After a whole school year has past, I have learned many new things, took new risks, and overcame many obstacles. With these challenges I experienced throughout this term, I believe that my English skills greatly improved.
At the beginning of the course, I expected to learn the types of literature in different languages (which we did with the short story packet) and be able to explain the characteristics of each (which I don’t think we did). Come to think of it now, it would be awkward to learn about languages other than English in English class. At the start of the year, I was worried about English due to my poor vocabulary skills. I was relieved to find that we did not focus much on vocabulary during class. I still feel worried about my vocabulary skills, though.
After going through two commentaries (excluding the final exam), I think I improved greatly on my analysis skills and reading comprehension. Whenever I read now, I look out not only for the literary techniques, but also why they’re used and how it affects the story. When I write down my thoughts and analysis, I use the SEX rule almost automatically. And to use this, I search for important quotes beforehand, even before I know what to write about. At first, I neither expanded nor gave examples to help prove my statement, as you can see with one of the essays I wrote near the beginning of the year. Now, I do them both naturally without caution.
Also, because of the commentaries, I started structuring my writings in a more organized way. For example: I start off with an introduction, about three body paragraphs, and end off with a conclusion. I have a topic sentence for each of the paragraphs and a thesis that explains my belief of the whole writing. I keep the introduction and conclusion concise but to the point. If you notice, this reflection is also in this manner.
In my opinion, I think I can have my paragraphs have smoother transitions between them. I have the habit of changing the topic dramatically just because it’s a new paragraph. Instead, though, I think I choose good quotes that are on topic and integrate them well. I use them in appropriate timings to emphasize and support a statement.
Since I do not have very good vocabulary skills, it’s hard for me to use specific vocabulary. I sometimes have to use words that are close to what I have in mind. For example: even if I want to describe a crimson sphere, the exact words may not come to mind. Therefore, I might describe it as a red ball instead. Although they are similar, they are not quite the same.
Along with vocabulary, I have many mechanical problems, especially grammar and spelling. Without spell check, I think that all my typed-up essays would be filled with green and red underlines. I always get the tense mixed up and I sometimes add “s” to irregular plurals like “sheep” and “deer”. Compared to the beginning of the year, though, I think I became more aware of these problems.
To be honest, I hate writing in a timed situation. It causes you to rush, you get nervous, you can’t stop glancing at the clock, and so on. I’d rather sit back, relax, and type up the writing without any time limit so that I can revise and edit as much as I can. Even though I still dislike being timed, I think I got better at pacing myself, so that I’d finish in time and so I would have time to revise.
Being creative probably does not mean to be original and to be imaginative; it is probably to be able to see something from different perspectives and to express it in your own manner. We can all strengthen our creativity by analyzing anything and by understanding its meaning of existence. Throughout this term, we have been analyzing literacy, and from that, we were able to learn how to be creative.
I did not really like the blog process, since anyone could see what you wrote. I know that this could be both a good thing and a bad thing, but still, it seems embarrassing to think that anyone in the world can see what you write. Also, it’s kind of embarrassing to see your blog in the search results when you google your name.
Finally, I would like to say that I enjoyed this course very much and was happy to participate as a member of this class. I hope that I can make the best out of what I have learned in this class and use my improved skills and knowledge in the future.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tea ceremony
I watched the clock ticking by,
And sighed with despair.
Atmosphere I cannot bare,
I wished time would fly.
The beautiful scrumptious sweets,
Makes me want to flea.
Along with bitter green tea?
Save me from these treats!
Tea masters get purified
From holy water.
It makes the body cleaner,
But heart putrefied.
Tea ceremony was like
A holy feel I dislike!
And sighed with despair.
Atmosphere I cannot bare,
I wished time would fly.
The beautiful scrumptious sweets,
Makes me want to flea.
Along with bitter green tea?
Save me from these treats!
Tea masters get purified
From holy water.
It makes the body cleaner,
But heart putrefied.
Tea ceremony was like
A holy feel I dislike!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
MYP criteria reflection
As you can see in my grades, most of my grades are in the B range. My Criterion C skills have improved: at the beginning, I had a 6.5, and then improved to 7, and finally 8.5. The Criterion A, B, and D section has had almost no change throughout the semester. I think that I have not improved much in the A, B and D section due to my lack of reflection skills. I will try my best to improve these skills in future assignments. I need help especially in the Criterion B section because I have gotten a 4 out of 10. Because of this 4, I have ended up with a C for this assignment. I will try my best to improve overall, so I can get better grades in social studies.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Speech Reflection
By doing this speech, I have realized that I am definitely not the type of person who can perform great speeches. I sometimes forget what I want to say and stammer a lot, especially in Japanese (etto). I think I can, though, create speeches fairly well. I put effort mostly in the content, and emphasized my points by using the literary devices, such as rhetorical questions and repetition. I used these devises without really noticing, so I think they just naturally occurred.
In my opinion, I think that presentation and content are equally important, and that a great speech is made only when both are high in quality. A speech with great presentation and poor content can attract the audiences’ attention, but the main points of the speech will probably not convey to the audience. If the presentation is poor and the content is good, you can’t catch the audiences’ attention in the first place.
My speech relates to our school’s mission statement in the way that I am trying to persuade people stand up and to stop doing illegal acts so we can compassionately impact not only the world, but ourselves as well.
In my opinion, I think that presentation and content are equally important, and that a great speech is made only when both are high in quality. A speech with great presentation and poor content can attract the audiences’ attention, but the main points of the speech will probably not convey to the audience. If the presentation is poor and the content is good, you can’t catch the audiences’ attention in the first place.
My speech relates to our school’s mission statement in the way that I am trying to persuade people stand up and to stop doing illegal acts so we can compassionately impact not only the world, but ourselves as well.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Found Poetry
Darkness
Shrouded in darkness,When the sun goes down.
Darkness, when all creatures are equally black.
Shadows creep smoothly,
Like the elegant black cat
That slips freely from house to house.
Like the bats that pierce the night
With voices like knives.
Like the hungry owls,
Looking for souls to eat.
Darkness is time for seeing,
Without being seen.
The major goals of humans,
To move on,
To forgive and to remember,
And to walk forward,
Into the light.
Only god knows,
When darkness
Is about to pass.
Nationalism: Cohesive or Divisive?
Although nationalism can associate images of people getting together and being cohesive to emphasis the greatness of their country, I think nationalism is more divisive than it is cohesive. Some factors that prove nationalism is divisive are: how nationalism can provoke xenophobia in the citizen, and how jingoism is born from it. A factor that shows nationalism is more cohesive is how it supports the economy.
Xenophobia, or the fear of outsiders and strangers, supports how nationalism can be divisive because the nationalists start avoiding the outsiders and the strangers that aren’t from their country or are not for their country. An example could be how the Nazi hated Jews and the Gypsies. Because of their hate, even the Jews and Gypsies avoided them, which led to greater division. In this way, xenophobia is a major factor that causes nationalism to become divisive.
Jingoism is the idea that your country can do no wrong and that whatever is a benefit for your country is something right. This belief itself isn’t bad, but when it leads to things like terrorism, nationalism starts becoming divisive. An example would be when Spain attacked America for god, glory and gold. The Al-Qaeda can also be something like jingoism, but Al-Qaeda is more for their religion.
On the other hand, nationalism can be cohesive because it supports the economy. An example of this would be the nationalists of Kenya rebelling against the British rule. The British were using Kenya so that they can benefit themselves. All the nationalists united and were able to kick the British out. From this, some of the economic problems in Kenya recovered.
Nationalism can be both divisive and cohesive. I believe that nationalism is more divisive because it brings about xenophobia and jingoism. On the other hand, it could be cohesive because it supports the economy. Therefore I believed that the divisive characteristics were stronger than the cohesive characteristics, but other people may disagree.
Xenophobia, or the fear of outsiders and strangers, supports how nationalism can be divisive because the nationalists start avoiding the outsiders and the strangers that aren’t from their country or are not for their country. An example could be how the Nazi hated Jews and the Gypsies. Because of their hate, even the Jews and Gypsies avoided them, which led to greater division. In this way, xenophobia is a major factor that causes nationalism to become divisive.
Jingoism is the idea that your country can do no wrong and that whatever is a benefit for your country is something right. This belief itself isn’t bad, but when it leads to things like terrorism, nationalism starts becoming divisive. An example would be when Spain attacked America for god, glory and gold. The Al-Qaeda can also be something like jingoism, but Al-Qaeda is more for their religion.
On the other hand, nationalism can be cohesive because it supports the economy. An example of this would be the nationalists of Kenya rebelling against the British rule. The British were using Kenya so that they can benefit themselves. All the nationalists united and were able to kick the British out. From this, some of the economic problems in Kenya recovered.
Nationalism can be both divisive and cohesive. I believe that nationalism is more divisive because it brings about xenophobia and jingoism. On the other hand, it could be cohesive because it supports the economy. Therefore I believed that the divisive characteristics were stronger than the cohesive characteristics, but other people may disagree.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
My future
In the future, I will probably be doing a job regarding sciences or technology. This is not only because I like science and technology, but also because I don’t have much passion and interest in anything else. Since my mother, father and my brother are all doctors (except for my brother who is trying to become one), I have a feeling that I am also going to become one too. I think it is safe to say, though, that I will not have any job related to languages and history. Therefore, I am planning to take either SL economics or ITGS as my group 3 choice since they do not relate to history.
Looking at my grades in social studies, I can see that most of my grades are all average: around the B range. I believe that this is my weakness, that I always feel satisfied with average grades. I always study until I think I can get a B. I can’t remember the last time I studied until I was absolutely sure that I could get an A. I never do extra credit. I only do what is mandatory. Both my parents and my past teachers have told me this many times, but I can never get this bad habit off me. On the other hand, my strength is that I can finish any type of work and get an okay grade without much sweat. If I put more effort in my work, I am sure my grades can improve by a lot. My long-term goal is to try to think of what I really want to do. I will try my best to accomplish this goal until I get into college. Until then, I will be working on my short-term goal: to fix this bad habit of mine.
Looking at my grades in social studies, I can see that most of my grades are all average: around the B range. I believe that this is my weakness, that I always feel satisfied with average grades. I always study until I think I can get a B. I can’t remember the last time I studied until I was absolutely sure that I could get an A. I never do extra credit. I only do what is mandatory. Both my parents and my past teachers have told me this many times, but I can never get this bad habit off me. On the other hand, my strength is that I can finish any type of work and get an okay grade without much sweat. If I put more effort in my work, I am sure my grades can improve by a lot. My long-term goal is to try to think of what I really want to do. I will try my best to accomplish this goal until I get into college. Until then, I will be working on my short-term goal: to fix this bad habit of mine.
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