Writing 1 Spring 2014 week 2: Writing paragraphs

Hello everyone, Today we are going to learn about paragraphs and start our first writing task.
First, lets sign in to Quizlet and study some academic vocabulary.

Look at the picture on the left. It is a picture of the cafeteria in Area 1 on the University of Tsukuba campus. Do you ever eat in this cafeteria? Your first writing task is to write a paragraph about your life at the University of Tsukuba. Click the link to read some examples of paragraphs about student life at Shibaura Institute of Technology.

Your first writing task is to write a paragraph about your life at the University of Tsukuba. Your paragraph should be 200 words or more.  Please submit your first draughts by e-mail. Please download the style sheet, and follow it. The deadline is next Monday 5 May at 6 pm. Please don't be late. Have a nice Golden week!

Presentation 2 Spring 2014 Week 2: Introduction to English Central

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to sign up for English Central. Please click the link for your class:
Presentation II Spring 2014.
After you have signed up for English Central, choose a video and practice speaking. after you have finished using English Central, click the link and download the task sheet for your first presentation.


Now let's start preparing for our first presentations.

Presentation I 2014 Week 2: The informative presentation

Today we are going to learn about gestures and we are going to start to prepare for our first presentation.

Your first presentation will be an informative presentation.
Your presentation must be 1 minute.

Only your posture, eye content, voice and the content of your presentation will be tested, so this presentation won't be too difficult. You should practice with a partner.

You will give your presentation next week, so don't be absent and don't be late!

Cross Cultural Awareness and English I 2014 Week 2: Love and marriage in Botswana

Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed the week-end. Today we are going to start using our textbook. Our first reading is about a marriage tradition in Botswana. look at the picture on the left. It is a picture of a contemporary Tswana family. The Tswana are a people living in southern Africa. Eighty per cent of the population of Botswana is Tswana.
Let's pause here and do a little vocabulary learning. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 1.


Please look at the map below. Where is Botswana? The title of our first reading is Brides for Sale.

Next class we learn about love and marriage in China.

Writing 2 Spring 2014: Welcome

Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba. Today I'm going to introduce you to the course. Please click the link to download the course outline.

This is an academic writing class, so we will be using academic English. We will study academic English using an online vocabulary learning application called Quizlet. Please click the link to download a document that will help you get started with Quizlet. Next, please click the link to join our class on Quizlet.

Look at the picture on the left. This is the course book we will use this semester. Please buy it at the book store. We will start using it next class.

Finally, please leave a comment. Introduce yourself to the class.

Writing I Spring 2014: Welcome!

Image by Charles J. Danoff

Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba.

Today I am going to introduce you to this course. Please click the link to download the course outline.

This semester you will do five writing tasks, four paragraphs, and one essay. You will share your writing with your classmates, and the world, by posting them on our University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog. Please click the link to see some writing done by University of Tsukuba students in my previous classes.


In order to do academic writing, you need to know academic vocabulary. We will study the most useful academic English vocabulary using an online tool called Quizlet. Please click the link to download a document that tells you how to get started with Quizlet. Next, please click the link to join our class on Quizlet. Now please study the vocabulary for 5 minutes.
Finally, please leave a comment. Please introduce yourself to me and your classmates. Tell us about your hometown, your major and your favourite pastimes.
See you!

Presentation 2 Spring 2014: Welcome!

Hello everyone, Welcome. Thank you for choosing Presentation 2. Today I'm going to tell you about the course. Please click the link to download the course outline. In this course you will make three presentations. You will make all your presentations using an online tool called Voicethread. The first presentation is a self introduction presentation. Let's watch a great presentation made last semester.
 


Your second presentation will be a group presentation. You will make a presentation about this university. You will describe the faculty you belong to and tell us about your major too. Your third presentation will also be a group presentation. You will make the presentation on a topic of your choice.

Also, starting next week, we will use a great online tool called English Central. You will need to make a premium account. In order to make a premium account, you need to go to the bookstore on campus and buy the voucher shown below.

OK, that's all for today. See you next week!

Presentation 1 Spring 2014: Welcome!

Hello everyone, welcome to Presentation 1.
Today I am going to introduce you to the course. Let's look at the course outline.
Look at the picture on the left. This is the text book we will use. I hope you have bought it. If not, please buy it as soon as possible. We will be using it starting next class. This semester we will learn the basics of how to give 5 types of presentations: an informative presentation, a layout presentation, a demonstration presentation, a comparison demonstration and a persuasive presentation.

First, lets look at a bad presentation. Watch the presentation and take notes. What mistakes are the presenters making? Now let's watch another bad presentation.

Next week we will start our first presentation.
See ya!

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Welcome!

Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba!
Today I am going to introduce you to this class. Please click the link to download your course outline.
Look at the picture on the left. That is our textbook. There are two stories in the textbook. This semester we will be reading an discussing the first story, "The Inverted Eagle", but first, let's study some vocabulary. We will study vocabulary this semester using an online tool called Quizlet. Please click the link to learn how to get started with Quizlet. I have created classes for you on Quizlet. Click the link for your class to join:

Art & Design Majors (Class B)
Life & Environmental Science Majors

Ok, now, let's study vocabulary for 5 minutes.



Next, let's talk about reading. Do you enjoy reading? What are your reading habits. Please click the link to download a work sheet.
That's all for today. Please read chapter 1. Our first quiz is next class. Have a great Golden Week!

Integrated English I for Physical Education Majors B4: Welcome!

Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba!
Today I'm going to introduce you to this course. Please click the link to download the course outline.
This semester, we will read and discuss the biography (伝記) of a third-generation Japanese-Canadian (カナダ日系三世) ice hockey player called Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya (狩谷ポール哲彦). In Canada, ice hockey is just called hockey. Maybe you have never seen a hockey game. Let's watch a video showing some exciting moments in hockey.




Pretty exciting, eh? I love hockey! Let's watch another video. This video shows highlights from Paul Kariya's career.




You will learn a lot of new vocabulary in this class. We will study vocabulary using an online vocabulary learning tool called Quizlet. Please click the link to download a document called Getting Started with Quizlet. I have created a class for us on Quizlet. Please click the clink to join the class. Please click the link: IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary. Please study the flashcards for 5 minutes. 

You should use Quizlet to study vocabulary every day. If you have a smart phone you can download a Quizlet app too! You will also do self study using Super Eigo. Click the link to watch a video showing you how to use Super Eigo.

OK, finally, please leave a comment. Have you ever seen a hockey game? Are you interested in hockey? Do you know any famous Japanese-Canadian, or Japanese-American sports stars? What sport do you play? Click the link to learn how to post a comment.

See you after Golden Week!

Cross Cultural Awareness and English I 2014 Week 1: Welcome!

Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba!

Today I'm going to introduce you to the course. Please click the link to download your Course Outline.

Well, as you saw from the course outline, we will be discussing love and marriage in various cultures this semester. Let's listen to a great song by Frank Sinatra called "Love and Marriage".

 As the song says, "Love and Marriage" go together like a horse and carriage. "Love" and "marriage", and "horse" and "carriage" are collocations. (コロケーション、語と語のつながり、語の配列、連語（法）、連語構成語) Can you think of any more collocations related to the topic of love and marriage? With your partner, please make a list.

Now, let's learn some vocabulary. We will be using an online vocabulary learning tool called Quizlet. Please click the link to download a document called Getting Started with Quizlet. I have created a class for us on Quizlet. Please click the clink to join the class. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English Vocabulary. Please study the flashcards for 5 minutes. 

Now let's share our opinions about love and marriage with the people sitting next to us. Would you like to get married some day? 

That's all for today. Next time we'll talk about love and marriage in Botswana. See you!