HULT IC: Final reflection

Some of you have been here since September, and others only a few weeks, but we're all going to reflect on this class in a blog entry for our final project.

If you don't have gmail/blogger, (students who have been here since September already do!) here are the steps, and some advice:

1) Open a gmail account. (at http://gmail.com)  Use something recognizably you! Initials, first name, last name, something. Make it professional as well. You will use this to correspond with teachers, so please nothing silly or inappropriate!

2) When you open your gmail set your language to English! You'll be forced to get used to the English emailing terms, and spell check will make your emails easier to understand!

3) Name your blog. I recommend the url be easy to remember, related to you and your time in Atlanta. You will use this in other classes and other assignments!

4) Personalize your blog. Check out some great examples! http://blogsofnote.blogspot.com/

Students who have been here since September already have an entry on "My Biggest Challenge Learning English." The last entry will be a course reflection. Make sure you answer the following questions and including the following components:

Final reflection blog. Due 11/29 8:15 am. (Our last class will be spent checking out other students blogs!)

• Think back to what we've done in this class (VARK learning styles, phonetic alphabet and pronunciation, history of the English language, note-taking, mind-mapping, dictionaries, libraries, research, reading techniques like skimming and scanning, giving speeches, multi-cultural learning...) What topic is the most useful for classes and projects next term?

1. What topic is the most useful for AY projects next term?
2. Which do you wish you'd learned before AY projects were due?
3. What topic is the most useful for the TOEFL?
4. What topic is the most useful for your overall experience at EF Atlanta?
5. Is there a topic that wasn't useful or helpful for you? Why not?

• Think about your AY Project on your famous person. You read a biography, and wrote about that person's ups and downs, your personal connection to the person, and ran their presidential campaign. 

1. Which project did you learn the most from? 
2. What kinds of projects would you like to see in the future?
3. What kinds of readings would you like to do in the future? Would you prefer the whole class reading the same book? Why or why not?

• SPIN classes at EF are "special interest" classes. This particular SPIN class was accredited by Hult University as part of their "Introduction to International Communication" course. 

1. What other topics would you like to see in a class about "International Communication"?
2. In general, what did you like about this class? What didn't you like about it? Do you have any suggestions to make the class better in the future?
3. What other "special interest" topics interest you for future SPIN classes?

Instructions: Write your blog entry including your responses to all the questions above. Please include an image: a photo, drawing, etc. as part of your reflection. Then comment on this post with a link to your blog!

B1-1 experiences

Read the questions below and choose one to comment on below. Only comment if the answer is yes, that thing has happened to you. Then read our classmates' comments and comment back.

1. Have you ever been the victim of a crime? What happened?
2. Have you ever hurt your mother's feelings? What did you do?
3. Have you ever been in a car accident? What happened?
4. Have you ever been to a wedding? Who got married?
5. Have you ever seen 101 Dalmatians? Did you like it?
6. Have you ever translated for someone? Did you help them?
7. Have you ever met a famous person? Who did you meet?
8. Have you ever won money in the lottery? How much did you win?
9. Have you ever borrowed something and forgotten to return it? What was it?
10. Have you ever sung karaoke? What did you sing?
11. Have you ever had a terrible day? What happened?
12. Have you ever studied all night for a test? Did you  pass?
13. Have you ever worked at a job you didn't like? What job was it?
14. Have you ever argued with you brothers or sisters? What did you fight about?
15. Have you ever made pasta? Was it good?
16. Have you ever missed a flight? What happened next?
17. Have you ever loved someone who didn't love you  back? How did you feel?
18. Have you ever danced the tango? Was it hard?
19. Have you ever thrown up in public? Were you embarrassed?
20. Have you ever made your father proud? What did you do?

Hult IC Public Speaking 11/14

Impromptu practice:

http://k6educators.about.com/cs/helpforteachers/a/impromptuspeech.htm
Tips with large audiences:
http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp

Tips for choosing a topic:
http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-topics/

Speech to be delivered Thursday

1. Must be 1-3 minutes

2. Must be informative or how to

3. You may: use the white board or the computer

You will be graded on:

1. Speaking- are you easy to understand in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar?

2. Organization- does the structure of the speech make sense? Is there evidence of rehearsal?

3. Effort- did you use class time wisely? Did you prepare out of class? Are you focused during other speeches?

4. Expertise- are you knowledgeable about your topic? Did you teach the class something? Did ou do your research?

A each category is 25% of your grade.

B1-1 unit 2 Global Warming

Homework:

Check out the link 

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0501/articles/mainarticle.html

comment with an examples of an "if clause"

C1-1 Unit 2 "Classic Living"

Home Remodeling Websites:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/
http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/
http://www.hgtv.com/topics/home-improvement/index.html

HW due 11/8
Watch an episode on home remodeling, either on TV or from this link:
http://www.hgtv.com/full-episodes/package/index.html

Comment on the blog about your episode. Answer the following questions in your comment.
1) What changes did they make to the house?
2) Was it expensive?
3) Did you like the final product?
4) Would you consider doing a remodel like it?

HW due 11/10
Comment on your dream home. What would it look like? Where would it be? Would it use green energy? Send a link in your comment?

HULT IC Skimming and scanning

Take a look at this article http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/07/four-more-years-obama-wins-re-election/

1) How long does it take us to "get the gist" of the article?
2) How long would you typically spend reading a news article like this?
3) Do you normally read every word?
4) How can you read faster?

During this class, take notes on skimming an scanning in the mind map style.

This is the link to the source Emily is using:
http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=409&Itemid=72

Now, try some skimming:
1) Read the title and the the first sentence of each paragraph.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/world/africa/guinea-bissau-after-coup-is-drug-trafficking-haven.html?ref=africa
Talk with a partner about what the article is about.
2) Read the first and last paragraph. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/science/surrounded-by-humans-korean-elephant-learns-to-speak.html?ref=science
Talk with a different partner about what the article is about.
3) Read in 2 minutes:
Talk with a different partner about what the article is about.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/us/social-media-finds-a-role-in-case-against-zimmerman.html?ref=technology

Now, for some scanning:
1) Answer the following questions:
      A) What donors support charter schools?
      B) Where does Elizabeth Hooper live?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/education/future-of-georgias-charter-schools-on-ballot.html?ref=us

2) Locate these words/phrases:

      A) bin of toys
      B) backfires
      C) Down Syndrome
      D) Dealing effectively with bullying

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/embracing-children-for-who-they-are/?src=me&ref=general

3) Find the sentence Emily is reading:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/why-women-cant-do-pull-ups/


Discussion:
Which article would you go back and read with more time/detail?

B2-3 Marriage

Discuss with a partner from a different part of the world.

Weddings
1. How many guests do you think would come to your wedding?
2. Who pays for the wedding?
3. What are some customs during the ceremony? Reception?
4. What is considered good or bad luck?


Marriage
1. Do your parents have a say in who you marry?
2. When is someone ready to get married?
3. Once a woman gets married is she expected to have children?
4. Do women usually work or stay home?
5. Do men help with the housework?
6. Does the new couple ever continue to live with family or do they have their own
 house?
7. How is divorce viewed? Is it common?
8. What do you think makes a successful marriage?

Youtube wedding scenes