This oral training course will help students learn to learn better while practicing English. In the first half of the semester, the course will teach students to reflect on their own habits of learning, to improve on those habits, and to enhance their learning skills. It will also teach students how to form and express their views on a variety of subjects, not in casual conversation but on rather formal occasions. The second half of the semester will be devoted to elemental feelings that we all have and how to handle them better. The three hours of our weekly class time will be divided among three different kinds of classroom activities. Students will present what they have prepared for the week in oral presentation in the first hour. The second hour is devoted to learning specific skills in the art of learning. In the third hour, in order to broaden students』 knowledge base as well as to develop their critical thinking, students will take turn presenting New York Times articles. Grades for the course would depend on performance in all these tasks. Attendance is mandatory.
| date |
Classroom activity |
Assignment |
| Feb 21 |
Introduction to the course
Sort out New York Times articles for
assignments |
Homework:
Edison Chen』s Sex Photo scandal*
Reflect on 「how do I learn」* |
| Mar 6 |
Report: EDISON CHEN』S SEX PHOTO SCANDAL, Edison Chen's Statement
Discuss: Know your learning habits
Student teach: NYTimes1、2
|
Homework:
An-Lee interviews 1 & 2*
How can I learn better* |
| Mar 13 |
Report: CREATING A GOOD INTERVIEW*
Discuss: What are my priorities?
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4
|
Homework:
An-Lee interviews 3 & 4*
Decision-making, prioritize* |
| Mar 20 |
Report: INSIDE AN-LEE
Discuss: How well do you plan
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4 |
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson
http://www.michaeljackson.com/bio#top
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html
Time use chart*, summary time use chart* |
| Mar 27 |
Report: MICHAEL
Discuss: How do you manage your time
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4
|
Homework:
Critical Thinking*
Eliminate procrastination*, generating ideas* |
| Apr 10 |
Report: CRITICAL THINKING
Discuss: review of study habits
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4 |
Homework:
Hans-Christian Andersen』s Cinderella* |
| Apr 17 |
Film: EVER AFTER (1998), Dir. by Andy Tennant, featuring Drew Barrymore
Discuss: How does the film change the original story |
Homework:
Prepare for mid-term report |
| Apr 24 |
Mid-term presentations
What have I learned about my learning habits and how I plan to improve them? Instructions |
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frustration
Frustration*, How to stay positive* |
| May 1 |
Report and discuss: FRUSTRATION
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4 |
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy
Understanding Jealousy* |
| May 8 |
Report and discuss: JEALOUSY
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4、5
|
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger
Taking charge of Anger* |
| May 15 |
Report and discuss: ANGER
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4、5 |
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassion
Cultivate Compassion |
| May 22 |
Report: COMPASSION, 弔詭的同情心
Discuss:
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4 |
Homework:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambivalence
YouTube：曖昧-王菲
YouTube：曖昧-楊丞琳 |
| May 29 |
Report: AMBIVALENCE
Discuss:
Student teach: NYTimes1、2、3、4、5
|
Homework: Prepare for final presentation
The final presentation has two parts:
1、a 2-minute well-written review of your learning style and how you are adjusting it to achieve better productivity.
2、a 2-minute explication of one key emotion that you think has dominated or has been missing from your life
so far, explain why, how, and the result of that presence
or absence.
On June 12, you will present these two pieces of homework in oral presentation; you will also need to email the written scripts for both parts to the instructor the same day.
|
| Jun 5 |
Prepare for final presentation |
| Jun 12 |
Final presentations
Self-analysis |
|
