Refection for week 3

Today is the first day of week 4. time passes fast and I can not realize that i studied 3 weeks.
In week 3, I had the CAT and today, I received the result. I know that i made again mistakes that i did in several essays before. Problems about spelling, grammar which i have tried to fix, however, It seems not work. :((((. Here some summery of week 3

Writing:
Now, I will write a critical response, however, different from what i wrote in the first three weeks, I 'll write a critical response for two articles, which has been becoming difficult. I need to compare two these and give my own opinion that which is more successful.  I also find it is quite hard to find the correct main arguments. Today, Carla gave us new writing model and honestly it makes me feel less stressful about writing. New model is like the combination of two single critical response and the combination is in the conclusion. This is much easier.

Speaking:
I finished my  presentation's preparation this week. After more than five time changing, finally, i chosen my topic: Idioms. I will talk about definition, why people who speaking English as the second language should learn English and giving some tips to help them learn it easier. Especially, i will try to give some exiting example of idioms. I found several of them from Swanton library and i think this library is very useful because i can find numerous presentation material in this. By the way, I almost finished my power point. It does not look nice, however, up till now, i do not think i have enough time to make it better. ^^.

Reading:
Reading seem the easiest part in comparison with other three parts. We will have 20 questions include short answer and sentence completion. Some of my friends think that there are only 20 questions and it has became easier. however, i think if there are more questions, it would be more safer. I have some problem in sentence completion and i think this week i need to focus on this. In this part, grammar is that i need to be careful when reading.

Listening:
Oah.....Listening is really really really big problem. I have paid a great attention in writing whole 3 weeks and totally forget listening. And now i realize that, this week, i need more focus on listening . I swear with myself that i will go to ILC everyday and listen ted.com. I promise i will spend 1 hour per day to listening. I feel scare about it because i am told that 60% students failed in the last E7 because of listening. They could have put to much there focus on writing and presentation an forgotten listening.

Haizzzz. Admittedly, there are too much things had to do in E7 and i feel overload. Luckily, we do not spend 10 weeks in E7 like the next module. Ok, only one week before having test. Try my best and go straight way toward University ^^

Useful links

1. http://www.ted.com/
It is really helpful website. There are numerous talks from a various fields, which is useful for people who want to broaden their knowledge about different aspects of life, such as technology, entertainment, business,  etc. I think it will help us to improve note-taking skills which is necessary for both E7 and your study in university. However, I find it quite hard to get all the reader's ideas in their talks.

2. http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
This website provides updated information, vocabulary exercises, listening practices. I love this website which has helped me to improve my listening skill remarkably since I failed in E6 because of listening.

3.  http://www.englishpage.com/
This can help you improve all your skills, Vocabulary, Grammar Book, Prepositions, Gerunds, etc. Doing exercises in this web is inconvenience because it can check your result for you and give you the chance to reread.

4. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
 I think we both know this website. It is very very useful. Especially when you want to be familiar with Australia accent. It is also interesting when you can both listen and watching video together, which can make we remember and gain information easily.

5. http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/main.html
This website will useful for your reading and writing skills, guiding you how to write effective, academic, report writing, critical thinking or reading and note taking.  They also provide a lot of examples. I really love it :D

Reflection week 2

2 weeks passed. there are only 2 weeks and then we will have test, and then.......finish E7.
Try! ^^

In week 2, my class focused on critical response. Honestly, although in comparison with week one, I know more detail about it, i still find it is too difficult. It is easy to find ideas to support my opinions in argumentative or discursive essay, however, in critical response, i must to find every gaps in others arguments, which is much more hard. In addition, tomorrow, i will have the CAT when i m not confidence at all. So scare........=((((

This week, my class had two listening exercises, which is not enough, however, it can give me more information about E7 listening test. I think now I can understand the main ideas better than I was 2 months ago. However, sometime I made some stupid mistakes because I did not read the questions carefully. >"<. Hopefully, in listening test, I can do everything more carefull.

For my presentation, it is really crazy. I has changed my topic again and again and could not decide what I will do. Admittedly, It is easy to think about topics, however, it is difficult to find some printed references as like Carla and Daniella require. This week, I think I will do about Idioms. Next week, i have no ideas, who know, may be I will change :D. By the way, 2 of my friends in other class already finished there presentations. I am so envy them. :((((((

We did some reading practices paralleled writing exercises and it is difficult as well. I made a lot of mistakes because my careless even I can understand what the write wrote. I really do need to be careful. >"<.

That is for week 2 ^^

Dicussion Board

RE: Everyone who can, should learn English.

Author:

Hai Ha VU

Posted Date:

Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:54:44 o'clock EST

Edited Date:

Tuesday, 15 February 2011 14:54:44 o'clock EST

I know that English has gained more and more popularity and learning English brings numerous benefits for English learners. However, I am truly believe that you should consider other situations. In this case you should think about opportunity cost. Learning English will take your time which you can use for caring your family, relaxing or for your hobbies. Take an example, one person who works in one company where is non-English environment and there income is just enough to support their basic lives. Thus, why could they study English? That they study English may be waste their time and money. In addition, study sometime is stressful work. Hence I do not think that everyone who can, should learn English. ^^



Diversity of languagues brings numerous benefits 

Author:

Hai Ha VU

Posted Date:

Friday, 25 February 2011 15:43:04 o'clock EST

Edited Date:

Friday, 25 February 2011 15:43:04 o'clock EST

I strongly believe that because of encouraging variation linguistic, this nation will enjoy numerous benefits from it. Firstly, language is cultural identity and It is also contain nation's knowledge. There will a lot of things transmitted through language. Therefore, imagine if there are great languages in one country, how much knowledge will be contained in it? For instance, knowledge about traditional medical: acupuncture, massages or herbal and so on.   Diversity linguistic also poses economic benefits due to the fact that this country can trade, negotiate, discuss and have an agreement with different countries easier. Thus, I think the government should encourage diversity linguistic in their nations.


RE: the benefits of learning English

Author:

Hai Ha VU

Posted Date:

Monday, 28 February 2011 16:12:40 o'clock EST

Edited Date:

Monday, 28 February 2011 16:12:40 o'clock EST

It is undeniable benefits of learning English and its role as Lingua Franca. Today, I watched a talk ‘Jay Walker on the world's English mania’ in ted.com and Walker says that English is “opportunity for better life, a job, to be able to pay for school or put a better food on the table” and “English is language of problems solving”. Even he has a litter biased view and vested interest in promoting English, there is not the importance of English. Knowing English, people can enjoy travelling many parts of the world. They also can have better job opportunities, communicating with different people from all around the world or enjoying film and music in English. English is needed for your future career, your entertainment, and your hobbies. Is it not enough?

Reflection for week 1

Finally I passed E6 ^^ I was put under a lot of pressure when i failed my 1st E6. Actually I was really enthusiastic in E7, however, the 1st week E7 did not as I expected. We had seven  different teachers with different styles and lessons which was not related each other. Thus, I think I could not gain enough information this week, which makes me feel nervous and scare. Any way, today, my teacher comes back :D This is great new =)

It is quite hard to summery what i have learned last week because it is actually a messy :((((

1. Listening:
We will listening a whole lecture, taking note and answers Qs. Admittedly, I m not confident in listening because I failed E6 because of listening. Especially, in this module, i have take note and understand a long lecture :(((( it could be my nightmare >"<    My class had only one chance to practice listening in the class and it is not enough. I think i need to practice more and listening from some website, such as: Ted.com or ILC can be a good ideals. I will try my best >O<

2. Writing:
Oh, writing in E7 is some thing totally new for me. I am familiar with argumentative and discursive essay but I do not know anything about critical response. Besides, my friends in different class already wrote one essay like this in the 1st week, thus, it made me more nervous and thought that i was behind them :(((((.  Today, I learned about evidence and structure of essay, but I am not confidence of writing at all. This week, hopefully, our class will have more practice in writing. ^^.

3. Speaking: In this modal, speaking is oral presentation. Actually I had some presentations in my university, as a result, I am not fear of this. However, in my last E6, speaking is the worst skill. I think it is because of my bad pronunciation. Haizzzzzz, I need practice :((((( I already chose the topic of my presentation and the main ideas, however,  the problems is references as all my good references are in Vietnamese language. =(((

4. Reading: Honestly, in comparison with others skills, reading is my best skill. However, in my first reading exercise, i did not good. There are a great deal of new-words and the author ideas is not understand easily. I think i need put my concentrate on learning more academic languages in order to improve my reading

 That is for week 1 and haft of week 2. One and haft week left. There is only 2 and haft weeks to study. Try! >O<

Stratergies for speaking

1. Pronunciation

• Study about International Phonetic Symbols - IPS which is very importance because if I speak right pronunciation of the words, the listener will understand. Try to look up dictionary and learn how to speak new words from the fist time learn it.
• Or learn from some CD-room, such as: CD-ROM Cambridge Advanced Learners’ Dictionary 

2. Vocabulary

• One of the problem of speaking is Vocabulary. Try to learn as much as possible, making a own dictionary is good solution. Bring this dictionary everyday and try to use all new words in different situations.
• Whenever learn new words , i should learn about collocation of this words.For example: when study "interest", i should learn the preposition "in" ==> "interest in"  in order to making right sentences.

3. Practise

• Participate  in controversial group to helping each others.
• Try to talk with friends who from different countries, as a result, I have to speak in English.

Goals and summery strategies for English learning

Writing

• Wide range of vocabulary 
• Correct spelling mistakes
• Clearer meaning

Strategies:

• Learn 5 new-words everyday
• Using paper dictionary as much as possible in stead of using e-dictionary
• Learn some useful complex structures

Reading

• Read quicker
• Learn how to guess the meaning of new-worlds
• Can summery all the main ideas

Strategies:

• Try to finish one book per 2 weeks
• Try not use dictionary when reading this book

Speaking

• Correct pronunciation  mistakes
• Using right verb tenses
• Be confident when speaking
• Knowing some slang

Strategies: I will have other specific writing about this ^^

Listening

• Familiar with Australia accent 
• Get all the main ideas of lectures

Strategies:  

• Listen  radio every morning and when I cook
• Go to ILC everyday 
• Try to finish all advanced plus in ILC

My learning styles

I did Vak Learning Styles quiz n found that I'm both Visual Learners n Kinaesthetic Learners

Visual learners

Visual learners attend to information most effectively when they see something, for example, pictures, diagrams, films and videos or demonstrations.

Behaviours/ characteristics of visual learners:

• Remember what they see rather than what they hear
• Remember diagrams and pictures
• Prefer to read and write rather than listen
• Have trouble remembering verbal instructions
• Need an overall view and purpose before beginning a project
• Like art more than music
• Sometimes tune out when trying to pay attention.

Study hints for visual learners:

• Take written notes in lectures & class
• Use colours to highlight important points
• Pay attention to diagrams, charts and pictures in text books
• Use mindmaps ( with colours & diagrams) to organise information for an assignment or for revision for an exam.
• Put summaries and mindmaps on the walls in your study area
• Use a wall planner

Kinaesthetic learners or active learners

Kinaesthetic learners prefer to being involved in activities. They need to apply the information and make it their own by constructing something or practising a technique or skill.

Characteristics of kinaesthetic learners

• Often they take notes or even draw pictures or doodle whilst listening
• Remember best what they did
• Memorise by walking and seeing
• Like ‘hands on’ activities and group interaction

Study hints for kinaesthetic learners

• Test your learning by applying it or transforming it to another form. For example use lecture notes or readings to draw a diagram, flow chart or even construct a model.
• Start or join a study group
• Relate facts or theories to your own experience
• Learn or memorise information by teaching or telling someone else
• When studying take frequent breaks. This is also helpful for the other learning styles. 
•  

I like using colour to highlight noticeable points, taking note new words and try to use them as much as possible in my writing.
 
https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/1_StudySkills/study_tuts/learning%20styles/visual.html
https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/1_StudySkills/study_tuts/learning%20styles/kinesthetic.html