the experiences of the main character. For me, to feel a picture actually is easier and interesting than a text.


Something Puzzling

I very agree the suggestion of William Zinsser, yet for an ESL student like me (the language system of Chinese is total different than English,) I might be unable to distinguish the words are from Latin or the Anglo-Saxon. Another confusing thing is I used to write Chinese in multi-paragraph, but I was taught to use five-paragraphs standard format for English essay in grade 9, 10 and communication12. I strived with that and have adapted to the style while now I was required to forget it. I understand the creative writing style. However, I do't know how should I write on the TOEFL test, which I need to fit the admission of university. I feel puzzled and frustrated, for I sometimes doubt if I'm able to complete a good writing within limited time.

--307 words
(sorry! I write over the limit)

April 18, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Anonymous said...

Something New

Since February (in English 11 class) I learnt many new things. I never heard before about the Blog, but our English teacher Brad introduced us with the blog. Now we put our homework; comments and paragraphs on the blog. Participation in the class disscusion is a wonderful way to become a good listener and good speaker as well. Sharing commets with classmates about my homework is the best way to improve my writing skills. Viewing one picture with diffrents prospective and watching movie in the class was an incredible experience. So far, I learn many new thing in the English 11 class.

Something Interesting

I found one assignment is very interesting by Brad (our English 11 teacher) when we need to find out some puzzling, intereting, and new things about our classmates. So far, this is my favourite assignment, because with doing this I got a wonderful chance to know my classmate’s better.I think now I knew the most and least enjoyable things of my classmates. It was a good opportunity for me too, to introduce myself with other students.

Something Puzzling

Most puzzling thing is the William Zinnser‘s “Writing Good English.” Zinsser Said, “Short is better than longer and simple is good.” OK! Am confused here, If short is better than longer and simple is good, than why we need fancy, and strong vacabulary? I guess my classmates have a same question in their minds. When we start to write something we always thinks “let’s put some new and strong word” which can make our writing perfect isn’t it true? “Sorry” for the second language reader. We are trying to make our writing perfect. One thing I love the way William Zinner said, “How you write is how you define yourself to people who meet you only through your writting.”

----304 words

April 20, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Lisa said...

What I have found to be the most interesting thing so far in class has to be watching the film on Temple Grandin on the challenges she faced with having autism. It tugged at my heart especially the part where she had invented a machine to hug herself. She inspired me by the determination and courage to fight for what she believed in.

The new thing I learned was how to write an essay in multi-paragraph structure. I think it’s harder to do than the standard five- paragraph essay writing. It doesn’t seem to flow the same for me and maybe that’s why I find it more difficult. Hopefully as I continue to learn more in class about writing, it will become easier.

What could be any more puzzling than punctuation? Where do I put that comma, or do I use a semi-colon; I find it so confusing. It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces have to fit in order for it to become a picture. As in writing, if you don’t use the punctuation in the right order, the reader will have trouble putting the pieces together. I keep telling myself “it takes time and a whole lot of practice.”

202 words

April 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Tatyana said...

Legend in Vancouver!

Winter Olympic Games 2010. To support Russian Olympic team, the legend sail ship of Crusenshtern came to Vancouver on February 12 (an official day of opening ceremony).
The ship left Kaliningrad city (Russia) on December 01, 2010 and crossing three seas and two oceans (it is about 10 thousand miles) came to Vancouver’s port.

From the first day of the Olympic Games the ship was opened for the public, and about one thousand gests visited the ship.
It was so nice to hear that Russian Canadians made five hundred special pirogues for the cadets to celebrate a maslenitsa (religious day). It is so patriotic!

Crusenshtern rules by 120 cadets and only 20 professionals! When I spoke to 18-years old cadets (they are all about 18-20 years old), I realized how much they differ from other teenagers. They are so religious, incredibly knowledgeable, polite, and disciplined!

History: The sail ship was built in 1926 in Germany. In 1943 (Ward War 2) the ship was supporting Germany, and in 1946 was “transferred” to the Soviet Union full of provisions.
Since that, the history of the ship has been changed a lot. It was re-built to a ship for cadets, and traveled about 800.000 sea miles.

It was very interesting to find “be proud” feelings, share the gladness with cadets and get paid in return the interest of how we (Russian immigrants) live here in Vancouver.
236 words

April 20, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Hana said...

The new thing I learned after watching Temple Grandin’s movie was Grandin’s mother insisted that her daughter is not less than other children, but she is different. Even when the doctors told her that her daughter will never speak and should be institutionalized, she never gave up to the advice of the doctors. So her mother sent her to one of the best school. The great lesson that I learned from Temple Grandin is not to give up because in our life we will go through many difficulties and hardships.

Something interesting that I learned from William Zinsser is “short is better than long and simple is good.” Being a student whose second language is English it is interesting to know writing in clear and short is better than writing long. In my language we have to use longer, decorative and ornate sentences. This encourages me and makes me feel comfortable with my writing and to more ahead

The thing that puzzled me most in this semester is writing a multi-paragraph essay with about 500-700 words not a five paragraph essay as we used to do in grade 9, 10, and communication 12. Especially when it is time for a test and we have such a short time. I wonder do you think by the end of this term we can be able to write a 500-700 word essay. I hope so.

232words

April 21, 2010 at 8:34 AM
Jane Huang said...

Something New

Watching Temple Grandin’s movie is new for me to deeply understand “Autistic”. Even though we could accept those people who own characters, we feel a little fear to close them. Grandin’s mother has never give up Temple because she is unique. I can image that some family must contribute effort and time in educating and face many challenging.

Something Interesting

Most interest thing is the William Zinnser‘s “Writing Good English.” We feel that writing is difficult to learn because English is our second language. He suggests the writing strategies which we have to understand. For example, “simple is good” means that using simple words and simple structure is for readers easily to figure out what we want to express through writing. In my opinion, William’s strategies is helpful for me to enhance my writing.

Something Puzzling

To write a multi-paragraph essay is to forget formal English writing 5 paragraph style. I feel very puzzled that I am used to accept it since I have learned English. Also, I had already taken TOEFL test which is required to write 5 paragraph essay. Also, I learned quotation which is very confused for me because where I should put punctuation and use it accurately. (203 Words)

April 21, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Min Zhang said...

Something new:
The new word Annotation---a critical or explanatory note or body of notes added to a text--- I learnt from English 11 class. The new way helps me deeply understand the content of reading material, improving my critical thinking as well. Now I am accustomed to utilize annotation when I read.

Something interesting
Since I attend English 11 class, I felt it was different of other courses. Although it was hard for me, I found some interesting things. The most interesting thing is the students have to post their comment to the Blog instead of the paper. This good way gives me an opportunity to read other students’ ideas, leaning their experience. I think this year not only learn from the teacher, bur also from my classmates.

Something puzzling
Recently, I was puzzling about how to write a multi-paragraph essay. I learnt the standard structure from previously grade. Now I have to break the rules up. After I read the two essays “Addicted to Oil” and “Drivers: Stop Your Engines”, I thought the multi-paragraph style likes free writing. Don’t need a structure? Or creating my own structure? I am still confused even though I have finished my essay.

-200 words

April 21, 2010 at 9:38 AM
wendy said...

Something new:
In the first two months, I was so pleased that our writing is mostly a paragraph that had very less restrictions. We are free in the paragraph structure. I also thanked Brad saving me from titling the paragraph. I don’t like a boring title, but creating an attractive one is really time-consuming and struggling task. His only requires us to write no more than a limited words number.

Something interesting:
In my previous English classes, I struggled to squeeze out a paragraph that had to meet the requirement of minimum words number. Now the situation is reverse. In the past two months, the learning materials Brad selected for us are various and unique. The poem “We Are More” is encouraging and activates my patriotism; the fiction “The Ghost” is shocking and brings me tear; the movie “Temple Grandin” is touching and motivates me to value the difference. My reactions to these appealing works flooded out from my head. Every time, I had to delete nearly half of my drafts to meet the limit of maximum words number requirement.

Something puzzling:
In February, I thought English 11 must be very challenging. At the end of March, I was little relieved. While I was wondering, “Is this course just paragraph practice?” Brad left for Europe. He also left shock for us-two 500-750 words multi-paragraphs homework. Now I realized: the first two months were just warming-up exercise, the real challenge is coming. But I believe, with teacher’s guide and the later two months’ practice, I can handle the multi-paragraphs.

250 words

April 21, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Melanie said...

Brad, my English 11 teacher, fed me with new information every single class. He showed us a well chosen film, Temple Grandin, introduced most recent official poem which had used for the Olympic opening ceremony, brought a couple of unique short stories from all over the world. His selection of materials and the way of approach to draw students` attention was totally new to me.
The most interesting part of being English 11 student is the teacher is no more treating us as ESL students. He is more generous with a writing style and grammatical mistakes in order to encourage his students writing clearly and smoothly. I have been learning directly from the teacher and indirectly from the classmates through their mistakes and their own thoughts on the blog. This is a very interesting versatile method to learn English for me.
I am still puzzling that I can finish writing with a certain topic within limited time and length by the end of the semester. Writing is very import in this course and I don`t have much confidence about that so far. However, I would like to do my best to improve my writing skills as long as I attend the course. 200words.

May 7, 2010 at 7:56 PM

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