GSIAS English VIII
2017.11.15
1. W-Q-J
2. News
3. Writing topic 25 minutes
4. 6 Minutes Speaking and Presentation Skills http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/
5. 10 Presentation Bad Habits My College Students – And You – Must UN-Learn http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/10-presentation-habits-unlearn-p1/
6. 10-20-30 Rule: Guy Kawasaki on PowerPoint
7. Use PPT Visuals, Not Bullets
8. How to Improve Your PowerPoint Slides with the Rule of Thirds
9. Six Simple Techniques for Presenting Data: Hans Rosling
2017.11.01
Today, after our news briefing, we began thinking about topics for our next presentation, set for Nov. 29th. On that day, we will be sharing information on a problem or topic related to our specialization and or area of interest that is worthy of a 10- to 20-minute presentation to the rest of the class.
Much like the other assignments in this class, this one should focus more on clear communication and drawing audience interest rather than aiming at elevated academic discourse. Since we are specialists in different areas, the topics we share should be clearly understandable by all of us, without going too deep into specialized knowledge that we do not all share. If you go into areas in depth, please try to make sure your information is clear enough for all of us to understand.
Next week, (Nov. 8th), please bring a copy of a brief research proposal to class with you for us to discuss. I want everyone to be set on a topic and thinking and working on it as we go through the rest of this month toward presentation day.
We finished off the class by watching an example from Six Minutes presentation website of an interesting talk by a Korean-American writer who spent six months undercover, teaching the elite youth of North Korea at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. We will talk about the presentation and the analysis of it on the Six Minutes site next week, along with our Word, Quote, and Joke of the Day, the daily news briefing, and our presentation proposals.
See you in class!
JBH
2017.10.18
Good luck on your mid-term exams!
See you next week!
JBH
2017.09.06
Our second week of this GSIAS English class fall semester got off to a great start with a first-rate word, quotation (proverb?) and joke (riddle?) of the day.
Next, we moved into the news briefing session, with a fascinating look at world events from the wide range of perspectives in our class. A brief class writing session folloed that before we wrapped things up by talking about our upcoming major assignment, A Bull in a China Shop.
Please continue bringing in your words, quotations, and jokes of the day and give some serious thought to your Bull in a China Shop presentation.
See you in class!
JBH
2017.08.30
At our first class meeting, we got to know each other a bit. This class has varying interests and needs, and the instructor will endeavor to meet as many of them as possible within our limited time frame.
The general routine each week will consist of
1. A Word, Quote and Joke of the Day to start things off right.
Instructions are linked here.
2. Reflective Writing: Although the focus of this course is on presentations and spoken communication, we will also be working with written language to a limited extent. Writing in this class will include written documents related to your presentations and personal reflections on issues and topics of the day. We will be doing personal, reflective writing about a variety of topics on a regular basis. These short writings may be combined for a larger project later in the semester.
3. News briefings: Each student will bring in one news item weekly, to be presented (not read word-for-word) along with commentary on issues or language, questions or discussion ideas on items. Students should coordinate together to ensure that there are no duplicated efforts on the same stories.
3. The instructor or a student will occasionally bring in material for a class discussion. Be ready to digest and discuss a controversial topic of international interest and share opinions that may be different from those of other students (and the instructor).
4. Because I am an English teacher (and a word person), I can't stray too far away from the basics. I will continue to bring in items (hopefully) of interest and utility on language matters. Students are also encouraged to bring in any language/presentation/current affairs topics that are interesting and useful. Stay tuned for more. While members of the class may have different levels of speaking/writing proficiency, there is always something more that can be learned.
5. The first major assignment, A "Bull in a China Shop" Experience, will be presented September 27th. Please read the assignment and be thinking about your topic. We will talk about it in class Week 2. I want you to email or bring a hard copy to class of a detailed, one-page proposal of your presentation by September 13th. (Double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font). Before you give your presentation, please give me a copy of your written version.
Thanks!
JBH
