Friday, June 3, 2011
Something New; Something Different; Something Memorable
Here is your chance to have a last word to your classmates and to next year's English 11 class. Make this submission your best writing of the year. Use new forms of punctuation, for example, that you have practiced this term such as parentheses. I look forward to hearing from you all.
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9 comments:
Something New
New this term was using the film, Wag the Dog. I had used the ACME sheet on propaganda techniques and Affluenza before, but had never dared show such a pointed satire on how easily we are mislead by media. I read recently that persuasion works because it appeals to our self-centered views of ourselves—our big egos feed into the narrative that the advertisers/government provide. The real-life examples provided by Pentagon Blackout and Nayirah’s testimony solidified student understanding of the connection between the techniques and the potential bias or misrepresentation of the facts they see in media. It was gratifying when one of my English 11 students referred to Wag the Dog in his list poem. Although challenging, I feel that the film, along with the other materials, helped students to become more critical.—134 words
Something Different
I notice this every term: the differences among my students. Attitudes vary, attendance, too. Being willing is key. No matter what crazy idea Brad has come up with students choose to say, “OK, I don’t really ‘get’ it, but I’m willing to give it a try.” Being in class helps; doing the homework, even imperfectly, too. The real differences among students come down to one thing: doing the work—some do; some don’t. But without practice, the making of many mistakes, not much can or will be learned. My job as a teacher means that I am entrusted to assure others that some students are better at what they need to do to communicate well in English—that some students are different from the others, and better. It’s a humbling job, believe me! —133 words
Something Memorable
Your creative essays written in class three weeks ago were stunning. I’ve never before had such a rewarding experience reading student essays. (and believe me marking essays isn’t always what I would describe as “fun”!) You were funny and warm, believable and kind. Above all, you were daring, trying something new in your writing. Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect. In the past, my essay prompts have been pretty mundane and the essays written were mostly dull and commonplace. This time the open-ended topics, combined with your new knowledge of the narrative form, made for spectacular stories that, had I the time, I would have gladly published pretty much verbatim in our online student newspaper. Your work has reminded me that, given the chance, many of you can produce excellent and interesting work. Bravo!—135 words
Something New
This term was a big surprise for me. I have never attended such a class like Brad’s, and I am glad to be a witness of technique he uses to convey his excellent knowledge to his students. By watching the film Wag the Dog- the film that gives us a wide prospect how media and politics work, helped me to be more critics about things around me. And it is very interesting, by reading BBC news every morning, that film pops into my head very often. By given us totally different materials, he not only teaches his student English, but teaches about the gist of life. He opens us a door which we probably never would open if we did not attend his class. What I like the most is Brad’s simple language and enjoyment in teaching his students.
Words 139
Something Different
Definitely, the sample of Brad’s essay before the students needed to do their work is very unique. It is not custom for a teacher to give the students his work. Personally, I learned a lot from Brad’s sample: new vocabulary, parentheses, powerful writing style. With his essay, he showed us students that with simple words and without making “necklace for Cleopatra”, our work may become a masterpiece. He also thought us not to be ashamed of our work by putting them on the Blog. At the beginning this idea did not seem fabulous to me, but later I found that comparing others’ writing, I became both: critical and satisfied-that one to be better and the second to be aware of what I have reached. There are not many words as one to show my gratitude for that: “Thank you Brad.”
Words 140
Something Memorable
As writing poem was always difficult for me, with Brad’s poem structure, it turned out to be interesting: I never believed that will happen. I remember his words” You have to present your poem in the class.” I was stunned “I cannot do it”, I thought. But I did it. At the beginning it was hard-my hands shook and my legs were stiff. As the time went I relaxed and finished presentation. That was my success: I broke ice. Since then I started to be more active in conversation and more involved in debate. Sometimes, we underestimate ourselves (we often believe that we can do something), but there are luckily persons that show us otherwise. Therefore, when you meet someone like Brad who pushes you hard, and you follow his path, you only get reward for it.
Words 136
Something New
Learning about writing with style gave me a new perspective about people talking to their audiences through paper. After I read Kurt Vonnegut's guide, I was utterly astonished by the way he talks, being himself and because of how he states about writers talking with intricate words people don't understand. I mean, why not use words that don't sound fancy and hard to understand what it means, we wouldn't sound like we are stupider than an average, intellectual person? Well, thanks to Brad giving me the guide, I learned that we could be ourselves without pretending to be someone else on paper because well - we don't have to sound like a smartass for our audiences and then make the non academic people be viewed as the stupid people.
Something Different
After learning how to write poems in an utterly different style or structure, I noticed in some poems, especially the list poem we did in Brad's class, words don't have to rhyme as always and we can create a puzzle, using word pieces and turn them into one metaphorical poem. We may be unique in our own way if we paint a picture for our audiences - with words as our images and paper as our canvasses, poets can twist their words and create their own meaning in riddle. After hearing the list poems from everyone, it made me realize that once you put all the puzzled word piece, it's an utterly new generation of writing for poets and artists with imaginative or mental intellectual thinking. Fortunately I never thought of it that way until I heard of Kyle's doggie list poem. Thanks Kyle
Something Memorable
Beside being the only eighteen year old girl in Brad's afternoon class, I enjoyed discussing about politics, sharing our views to everyone in the class and of course, Brad's lecture on the Pentagon Blackout and The Brain.
I was glad that I could speak freely of my views and feel like I was never sick inside - just because we think differently apart from an average normal looking person and we may not look as smart as comparing to a peer, doesn't mean the government or anyone can label us as mentally and socially challenged individuals and then declare us as sick. Sometimes I, let alone the mentally handicapped person in Brad's class, feel like I was still treated like I'm the stupid one, but after having discussions during class, it made me realize; people not recognizing me as mentally sick after I tell them what I am and after all these years in my entire life, I was never sick at all, I was just labelled sick because I have a different way of thinking, the government or the national health board (if it really exist in Canada) just labelled me mentally sick so they can get a clearer understanding about the brain or something. Thank god, I am not mentally sick, I am just socially challenged.
Something New
There are several new things in Brad’s class in this term, but the interesting one was the Blog assignment which was totally different for me. I could read all student’s writing anywhere as long as I had a computer , and at the same time I could share my writing on the Blog.In this way I could see and learn other student’s ideas and aspects that they were concerned about it. Actually some of them were very interesting and impressive. I have to say that Brad did a great job. The method he used to teach us was new and unique. I want to thank him for being such a helpful and honest teacher and person.
Something Different
English 11 was a very different experience from Louise’s class. Studying a film in the class is something I will never forget. It was so exciting for me to watch a film and write about my favorite scene in the movie. By watching the movie Wag the Dog I learned to be more critical about politics and media and know the tricks that they to fool. Also, Brad himself was different from my high school teachers. He would never get mad or feel bad if some students would interrupt him while he was talking. He shared his feeling with us most of the time and talking about his family. There is no doubt that he’s one of my favorite teachers.
Something Memorable
One thing that I will never forget is the day I did my first unite test. We had to write three paragraphs in two and a half hours. Most of students finished on time or around that limit time, but the test took me three and a half hours. I was so frustrated. When I got my test back to see the result, I found out that Brad cut five marks because I didn’t finish it on time. After that event I decided to challenge myself and try my best to complete my work on time at anywhere not only in school. I took that story as a lesson.
369 words
Something New
I found Brad’s way of teaching, and English 11 class as a new experience in my four years of studying in Canada. ”He is a cool teacher but strict at the same time,” I said to myself after I met him in the first class. Watching 30 minutes TV show was one of my homework that I never had done this for other teachers. Also, in the class he creates a sincerity relationship between students, so no more shyness like the first two weeks. Communication twelve’s ten pages of homework were equal to one paragraph of writing, so it took me more time to do the best I could.(109)
Something Different
Since we are a few students in the class, we are always going for more details of a topic and everybody will enjoy the conversation. It is interesting to know about your teacher’s life; Brad childhood stories, his experiences and information he shared were funny and enjoyable. Topics also made the class more entertaining; story after story comes from each student, and we get more ideas about the subject. Sometimes we get really serious on our conversation in the class that we couldn’t notice the time. Personally, I enjoyed my time as a student in Brad’s class and this make his class different from others. (105)
Something Memorable
“Wage the Dog,” is one movie that has been stuck in my head since I watched it in the class, and I can never forget it. ”This is the first time that I asked my students to watch this movie,” He said with happiness of success because we watched the movie once and talked about it till the end of the term. My eyes get wider when I see a commercial or watch a politician speech. It is hard to believe that how all news around us are fake, and it depend on who wants to win in which fight. In addition, writing the poem with presentation it was challenging. I didn’t find writing a poem as difficult as presenting it; it was exciting, but with stress. I would say thank you to Brad who does his job completely in a way that I learned not to trust my eyes anymore. (151 words)
Something New
It’s new for me about our teacher Brad’s teaching Style. He let us watch and count ads on TV in a half hour, write our feeling after watching the video and the movie, read loudly and discuss our essay with classmates in order to find some problems in our writing. The new ways gave me many chances to show my feeling .In a word, taking Brad’s class is very interesting and useful.
Something Different
Media in my mind now is totally different before. I was always thinking media give us information before Brad showed us the movie “Wag the dog”. I never thought ads and other media messages had been carefully crafted with the intent to send a very specific message. I was shocked after I knew this. Something Memorable
The film “Wag the Dog” is memorable for me. It caused me to think many things in our life can wag us if we aren’t smarter than them. It applies to our life and studying. This really is a penetrating lesson for me. All in all, Brad teaches me very well not just in English but also in my life and I learn much from him.
Something New
The Media Exploring activities are inspirable. Brad covers them with a wide range of issues, events, and discussions, which happened along the past few decades. I was shocked when knowing the truth about some wars, and I was so surprised by how coincidentally the movie- Wag the Dog- forecasted the facts in advance. The TED clip, which helped me understanding Sir Ken Robinson’s speech in depth, was very impressive and was fun to watch. The totally new concept for me was to read and think about the short story “Getting Closer” without finding some sort of standard answer, and there was nothing to do with like or dislike the topic, the essay itself, or the author. I have to say this although I’ve never felt confident enough to say it: learning English has so much fun in it. – 138 words
Something Different
I used to think that writing has so much to do with one’s techniques, especially when I was young and stupid (not having much life experiences). But during this term by trying to write about whatever topics that Brad had thrown to us, I’ve been getting the point to know that- writing is actually a mental process. When I saw my in-class group-talking partners got very emotional and when I wrote along at home, about someone influenced me the most, the problem turned out to be- so much to write in so little space. When I read the “Homework” the second times to see how the mom made the writing- An Event that Changed Your Life- so easy for her son, that point became crystal clear. No, I still not admit that I am getting old (in fact) and wise (not the case), don’t even think about it. – 148 words
Something Memorable
Thanks to my classmates- they are in very different age groups and being very supportive, and thanks to Brad- his unique teaching style and his well-chosen, most up-to-dated materials, all these make my term a very pleasurable learning experience. I am now doing the best that I can to write from a reader’s point of view, after reading the “How to Write with Style.” And I appreciate what I was told at the beginning of this class “ You are allow to make mistakes” for the best result of my learning. It remains me from what I’ve found by reading the student writing of last term. The magic happened to me - learning with your own space- will pass on to the next class without doubt– 125 words
Something New
Every class is unique in its own light, but Brad’s class is, indeed, a departure from the others I’ve had the pleasure to take part in (if rather sporadically and slightly ‘half-assed-edly’). I suppose the biggest departure, and believe me there are many more, from the slightly gloomy, entirely monotonous standard English class would be the blog. The very first class when Brad informed us of this terrifying undertaking, I said to myself, ‘Oh, he’s done it now. There’s no way I’m publishing my comments online for the world to see. He can fuck off.’ At that moment I seriously considered dropping out, but I didn’t and, as time went on, to me, it became the jewel of the class. It was fun, it was interesting, and it was a damn good thing to be a part of. I’ll miss it.
- 141 words
Something Different
The way in which Brad taught media was somewhat of a banality to me. It regurgitated to me everything I already knew about the government, advertisement, and the credulous flock of sheep we humans like to be shepherded after. Then we get to Wag the Dog. A movie that is not funny and on the grounds of being the most terrifying thing I’ve ever watched. If you’re looking for a long and gloomy week-end, rent it. You’ll notice as you watch that sense of déjà vu taking over the mind, especially if you followed and remember the U.S. presidential election in 2008. You’ll never look at the news the same way again. It’s a movie that’ll really get you thinking about where you get your information from. It’s one of the most important things I take away from the class – I’ll never forget it.
- 144 words
Something Memorable
The people. The propagation of camaraderie amongst our tiny group, by the many discussions held, on and offline was, indeed, something alien to me compared to the stale stand-alone, individual English classes I hail from (come to think of it, I would have skipped English less often if it was conducted in such a manner as this). I think in part due to the poems ‘Here I Am’ and ‘I Prefer...’ which helped us share a piece of ourselves with one another. I’ve never been naked in public, but I imagine that’s what it feels like. And finally, the blog and the diverse views that my peers were kind enough to share with the class and myself. I’ve never felt such solidarity in a class and it is much welcomed. It was far, far too short.
- 136 words
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Mary Zhao
September 21, 2011
Something Different
Frankly, I am still afraid to attend Brad’s class. I have been told Brad is a strict person, (I mean not about his personality characteristics). It is very difficulty to pass his course because he gives low mark for student’s assignment if the students` homework is not following his instructions. Somebody said Grade 11 is much harder than Grade 12. The main reason is that after Grade 12, most of students will go to the University or College. If the students could not get a good mark in their institute, their teacher could ask the student how did you get a good score in Pearson Adult Learning Centre. Who is your English teacher? In order to avoid the embarrassment situation, Brad prefers to restrict the marks. So far I attended his class for three times, I found he was not like that person I had been heard about him. His teaching way is unique, his method is efficiently. In the first day class, he demonstrates how to effective to use the Internet which the fast and the easy way to communicate us with the society; the basic skill in the modern world. He educates us how to public in our assignment on the Internet and how to show us our presentation in front of the public audience without timidity. His lecture is clear .All these skills I never learn from other teachers. Now I am quite confidence I can learn well because I met a good tutor in my life. Thank you, Brad. (160 words)
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