Well folks, this is it. The final blog entry.
Most of you have done a great job of responding to our weekly questions, and I've really enjoyed reading your responses.
For our final entry, I'd like you to discuss the class. More specifically, what do you think you can take away from our 15 or so weeks together? You might discuss something that has to with writing, or you could maybe talk about something having to do grammar. Maybe you feel that you are taking away something completely unrelated to both writing and grammar. If you don't think you can take away anything from the class, what do you wish you could have improved?
As a follow-up question, what do you wish we could have covered in this class that we didn't do?
Please be honest, as this is simply a truthful reflection on our time together during the 2010 fall semester.
Thanks for writing!
Josh
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Week 11 Question
Hi folks!
I hope you enjoyed the Halloween weekend. I hope you equally enjoy your day off tomorrow.
Next week we will take a short field trip to a local high school. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to meet and talk to American high school students. We will also use this visit as a way to generate ideas for our third essay, which will be a cause-effect essay about some issue related to American high school students.
As a prelude to this trip, I'd like for you to discuss your impressions of American high school students. More specifically, I'd like you to explain what stereotypes you have about high school students in the U.S. (your assumptions about what you think American high school students are like). These stereotypes can be based on movies, TV shows, pop music, hearsay (what you've heard other people say), or personal experience.
Please respond to this question by no later than Sunday, Nov. 7th.
As always, thank you for your responses.
I hope you enjoyed the Halloween weekend. I hope you equally enjoy your day off tomorrow.
Next week we will take a short field trip to a local high school. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to meet and talk to American high school students. We will also use this visit as a way to generate ideas for our third essay, which will be a cause-effect essay about some issue related to American high school students.
As a prelude to this trip, I'd like for you to discuss your impressions of American high school students. More specifically, I'd like you to explain what stereotypes you have about high school students in the U.S. (your assumptions about what you think American high school students are like). These stereotypes can be based on movies, TV shows, pop music, hearsay (what you've heard other people say), or personal experience.
Please respond to this question by no later than Sunday, Nov. 7th.
As always, thank you for your responses.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Week 9 Question
I've just finished re-reading the blog posts you've written so far. Reading your responses is not only fun and intersting but also insightful--I've learned a lot by reading what you wrote! I really appreciate the time you take to think about each week's question and the quality of your responses. Again, the blog is a class forum for ideas; students often have different ideas, but each idea is welcome and encouraged.
Next week we are going to start discussing the basics of writing a research paper. Your topic will have to do with some aspect of Montana culture, ecology (the environment, animals, etc.), education, history, and so on.
For this week's blog, I'd like you to start thinking about Montana in general. While this week's question isn't necessarily directly related to the topic that you will research, it will get our minds headed in towards the sign that reads "Montana," if you know what I mean.
This week, I'd like you give your opinion on what you think makes Montana unique compared to other places in the world. You can talk about Montana in general, or you can discuss only Missoula. It's up to you.
Good luck!
Next week we are going to start discussing the basics of writing a research paper. Your topic will have to do with some aspect of Montana culture, ecology (the environment, animals, etc.), education, history, and so on.
For this week's blog, I'd like you to start thinking about Montana in general. While this week's question isn't necessarily directly related to the topic that you will research, it will get our minds headed in towards the sign that reads "Montana," if you know what I mean.
This week, I'd like you give your opinion on what you think makes Montana unique compared to other places in the world. You can talk about Montana in general, or you can discuss only Missoula. It's up to you.
Good luck!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Week 8 Question
Hi!
For those of you who have responded to last week's blog, thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I think that knowing a variety of studying strategies can be a great advantage during "heavy" study weeks like the mid-term and finals week.
This time around, I'd like you to look ahead to a moment you are all surely waiting for--the time when your mid-terms are finished. What I'd like you to think and write about is what you will do in order to relax and take it easy once all the stress from mid-term studying/test-taking has passed.
For example, when I was a student, the second I stepped out of my final mid-term/final test, I headed straight for the river. I bet you can all guess what happened next: that's right, I would go fishing! For me, there was nothing more soothing to my stressed-out spirit than the sounds of the river passing by. The moment a fish was on the end of my line, all thoughts of studying, mid-terms, grades, and so on would vanish.
What about you? What can you tell us about how you relax after such a stressful week?
I look forward to reading your posts.
Josh
For those of you who have responded to last week's blog, thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I think that knowing a variety of studying strategies can be a great advantage during "heavy" study weeks like the mid-term and finals week.
This time around, I'd like you to look ahead to a moment you are all surely waiting for--the time when your mid-terms are finished. What I'd like you to think and write about is what you will do in order to relax and take it easy once all the stress from mid-term studying/test-taking has passed.
For example, when I was a student, the second I stepped out of my final mid-term/final test, I headed straight for the river. I bet you can all guess what happened next: that's right, I would go fishing! For me, there was nothing more soothing to my stressed-out spirit than the sounds of the river passing by. The moment a fish was on the end of my line, all thoughts of studying, mid-terms, grades, and so on would vanish.
What about you? What can you tell us about how you relax after such a stressful week?
I look forward to reading your posts.
Josh
Friday, October 8, 2010
Week 7 Question
I've enjoyed reading your entries for week 5. Some of your responses were quite surprising (in a good way). This would be one of the reasons why I like to do this blog: it's fun to learn new things about students one would never learn in class.
On to this week's question......The fact that you've got mid-terms next week is something I'm sure you're all aware of. Good luck to all of you.
This week's question pertains to what you do when you've got a stressful week of studying ahead (like mid-terms). To be exact, what specific studying strategies do you employ when you have a big test or even multiple tests coming up? What do you do to stay focused, motivated, and consistently engaged in your studies?
On to this week's question......The fact that you've got mid-terms next week is something I'm sure you're all aware of. Good luck to all of you.
This week's question pertains to what you do when you've got a stressful week of studying ahead (like mid-terms). To be exact, what specific studying strategies do you employ when you have a big test or even multiple tests coming up? What do you do to stay focused, motivated, and consistently engaged in your studies?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Week 5 Question
Hi!
To those of you who answered last week's questions: thanks! I really enjoyed reading about the cultural issues you deal with on a daily basis here in the U.S. At the same time, having lived in Ecuador and S. Korea, I can relate to some of the various cultural challenges that you have encountered (and may continue to encounter) during your stay in the U.S. If you have any questions about these issues that you'd like to ask me, please feel free to do so. At that, I'll leave you with a quote that Madoka said (and that I think works pretty well wherever you are in the world): "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
For this week's question, we're going to go to the opposite side of the cultural challenges spectrum:
You are all living and studying here in the U.S. Therefore, you are all (to some extent) forced to eat American food, listen to American music, interact with Americans, watch American TV shows/movies, etc. I'm sure a few of you may very well enjoy eating American food and listening to American music on a regular basis, but it is probably also true that a number of you miss your home country's food, music, social interactions, and so on.
Which part of American culture do you enjoy/appreciate the most? Why?
I look forward to reading your responses!
Josh
To those of you who answered last week's questions: thanks! I really enjoyed reading about the cultural issues you deal with on a daily basis here in the U.S. At the same time, having lived in Ecuador and S. Korea, I can relate to some of the various cultural challenges that you have encountered (and may continue to encounter) during your stay in the U.S. If you have any questions about these issues that you'd like to ask me, please feel free to do so. At that, I'll leave you with a quote that Madoka said (and that I think works pretty well wherever you are in the world): "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
For this week's question, we're going to go to the opposite side of the cultural challenges spectrum:
You are all living and studying here in the U.S. Therefore, you are all (to some extent) forced to eat American food, listen to American music, interact with Americans, watch American TV shows/movies, etc. I'm sure a few of you may very well enjoy eating American food and listening to American music on a regular basis, but it is probably also true that a number of you miss your home country's food, music, social interactions, and so on.
Which part of American culture do you enjoy/appreciate the most? Why?
I look forward to reading your responses!
Josh
Friday, September 17, 2010
Week 4 Question
Hi,
Thanks for "thinking hard" for last week's question. Your responses were thoughtful and at times insightful.
This week's question is a prelude to our first essay, which will be a compare-contrast essay. For this week's question, think about the differences between U.S. culture and your own culture. What is the one difference that you have the most difficulty dealing with. In other words, which difference is still difficult for you to understand, experience, deal with, etc. Please explain your answer in detail You could write about body language, food, music, the way people drive, anything!
As a follow-up, you could also write about what you have done to try to overcome this difference or what you plan to do to deal with it.
I'm sure you'll all have some really interseting observations, so don't forget to read what other students have written.
Josh
Thanks for "thinking hard" for last week's question. Your responses were thoughtful and at times insightful.
This week's question is a prelude to our first essay, which will be a compare-contrast essay. For this week's question, think about the differences between U.S. culture and your own culture. What is the one difference that you have the most difficulty dealing with. In other words, which difference is still difficult for you to understand, experience, deal with, etc. Please explain your answer in detail You could write about body language, food, music, the way people drive, anything!
As a follow-up, you could also write about what you have done to try to overcome this difference or what you plan to do to deal with it.
I'm sure you'll all have some really interseting observations, so don't forget to read what other students have written.
Josh
Friday, September 10, 2010
Week 3 Question
Hi,
I agree with all of the ideas you suggested for the week 2 question. Every activity you mentioned is exciting and a part of why Missoula is a unique place to live. However, there is one glaring omission: nobody mentioned fishing! If there is one activity I'd recommend doing in while living in Missoula, it's fishing. There are so many beautiful rivers and creeks around Missoula. There's no better way to connect with the wonder and mystery of these "living" streams than by delicately casting a fly into the current with the hope of catching a beautiful native trout.
This week's question is a little more serious than last week's question; however, it is just as interesting and will help us get started on thinking about our next paper. For week 3, I'd like you to think about "change," and I don't mean the type of change that jingles in your pocket! I'm talking about change in our lives. These changes might have to do with where we live, our jobs, our families, school, friends, etc.
More specifically, what types of changes in your life are most difficult? Why? Please give details to support your answer.
To get you started, I'll give you a personal example. For me, it's really hard to leave behind a life that I've established in a given place. What I mean is once I've settled in a new place, worked there for awhile, made friends, learned about the cool places to visit and fun things to do and so on, it's really hard for me to leave that place. Something about the idea of having to leave behind everything I've worked so hard and long to learn just isn't easy for me. To illustrate, it was hard for me to leave Ecuador in 2004 after living there for 9 months; leaving Missoula in 2007 to go to Korea was really difficult. Then, when it was time to move back to Missoula from Korea, I didn't want to leave Korea! It seems that I come to enjoy my life wherever I settle, and uprooting myself from that place is one change that is always hard to deal with.
Good luck!
Josh
I agree with all of the ideas you suggested for the week 2 question. Every activity you mentioned is exciting and a part of why Missoula is a unique place to live. However, there is one glaring omission: nobody mentioned fishing! If there is one activity I'd recommend doing in while living in Missoula, it's fishing. There are so many beautiful rivers and creeks around Missoula. There's no better way to connect with the wonder and mystery of these "living" streams than by delicately casting a fly into the current with the hope of catching a beautiful native trout.
This week's question is a little more serious than last week's question; however, it is just as interesting and will help us get started on thinking about our next paper. For week 3, I'd like you to think about "change," and I don't mean the type of change that jingles in your pocket! I'm talking about change in our lives. These changes might have to do with where we live, our jobs, our families, school, friends, etc.
More specifically, what types of changes in your life are most difficult? Why? Please give details to support your answer.
To get you started, I'll give you a personal example. For me, it's really hard to leave behind a life that I've established in a given place. What I mean is once I've settled in a new place, worked there for awhile, made friends, learned about the cool places to visit and fun things to do and so on, it's really hard for me to leave that place. Something about the idea of having to leave behind everything I've worked so hard and long to learn just isn't easy for me. To illustrate, it was hard for me to leave Ecuador in 2004 after living there for 9 months; leaving Missoula in 2007 to go to Korea was really difficult. Then, when it was time to move back to Missoula from Korea, I didn't want to leave Korea! It seems that I come to enjoy my life wherever I settle, and uprooting myself from that place is one change that is always hard to deal with.
Good luck!
Josh
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Week 2 Question
Hi!
Your responses to the week 2 warm-up were interesting and insightful. Thanks for doing such a nice job. All of your goals are important AND attainable. I'll do my best to help you achieve these goals.
This week's question has been inspired by today's weather. To be exact, as I'm sitting here writing the next question, my mind is wandering outdoors into the beautiful, warm sun. I'm thinking about what I would be doing outside if I weren't still at work. So what does this have to do with the question? Here goes:
What activities (outdoor or indoor) do you think every foreign student should do while living here in Missoula? Why?
As a follow-up, what activities have you done so far that you recommend other students try? What activities would you like to do that you haven't done yet?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Your responses to the week 2 warm-up were interesting and insightful. Thanks for doing such a nice job. All of your goals are important AND attainable. I'll do my best to help you achieve these goals.
This week's question has been inspired by today's weather. To be exact, as I'm sitting here writing the next question, my mind is wandering outdoors into the beautiful, warm sun. I'm thinking about what I would be doing outside if I weren't still at work. So what does this have to do with the question? Here goes:
What activities (outdoor or indoor) do you think every foreign student should do while living here in Missoula? Why?
As a follow-up, what activities have you done so far that you recommend other students try? What activities would you like to do that you haven't done yet?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Week 2 Blog Warm-up
Hi!
I hope you've made it this far. If so, welcome to the fall Writing and Grammar 5 blog. On this blog, you will write about various topics and read about what other students have to say about these topics.
For our warm-up question, I'd like you to write about your goals for this class. More specifically, what are 3 personal (about you) goals that you have for Writing and Grammar 5 this semester. Please explain why each goal is important.
Thanks for writing.
Josh
I hope you've made it this far. If so, welcome to the fall Writing and Grammar 5 blog. On this blog, you will write about various topics and read about what other students have to say about these topics.
For our warm-up question, I'd like you to write about your goals for this class. More specifically, what are 3 personal (about you) goals that you have for Writing and Grammar 5 this semester. Please explain why each goal is important.
Thanks for writing.
Josh
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