Blog 7 Suggestions on English learning in CELC

Time flies. Our journey in English learning in CELC has covered half of its distance. Apparently all of us have gained a lot from this journey. As this journey is coming to its end, I’d like to make some suggestions on it, which may not be adapted owing to some reasons, but I sincerely hope that some of them can be taken by us and add great luster to our memorable journey.

In the morning, we are accustomed to hanging around in the classroom to kill time that between our alight from bus and the begin of our class. Half an hour, every day. Actually we can do something more meaningful during this period. In China, we usually had morning self-learning lesson before classes, during which we read loudly for reciting essays or memorizing phrases and words or just for pleasure. Now everyone is shy. It is not anyone’s fault because before one takes this action, he/she has to consider others’ reactions. The reason why no one reads is that there is not a “reading atmosphere”. To read fluently and articulate clearly and correctly, there is a long way to go. Are all of us expecting that we would magically shift into a native speaker after we are admitted into NUS? It is, I dare to say, a fantasy. Many of our seniors are still struggling with their oral English, despite their hard work in bridging course for half a year. If we mull over their unfortunate resulting from their laziness or leisure, we should consider over the similarities between our behaviours and theirs, which are bound to cause the similar unfortunate in future. Record our voice and see how poor we are reading, then we must take actions—read more and loudly!

After sitting down, another embarrassing thing begin. That is, the chair is not of enough height to pose us in a comfortable position. Trivial as it is, this incident keeps company with us during the journey and keep us suffering. It can not be adjusted! It afflicts us especially when we are taking reading comprehensions, when we must bend down and keep closed to the desk. May it can be a more comfortable one!

The most important part is that we are lack of oral practice. I realize that time in class is precious so tutors cannot spare so much time for speaking. However, as far as I’m concerned, some portions of the class are unnecessary. For example, repetitive simple grammar exercise and tediously going through textbooks. Perhaps teachers underestimate our ability in solving grammar questions. We have done a lot of grammar before, and what we are in dire need of is to put them into practice. Such grammar exercise can be undertaken by peer-reviewing essays and paragraphs, or choosing some of them and leaving them as homework and then we can do it individually after school. In the next class, tutors can quickly go through the answers and explain our confusions. As a result, we have more time for speaking in class. Speaking anything is OK. I observed that when I communicated with my peers, here and there I grasped some useful expressions from their speech, which were applied to use by me shortly after I memorized. To tell the truth, sitting in such an awful chair to struggle with grammar and textbook was pushing me to swing between sleeping and awaking! Nevertheless, I got extremely excited when I could talk with my friends. Though sometimes it is a great challenge to search in my mind to get across myself in proper expressions, I still enjoyed myself greatly because speaking English rendered me a feeling of honour and achievement.

I never intend to complain or mutter about our study. If we can simply make our journey more interesting and meaningful, why not?

blog5 Different personalities make this world beautiful

        Today, I have just finished an interesting test on my QQ .The test use my constellation and my age to identify my personality. To some extent, I do not believe this kind of tests, which is without any scientific evidence. What is more, it  always draws the same conclusion to many people.

         In my opinion, there are never two persons in this world have the same personality. Everyone has his or her own experience and every tiny decision he or she makes, will influence his or her life and makes it different from others. I like this difference, because it makes people around me differnt and every time I ask the same question to others, I can always get some different, but brilliant ideas, which could always give me some inspiration. What is more, every day, I chat and cooperate with people whose personalities are different from each other. This is a challenge but also a good chance to develop my EQ and ability to communicate with others when I get along with different people and try to make friends with them.
            We can never live in this world and every one is the same. This will make this world boring and dull. If everyone can use one colour to accurately describe his or her personality. I think these colours will make up the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. The same as rainbow, one colour is dull no matter how bright and strong it is . However, if there are seven colours combined with each other, they constitute the most beautiful bridge in this world. Maybe sometimes I will meet someone whose personality or values is different from mine. I think it will seem like I am looking at myself in the mirror. Everything is different so that I can see and think in a totally different way towards this world when I listen and learn his or her thoughts and ideas.

6.I love Qin Lin who has already belonged to Sida

Last Saturday, I had a fantastic birthday party with my group members and my roommate. We together went to Bouna Vista to KTV and then went to clementi to eat our cake. There are tons of thousands of happiness.
First of all, we went to Bouna Vista to KTV, although the devices there are not in good condition, we sang happily and spent a happy time. During that time, I found that Ziyan is not only good at whistling but also good at singing. Besides, I also found that our monitor, Qin Lin, is really a good planer and leader. And Zhaoyue is an enthusiastic singer. In addition, I must say that girls also performed greatly during that time. They sang some advanced sangs for us and did well.
Next, we went to Clementi to eat our cake. Because the cake is so small, we bought some food nearby. After sharing food with others, we finally went into the dividing cake stage. There were many people but only had a small cake. So everyone can only got a small piece of  cake. The following thing is the most interesting thing. After the eating of cake, there still remained two strawberries. Of course, I ate one of the two strawberries. But I am too embarrassed to eat another one. So how to deal with the last strawberry? I finally came out an idea that Qin Lin is the planner of this party. So I want Qin Lin to finish this strawberry. However Qin Lin did not willing to eat that strawberry. Then someone suggested that Qin Lin should eat this strawberry with Sida. That is what they are doing in the picture.
Thanks to Qin Lin, we had a so wonderful birthday party.

Blog 6 Reflection on the service-learning

After two training classes on service-learning, our group, NUS girls group two, has put the skills into practice. We learned how to discuss for decisions, and mostly importantly, take actions.

So far, we did quite a good job in our first step— to raise the basic budget for the children we will serve. Till now, we have raised S$510, much exceeding the original aim S$250. During the training class on Sunday morning, we discussed in group and decided to raise money by donation on our campus. Then, we were divided into three smaller groups and were assigned with the same amount of the task of the donation.

 The sub-group with 5 members was the first to begin the job. On Sunday evening, they collected all the materials and began to paint the poster, the donation box and make some handicrafts for the donators. The second group, however, contacted with a merchant, and stocked some milk tea for charity sale. Meanwhile, the third group also made some handicrafts for the donators. After the preparation, we raised money in three different places on the campus. It was out of our expectation that so much money was donated in only three days.

 We find that making plan was rather essential for the task. Besides, team-work made a great difference in the whole process. We brainstormed for the method of collecting money. It was team-work that inspired our ideas to make the foregoing decision. Finally, taking actions was the key of the task. Before we began the project, we found it hard to get the budget. However, the road we went became broader and brighter, when we immersed ourselves into the task, put our heart into it and tried to figure out the solutions. We gained more passion along with the operation, and took actions as soon as possible. In addition, we received happiness and the sense of accomplishment. It was great to that what we were doing was supported by a large group of people.

  However, there is one aspect that we should improve, that is, the connection with the group members. It was true that during the cooperation in the donation, we came to know more with each other.  However, seldom did we exchange our latest process because it was hard to inform all the 13 fellows in different rooms. Therefore, it is necessary for us to set up a QQ group, so as to get in touch with our partners conveniently.

  All in all, we cooperated efficiently during these weeks, and have acquired some crucial skills in team-work. The the money donated will be well-planned before used. We are looking forward to serving the children in VWO now. (VWO stands for volunteer associations)

Blog7 : which in hands longer in class?-- pens Vs phones

   iPad, iPhone or iTouch and many other similar electrical devices have ‘won millions of people’s heart’, in particular the youths. People play with these items all the time, waiting for the bus, standing in the train or eating their meals. As for students, they may even play in the class, which may bring about numerous adverse effects on them and people involved, especially at the oral presentation, when teachers lecture and in panel discussion.

To begin with, this negative impact can be seen at presentation. Students playing with their items normally do not focus on the speakers; therefore they have little idea what the speaker has said. When the teacher asks students to give some suggestions, they often spend a lot of time thinking, making the speaker embarrassed while waiting in silence and most times cannot offer highly constructive ones to help the speaker. Besides, failing to pay attention to speakers’ presentation, they may lose a chance to broaden their horizons and learn new knowledge, such as the rules of chess and the stories behind porkers. All in all, rather than lower head down gazing at screens, students may as well look at the speaker and listen carefully, as is supposed to be mutually beneficial.

In addition, certain harm may be done to students if they are distracted from the lecturers to their electric items. In class, most times they bend their head down, one eye on the books, the other on the screens, striking to find a balance between these two points. On account of little concentration on the lecturer, they usually miss important points of knowledge and tend to make mistakes which lecturers have specially stressed in the class. From the eyes of lecturers, they are initially very enthusiastic and passionate, aiming to deliver an extraordinary lesson. Nevertheless, while teaching, teachers gradually find almost all students bending their head down instead of looking forward. Lacking students’ interaction and cooperation, they feel a little disappointed and then upset (perhaps they may not display outside), which will terribly affect how well they teach. Consequently, they will not teach as well as when students behave otherwise.

At last, students frequently fix their eyes on dears and are absent from the discussion, which will also cause negative influence. Due to less participation, the discussion normally makes students bored and thus discourages other members to talk more. Also, students who play with phones do not pay attention to others’ remarks which may be of great help to them one day, thus losing great wealth in knowledge. In a nutshell, playing with phones or tablets in discussion not just does harm to the discussion, but also has a negative effect on students themselves who play.

To summarize, playing with smartphones or other similar products at presentation, during lecturing or discussion, will lead to negative effects to students as well as others. If we put our smartphones away in class and concentrate, I believe the class will be more interesting and fruitful and all students as well as teachers will benefit significantly.

(I am also a phone player, so I want to write this blog to remind me of this act’s bad influence and try to play with phones after I have finished my part of work J )

Fraternity Between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (Blog 7)

A portrait of Sherlock Holmes

  Sherlock Holmes has no doubt to be the most well-known detective since his appearance in 1887. He had revealed plenty of murders, solved numerous mysterious cases, and even managed to protect national secrets. Apart from his tremendous contribution to detection, his methods of deduction benefited forensic science in the following century. He is so glamorous that millions of fans are attracted by him worldwide. However, frankly speaking, too much compliment is not suitable for his personality. Although Holmes is extremely intelligent and observant, he is arrogant, self-centered, and almost entirely lacking in social graces. How could he survive in the society and become so eminent? The answer is that he had a loyal partner ——Dr. John Watson, who played a vital role in Holmes career. Sherlock Holmes cannot live without Watson for many reasons.  

Their Discussion

 Firstly, Dr. John Watson was the chronicler of Holmes’s adventures. Most of their stories were narrated by Watson, written from his perspective, including his personal admiration and critics towards Holmes. From his depiction, a vivid figure of a shrewd but imperious detective appeared in front of us. Without the description and assessment, we cannot grasp a precise image of Holmes and his personality. Therefore, we should appreciate the excellent work Watson did.
 In addition, Watson played a significant role as an assistant in Holmes’s career. He provided practical assistance in the conduct of their cases, acting variously as lookout, decoy, messenger and accomplice. We can often see that Holmes says, “Watson, would you please collect some books for me from the library?” and “Watson, can you go to Scotland Yard to meet XXX?”. Dr. Watson also inspired Holmes to come up with many constructive ideas; hence, the cases were solved easily. Moreover, he helped Holmes out of financial problems by renting an apartment mutually.

2009 Movie Sherlock Holmes

 Most importantly, Dr. Watson is a sincere and warm-hearted friend to Holmes. Their friendship is beyond money, fame and power. No matter how dangerous the situation is, Watson always kept accompany with Holmes, whose fondness for Watson often hided beneath his cold mask. However, it was revealed once when Watson was shot although the wound was quite superficial. He depicted that it was worth a wound to know the depth of loyalty and love, which lay behind that cold mask, from the clear, hard eyes and the shaking firm lips. Besides, Watson is more like a soul mate of Holmes, who did not get married for whole life and had few friends. In most occasions, people would feel offended by Holmes due to his rudeness and arrogant. Only Watson could tolerate Holmes’s eccentric conduct and even appreciate the glamour of his personality.

  In all, Dr. Watson is indeed a devoted assistant and sincere friend of Sherlock Holmes. It is hard to imagine that a Holmes without John Watson could resolve so many macabre cases and overcome rumors, illness and loneness. It proves a truth that there is always a benevolent friend behind a great person. Hence, we should all thank our friends’ generous support and understanding in our life, and then help them in return. There is always a wonderful world full of remarkable brotherly love.

2010 BBC Channel One Drama Sherlock

[blog 7]Who is my ideal girlfriend？

  Finding a girlfriend is a crucial step in boys’ life, because it is of high possibility that the girl will become their lifelong partner. When boys grow up, they do not want to share everything with their parents and friends. At this time, girlfriends are good listeners and can also give boys’ some advice. Thus, girlfriends play an important role in boys’ life. I want to share with you some of my requirements of my girlfriend.

  Good personalities are very momentous. First, she should be considerate, which can make up for my careless and heedless. Besides, she’d better have a sense of humor and laugh easily. Otherwise our life will become monotonous and dull. Furthermore, I do not like a girl who is contrived, and I think natural and casual behaviors can make a girl beautiful and gracious.

  

  When it comes to appearance, it is impossible for me to say I do not care. Almost very man has an inherent love for beauties. As for me, it cannot be better if she is beautiful. However, it is alright if she is not slim or sexy. Compared to looks, health is more important, because the girl is the one I want to be with forever. However beautiful she is, it will finally fade. Only health will last for a long time.

  To conclude, good personalities and health are some of the qualities that I am looking for. Different people have their own demands of their boyfriend/girlfriend. How about you???