Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 3: Chapter 2

Hello everyone, Well, we are a little behind schedule. Today we are going to do the first quiz. Then we are going to read Chapter 2 and do the tasks, including solving the puzzle.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Inverted Eagle Chapter 1 Vocabulary.
OK, we'll have a quiz about Chapter 2 next week at the beginning of the class, so don't be late!

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 3: Paul Kariya Chapter 1

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review Chapter 1 of our Paul Kariya biography and do the first quiz.
First, let's watch a cartoon about the rules of hockey explained by a popular character in Canada, Peter Puck. Please click the link.

Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary.

Now let's review Chapter 1. Click the link to see a mind map of Chapter 1.

Next, click the link to download your Chapter 1 Review Worksheet.
For homework, please read Chapter 2.
Enjoy!

Cross Cultural Awareness and English I Spring 2014 Week 4: Love and Marriage in Greece

Photo by Louis Konstantinou

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to learn about love and marriage in Greece.

Last week we learned about dowries. Dowries have been a part of Greek culture too. It's interesting that two very different cultures, China and Greece, can share a cultural tradition, isn't it?
You can learn more about Greek wedding traditions by clicking the link: Ten Greek Wedding Traditions.




Today's article is about μαντινάδες (Mantinades), which are love poems sung at weddings on the island of Crete. Crete is the largest island in Greece. It was once the centre of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was the oldest civilization in Europe, so Crete has a rich cultural tradition. This rich cultural tradition has given the people of Crete some wonderful wedding customs, including the Mantinades.

Before we learn about the Mantinades, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Crosscultural awareness and English Vocabulary. 

Now let's listen to a mantinada. The song is called Ο ΥΜΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΜΑΝΑΣ - ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΖΕΡΒΑΚΗΣ . Please click the link:

Vicky Loras, a Greek Canadian teacher of English in Switzerland tells us that the title means, "Hymn to Mother". The singer says that there are many kinds of love in the world but the one kind of love that stands out is love for one's mother. Why do you think that a man might sing a song about his love for his mother at his wedding?

Here is a mantinada shared by Christina Markoulaki,  a teacher in Heraklion, which is the capital of Crete:

Σιγά-σιγά μη βιάζεστε κι η πόρτα μας θ’ ανοίξει, γιατί έχει η νύφη αδέλφια και γονείς να τσ’ αποχαιρετίσει. 

Christina says, "...this mantinada warns the guests not to hurry because the bride will take her time to say goodbye to her family." This matinada shows the very strong connection between the couple and the family, which Christina says is,"... an entirely Greek phenomenon!"

Let's listen to this mantinada now. Please click the link: 

Ψαρογιώργης - Aνωγειανές κοντυλιές-Πεντοζάλης

 That's all for this week. See you next week!

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Week 4: Editing your opinion paragraph

Hello everyone, today we are going to edit our first assignment. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Wordlist.
I have checked your papers. Reread your papers. Check that you have followed the style sheet. In particular, you should check that you have indented the first line of your paragraph. Check that your paragraph has a good topic sentence. The topic sentence should be a general statement that states a clear opinion. Also, remember that a paragraph has only one main idea. After that look for overgeneralisations. Below are some examples of overgeneralisations:

• "All Canadians are polite" - many Canadians are polite, but some are not. These statements are better: "Some Canadians are polite" or "Canadians are known to be polite"
• "Only Japan has four seasons" - actually this is just plain wrong!
• "People from other countries can't eat natto" - I know some Americans, and Australians that love natto. 

Avoid absolutes, words such as "all", "only", "no", "never", and so on.
Ok, please write your second draught. Please print it and put it in a folder with your first draught. Then submit it to my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre.
See ya!

Writing 1 Spring 2014 Week 4: Organising information by time

Hello everyone, today we are going to start our next assignment. Your assignment will be a time order paragraph. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.

Now let's post our first assignments to our class blog. First, you will need to create a Google account. Then send me a message using gmail, so I can add you as an author on our class blog. After that you can post your first assignment. Please click the link to see previous posts by University of Tsukuba students: The University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog. After you have posted your assignment you should read one of your class mate's posts and comment on it.
Finally, don't forget that the first draught of your second assignment is due next Tuesday. Your second assignment is to write a paragraph about either your best experience or your worst experience. You can read some examples of paragraphs about best and worst experiences by clicking the link.
Enjoy writing!

Presentation 2 Spring 2014 Week 4: Making Storyboards and making slides

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to storyboard our first presentation.

Let's watch a video by a great presenter called Garr Reynolds.

Take out some loose leaf paper.

While you are watching the video, take notes and answer the questions below.



Part 1: Preparation

1. What are the 3 parts of a presentation?
2. What are the 3 Zen principles that Reynolds relates to presentations?
3. What is a "slideument", and why should we avoid it?
4. What are the 6 key elements of "stickiness"?
5. What are the 3 parts in the process of preparing a presentation?

Part 2: Design

1. What three Japanese words does Reynolds relate to design?
2. What is the 1-7-7 rule? Is it a good rule, why/why not?
3. What is the "rule of thirds"
4. What are the 7 design concepts?

OK, now it's your turn. Start storyboarding your presentation. You should have at least 14 slides, so your storyboard should have at least 14 panels.

Please click the link to download your storyboard worksheet. After that we will edit and rewrite our script.

Now let's talk about slides. Below you can see some examples of really good slides. The slides were made by Garr Reynolds. You can get some great FREE tips from Garr Reynolds' website too.

OK, let's make some great slides now! Please use your own photos and images, or if you don't have your own photos and images please use only photos and images with a Creative Commons licence. You can read about Creative Commons licences here: クリエイティブ・コモンズ. You can find Creative Commons Images on Flickr, or by doing an advanced search in Google.
 

Sample slides by Garr Reynolds from garr

Bring your slides with you on a USB flash drive next week. Enjoy!

Presentation 1 Spring 2014 Week 4: The demonstration Presentation

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to do our second presentation. Then we will begin our third presentation, the demonstration presentation. Let's watch a demonstration of how to make ramen.
Now it's your turn. Please prepare a demonstration presentation of your favourite dish.

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 2: Chapter 1 review and Quiz 1

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to take the first quiz. Before we do that, let's review. Please click the link: Inverted Eagle Crime Talk Vocabulary. Please do the Quizlet test. Do the test. Next, please look at the image below.

This image is a "mind map" Click the link to read a Japanese explanation of mind maps. The mind map above explains the scene of the crime in the Inverted Eagle. Look at the mind map. Make sentences based on the information in the mind map. Write the sentences in your Detective's Notebook on p. 5 in section E. Initial Observations. Look at the examples below:

• Sometime before 9am, a robbery occurred.
• The robbery occurred at the Reeds' House
• There was also a drugging.
• There was almost a murder.

OK, let's review the answers to the Chapter 1 puzzle, then we'll take the quiz.

Now let's learn some vocabulary for Chapter 2. Please click the link: Inverted Eagle Chapter 2.
Finally, please read Chapter 2, do the tasks including the puzzle, and make notes in your Detective's Notebook. We will have the Chapter 2 Quiz next lesson.
Enjoy!

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 2: The History of Hockey

Hello everyone, Today we are going to learn about the history of hockey. First, let's study some vocabulary on Quizlet. Please click the link: IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary.
Now click the link to download the document called The History of Hockey. Click the link to see all the teams in the National Hockey League (NHL).
After you read about the history of hockey we will have a quiz. After the quiz, we will start reading the biography of Paul Kariya. There will be a quiz on Chapter 1 next week.
Enjoy!

Cross Cultural Awareness and English I Spring 2014 Week 3: Love and Marriage in China

Hello everyone, I hope you had a nice weekend.
Today we are going to start our next topic, Love and Marriage in China, but first let's study some vocabulary on Quizlet, please click the link: Cross cultural Awareness and English Vocabulary.

Like Botswanan marriage customs, Chinese marriage customs include a "bride price". Chinese marriage customs also include a dowry. You can read about Chinese pre-wedding customs by clicking the link. Let's watch a video of a Chinese wedding. Now let's study some vocabulary,

For homework, please watch the video below. After that, please download the article, "Thousands marry on love you forever day". Read the article and do the tasks. Enjoy!

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Week 3: Task 1 - An Opinion Paragraph

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to start our first writing task, an opinion paragraph. You must choose one of the following topics:

• The advantages of studying at a national university
• The advantages of studying at a private university
• The advantages of studying overseas
• The advantages of speaking one or more languages
• A topic of your choice

Your paragraph must be at least 200 words (not letters). You should use this style sheet. Your first draught is due next Wednesday, 14 March at 3 pm. Please deposit your assignment in my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre.
Enjoy!

Writing 1 Spring 2014 Week 3: Writing a Second Draught

Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed Golden Week.
Those of you who submitted your the first draught of your first writing assignment will see some red marks I've made on your paper. In order to understand those marks you will need our Writing Error Codes handout.

Today we will review the structure of a paragraph and then start our second draughts.

First let's study some vocabulary on Quizlet.

Please submit your second draught to my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre by Tuesday 13 May, at 3 pm.

Presentation 2 Spring 2014 Week 3: Writing a Script Continued

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to continue working on our first presentation.
First, if you were absent last class, please click the link to download the task sheet for your first presentation. Before we continue working on our scripts, let's do some pronunciation practice on English Central.

Now we are going to finish writing the first draught of our script. Your first draught is due on Monday 12th May at 1:30 pm. Please deposit your first script in my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre, just outside the teachers room. You can see a picture of my mailbox on the left. I will check your scripts, and show you where you have made mistakes. You can use our Writing Error Codes handout to help you understand the corrections I will make.

See you next week!

Presentation 1 Spring 2014 Week 3: More gestures and the Layout Presentation

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to do our first presentation.
After that we are going to practice using gestures some more. Look at the picture on the left. What does the gesture mean? Do you ever make this gesture?

Our next presentation is a layout presentation. A layout speech describes where things are, their size and their shape. Your next presentation will be about your room. Draw a map of your room on A3-size paper. Your presentation should be 1 minute. You will be tested on your posture, eye contact, voice volume, gestures and the content of your presentation. Don't forget to practice with a partner, or in front of a mirror.
See you next week.

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Week 2: Expressing an opinion

Image downloaded from Ricochet

Hello everyone, Today we are going to learn about expressing an opinion. Your first writing task will be to write a paragraph expressing an opinion about a topic of your choice.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.

Students in Daniel Ferrara's class at International Christian University (ICU) are blogging. Each student has their own blog. Would you like to have your own blog?


Let's look at some blog posts by ICU students. Please choose one blog post and click the link. Then read the post and leave a comment.


"ICU as a hybrid Institution" by Yuri Tami
"Education is..." by Nozomi Koizumi 
"The limits of locavorism" by Mai Ingawa
"Japan's population crisis" by Ikumi Tanaka
"Human beings are the only intelligent life in the universe?" by Naoki Fukushima
"Three things we know about how the brain works" by Kentaro Nakao
"What are trans fats anyway and why are they so bad?" by Arisa Shiokawa
"Is imprisonment a necessary system for dealing with all criminal acts?" by Nakamura Kenta
"Never to old to learn" by Konomi Sano
"Democracy is the best form of government" by Takahiro Takizawa

We'll continue learning how to express an opinion in English next week. Have a great Golden Week!

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.