Discussion & Debate (1)
2021.06.04
W-Q-J of the Day
This week, we had two discussions about acceptable behavior.
You do not need to post to Canvas this week. Instead, take some time to prepare your ideas, and maybe practice with your group, for the final exam.
Final Exams will begin at our regular class time Week 16 (June 18th). You know who is in your groups. Your scheduled time is listed below. I would like your group to work together to choose three of the weekly topics we have worked on in this class (after the mid-term). I will select one from those three and ask the group to conduct a discussion for at least five minutes.
I will change groups at 20-minute intervals after examinations begin (See Group Final Exam Schedule below). Please be in the class Zoom room on time for your group discussion. I may be with another group in a breakout room, but wait in the main room and I'll be with you soon.
Your exam score for the discussion will be based on observed vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension (whether or not the student understood the questions and was able to give appropriate answers), and content (very simple, to quite detailed responses). Please relax and enjoy a normal discussion, like we do every week. Clear language is preferable to overly formal or high-level vocabulary.
While you really cannot “study” for this exam, you can prepare by working on your communication and discussion skills using the topics we have talked about in class this second half of the semester.
Email me with any questions.
See you in class!
JBH
Group Final Exam Schedule Week 16 (June 18th)
3-4 class
11 a.m.: Jeongmin, Lizaveta, Ji Sohyun, Hwang Jihyun
11:20 a.m.: Belinda, Seungeun Park, Tiffany
11:40 a.m.: Ichigo, Shinhwa,Choi Jiyoung
12 noon: Nikita, Lena, Khabib
5-6 class
1 p.m.: Ryu Youngji, You Hyeonjeong, Lee Jiyou
1:20 p.m.: April, Byun Junwon, Arielle, Aziz,
1:40 p.m.: Maksim, Kim Seyoon, Eom Seoyoung
2 p.m.: Jeong Changhwan, Baik Yura, Baek Songyeob
2:20 p.m.: Kim Yunjin, Kim Eunjeong, Wu Dongze
2:40 p.m: Alex, Eva, Cho Injune
W-Q-J of the Day
This week, we had two discussions about acceptable behavior.
You do not need to post to Canvas this week. Instead, take some time to prepare your ideas, and maybe practice with your group, for the final exam.
Final Exams will begin at our regular class time Week 16 (June 18th). You know who is in your groups. Your scheduled time is listed below. I would like your group to work together to choose three of the weekly topics we have worked on in this class (after the mid-term). I will select one from those three and ask the group to conduct a discussion for at least five minutes.
I will change groups at 20-minute intervals after examinations begin (See Group Final Exam Schedule below). Please be in the class Zoom room on time for your group discussion. I may be with another group in a breakout room, but wait in the main room and I'll be with you soon.
Your exam score for the discussion will be based on observed vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension (whether or not the student understood the questions and was able to give appropriate answers), and content (very simple, to quite detailed responses). Please relax and enjoy a normal discussion, like we do every week. Clear language is preferable to overly formal or high-level vocabulary.
While you really cannot “study” for this exam, you can prepare by working on your communication and discussion skills using the topics we have talked about in class this second half of the semester.
Email me with any questions.
See you in class!
JBH
Group Final Exam Schedule Week 16 (June 18th)
3-4 class
11 a.m.: Jeongmin, Lizaveta, Ji Sohyun, Hwang Jihyun
11:20 a.m.: Belinda, Seungeun Park, Tiffany
11:40 a.m.: Ichigo, Shinhwa,Choi Jiyoung
12 noon: Nikita, Lena, Khabib
5-6 class
1 p.m.: Ryu Youngji, You Hyeonjeong, Lee Jiyou
1:20 p.m.: April, Byun Junwon, Arielle, Aziz,
1:40 p.m.: Maksim, Kim Seyoon, Eom Seoyoung
2 p.m.: Jeong Changhwan, Baik Yura, Baek Songyeob
2:20 p.m.: Kim Yunjin, Kim Eunjeong, Wu Dongze
2:40 p.m: Alex, Eva, Cho Injune
2021.05.28
W-Q-J of the Day
This week, we had two discussions about topics focused on Mindset. along with a weekly Language Topic.
Please remember to create a thoughtful post with your opinion or ideas about one of this week’s discussion or language topics in the Canvas discussion area (150-400 words) before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 1st (Topic Title: "Your Name/Mindset") The Tuesday deadline gives your classmates time to reply to your post thoughtfully. Then, be sure to reply to two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time June 4th.
Week 15 (June 11th) is reserved for make-up classes and we will not have class that week. We will have a final exam in this class Week 16 (June 18th). We will choose your discussion groups in class next week. I would like your group to make a decision and choose three of the weekly topics we have worked on in this class after the Mid-term Exam. We will make those choices next week, after you have seen the Week 14 discussion topics. I will select one of the three topics the group selects and ask you to conduct a discussion for at least five minutes.
Your exam score for the discussion will be based on observed vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension (whether or not the student understood the questions and was able to give appropriate answers), and content (very simple, to quite detailed responses). Please relax and enjoy a normal discussion, like we do every week. Clear language is preferable to overly formal or high-level vocabulary.
While you really cannot “study” for this exam, you can prepare by working on your communication and discussion skills using the topics we have talked about in class this first half of the semester.
Email me with any questions.
See you in class!
JBH
2021.05.21
W-Q-J
In today’s class, we talked about Life & Death.
Please post and reply your opinion on one of this week's topics before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 25th in the class Canvas discussion area (150-400 words), and reply to at least two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time Friday, May 28th. (Topic Title: "Your Name/Living")
Week 12 topics are posted in Canvas files.
See you in class,
JBH
2021.05.14
W-Q-J
In today’s class, we talked about Genetics.
Please post and reply your opinion on one of this week's topics before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 18th in the class Canvas discussion area (150-400 words), and reply to at least two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time Friday, May 21st. (Topic Title: "Your Name/Genetics")
Week 11 Discussion/Language topics are posted in Canvas files.
See you in class,
JBH
2021.05.07
W-Q-J
In today’s class, we talked about the Future.
As usual, please post and reply your opinion on one of this week's topics before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 11th in the class Canvas discussion area (150-400 words), and reply to at least two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time Friday, May 14th.
Week 10 Discussion/Language topics are posted in Canvas files.
See you in class,
JBH
2021.04.30
W-Q-J
In today’s class, we continued talking about Ethics. this week we focused on immoral and acceptable behavior, building on our discussions from Week 7.
As usual, please post and reply your opinion on one of this week's topics in the class Canvas discussion area (150-400 words), and reply to at least two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each).
Week 9 Discussion/Language topics are posted in Canvas files.
See you in class,
JBH
2021.04.16
W-Q-J of the Day
This week, we had two discussions about topics focused on Ethics.
Please remember to create a thoughtful post with your opinion or ideas about one of this week’s discussion or language topics in the Canvas discussion area (150-400 words) before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 20th (Topic Title: "Your Name/Ethics") The Tuesday deadline gives your classmates time to reply to your post thoughtfully. Then, be sure to reply to two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time April 23rd.
We will have a mid-term exam in this class Week 8. You know who is in your groups. I would like your group to make a decision and choose three of the weekly topics we have worked on in this class. Then I will select one from those three and ask the group to conduct a discussion for at least five minutes.
Exams will start at class time, and I will change groups at 20-minute intervals after that (See Group Mid-Term Schedule below). Please be in the class Zoom room on time for your group discussion. I may be with another group in a breakout room, but wait in the main room and I'll be with you soon.
Your exam score for the discussion will be based on observed vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension (whether or not the student understood the questions and was able to give appropriate answers), and content (very simple, to quite detailed responses). Please relax and enjoy a normal discussion, like we do every week. Clear language is preferable to overly formal or high-level vocabulary.
While you really cannot “study” for this exam, you can prepare by working on your communication and discussion skills using the topics we have talked about in class this first half of the semester.
Email me with any questions.
See you in class!
JBH
Group Mid-Term Schedule
3-4 class
11 a.m.: Belinda, Lena, Tiffany, Choi Jiyoung
11:20 a.m.: Ichigo, Shinhwa, Ji Sohyun
11:40 a.m.: Lizaveta, Jeongmin, Khabib
12 noon: Nikita, Seungeun Park, Hwang Jihyun
5-6 class
1 p.m.: Byun Junwon, Baek Songyeob, Kim Yunjin
1:20 p.m.: Eva, Kim Seyoon, Wu Dongze
1:40 p.m.: April, Lee Jiyou, Cho Injune
2 p.m.: Arielle, Yeom Seoyoung, Jeong Changhwan
2:20 p.m.: Maksim, Kim Eunjeong, Baik Yura
2:40 p..m: Alex, Aziz, You Hyeonjeong, Ryu Youngji
2021.04.09
As usual, we started off with our daily Word-, Quote-, and Joke-of-the-Day before moving on to the day’s discussion topic.
We shifted gears slightly today, moving from the last few weeks’ topics about justice and talked about MYOB (mind your own business) in small groups. Topics are posted in Week 6 MYOB discussion files in Canvas.
Please remember to create a thoughtful post with your opinion or ideas about one of this week’s discussion or language topics in the Canvas discussion area (150-400 words) before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 13th (Topic Title: "Your Name/MYOB." That way, people will have time to think about and reply to your post.
Be sure to reply to two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time April 16th.
We will have a mid-term exam in this class Week 8. I will divide you into groups of three next week. I will share one of the topics we have worked on in this class with your group and ask you to conduct a discussion for at least five minutes.
Your exam score for the discussion will be evaluated based on observed vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension (whether or not the student understood the questions and was able to give appropriate answers), and content (very simple, to quite detailed answers).
While you really cannot “study” for this exam, you can prepare by working on your communication and discussion skills using the topics we have talked about in class this first half of the semester.
See you in class!
JBH
2021.04.02
We started out as usual with our W-Q-J-of-the-Day, before moving on to continue discussing justice, specifically discussing the second part of the Week 4 discussion: What exactly is a crime?
Students came up with a few answers--
3-4 period:
“All acts against the law can be crime, but it depends on how serious it is.”
“In my definition, I think crime is hindering someone else’s choice or rights.”
Intent is a big part of crime.
5-6 period:
“Crime is something that’s written in law, an act that the government can punish someone for.”
“How the victim sees it. If the act has damaged the victim and they feel really bad about it and report it, it could be illegal.”
“Law is related to each country’s culture and tradition. For example, wearing a veil is required by law in some Arab countries.”
“It may be considered a crime if the person knows they are hurting someone.”
What’s moral and what’s legal might be different things.
Language Improvement session
The instructor will look over the discussion topics students submitted this week and may ask for help choosing a few of them in class or in Canvas.
Homework: Remember to create a thoughtful post with your opinion or ideas about this week’s discussions or language topics in the Canvas Discussion area (150-400 words) before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 6th (Topic Title: "Your Name/Week 5." That way, people will have time to think about and reply to your post. Choose any topic you have an opinion about from those we discussed this week.
Be sure to reply to two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time April 9th.
Note: You are not expected you to watch the class website 24/7, but please do check it out at least weekly to see if something has been added after class. For example, this past week, the instructor I forgot to remind students to email him their language topic info during class so he could post it to Canvas files. But right after class, he put out the call on the web page. Some people saw it and some people didn’t. If you check the page once or twice a week, you may pick something useful up that was forgotten or added after class.
Thanks!
JBH
2021.03.26
After our daily Word-, Quote-, and Joke-of-the-Day, the instructor mentioned a comment he left on the class Canvas discussion site suggesting that those who post think more about adding specific details and examples to make their writing more interesting, meaningful, and memorable. Try it and see.
It works the same way in spoken communication, too. More specific details and examples make your message more powerful and memorable.
We moved on from there to discuss a few questions in small groups on the topic of justice (see Week 4 discussion files in Canvas).
After a short break, we heard about the day’s language topic (see files in Canvas). Then the instructor divided students into pairs, asking them to exchange contact information and get together to create a couple discussion topics of their own. Each pair of students should prepare a full discussion session on a topic of their choice, completely developed, to share with the instructor next week.
Please submit a one-page info sheet with basic details about your discussion topics, as well as a second choice in case another group selects the same topic. Submit this one-page document to the “Student Discussion Topics” in the Class Canvas Assignments folder.
Also, remember to create a thoughtful post with your opinion or ideas about this week’s discussion or language topics in the Canvas Discussion area (150-400 words) before 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 30 (Topic Title: "Your Name/Week 4." That way, people will have time to think about and reply to your post.
Be sure to reply to two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each) before class time April 2nd.
See you in class!
JBH
P.S. If you presented the language improvement topic this week, please email me your PowerPoint so I can upload the info to Canvas.
Thanks!
2021.03.19
In today’s class, we built on last week’s topic, moving from national identity and stereotypes to individual identity.
What we did in class today:
1. W-Q-J
2. Attendance
3. Reminder about standard procedures. Every week, post and reply following instructions from Week 1. We also need to get clear on language topics. That means post something in Class discussion (150-400 words), and reply to at least two classmates’ posts (100-300 words each).
4. Week 3 Discussion topic (posted in Canvas files)
5. Week 3 Language Topic (posted in Canvas files)
See you next week!
JBH
2021.03.05
Standard Procedures:
* Every day, Word-Quote-Joke at the beginning of class.
* We will be having regular discussions in class and look at common language problems we can improve, along with posting in the Canvas discussion area (150-400) words regarding the discussions, language topics and any other thoughts related to our class EVERY WEEK. Please reply to at least two classmates discussion posts each week with 100-300 words to each classmate. In this way, we try to make the classroom conversation continue outside class. These Canvas posts can be written more casually than academic papers, but should be clear and understandable. This is part of your homework and will be scored as such.
* Please also post any presentation you share with the class (Word, quote, joke, and language topics) to the discussion area in Canvas under the subject heading "Your Name - (Word/Quote/Joke/Language, etc.)" Feel free to reply to or discuss these posts in our Canvas discussion outside class also.
* On your oral (spoken) discussions, you will be rated from time to time on your language use, as well as your discussion skills, which include listening as well as speaking. I will be using a modified IELTs scoring system to evaluate your spoken English.
* There will be two major examinations, one near mid-term and one final, at which you will be expected to participate in a few minutes of discussion with one or more partners. Again, this will be scored for language proficiency and discussion flow using modified IELTS criteria. We may also have one or more in-class debates this semester.
* You are expected to prepare for class discussions as required, post in the class Canvas discussion area regularly, and be actively involved in all class discussions. NOTE: Being actively involved does not mean dominating discussions. It is also important to allow all students who wish to be involved in a discussion to do so.
* In addition to our class discussions, I plan to use David Kosofsky’s book -->
or other language improvement resources each session. Two or three-person teams will prepare a 15-30 minute presentation each week to share with the rest of the class. Visual aids would be nice.
I suggest we start with grammar problems, for example, covering a few units (pages 1-15?) in Kosofsky’s text. One group will be responsible for the language session each week, and everyone will be responsible for any necessary discussion preparation and posting/replying in Canvas on a weekly basis. Again, you may wish to use the Kosofsky text for guidance, but give us any language tips you think may be helpful for your classmates, from any source.
* Feel free to suggest your own discussion topics or grammar issues that you think will be useful for this class. However, I will try to steer clear of common topics you have already discussed or written about over and over again (global warming, animal testing, plastic pollution in the oceans, etc.).
* For this first week, please accept your email invitation to Canvas (coming soon). In the discussion area, post an introduction about yourself, telling us a little bit about who you are, and write about any interesting discussion ideas or language problems you think are worth looking at. Please write your post before midnight Tuesday (2021.03.09), and reply to posts by two classmates in an online conversation before class time next week. Your discussion post title or subject should be “Your Name—First Week.”
Thanks!
JBH
Typical day
1. Word-Quote-Joke (5-10 mins.)
2. Topic discussion (10-40 mins.)
3. Language Improvement session (15-30 mins.)
4. Wrap-up discussion (remaining time)
* HW Every week, Post on Canvas 150-400 words, two replies to classmates (100-300 words each)
See you in class!
JBH
