During my whole academic life as a student I took many courses which were very interesting for me. My favorite course was Human Geography which I took when I was doing my bachelor degree in Education. In 2006, when I was taking that course was my senior years as undergrad. However, that course allows me to develop passion for social sciences. In Human Geography we did many innovative activities that attracted me to choose Geography as my field of interest in graduate school. Eliezer Nieves which was my professor have my all my respect and admiration. He as a professional is a marvelous educator but as a human is much better. It was in that course where I did many field activities which get me in contact with nature and other geographical stuff. This amazing educator showed me a different and innovative style of education. He was always there to help me in every way that he possibly will. Once again, get in contact with educators that go beyond and surpass our perspective as students allow us to improve our knowledge and commitment within society. Therefore, educators committed with students always become a good asset.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Javier Rodríguez Blog Assignment #4
Blog #4 Ha young Choi
My best class I ever had was Chinese class that I took at my 9th grade. My Chinese teacher was a woman and her name was Hun Ju Yang. I attended foreign language high school in
I like my teacher and she likes me and my classmates very much. I was president in my class which supports my classmates and homeroom teacher. At the beginning of the semester she doesn’t like me. I was so noisy, trouble maker and always played with friends instead of studying. But after I Become a president I study hard to be love by my teacher. Her nickname was Yang mother. The reason is that she treats us life her sons and daughters. During the final week, she bought a chocolate bar and something to drink for every each one of us. When we graduated, FEB 2007, she hugged me and cried that she missed me. I was so appreciated of her concerned and her love toward us. I never met teacher like her before.
She teaches Chinese well. She graduated elementary, middle, high school and university in
blog #4 Jacob Lee
I think if I had to talk about a most memorable class it would be my 3rd grade of my homeroom teacher’s class which was a math class. I personal do not have an exact reason that it was the most memorable class. Well fist of all I did ditch a lot in that class for some reason; for example, to sign up for a university, sickness, and many other reasons. However, I had manages to understand everything I missed. I don’t know if it was because the teacher was our home room teacher, but he always made up for the class some how when we missed it. Moreover how the teacher taught was also different than most of the Korean teachers that taught in Korea. Most Korean teachers would make students just “work work work.” On the other had our teacher made us think more and think deeply in the questions that we did. In some way I did like it because I did not have to do many questions and it was easy going, but my 3rd year high school teacher is one of the teachers that it is hard for me to forget.
Grace Kim - Assignment 4
International school was my 3rd different style of education experience in Singapore (After Korea and Canada). I took a course called “Critical thinking”. Most of my school teachers were from England but the teacher of this course was an American (I will just call her Ms. S). C.T class had about 15 students, was a very small class so each students could get more attention.
I was in International school so the class was consist of variety of nationalities; Korean, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Australian, Japanese, Malaysian, American and so on. I especially loved this class because to be honest, it wasn’t a hard course and the teacher was amazing! I took an IB course and it is such a hardcore education (the 1st year of UK university courses) and Critical thinking class gave me some kind of relaxing time. We had lots of different kinds of activities. Especially we practice a lot of presentations and it helped me to think critically. We made flyers, advertisement video etc. and one more reason that I really loved this course was that my best friend was in it too. The most exciting assignment was to make a product advertisement. My best friend I decided to make an advertisement of a bra for females. And we decided to have a name “Zebra” for our product. And we made 60seconds of an advertisement video. We got an A for this project and we really felt everything we did were such a creative ideas. Also I realized that a minute is such a short time but it’s so hard to put things and represent the product within in a short time. Also, we went a field trip to the city. We rent a bus and went to china town and had a fabulous time. It was a little be hard to get an approval from the principle because he thought Critical class was having too much fun rather than studying(which was sort of true lol) All of us were so excited about this filed trip and we took lots of pictures and had great lunch at china town. We could just went home by subway after several hours of filed trip. My best friend and I were roommates so after the filed trip we went shopping. I really loved this class especially because I could be with my best friends. (you know high school girls lol)
I can’t really remember everything that we did in Critical Thinking class because it’s about 2 years ago. I do remember it was my favorite class from high school. However, I remember that Ms. S left our school after that semester. Other teachers were too strict but this class gave me a break though from the stressful school life. Also, I had a great practice of how to look and think things critically.
I was in International school so the class was consist of variety of nationalities; Korean, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Australian, Japanese, Malaysian, American and so on. I especially loved this class because to be honest, it wasn’t a hard course and the teacher was amazing! I took an IB course and it is such a hardcore education (the 1st year of UK university courses) and Critical thinking class gave me some kind of relaxing time. We had lots of different kinds of activities. Especially we practice a lot of presentations and it helped me to think critically. We made flyers, advertisement video etc. and one more reason that I really loved this course was that my best friend was in it too. The most exciting assignment was to make a product advertisement. My best friend I decided to make an advertisement of a bra for females. And we decided to have a name “Zebra” for our product. And we made 60seconds of an advertisement video. We got an A for this project and we really felt everything we did were such a creative ideas. Also I realized that a minute is such a short time but it’s so hard to put things and represent the product within in a short time. Also, we went a field trip to the city. We rent a bus and went to china town and had a fabulous time. It was a little be hard to get an approval from the principle because he thought Critical class was having too much fun rather than studying(which was sort of true lol) All of us were so excited about this filed trip and we took lots of pictures and had great lunch at china town. We could just went home by subway after several hours of filed trip. My best friend and I were roommates so after the filed trip we went shopping. I really loved this class especially because I could be with my best friends. (you know high school girls lol)
I can’t really remember everything that we did in Critical Thinking class because it’s about 2 years ago. I do remember it was my favorite class from high school. However, I remember that Ms. S left our school after that semester. Other teachers were too strict but this class gave me a break though from the stressful school life. Also, I had a great practice of how to look and think things critically.
Vanessa Cruz Inoa Blog: 4
One best class in my life is Language Arts; take this class on University of Puerto Rico, Bachelors Education. In the beginning I think that class is for learn the different expression on the language. Remember the first day of the class the Professor is pretty women and look very well. Nice closeting, black and long hair and serious faces. The class starts, she introduces her self and one moment and other she takes her book bag and trough out a marionette.
She introduce her friend, his name are “POPE”. She explained the possibility of use the marionette how part of language communication. All wonder student, I never in me life thinking on University are possible that thing. The assignments for the class are really good. Because you need think in forms what the people learning and using the creativity to create activities for the classroom. One assignment is bringing to the class to story book and one thing what represent one part of the reading. For sample I was bring to the story of “Gold COQUĺ”. “COQUĺ” is the reptile symbolic of the island and the Gold Coquí is one treatment of extinction. I represent one part of the story with “Gold COQUĺ” souvenir and explain the important of reptile in the story.
The professor every day has new thing for the class some day surprising to class with movie, music, poetry, book, posters and activity what create stimulate the form of thinking. The professors in one class explain mentalities form multiples, bringing many attractive things. How book, music, calculated, paint and other stuff. This is for asking to the student which is more attractive. These form explained the mentalities form multiples. The group work is really funny; the last part of the class are necessary prepare one demonstrative class. The group in the beginning has not idea of what development topic. The group teaching pantomime “mime”. The focuses of this class are expressing the language by pantomime and art of learning whit this. All in the group work going to theater and take training of pantomime, white face paint, black clothing and gloves. The demonstrative class is excellent and the professor said good work by all class integration and used clothing for the topic.
The class has twelve students and the possibility of cancellation the class. Because in University of Puerto Rico is very important the quantity of student enrollment in the class. Twelve or more for take the class. The student enrollment in the class going to the register and accept the class with twelve student and approve for learn the course. The true is all the classes what take and taking in my student life are the best. All has the quality of learning to much knowledge what never before.
She introduce her friend, his name are “POPE”. She explained the possibility of use the marionette how part of language communication. All wonder student, I never in me life thinking on University are possible that thing. The assignments for the class are really good. Because you need think in forms what the people learning and using the creativity to create activities for the classroom. One assignment is bringing to the class to story book and one thing what represent one part of the reading. For sample I was bring to the story of “Gold COQUĺ”. “COQUĺ” is the reptile symbolic of the island and the Gold Coquí is one treatment of extinction. I represent one part of the story with “Gold COQUĺ” souvenir and explain the important of reptile in the story.
The professor every day has new thing for the class some day surprising to class with movie, music, poetry, book, posters and activity what create stimulate the form of thinking. The professors in one class explain mentalities form multiples, bringing many attractive things. How book, music, calculated, paint and other stuff. This is for asking to the student which is more attractive. These form explained the mentalities form multiples. The group work is really funny; the last part of the class are necessary prepare one demonstrative class. The group in the beginning has not idea of what development topic. The group teaching pantomime “mime”. The focuses of this class are expressing the language by pantomime and art of learning whit this. All in the group work going to theater and take training of pantomime, white face paint, black clothing and gloves. The demonstrative class is excellent and the professor said good work by all class integration and used clothing for the topic.
The class has twelve students and the possibility of cancellation the class. Because in University of Puerto Rico is very important the quantity of student enrollment in the class. Twelve or more for take the class. The student enrollment in the class going to the register and accept the class with twelve student and approve for learn the course. The true is all the classes what take and taking in my student life are the best. All has the quality of learning to much knowledge what never before.
Jehwan Lee Blog assigment #4
The best teacher that I have heard is elementary school teacher. There were 6 step in elementary school. When I was in fifth grade, he was my teacher. He came from other region at that year and looks very old. The class was very active like other children class. Honesty memory is little fading so even I can't remember his name but I can remember one thing certainly. He tried to teach class by his own method, not formal teaching way like other teacher who teach me first to fourth grade.
The most different thing between he and other teacher is that his teaching style was special. The style didn't make me boring. The study meterial that indicated in text book was revised from his hand and reorganized to understand easily. Because of his skill, I study really hard but feeling .
After class, he sometimes sing us with classic guiter. At that time, the sound of guiter gives me comfortable feeling with his voice. Also he recommend to play many kind of music instrument for us such as harmonica and recorder.
It was the first time that I write essay and poem by myself because I learned how to write logically from the teacher. He didn't force to write and submit but I remember that most of us did it. He evaluate our essay and pick best one up to post back wall of class room. So I always expected that he choose mine.
The good teacher is a teacher who know and purpose of teaching. Thus, the teacher who I introduce before was know clearly what he had to do. He was elementary school teacher so that the most important thing for children was giving experience from several feilds because they had infinite potencial.
The most different thing between he and other teacher is that his teaching style was special. The style didn't make me boring. The study meterial that indicated in text book was revised from his hand and reorganized to understand easily. Because of his skill, I study really hard but feeling .
After class, he sometimes sing us with classic guiter. At that time, the sound of guiter gives me comfortable feeling with his voice. Also he recommend to play many kind of music instrument for us such as harmonica and recorder.
It was the first time that I write essay and poem by myself because I learned how to write logically from the teacher. He didn't force to write and submit but I remember that most of us did it. He evaluate our essay and pick best one up to post back wall of class room. So I always expected that he choose mine.
The good teacher is a teacher who know and purpose of teaching. Thus, the teacher who I introduce before was know clearly what he had to do. He was elementary school teacher so that the most important thing for children was giving experience from several feilds because they had infinite potencial.
Hiu WIng, Chu blog#4
After I read the blog question, I spend a long time to figure out which is my best class that I have ever taken. In my mind, many teacher's face come up, but no one is American. Maybe it can impute to the different education style. Finally, I choose my " Information Technologic" class. I can't said that class have the best funding, resource, or class size. But I am sure that the class have the most attention, care, and friendship from the teacher.
The teacher's name is Man, Chan, he is my IT teacher who just graduated from University. I remembered when the first day of the class, he said his goal is be the "GTC". Do you know what is mean "GTC"? This word is comeing from a very famous comices call "GTO". Since the teacher's last name is Chan, so the "GTC" is means that he wants to be a " Great teacher Chan". He always try to get in our life and find out what we are thinking and what we need. He said we should not just memorize mechanically, otherwise, you will forget more than 80% in the text book after class or exam. So he will use a funny method of teaching to help us to understand the thoery more clear and easily. Such as bringing us to a " Internet Cafe" and find out how is a computer network runs.
On the other hands, he is not only concern on our academic, he also cares about our emotions and health. Sometime, he will date our class to ride the bicycle together on Saturday, or just having dinner with us. He wants to help us to solve every problems, and wants to share our happiness. Since he think that a teacher is not a person who just teach the text book, a teacher should be understand the student and care of them. I don't think I can find a teacher greater than him in my life.
Therefore, I always believe that the most important resources to make a great class is a great teacher!
The teacher's name is Man, Chan, he is my IT teacher who just graduated from University. I remembered when the first day of the class, he said his goal is be the "GTC". Do you know what is mean "GTC"? This word is comeing from a very famous comices call "GTO". Since the teacher's last name is Chan, so the "GTC" is means that he wants to be a " Great teacher Chan". He always try to get in our life and find out what we are thinking and what we need. He said we should not just memorize mechanically, otherwise, you will forget more than 80% in the text book after class or exam. So he will use a funny method of teaching to help us to understand the thoery more clear and easily. Such as bringing us to a " Internet Cafe" and find out how is a computer network runs.
On the other hands, he is not only concern on our academic, he also cares about our emotions and health. Sometime, he will date our class to ride the bicycle together on Saturday, or just having dinner with us. He wants to help us to solve every problems, and wants to share our happiness. Since he think that a teacher is not a person who just teach the text book, a teacher should be understand the student and care of them. I don't think I can find a teacher greater than him in my life.
Therefore, I always believe that the most important resources to make a great class is a great teacher!
Yulia Smirnova "Blog # 4
There are a big different between American teachers and Russian.And I have some stories from my high school about teachers but I don't want to talk about things.Because I don't want say bad things about Russia and russian people as I love my country with all minuses.
So last semster I took math class. There were approximatly 200 people in our lectures. Our professor was very funny. He is not american, I don't know where he is from. He has beard and bald spot.His has rediculous gait,like a goose. All the time he said jokes in class,that was so funny,but when he started to explain material for class I wanted to sleep. When we studied "cut problam", and we had problams with pizza.And my professor ordered pizza in class. And he explained this problam with real pizza. I have never met teachers who ordered food to class. And after class if somebody wanted a piece of pizza he or she could take it. Of course there were not pizza for whole classmates. Another day my professor took sweets(candy which you suck) and he wnated to show us that we can't devide 3 candies for 2 people. He said that we can give 1 candy for 1 person.But what we can do with 1 more candy? He tried to get to the core,but that was impossible do with candy.Than he took hammer and striked on the candy.And the candy was broken itno exstrimly little slices. That was so funny. So I think his method was very good,but the subject is very boring,that's why some students were sleeping in class. I think if all teachers would try to make their classes interesting(I don't mean to take food in class),than students will be more interesting in this class.
So last semster I took math class. There were approximatly 200 people in our lectures. Our professor was very funny. He is not american, I don't know where he is from. He has beard and bald spot.His has rediculous gait,like a goose. All the time he said jokes in class,that was so funny,but when he started to explain material for class I wanted to sleep. When we studied "cut problam", and we had problams with pizza.And my professor ordered pizza in class. And he explained this problam with real pizza. I have never met teachers who ordered food to class. And after class if somebody wanted a piece of pizza he or she could take it. Of course there were not pizza for whole classmates. Another day my professor took sweets(candy which you suck) and he wnated to show us that we can't devide 3 candies for 2 people. He said that we can give 1 candy for 1 person.But what we can do with 1 more candy? He tried to get to the core,but that was impossible do with candy.Than he took hammer and striked on the candy.And the candy was broken itno exstrimly little slices. That was so funny. So I think his method was very good,but the subject is very boring,that's why some students were sleeping in class. I think if all teachers would try to make their classes interesting(I don't mean to take food in class),than students will be more interesting in this class.
Hongchul : Assignment #4
One of my most valuable classes is the certificate of aircraft accident investigation program. There is one specific institute, SCSI, to train experts about aircraft accident investigation and flight safety in the Southern California. Five years ago I had a good chance to receive a special training program there. The lectures and discussions in the program are more practical and concentrated than I had taken ever before.
There are several reasons in considering this program most valuable. First of all, the faculty of this program consists of experienced experts retired from NTSB, USAF, and FAA. NTSB is in charge of investigation about aircraft crash, train accident, and infrastructure failures in the US. Also USAF is dealing with the issues of military aircraft safety. Most instructors had taken service in the safety field of NTSB and USAF. Money cannot buy their know-how and experiences.
Secondly, their training and lectures are not only theoretical but also practical. The training program covered the theory and fundamentals of aircraft accident investigation and practice with real aircraft wreckage. The institute has the crash laboratory to exercise investigation in the dessert. The crash laboratory distributes several crashed aircrafts gathered in different areas to simulate wreckage distribution like the real crash site.
The last one is the certificate obtained from the institute. After finishing the program successfully, we can get the certificate of aircraft accident investigation. Anyone who wants to work in the safety field of civil airlines has to acquire this kind of certificate according to the regulation of the ICAO. Possession of the certificate is mandatory to participate aircraft accident investigation committee.
According to Jennifer’s blog, most of my ESL classmates considered academic educations in the college as their favorite ones. In my case, the special training program which I had taken in the NM is considered as my best class due to the reasons mentioned above.
There are several reasons in considering this program most valuable. First of all, the faculty of this program consists of experienced experts retired from NTSB, USAF, and FAA. NTSB is in charge of investigation about aircraft crash, train accident, and infrastructure failures in the US. Also USAF is dealing with the issues of military aircraft safety. Most instructors had taken service in the safety field of NTSB and USAF. Money cannot buy their know-how and experiences.
Secondly, their training and lectures are not only theoretical but also practical. The training program covered the theory and fundamentals of aircraft accident investigation and practice with real aircraft wreckage. The institute has the crash laboratory to exercise investigation in the dessert. The crash laboratory distributes several crashed aircrafts gathered in different areas to simulate wreckage distribution like the real crash site.
The last one is the certificate obtained from the institute. After finishing the program successfully, we can get the certificate of aircraft accident investigation. Anyone who wants to work in the safety field of civil airlines has to acquire this kind of certificate according to the regulation of the ICAO. Possession of the certificate is mandatory to participate aircraft accident investigation committee.
According to Jennifer’s blog, most of my ESL classmates considered academic educations in the college as their favorite ones. In my case, the special training program which I had taken in the NM is considered as my best class due to the reasons mentioned above.
Blog Assignment # 4 (Dahyun Choi)
My one of the best classes I have ever taken is a Chemistry class in New Zealand. When I was in South Korea, unfortunately, most of my teachers were strict and not that humorous. And the size of a class was bigger than a class of New Zealand. So I do no think the school days in my home country were not really excited or memorable. Except a Korean class when I was in middle school. (The reason is he looked like an actor!)
Anyway, I studied Chemistry when I was in high school and the teacher was always same for three years. The size of school was quite big but the size of classroom was really small, which was good for me. Therefore there were lots of interactions between the teacher and students and it was easy to get know each other better and could be close. My Chemistry teacher was a Chinese man and he was about 30 years old. He was also my homeroom teacher and his name was Liu . He was “seriously” good looking and also kind. I am sure that most of the girls who took the class liked him, including me. Besides that, his class was easy to understand and he seemed like what he was talking about and how much the students understand his class. Since there were not many students in a class, we had much chance to do scientific experiments and group works.
At that time, not for present, I liked to study Chemistry and I do not know why I liked it that much, (I forgot everything!) but it was exiting at that time and I was quite good at the classes and exams. Although I changed my goal and I do not study Chemistry or sciences in a college anymore, I sometimes think about the class in high school and the teacher.
Anyway, I studied Chemistry when I was in high school and the teacher was always same for three years. The size of school was quite big but the size of classroom was really small, which was good for me. Therefore there were lots of interactions between the teacher and students and it was easy to get know each other better and could be close. My Chemistry teacher was a Chinese man and he was about 30 years old. He was also my homeroom teacher and his name was Liu . He was “seriously” good looking and also kind. I am sure that most of the girls who took the class liked him, including me. Besides that, his class was easy to understand and he seemed like what he was talking about and how much the students understand his class. Since there were not many students in a class, we had much chance to do scientific experiments and group works.
At that time, not for present, I liked to study Chemistry and I do not know why I liked it that much, (I forgot everything!) but it was exiting at that time and I was quite good at the classes and exams. Although I changed my goal and I do not study Chemistry or sciences in a college anymore, I sometimes think about the class in high school and the teacher.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Andrew Kim "Assignment #4"
I want to talk about my class, which in criteria of a story in a textbook, was not a good class.
It was 4 years ago when i was highschool junior year in Korea. It is easier to enter university than graduate in U.S.; But in Korea, it is extremely harder to enter university than graduate.
Because we were only 1 year before senior year when we had to take a University Entrance Exam, we were forced to study. Actually it started from highschool freshman year. I had to go to school until 8 am and took 7~8 classes until 5pm and then I had to remain in the school library for so-called "Late Night self-study" until 10pm. At that time, i sometimes escaped from the Late Night self-study, and hit by a heavy rod of my class teacher next morning. If i late for class in morning, i had to clean up our classroom for every recess period. But It was often fun because every my friend did the samething together, and it was actually got easier after i adapted to it. However, if someone ask me "Do you want to go back to that years?", the answer is absolutely no. And I feel sympathy for most of Korean high school students who probably doing the same thing as my exp.
At that time an angel appeared! We were not disappointed at a fact that the angel was a man, because the only female faculty in our highschool was a school nurse. In his age of 30, wear glasses, little bit fat, he was our Chinese teacher. Because most of students selected Japanese class, our class was relatively small. He had very tender characteristic, so he never lost his temper. Even though sometimes few of students talked each other during the class, he just gave good talking to them, instead of shouting at them. He taught us Chinese with good pronunciation, as he had once appeared in Chinese local show program and sung "Tian-Milmil" when he was studying in China. Moreover, exams were extremely easy as average of 90, so everyone was happy.
We spent more than half of time in every class watching Chinese movie and drama, and discuss about Zhu-xingchi, Chung roong, Zou run pa and Jet Li. Some students played oriental chess backside of in classroom, but i didn't. Because i knew It was quiet disrectful to the teacher. Maybe some people can blame him about his lack of ability to control over students, but i think he is the best teacher. He gave us freedom. I learned many Chinese culture and language from him, so that I could make many Chinese friend here in U.S. thanks to him.
It was most exciting and peaceful (excite-peaceful sound like contrary but truly it was) class ever. Among many opressive classes, everyone was waiting for Chinese class. It was an oasis for us. I want to go back and take that class again.
It was 4 years ago when i was highschool junior year in Korea. It is easier to enter university than graduate in U.S.; But in Korea, it is extremely harder to enter university than graduate.
Because we were only 1 year before senior year when we had to take a University Entrance Exam, we were forced to study. Actually it started from highschool freshman year. I had to go to school until 8 am and took 7~8 classes until 5pm and then I had to remain in the school library for so-called "Late Night self-study" until 10pm. At that time, i sometimes escaped from the Late Night self-study, and hit by a heavy rod of my class teacher next morning. If i late for class in morning, i had to clean up our classroom for every recess period. But It was often fun because every my friend did the samething together, and it was actually got easier after i adapted to it. However, if someone ask me "Do you want to go back to that years?", the answer is absolutely no. And I feel sympathy for most of Korean high school students who probably doing the same thing as my exp.
At that time an angel appeared! We were not disappointed at a fact that the angel was a man, because the only female faculty in our highschool was a school nurse. In his age of 30, wear glasses, little bit fat, he was our Chinese teacher. Because most of students selected Japanese class, our class was relatively small. He had very tender characteristic, so he never lost his temper. Even though sometimes few of students talked each other during the class, he just gave good talking to them, instead of shouting at them. He taught us Chinese with good pronunciation, as he had once appeared in Chinese local show program and sung "Tian-Milmil" when he was studying in China. Moreover, exams were extremely easy as average of 90, so everyone was happy.
We spent more than half of time in every class watching Chinese movie and drama, and discuss about Zhu-xingchi, Chung roong, Zou run pa and Jet Li. Some students played oriental chess backside of in classroom, but i didn't. Because i knew It was quiet disrectful to the teacher. Maybe some people can blame him about his lack of ability to control over students, but i think he is the best teacher. He gave us freedom. I learned many Chinese culture and language from him, so that I could make many Chinese friend here in U.S. thanks to him.
It was most exciting and peaceful (excite-peaceful sound like contrary but truly it was) class ever. Among many opressive classes, everyone was waiting for Chinese class. It was an oasis for us. I want to go back and take that class again.
Yoonsuk Jung, Blog #4
As far as I can remember, my best class was Land Economics class. The reason is that the professor was very humorous and energetic. He taught current social issues relative the class topic such as land, unemployment, depression, economy cycle and so on. Above all things, he brought us to have a huge interest in his economics class through discussing and sharing up-to-date information instead of focusing textbooks.
In class, he preferred group debating. Therefore, we always made small groups, each group consisting 4 to 6 students, and debating each other with each different point of view. After debate, he summarized each topic briefly in connection with current economy issues and questioned us. In addition, he gave some extra points to the student who answered his question in order to concentrate on the class to the end. Although he gave assignments every class for the next class, I think it was valuable opportunity to train our basic skills such as how to prepare relative materials with objective view, debate from each different side, and manage unpredictable questions or errors. I think his teaching skill constantly demanded for students to analyze, understand, and take latest information, subject knowledge, and social economy phenomenon which they experienced during the class and beyond the class.
Through taking his class, I can improve some economic senses such as analyzing and understanding. This experience also encourages me to have interests in economic situations. I believe that his class was the best class for me and I respect his passion now.
Lakshmi Blog assignment #4
This incident is not an interesting one but this is the most important and the memorable class experience I have in my life. The social studies teacher was the most important and loving teacher I have ever met. I think this opportunity is a great chance for me to respect her.
I was very popular, as a clever and an obedient student in the school. But I don't feel much comfortable when I remind those school days. But I have a great memory about the above said teacher. When I was schooling I had a bad experiencing time period. I was sixteen years old then and was in grade ten. My friends, the teachers were against me and no one was there to protect me exept a girl who was two years older than me. She knew Sinhalese as a subject very well and taught me when I needed help. I could not understand why the teachers and my friends were so mad at me. I felt so miserable. I suffered from being myself alone. There were over two thousand students and over one hundred teachers in the school but I felt like I don't have any one. One day I was thinking about this deppressing situation while I was in the social studies class. Suddenely I heard my teacher asking,"Lakshmi what is the meaning of fluctuation?" I was confused. As I was accepted as a clever girl, for my fortunate she understood that I was going through a bad confussion and she asked me to meet her after the class and the problem was solved. She was not only a good teacher but a good councellor too. I owe her from my whole life for the position I am right in now. The love and the care I have for her brings me tears at this moment too and I adore her in my life. As I am an adult now, when she came to see me before I leave the country I asked her about what coursed on that situation and she said that my class teacher had poisoned to the other teachers a bad news about me and that's why I was been miscared and neglected.The reason for that was every year my best friend got the highest marks and was first in the class and the second was either me or my class teacher's daughter. I do remember very well my teacher was very rude on me because, that if her daughter couldn't be the second in any term that was of my marks for English. The class teacher taught us Sinhalese and Buddhism and her daughter got the highest marks for those subjects. As she was powerful in the school as a teacher than being a student like me she could make my school days a hell. But I know very well that I am here because of a teacher too. Although this incident seems like unbelievable, this is the reality and the truth I faced while I was a school girl.
I was very popular, as a clever and an obedient student in the school. But I don't feel much comfortable when I remind those school days. But I have a great memory about the above said teacher. When I was schooling I had a bad experiencing time period. I was sixteen years old then and was in grade ten. My friends, the teachers were against me and no one was there to protect me exept a girl who was two years older than me. She knew Sinhalese as a subject very well and taught me when I needed help. I could not understand why the teachers and my friends were so mad at me. I felt so miserable. I suffered from being myself alone. There were over two thousand students and over one hundred teachers in the school but I felt like I don't have any one. One day I was thinking about this deppressing situation while I was in the social studies class. Suddenely I heard my teacher asking,"Lakshmi what is the meaning of fluctuation?" I was confused. As I was accepted as a clever girl, for my fortunate she understood that I was going through a bad confussion and she asked me to meet her after the class and the problem was solved. She was not only a good teacher but a good councellor too. I owe her from my whole life for the position I am right in now. The love and the care I have for her brings me tears at this moment too and I adore her in my life. As I am an adult now, when she came to see me before I leave the country I asked her about what coursed on that situation and she said that my class teacher had poisoned to the other teachers a bad news about me and that's why I was been miscared and neglected.The reason for that was every year my best friend got the highest marks and was first in the class and the second was either me or my class teacher's daughter. I do remember very well my teacher was very rude on me because, that if her daughter couldn't be the second in any term that was of my marks for English. The class teacher taught us Sinhalese and Buddhism and her daughter got the highest marks for those subjects. As she was powerful in the school as a teacher than being a student like me she could make my school days a hell. But I know very well that I am here because of a teacher too. Although this incident seems like unbelievable, this is the reality and the truth I faced while I was a school girl.
Xian Li, Blog #4
The most impressive class I have ever participated in is a lecture given by a professor studying sociology. He was nearly sixty years old, however, looked like a young man full of energy. This lecture lasted about three hours but no one felt tired or bored because of his humorous stories and novel and profound opinion. The classroom was all seated, some students were even would like to stand in the back of the classroom though they had no seats.
In that class he talked about the social problems in
I took this course for a semester, it gave me lots of information I had never heard of before. Though I could not take the sociology as my major, I started paying attention to the social news and political news. I think it is necessary for young men to have some idea on the social environment we are living in.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Jen Brondell, Blog #4
One of my best classroom experiences was in a class of over 300 people! It was not the class size, however, that made this class so exciting. The topic was the Fall of the Roman Empire, and that was not what made it so interesting either, as I have never been great in history classes. It was the professor, his enthusiasm, teaching techniques and genuine concern for his students that made this course so exciting.
To begin with, this professor had character. He was a short, fat, balding man that came to class everyday with a cup of coffee. He started every course by showing us picture slides of the characters we were going to discuss that day. Somehow, seeing those pictures reminded me that the Romans were real people, living in a real time dealing with real life. History was no longer just in the history book. The people came to life as he conducted his class like a story-telling session. And boy what a story teller he was! In a class of 300 he would run around, come up to classmates acting out stories of destruction, of torture and of conquest. As a student in the class, you never knew when you were going to get your throat sliced with the professor's imaginary knife! By the end of class his coffee would be gone, his hair would be wild and his shirt tails would be flying out.
The icing on the cake of this class, however, was that the professor invited all 300 of his students to his house when the course was finished. Of course, not that many showed up, but he still invited everyone. He made us feel like we were all important, and not just numbers in his class.
All of the above encouraged me to read the readings closer, it made me create my own pictures in my mind, it made me study harder for exams, and most importantly it inspired me to teach. If I remembered his name I'd send him an email today and tell him everything I've mentioned here, minus the "fat, balding" part!
To begin with, this professor had character. He was a short, fat, balding man that came to class everyday with a cup of coffee. He started every course by showing us picture slides of the characters we were going to discuss that day. Somehow, seeing those pictures reminded me that the Romans were real people, living in a real time dealing with real life. History was no longer just in the history book. The people came to life as he conducted his class like a story-telling session. And boy what a story teller he was! In a class of 300 he would run around, come up to classmates acting out stories of destruction, of torture and of conquest. As a student in the class, you never knew when you were going to get your throat sliced with the professor's imaginary knife! By the end of class his coffee would be gone, his hair would be wild and his shirt tails would be flying out.
The icing on the cake of this class, however, was that the professor invited all 300 of his students to his house when the course was finished. Of course, not that many showed up, but he still invited everyone. He made us feel like we were all important, and not just numbers in his class.
All of the above encouraged me to read the readings closer, it made me create my own pictures in my mind, it made me study harder for exams, and most importantly it inspired me to teach. If I remembered his name I'd send him an email today and tell him everything I've mentioned here, minus the "fat, balding" part!
Blog Assignment #4
All posts are due by Wednesday, Feb. 27th at 10pm.
All comments are due Thursday, Feb. 28th at 9am.
1. Post a response to the following: Most of you have experienced several different styles of education living in different countries, and you certainly have taken many courses! Talk about one of the best classes you've ever taken. Give details about what made it such a great class. (topic, teacher, readings, homework, group work, classmates, attitudes, class size...)
2. Read all posts.
3. Comment on one post.
PS. I've posted one of my great memories! Feel free to comment on it.
All comments are due Thursday, Feb. 28th at 9am.
1. Post a response to the following: Most of you have experienced several different styles of education living in different countries, and you certainly have taken many courses! Talk about one of the best classes you've ever taken. Give details about what made it such a great class. (topic, teacher, readings, homework, group work, classmates, attitudes, class size...)
2. Read all posts.
3. Comment on one post.
PS. I've posted one of my great memories! Feel free to comment on it.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Jehwan Lee Blog assigment #3
There are many things that I agree with the author. Among them, the most interesting is trouble of ”yes” and “no” because I have an experience with it. Like writer said, there is confusion to express agree or disagree in case of negative question.
Not only Japanese but also Korean change answer “yes” and “no” when the sentence becomes negative question. For example, when people say “Can’t you turn off the TV?” or “Can you turn off the TV?” by English, response person say same answer “yes” to accept request. On the other hand, if the negative “Can’t you turn off the TV?” were translated to Korean or Japanese, we would say “no” to agree.
When I was in New York, there was similar situation. At that time, I had never spoken with foreigner so that I couldn’t talk with them but say “yes” or “no.” In subway station, I was trying to buy ticket. After buy ticket, the ticket seller ask me that “Won’t you want a subway map?” I was thinking little bit to translate in my word and said confidently “no” with holding out my hand. Of course he didn’t give me the map instead said “Alright here is your change.” At that time, I felt something was wrong but couldn’t ask what it was. Truly it is very tricky for Korean to say what means “yes” or “no” Even I still sometimes confuse it.
Not only Japanese but also Korean change answer “yes” and “no” when the sentence becomes negative question. For example, when people say “Can’t you turn off the TV?” or “Can you turn off the TV?” by English, response person say same answer “yes” to accept request. On the other hand, if the negative “Can’t you turn off the TV?” were translated to Korean or Japanese, we would say “no” to agree.
When I was in New York, there was similar situation. At that time, I had never spoken with foreigner so that I couldn’t talk with them but say “yes” or “no.” In subway station, I was trying to buy ticket. After buy ticket, the ticket seller ask me that “Won’t you want a subway map?” I was thinking little bit to translate in my word and said confidently “no” with holding out my hand. Of course he didn’t give me the map instead said “Alright here is your change.” At that time, I felt something was wrong but couldn’t ask what it was. Truly it is very tricky for Korean to say what means “yes” or “no” Even I still sometimes confuse it.
Javier Rodríguez Blog Assignment #3
"Stereotypes are stumbling blocks for communicators because they interfere with objective viewing of stimuli". As the article, "Intercultural Communication stumbling blocks", states that people tend to build conceptions about people based on their first impressions. When I decide to come to Binghamton University I didn’t realize that relationships with other people, “American people” had to be as hard that it is. Is interesting how this people thought that international students are segregating themselves and they are not making any friends outside their cultural and ethnic circles. However, as an international student and also as a minority I experienced many incidents at Binghamton. Last year when I first came to the graduate geography department I get in contact with quite a few students there that also speak my native language. That was a surprise for me because I didn’t know that these students were there. As its normal I get in contact with these people and I establish better relation with these classmates, obviously because they could understand me better because of language connections. However, other students took this as an insult and we were segregated for our own classmates. I don’t even know how these people can say that we segregate ourselves there. It’s easy to say that international students segregated themselves that in truth we are not very welcome. When I was taking statistics last semester I was getting many problems understanding math terminology because of the complexity of vocabulary and differences in meaning. On the other hand, in order to complete that course we were using computer software to interpret and evaluate data information. Also, our stats professor divided the class into few groups. That was very unpleasant to me because we were getting problems of communication between the Spanish speakers and native English speakers. When I was reading Hongchul blog I recall this success, which its quiet different but still related. When we were doing our teamwork investigation they obviously assumed the lid and no one ask me to do nothing. I felt very unwelcome in that group because they were doing the work and they even ask me if I was available to contribute with them. As a result, they were getting problems with the software assigned to evaluate the data and I asked to them if they want me to help them with the program. They said: “did you know how to use it, because we believe that you cannot understand any of this”. I really don’t pay attention to that comment and I did run the necessary test and made up the conclusions necessary. It was very unpleasant to me to get in contact with people that do not know how to handle presence of different culture and ethnic population surrounding them. But at the end that help us to integrate us as classmates and nowadays, we establish better relations and at least we can say hi. Therefore, language and many other are stumbling block which makes people to segregate. Language can be a problem but I believe that beyond these issues as international students we tend to establish communication with people who speaks our native language or at least share similarities in culture. That doesn’t mean that international students are unfriendly, maybe we just feel better with people who understand and are getting into the same problems.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Xian Li's blog assignment #3
After reading this article, I feel quite interested in the example provided by the Vietnamese student about making friends. Actually I think making friends is a quite natural and easy thing for American students. However, for a Chinese person, “friendship” means much more. It is a kind of trust and dependency.
Indeed, it takes me a long time to have a new friend even though we may have met many times or talked a lot. Friend in China means you two know each other a lot and share all your happiness and sadness together, have no secretes. When one met difficulties, the other will give a hand without any condition. We would depend on each other with total trust. Therefore, almost Chinese people won’t have too many “real” friends.
Especially recent twenty years in China, every family is allowed to have only one child. Therefore, most teenagers pay much emphasis on friendship. It is often said that “a good friend is like a brother”. Though we may have lots of classmates or working partners, we only open our heart wholly to our friends. When person grows up to adult and has his/her own family, his/her best friends are those they met when they are young.
I find in United States it is not the same as in China. American students seem to open their heart easily and make friends quickly. However, I feel quite doubt whether they have different definition of friendship. Maybe some friends are not that close, some are really important and close, or something like this. It is really interesting to find the truth:)
Indeed, it takes me a long time to have a new friend even though we may have met many times or talked a lot. Friend in China means you two know each other a lot and share all your happiness and sadness together, have no secretes. When one met difficulties, the other will give a hand without any condition. We would depend on each other with total trust. Therefore, almost Chinese people won’t have too many “real” friends.
Especially recent twenty years in China, every family is allowed to have only one child. Therefore, most teenagers pay much emphasis on friendship. It is often said that “a good friend is like a brother”. Though we may have lots of classmates or working partners, we only open our heart wholly to our friends. When person grows up to adult and has his/her own family, his/her best friends are those they met when they are young.
I find in United States it is not the same as in China. American students seem to open their heart easily and make friends quickly. However, I feel quite doubt whether they have different definition of friendship. Maybe some friends are not that close, some are really important and close, or something like this. It is really interesting to find the truth:)
Lakshmi Blog assignment #3
"People are people no matter what country, no matter what color, religion or kind. Here on the earth we are beutiful people with caring hearts and mind." I would like to start my writing with a pleasant song which me and my US friend sang while I was here once to perform with her.After reading the article I suddenely remembered that song, because I do believe that although there are various Intercultural Communication stumbling blocks" among the various people all around the world, if we think as one human being the world will be beatiful than this.But when I read the article I felt myself that I too have the experience about the " Tendency to Evaluate".
Before I come to BU I have been worked with kids in Albany so I had the experience about what they normally talk. But although I knew that the US is a free country and the young generation is very independent, sometimes I feel myself embarrassed hearing the things what they talk. As an Asian woman I never talk about sex with my adults. When I work in the costume shop I hear the students talking very openely about their personnel lives without caring about who is around. And at the same time "dating" is a new word for me according to my personnel life. I feel myself ashamed about hearing these things and most of the time it's very dificult for me to face to those moments. But, I know there are various values in various countries they have according to their cultures. So I try my best to respect for their values by sometimes hiding myself into the shell.
Before I come to BU I have been worked with kids in Albany so I had the experience about what they normally talk. But although I knew that the US is a free country and the young generation is very independent, sometimes I feel myself embarrassed hearing the things what they talk. As an Asian woman I never talk about sex with my adults. When I work in the costume shop I hear the students talking very openely about their personnel lives without caring about who is around. And at the same time "dating" is a new word for me according to my personnel life. I feel myself ashamed about hearing these things and most of the time it's very dificult for me to face to those moments. But, I know there are various values in various countries they have according to their cultures. So I try my best to respect for their values by sometimes hiding myself into the shell.
Andrew Kim ASSIGNMENT #3
Among several major ideas in "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks”, especially the idea of Preconception and Stereotypes drew my attention. Tolerance toward things which are different from our own is important thing to keep in mind for a person who lives in the United States. It is true that there are some ways to tolerate, understand and overcome it, but sometimes it is too overwhelming for one person to handle it because it has been accumulated for generations.
When I was at language school in Boston last year, I met a very intelligent girl from Japan. She was Waseda University student who is major in political science. She was willing to become diplomat. Because once I also wanted to become diplomat, we discussed about dynamic relationship between Korea and Japan. But when it came to national territory claim and history between these two countries, we both became extremely upset so that we didn’t even talk for several days after our debate. I tried to stay calm and objective, but as an old saying, “Men are blind in their own causes.” I couldn’t stay objective. How can I tolerate to words sound like insulting my country and which is totally opposite from what learned during school years? Same upsets had been repeated for a month then we both felt tired and decided not to talk about history and politics but to talk about other bright side things. Now I think at least I gained a little bit amount of tolerance from her.
When I was at language school in Boston last year, I met a very intelligent girl from Japan. She was Waseda University student who is major in political science. She was willing to become diplomat. Because once I also wanted to become diplomat, we discussed about dynamic relationship between Korea and Japan. But when it came to national territory claim and history between these two countries, we both became extremely upset so that we didn’t even talk for several days after our debate. I tried to stay calm and objective, but as an old saying, “Men are blind in their own causes.” I couldn’t stay objective. How can I tolerate to words sound like insulting my country and which is totally opposite from what learned during school years? Same upsets had been repeated for a month then we both felt tired and decided not to talk about history and politics but to talk about other bright side things. Now I think at least I gained a little bit amount of tolerance from her.
Hongchul : Assignment #3
According to the reading article, “There are five intercultural communication stumbling blocks, Language, Nonverbal Signs and Symbols, Preconceptions and Stereotypes, The Tendency to Evaluate, and High Anxiety.” All of them seems difficult and confusing to international students at first. Among them language is the most difficult stumbling block for me to overcome. Based on my experience, old man who visits other countries is apt to train stumbling blocks except language as time passes. Learning the language is harder than that others because linguistic ability of human begins to decrease as he grows up.
Here is an interesting episode related to language barrier.
Just before I left my country to study in the US, my senior officer told me a funny episode related to intercultural communication problem.
There was one Korean student. Attending the first class, the student focused his mind on the class and tried to understand what the professor said. But he did not comprehend the class well. The less he understood, the harder he is at his class. Most classmates was surprised to see his devotion to the class and considered him as an outstanding student or a genius. At the time of class dismissal professor assigned difficult problems as homework. Most students could not solve the homework because the problem is beyond their abilities. Finally they concluded that it was better to ask the Korean student for advice since he already got the solution. When they said, “Did you get the solution about the homework?” the Korean student answered, “Do we have any homework?”
Other students couldn’t answer any word.
Actually the story mentioned above is somewhat exaggerated. However, it shows the real difficulties which an international student can encounter. As stated above, language may be considered as the most difficult stumbling block.
Here is an interesting episode related to language barrier.
Just before I left my country to study in the US, my senior officer told me a funny episode related to intercultural communication problem.
There was one Korean student. Attending the first class, the student focused his mind on the class and tried to understand what the professor said. But he did not comprehend the class well. The less he understood, the harder he is at his class. Most classmates was surprised to see his devotion to the class and considered him as an outstanding student or a genius. At the time of class dismissal professor assigned difficult problems as homework. Most students could not solve the homework because the problem is beyond their abilities. Finally they concluded that it was better to ask the Korean student for advice since he already got the solution. When they said, “Did you get the solution about the homework?” the Korean student answered, “Do we have any homework?”
Other students couldn’t answer any word.
Actually the story mentioned above is somewhat exaggerated. However, it shows the real difficulties which an international student can encounter. As stated above, language may be considered as the most difficult stumbling block.
Hayoung Choi Blog #3
In the introduction part of the “intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks,” I was surprised that the U.S students were complaining about international students. The U.S students thought that international students look like that they were uncooperative and uninterested. And I agree with this article because I had similar experience with this. Last semester, I took a computer skill class which was teaching how to use the EXCEL program. There was a group project that I and three students had to make a graph with the EXCEL. I was the only international student and others were all American. I was too shy to lead a group to do the project. I knew how to do the assignment that time but I frustrated to speak out that my opinion would be wrong. So I just followed their idea. But they might thought as same as in the reading and thought that I am not interested in the project and not want to participate in. As one of the international students in Binghamton, it is hard to smile and always be friendly to Native American students. It is hard to be a friend with American students because I am an international student.
Grace Kim - Assignment 3
There is a saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. I understand there are always stumbling blocks if one is adjusting to a new culture and especially the communication is the biggest problem. However it can’t be always a stumbling for one when you are trying to learn a new language because the language is about one country’s culture and life. If you want to learn a new language, you better learn their culture first or understand it first.
This reading reminds me of the past times I’ve spent in English speaking countries. The first thing I’ve realized was that all of Canadians are so friendly compare to Koreans. It is the “nonverbal signs symbols” Canadians smile all the time at strangers. I was so nervous when I first went to the high school. However, all of them were so nice that I misunderstood that they were overacting. It is such a rare thing if you are smiling at strangers in Korea. As the Japanese student aforementioned in the article, “the person can assume he is either a sexual maniac or an impolite person”. It happens to me sometimes, whenever I’m in S.Korea during the break and I smile at strangers or just have smiling face with me all the time and people might think I’m weird but it’s not be case for me because I got used to it. I’ve became different due to where I live and the people who I lived with. Also when I’m not in Korea I speak about anything in Korean with my friends freely. For example, my friend would say “hey look at her clothe it’s not cute” to me in Korean because I knew that nobody will be able to understand our conversation. I know it’s mean but it’s one of my experiences but it comes to a problem if we do the same thing when we are in Korea by forgetting about the fact we are in Korea. Sadly it happened to us also because we got used to talking about things in Korean in public without caring who are with us in Canada.
The preconceptions and stereotypes were interesting topic. In Korea being polite to elders are extremely important. By one year older difference, you will act differently. You will speak in honorific way and would take orders from them and so on. However, it wouldn’t be the case to Americans. Just like the example in the book, the Korean guy was shocked by how his friend just told me he was busy and wouldn’t let him in even though he visited him or not. It’s almost impossible to treat a person like that in Korea. Because the fact Koreans are very polite, I totally understand how impressed the Korean guy would be. But it’s not a problem for American to even think about because he was just busy and himself is more important than other people’s visiting.
Lastly, the high anxiety is only one can understand whoever really experienced against the communication difficulties. In my case, I never really had Korean friends last 5years because the places I stayed at didn’t really have Koreans so I only stick with non Koreans. At first, I had difficulties catching teen words or slang. So even if I don’t really understand what they were talking about and why they were really laughing, I sometimes pretend I got it. However It’s not the case anymore that I really feel comfortable being with my American friends than my Korean friends. I can say I absorbed more of American life style or has became Americanized. However I have multicultural and it helps me a lot for me to look at two different life style and follow two of them.
Thinking what I am going to say before I say something, feel nervous about being with native speakers, feel embarrassed about the misspeaking and misspelling, frustrated about things I can’t be able to explain in English. All of these past experiences are what non native English speakers been through. Due to these kinds of difficulties, I could become better me right now. Intercultural communication stumbling blocks are the fact the international students have to overcome with and learn from it. However, it is the cultural different that we have to understand when we are in roman. In order to master one different language, these are the situations that we have to experience.
This reading reminds me of the past times I’ve spent in English speaking countries. The first thing I’ve realized was that all of Canadians are so friendly compare to Koreans. It is the “nonverbal signs symbols” Canadians smile all the time at strangers. I was so nervous when I first went to the high school. However, all of them were so nice that I misunderstood that they were overacting. It is such a rare thing if you are smiling at strangers in Korea. As the Japanese student aforementioned in the article, “the person can assume he is either a sexual maniac or an impolite person”. It happens to me sometimes, whenever I’m in S.Korea during the break and I smile at strangers or just have smiling face with me all the time and people might think I’m weird but it’s not be case for me because I got used to it. I’ve became different due to where I live and the people who I lived with. Also when I’m not in Korea I speak about anything in Korean with my friends freely. For example, my friend would say “hey look at her clothe it’s not cute” to me in Korean because I knew that nobody will be able to understand our conversation. I know it’s mean but it’s one of my experiences but it comes to a problem if we do the same thing when we are in Korea by forgetting about the fact we are in Korea. Sadly it happened to us also because we got used to talking about things in Korean in public without caring who are with us in Canada.
The preconceptions and stereotypes were interesting topic. In Korea being polite to elders are extremely important. By one year older difference, you will act differently. You will speak in honorific way and would take orders from them and so on. However, it wouldn’t be the case to Americans. Just like the example in the book, the Korean guy was shocked by how his friend just told me he was busy and wouldn’t let him in even though he visited him or not. It’s almost impossible to treat a person like that in Korea. Because the fact Koreans are very polite, I totally understand how impressed the Korean guy would be. But it’s not a problem for American to even think about because he was just busy and himself is more important than other people’s visiting.
Lastly, the high anxiety is only one can understand whoever really experienced against the communication difficulties. In my case, I never really had Korean friends last 5years because the places I stayed at didn’t really have Koreans so I only stick with non Koreans. At first, I had difficulties catching teen words or slang. So even if I don’t really understand what they were talking about and why they were really laughing, I sometimes pretend I got it. However It’s not the case anymore that I really feel comfortable being with my American friends than my Korean friends. I can say I absorbed more of American life style or has became Americanized. However I have multicultural and it helps me a lot for me to look at two different life style and follow two of them.
Thinking what I am going to say before I say something, feel nervous about being with native speakers, feel embarrassed about the misspeaking and misspelling, frustrated about things I can’t be able to explain in English. All of these past experiences are what non native English speakers been through. Due to these kinds of difficulties, I could become better me right now. Intercultural communication stumbling blocks are the fact the international students have to overcome with and learn from it. However, it is the cultural different that we have to understand when we are in roman. In order to master one different language, these are the situations that we have to experience.
Yulia Smirnova "Blog # 3
After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Block" I understood how is difficult to communicate people with different countries. In this reading I read a lot of stories from life international students. I understand them because I had the same situation when I came to BU. There are different major types of misunderstanding betweent people from different countries and I absolutly agree with all of them,but I think the main problam is language.
For me language is the biggest problam with communication with people. My English is not so good,but this is not the biggest problam.The problam is that there are a lot of expressions in my language which in English has different meanings.So sometimes my teammates or classmates don't understand me or undertsood it wrong,or sometimes I don't understand them.I had some funny stiries about this.when my teammate said me "Are you sick?", which in my language can mean as "Are you crazy?",so I could not understand what she means,and I just looked at here and did not know what to say. And we can see in the reading an example of russian expression from russian guy Khrushev.
So I think that communication with people from different countries is very hard,and you should know a lot about language,customs,behavior of the country of international person. You can't understand everything just from one meeting with this person.
For me language is the biggest problam with communication with people. My English is not so good,but this is not the biggest problam.The problam is that there are a lot of expressions in my language which in English has different meanings.So sometimes my teammates or classmates don't understand me or undertsood it wrong,or sometimes I don't understand them.I had some funny stiries about this.when my teammate said me "Are you sick?", which in my language can mean as "Are you crazy?",so I could not understand what she means,and I just looked at here and did not know what to say. And we can see in the reading an example of russian expression from russian guy Khrushev.
So I think that communication with people from different countries is very hard,and you should know a lot about language,customs,behavior of the country of international person. You can't understand everything just from one meeting with this person.
Blog Assignment #3 (Dahyun Choi)
People are different and it is true that their different background will have huge effects on their lives. The writer of the book “ Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks” said, the one way to reach an improved state of awareness and sensitivity to what might go wrong is to examine five variables in the communication process that seem to be major stumbling blocks when the dyad or small group is cross-culture. And I agree to the first is language.
I believe that the language is exceedingly complex as it has been made for lots of years ago and it also has been changing through all the ages according to culture and life change. Like the example of the writer, I have a similar experience of miscommunication caused by a different idea of language. When I live in New Zealand, I went out for a walk and I met a neighborhood. She smiled at me and said, “I don’t think we have we met before”. She was right and it was the first time that I and she saw each other and she probably said like that since she thought I was a new neighbor. But I answered “Yes.” and smiled. And she looked embarrassed as we never met before. But with my answer was overly confident and looked sure, she did not ask me my name or where I lived. And we pretended to do that we had been known each other for some time. At that time, I did not sure why the situation was like that and I went back to home. When I went to my room, I realized that my answer was mistaken and I laughed alone.
In my country, it is different- yes or no. I said yes and that meant “I also do not think we met before.” But as I say yes here, people who use this yes or no will be puzzled. In the book, the writer showed an interesting but also serious example as the situation is “We’ll bury you.” I think the small yes or no answer can cause completely different consequences and again found that it is very important.
I believe that the language is exceedingly complex as it has been made for lots of years ago and it also has been changing through all the ages according to culture and life change. Like the example of the writer, I have a similar experience of miscommunication caused by a different idea of language. When I live in New Zealand, I went out for a walk and I met a neighborhood. She smiled at me and said, “I don’t think we have we met before”. She was right and it was the first time that I and she saw each other and she probably said like that since she thought I was a new neighbor. But I answered “Yes.” and smiled. And she looked embarrassed as we never met before. But with my answer was overly confident and looked sure, she did not ask me my name or where I lived. And we pretended to do that we had been known each other for some time. At that time, I did not sure why the situation was like that and I went back to home. When I went to my room, I realized that my answer was mistaken and I laughed alone.
In my country, it is different- yes or no. I said yes and that meant “I also do not think we met before.” But as I say yes here, people who use this yes or no will be puzzled. In the book, the writer showed an interesting but also serious example as the situation is “We’ll bury you.” I think the small yes or no answer can cause completely different consequences and again found that it is very important.
Blog #3 JAcob Lee
The story of “Intercultural Communication stumbling blocks” was quite interesting to me in many ways. It had examples of Koreans which is not that often and it also made me agree with the examples. Moreover, the article about the language made me think a lot about how it was for me when I first tried to adapt to a new environment.
When I first had contact with the new environment I was annoyed that I could not talk fluently with the person I wanted to get close to. It was hard for me; because everyone had a hard time understanding my broken English and I had a hard time understanding the proper one. Like the example, in the book when Americans ask a question that start with a negative attitude I always get confused to say “yes,” or “no”. When I first met international student who was not able to talk in fluent English it was hard for us to communicate. When we really needed to talk we had to use body language and sign language. When people first meet who live in a different cultural the most difficulty with them are the language.
When I first had contact with the new environment I was annoyed that I could not talk fluently with the person I wanted to get close to. It was hard for me; because everyone had a hard time understanding my broken English and I had a hard time understanding the proper one. Like the example, in the book when Americans ask a question that start with a negative attitude I always get confused to say “yes,” or “no”. When I first met international student who was not able to talk in fluent English it was hard for us to communicate. When we really needed to talk we had to use body language and sign language. When people first meet who live in a different cultural the most difficulty with them are the language.
Vanessa Cruz Inoa Blog:3
The communication is part important in whatever place. The communication help to integration of the people in different ways and created new ideas. I agree with the author because has many confusions between the behavior of the people and the expectative of where from. The language is the vehicle of the communication, exist many different types. At the same time in one country talking about one thing but in other country represent other. The relation in each country is different for each other.
I understand the situation of the international student, or no international student. Coming of different parts of the world and arrive to one place total different. Places with different characteristic and style of life. The cultural background in some cases represent a boundary for accepts the new change in those places. The boundaries correspond to no association with other people and create bad concept of the person. The period of adaptation, assimilation with new environmental and learn new language is really hard. The possibility of friendly or adaptation is part of this, because is new situation for each student and represent a change in high scale.
I understand the situation of the international student, or no international student. Coming of different parts of the world and arrive to one place total different. Places with different characteristic and style of life. The cultural background in some cases represent a boundary for accepts the new change in those places. The boundaries correspond to no association with other people and create bad concept of the person. The period of adaptation, assimilation with new environmental and learn new language is really hard. The possibility of friendly or adaptation is part of this, because is new situation for each student and represent a change in high scale.
I experience the international student coming to others country with learn to necessity. Many of this has dreams and goal. I want one friend in Puerto Rico; he is a Colombian guy and come to the island by study Master degree in Economic. In the beginning the most difficult for his is the behavior of the student in the university, because the relationship with the professor is really near and friendly. One day he calls me for study in the university and I said: yes, is ok, in few minutes I see you. The Puerto Rico traditional says; in few minutes I see you, on really is in one hour or half. He understand what is that moment, when I going to the University. He wait for me fury five minutes and I not coming. He calls me again and tells me: Where are you? I said: in my house. I explain the connotation between the relationship of the language in the island and he understands. For her isn’t normal of the language form of the people in Puerto Rico but with the time he understand the culture and people.
The culture is expression of ideas, one represents is the language. Part important of the all person and one element in many cases difficult of understands. The people is different, in many aspect and the development of the life in different for each people. Because the world have many culture, countries and languages.
Yoonsuk Jung, Blog #3
The world is getting smaller. People can go anywhere anytime when they need. However, this new trend brings about intercultural communication problems. When people contact with unfamiliar culture, language, and society, each person has a different viewpoint. It can lead among the people to have a negative gap. After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks", I realized that we should be careful of understanding those different culture and language when we communicate with foreign people. In addition, there are 5 typical stumbling blocks such as Language, Nonverbal Signs and Symbols, Preconceptions and Stereotypes, The Tendency to Evaluate, and High Anxiety.
To me, the most impressed section from the article was "Preconceptions and Stereotypes" because my preconception often interrupted communication with foreign people. About 4 years ago, I went to a language school in Canada to study English for 6 months, and I was eager to improve my English skills within my limited periods. Therefore, I intentionally avoided meeting some of my Latino friends who are my classmates in the same language school because they talked a lot during the class, came to class late, and always seemed interested in party and girls. These situations made me have some prejudices such as Latino prefers party to study, and they hang out with friends to drink. One day, I overheard my two classmates' conversation in a hallway and one of them was from Mexico and another from Costa rica. They talked about whether they would invite me or not on a birthday party because they did not want to interrupt my study and make me waste time. At the moment, I realized how wrong idea I had about them. They cared about my situation and considered me their best friend. I regretted my negative attitude to them judging from few cases without knowing their kindness and their culture. I came close to them and apologized my behaviors. As a result, I could overcome my bias of Latino and make a strong friendship with them.
Hiu WIng, Chu blog#3
Everyone's communication stubling block are different. In the reading "Intercultural Comunication Stumbling Blocks", it shows use five major type : Language, Nonverbal signs and symbols, Preconceptions and stereotypes, Tendency to evaluate, and High anxiety. Which one is the most suitable to describe your situation? It is really depends on youself. For example, if you are a self-center person, then the one "preconceptions and Stereotypes" might be your block. For me, Language this big stone is block all my way to be success.
Why language is so bother me? Since I can't learn or know anything without reading, writting and speaking. Therefore, if i lose my language ability, then all other four blocks will appears at the same times and never get the improvement. Specially the "High anxiety", it will show up immediately. I remember the first day when I went to school in United States, I was so anxiety. Becuase my broken english makes me can not understand the teacher's instruction, so i dis not know what should I do or what else did I need to bing for tommorrow's classes. All those uncertain create my anxiety.
In the reading, one international student said "When I don't understand what American people are taling about and why they are laughing, I sometimes have to pretend to understand by smiling." This is really ture for me. One days, my classmates invited me to watch movie and meet up at the school entry. Since I don't know what she means, but i don't want to make her feel that i am stupid, so I rather to reply her nothing and just give her a smile. However, she misunderstand that my smile means "yes". Hense, she stand in front of the school entry for one hours, and castigate me more than one hours on the next day. The only good thing is I did not understand her castigate., is it satire?
Although this event makes me lose a friend, it also helps me to realizes langage's importance. Therefore, if I want to understand other culture, first of all, I have to improve my language.
Why language is so bother me? Since I can't learn or know anything without reading, writting and speaking. Therefore, if i lose my language ability, then all other four blocks will appears at the same times and never get the improvement. Specially the "High anxiety", it will show up immediately. I remember the first day when I went to school in United States, I was so anxiety. Becuase my broken english makes me can not understand the teacher's instruction, so i dis not know what should I do or what else did I need to bing for tommorrow's classes. All those uncertain create my anxiety.
In the reading, one international student said "When I don't understand what American people are taling about and why they are laughing, I sometimes have to pretend to understand by smiling." This is really ture for me. One days, my classmates invited me to watch movie and meet up at the school entry. Since I don't know what she means, but i don't want to make her feel that i am stupid, so I rather to reply her nothing and just give her a smile. However, she misunderstand that my smile means "yes". Hense, she stand in front of the school entry for one hours, and castigate me more than one hours on the next day. The only good thing is I did not understand her castigate., is it satire?
Although this event makes me lose a friend, it also helps me to realizes langage's importance. Therefore, if I want to understand other culture, first of all, I have to improve my language.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Jen Brondell, Blog #3
After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks", I realized that communicating across cultures goes far beyond the language you use. What was most striking to me, was the section dealing with the "Tendency to Evaluate". I perceive this to be at the heart of much miscommunication that occurs on a global and local level and think LaRay M. Barna correctly identifies this as a stumbling block, though it is a rather abstract one, and the following example is clearly a "local" one.
An example to support the notion that "evaluation" does indeed cause miscommunication comes from my own experience of visiting friends in Mexico. After having lived in Mexico for 1 year and dating a Mexican man, I returned 6 years later to visit with old friends, including my ex boyfriend and his family, whom I was very close to. Upon arriving to my ex's house, I met his mother, whom, after much exclamation about how happy she was to see me, commented on how much bigger my "trasero" was after 6 years! In other words, she was telling me that my 'but' was bigger. I was appalled and embarrassed. I felt momentarily angry and hurt that she would make such a rude comment to me. I am quite sure that I gave her a very mean look and might have even said something rude to her.
Looking back now, I was passing judgement on a lovely woman who, in all reality, wasn't trying to insult me by saying my "trasero" was bigger, but was merely commenting on how I had changed since she saw me last. I know now, after having lived in many parts of Latin America, that the way the human body is conceived of and talked about is inherently different than the anglo, middle-class, mid-western upbringing way that I survived. However, in that moment, I did precisely what the author identifies as the "tendency to evaluate". I thought her a horribly mean and inconsiderate person, when in actuality, in all honesty, my "trasero" was indeed bigger, and she was still the sweet woman I knew from before.
An example to support the notion that "evaluation" does indeed cause miscommunication comes from my own experience of visiting friends in Mexico. After having lived in Mexico for 1 year and dating a Mexican man, I returned 6 years later to visit with old friends, including my ex boyfriend and his family, whom I was very close to. Upon arriving to my ex's house, I met his mother, whom, after much exclamation about how happy she was to see me, commented on how much bigger my "trasero" was after 6 years! In other words, she was telling me that my 'but' was bigger. I was appalled and embarrassed. I felt momentarily angry and hurt that she would make such a rude comment to me. I am quite sure that I gave her a very mean look and might have even said something rude to her.
Looking back now, I was passing judgement on a lovely woman who, in all reality, wasn't trying to insult me by saying my "trasero" was bigger, but was merely commenting on how I had changed since she saw me last. I know now, after having lived in many parts of Latin America, that the way the human body is conceived of and talked about is inherently different than the anglo, middle-class, mid-western upbringing way that I survived. However, in that moment, I did precisely what the author identifies as the "tendency to evaluate". I thought her a horribly mean and inconsiderate person, when in actuality, in all honesty, my "trasero" was indeed bigger, and she was still the sweet woman I knew from before.
Blog Assignment #3
All posts are due Wednesday, February 21st at 10pm
All comments are due Thursday, February 22nd at 9am
1. Please write for 10-15 minutes on the following:
After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks" by LaRay m. Barna, choose one major idea in the article that you specifically liked, found interesting, or would be able to talk more about.
After you identify the major idea give 1. your perspective on the idea (if you agree or disagree, if you like it or not) then 2. give one of your own experiences related to the idea that can support your perspective.
2. Read all posts.
3. Comment on one post.
*****You may look at my blog entry for an example of what to do*****
All comments are due Thursday, February 22nd at 9am
1. Please write for 10-15 minutes on the following:
After reading "Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks" by LaRay m. Barna, choose one major idea in the article that you specifically liked, found interesting, or would be able to talk more about.
After you identify the major idea give 1. your perspective on the idea (if you agree or disagree, if you like it or not) then 2. give one of your own experiences related to the idea that can support your perspective.
2. Read all posts.
3. Comment on one post.
*****You may look at my blog entry for an example of what to do*****
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Xian Li's blog assignment #2
Talking about the punctuality makes me feel a little bit shame, because I’m really a forgetful girl and always make myself trapped in masses of things. Sometimes I miss a schedule and late for an appointment for long time. However, in
The best way to make everyone feel good is to keep punctuality.
In the textbook, the author found that in big cities like
JAcob LEe assignment #2
Time sense in Korea is a lot different in America is what I learned. There is a joke that all Koreans say in America. “Korean time,” it’s when Korean people meet, but when they meet people always meet a few minutes late that really annoys me sometimes. One of the first things I learn about the cultural difference between America and Korean culture is that when Americans meet people hate being late. Koreans have some belief that patience is one of the most valued, so even if some one is late the person should be patience and wait for a while for about thirty minutes before getting mad at someone who is late.
In America by my experience it was not that emphasized. I do see many people who do everything on time, but I did see much more people who did not. The one of the people who made me a change my point of view a hundred eighty degrees around was my Biology teacher who scared me with her time use in class. I was never sent out early. Sometimes I could not stand it; there were people who had classes right after biology class, but the professor did not care much and kept lecturing for a long period of time after class. Even with my patience learned from Korea it was not easy to overcome. However there are other classes like chemistry lab were if students are late or not able to finish their lab on time they would be kicked out of class. It is every strict in some ways in some other point of views.
I don’t see much difference in the two countries with time sense it could be because Korea has been Americanized over many years. Thus we live in the present which I do not feel much difference.
In America by my experience it was not that emphasized. I do see many people who do everything on time, but I did see much more people who did not. The one of the people who made me a change my point of view a hundred eighty degrees around was my Biology teacher who scared me with her time use in class. I was never sent out early. Sometimes I could not stand it; there were people who had classes right after biology class, but the professor did not care much and kept lecturing for a long period of time after class. Even with my patience learned from Korea it was not easy to overcome. However there are other classes like chemistry lab were if students are late or not able to finish their lab on time they would be kicked out of class. It is every strict in some ways in some other point of views.
I don’t see much difference in the two countries with time sense it could be because Korea has been Americanized over many years. Thus we live in the present which I do not feel much difference.
Andrew Kim ASSIGNMENT #2
I don't think there is a difference between time sense of Korea and US. Generally, most Korean people are punctual. Maybe it's because of our dilligent national characteristic from our ancester. One of the most commonly used Korean word is "Paly, paly" which means "faster, faster" We always hurry up when we drive,walk,do something. Every people from children to elders using this world in their daily life.
But in the world view, which is strongly biased by western way of thinking, usually consider Asians,Hispanic,Black are lazy. For example, German, Anglo-Saxon are wildely known as punctual. But that is strongly biased and there is no actual evidence. It's just individual matter.
Furthermore, being late is fatal in current dynamic world. It is each individual's responsibility. If you late 1 minute for Goldman-Sacs job fair, for example, the firm's employers are not going to see your resume at all. I'm punctual when i'm going to eat something or meet friends, but i'm not very punctual when i go to class.
Also, I always cram the night before an exam. I should fix this.
But in the world view, which is strongly biased by western way of thinking, usually consider Asians,Hispanic,Black are lazy. For example, German, Anglo-Saxon are wildely known as punctual. But that is strongly biased and there is no actual evidence. It's just individual matter.
Furthermore, being late is fatal in current dynamic world. It is each individual's responsibility. If you late 1 minute for Goldman-Sacs job fair, for example, the firm's employers are not going to see your resume at all. I'm punctual when i'm going to eat something or meet friends, but i'm not very punctual when i go to class.
Also, I always cram the night before an exam. I should fix this.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Hongchul : Assignment #2
As soon as I arrived in here, I realized that there is a big difference in time sense between here and my previous place of work.
My research group usually has a group meeting every week. I was supposed to attend group meeting which held at the appointed time. When I entered the conference to join the meeting, no one was there. It was 5 minutes before the meeting started. At that time I began to worry about whether I misunderstood the meeting schedule owing to my lack of English proficiency. As the time passed 10 minutes beyond the exact time, group members were appeared and group meeting could be started late. It was not exceptional but usual. I was very puzzled by facing with this inconsistence at that time. After group meeting, I asked Professor why they were not punctual for meeting time. Professor mentioned that it was due to the gap of national cultures. My group members consist of Chinese, Indian, and Korean. Most Chinese and Indians of my group didn’t care about the lateness in group meeting. For some time since, I was the first who arrive in group meeting. However, later on I was accustomed to the lateness similar to other members.
Referring to the reading assignment, we know that time sense depends on the national cultural and customs. Broadly speaking, this is right. However, if we consider the time sense in regard to different working group under the same country, it shows different results. I think that time sense is heavily relied on external force. If we have to be punctual for appointment by forcibly, we can’t help obeying the rule. For example, most Koreans always are not punctual for appointment time. When a Korean takes the military service, he becomes one of the best punctuality.
My research group usually has a group meeting every week. I was supposed to attend group meeting which held at the appointed time. When I entered the conference to join the meeting, no one was there. It was 5 minutes before the meeting started. At that time I began to worry about whether I misunderstood the meeting schedule owing to my lack of English proficiency. As the time passed 10 minutes beyond the exact time, group members were appeared and group meeting could be started late. It was not exceptional but usual. I was very puzzled by facing with this inconsistence at that time. After group meeting, I asked Professor why they were not punctual for meeting time. Professor mentioned that it was due to the gap of national cultures. My group members consist of Chinese, Indian, and Korean. Most Chinese and Indians of my group didn’t care about the lateness in group meeting. For some time since, I was the first who arrive in group meeting. However, later on I was accustomed to the lateness similar to other members.
Referring to the reading assignment, we know that time sense depends on the national cultural and customs. Broadly speaking, this is right. However, if we consider the time sense in regard to different working group under the same country, it shows different results. I think that time sense is heavily relied on external force. If we have to be punctual for appointment by forcibly, we can’t help obeying the rule. For example, most Koreans always are not punctual for appointment time. When a Korean takes the military service, he becomes one of the best punctuality.
Blog #2 Hayoung Choi "Korean time"
Yes, there are differences between my home country, south Korea, and united states. In my country, we have two kinds of time. First one is same as the one that is in the social time: the heartbeat of culture called “clock time” which means formal and a standard time like we see on our cell phone or on the computer. The other one called “Korean time,” which means Korean people are not puncture on the time. I want to share my experience and explain more about “Korean Time,” through my writing.
In 2007 august, when was my first semester in Binghamton university, there was sports competitions: basketball, soccer, table tennis and badminton that people make a team with their own country and compete with other foreign countries except United states. This competition was called “International festival.” Students in my country and I were preparing for the soccer tournament against India. Our team captain announced to our team players that we are going to practice on Friday this week at 3 p.m. at the east soccer field. When we were at the soccer fields, there was no one on the field. I was embarrassed that there was absolutely any one. I thought the practice was canceled. I called one of my friend and asked “where are you guys at?” and he said “We just left a house. We’ll be there soon.” My friends and I changed our cloths and waited until they arrive. My friend and I spent an hour to warm up, running, stretching and preparing to play soccer. After this terrible event we recognized that people who is Korean in our university usually late at an appointment. Now students in BU know what the “Korean time” is. For example, if I make an appointment at 1pm then Korean will at the appointment around 1:30~2 pm.
However, It doesn’t mean that all of Koreans, who study in the foreign country, are not always late on the time that they engaged. Only some people who is not mutual enough to know how worth it are late. Hence, I don’t like the “KOREAN TIME.”
In 2007 august, when was my first semester in Binghamton university, there was sports competitions: basketball, soccer, table tennis and badminton that people make a team with their own country and compete with other foreign countries except United states. This competition was called “International festival.” Students in my country and I were preparing for the soccer tournament against India. Our team captain announced to our team players that we are going to practice on Friday this week at 3 p.m. at the east soccer field. When we were at the soccer fields, there was no one on the field. I was embarrassed that there was absolutely any one. I thought the practice was canceled. I called one of my friend and asked “where are you guys at?” and he said “We just left a house. We’ll be there soon.” My friends and I changed our cloths and waited until they arrive. My friend and I spent an hour to warm up, running, stretching and preparing to play soccer. After this terrible event we recognized that people who is Korean in our university usually late at an appointment. Now students in BU know what the “Korean time” is. For example, if I make an appointment at 1pm then Korean will at the appointment around 1:30~2 pm.
However, It doesn’t mean that all of Koreans, who study in the foreign country, are not always late on the time that they engaged. Only some people who is not mutual enough to know how worth it are late. Hence, I don’t like the “KOREAN TIME.”
Yoonsuk Jung, Blog Assignment #2
In modern society, we have a substantial number of different social times, and we are live in under the different paces of life. Before stating my writing, I want to make sure the definition what is the time sense? and what is difference between social time and clock time? In my opinion, time sense could be formed by many different background such as culture, economic situation, quality of education and environmental factors. From the article on page 77, the writer defines that formal "clock time" may be a standard on which the world agrees, but "social time," the heartbeat of society, is something else again. Therefore, we can find many various time sense by different places.
If I compare my country which is South Korea with the United States, I can find many different time sense. I think the most different time sense between two countries is the pace of life. The United States' time sense is much slower than my country. For example, when I call the customer services to change my air ticket or rent a car, I have to wait more than 10 minutes at least. In my country, I cannot imagine this kind of situation. If this similar situation happens to me in my country, I can complain about that to the company and then the company will probably give me some promotion for the meaning of apology.
Another difference is a time concept. My country people typically love very fast culture. If we do something very fast and well, we praise or admire. Also, We often use a Korean word "ppalli" which similar means fast. When we go to restaurant, fast food, or any stores, we ask the clerk doing fast. However, American people do not care about how much time take. In addition, when I make an appointment with my friends. From my experience, we frequently meet lately than our appointed time or delay the appointment easily. However, American people keep their promise well.
If I compare my country which is South Korea with the United States, I can find many different time sense. I think the most different time sense between two countries is the pace of life. The United States' time sense is much slower than my country. For example, when I call the customer services to change my air ticket or rent a car, I have to wait more than 10 minutes at least. In my country, I cannot imagine this kind of situation. If this similar situation happens to me in my country, I can complain about that to the company and then the company will probably give me some promotion for the meaning of apology.
Another difference is a time concept. My country people typically love very fast culture. If we do something very fast and well, we praise or admire. Also, We often use a Korean word "ppalli" which similar means fast. When we go to restaurant, fast food, or any stores, we ask the clerk doing fast. However, American people do not care about how much time take. In addition, when I make an appointment with my friends. From my experience, we frequently meet lately than our appointed time or delay the appointment easily. However, American people keep their promise well.
Differents Times - Assigment Blog: 2
All people thinking about the time. What ever the people going, the time is factor limit or benefit. The reality is the time is part of the people life. My born country is San Juan, Puerto Rico. In my country the time is very important and relative. Because is more common the people going to appointment, meeting or party late.
In this moment the time in Puerto Rico is different to United State. Because in Puerto Rico is one hour after to United State. For example when Unites State is 6:00 p.m. in Puerto Rico is 7:00 p.m. The time in summer change specifically in June, in both countries the time is the same. At compared Puerto Rico with Unites State the difference are big. For example in Puerto Rico the public transportation “bus” never coming on time. Versus United State (Binghamton) the buses in many opportunities are on time
Each country has their different to compared with others. For example in Puerto Rico the people going to government office to 8:00 a.m. Suppose to be the hour office is 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but really the personal office open to 9:00 a.m. Really bad for the people coming early, because schedule of the day broken and change the day.
Many of Latin American countries the similarity is very near in culture and specifically in time. Because in Peru the people in many occasion going to activities or appointment late. May be is part of the culture; because the tradition is many cases is going to activities late, for give break to beginning and stay all people. Is really crazy, because the peoples wait for others people and never arrive. At the end of the activities any people want to go back to home.
The time in Unites State is really important for organization the schedule day. Part of the life structure in United Sate, dependent of the time organization and how much time is available for others the appointments. The time organization is really important for me, because help me to organize my different activities and studies. The time is a factor with multiplies implication. The most important is know how organize in him.
In this moment the time in Puerto Rico is different to United State. Because in Puerto Rico is one hour after to United State. For example when Unites State is 6:00 p.m. in Puerto Rico is 7:00 p.m. The time in summer change specifically in June, in both countries the time is the same. At compared Puerto Rico with Unites State the difference are big. For example in Puerto Rico the public transportation “bus” never coming on time. Versus United State (Binghamton) the buses in many opportunities are on time
Each country has their different to compared with others. For example in Puerto Rico the people going to government office to 8:00 a.m. Suppose to be the hour office is 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but really the personal office open to 9:00 a.m. Really bad for the people coming early, because schedule of the day broken and change the day.
Many of Latin American countries the similarity is very near in culture and specifically in time. Because in Peru the people in many occasion going to activities or appointment late. May be is part of the culture; because the tradition is many cases is going to activities late, for give break to beginning and stay all people. Is really crazy, because the peoples wait for others people and never arrive. At the end of the activities any people want to go back to home.
The time in Unites State is really important for organization the schedule day. Part of the life structure in United Sate, dependent of the time organization and how much time is available for others the appointments. The time organization is really important for me, because help me to organize my different activities and studies. The time is a factor with multiplies implication. The most important is know how organize in him.
Blog Assignment #2 (Dahyun Choi)
I think there is a difference in the “time sense” in my country South Korea to the “time sense” in USA. I do not have any experience to live in big cities lin USA ike Manhattan; I only went there for couple of days when I get there. Therefore I have no idea how the people who live in big cities in USA are and how they act with their time. But when I compared Korea to here, Binghamton, it is really different.
People in my country are “normally” short-tempered and do care of their time especially when they work. The economy of South Korea has been grown extremely quickly and they have worked as they stay up all night. I think these facts may influence their personality and make them have like this general idea.
Since I am an international student and I study in USA and go to South Korea during the breaks, I can see that people in these two countries have different ideas of time sense. When I went to a shop to buy a new cell phone, I entered the store and all of the people working in the store were looking at me and shouted. “ How can I help you? " and I was surprised. They seemed like want to work quickly and meet many customers as possible. Well, I believe that not all of the people in Korea would do like that but I am writing one of my experience. And then I came back to Binghamton and I went to a store to change my cell phone and they seemed relaxed and did not hurry.
People in my country are generally on time and like people who do not late. This is not only for the business but also in general lives. Difference in time sense may be depends on places. It can be considered as a really big deal in big cities and it could not in quiet and small cities.
People in my country are “normally” short-tempered and do care of their time especially when they work. The economy of South Korea has been grown extremely quickly and they have worked as they stay up all night. I think these facts may influence their personality and make them have like this general idea.
Since I am an international student and I study in USA and go to South Korea during the breaks, I can see that people in these two countries have different ideas of time sense. When I went to a shop to buy a new cell phone, I entered the store and all of the people working in the store were looking at me and shouted. “ How can I help you? " and I was surprised. They seemed like want to work quickly and meet many customers as possible. Well, I believe that not all of the people in Korea would do like that but I am writing one of my experience. And then I came back to Binghamton and I went to a store to change my cell phone and they seemed relaxed and did not hurry.
People in my country are generally on time and like people who do not late. This is not only for the business but also in general lives. Difference in time sense may be depends on places. It can be considered as a really big deal in big cities and it could not in quiet and small cities.
Grace Kim - Blog assignment 2
Yes, there are difference of time sense between South Korea and the US. These two countries definitely have two different life style. The history proves it too and the time sense has caused from it. When we are comparing two different countries and it’s not the same continent. It’s South Korea and the US.
South Korea has developed rapidly since 1953. After the Korean War, we lost everything and only thing we have was people and the land. However without anything we had great first president. He basically founded South Korea. At that time education didn’t even matter, just surviving day by day was the problem. Despite the poor environment, we could held “1988 Olympic” and "2002 world cup" in South Korea. We developed so quickly and amazed the world. The time sense of South Korea certainly begins from our history. Koreans always say “hurry up” all the time. It’s just part of our daily life. There are lots of foreign workers in Korea. The first word they learn is that how to say “hurry up” because their bosses always urging them to do thing quickly. There are lots of delivery services and most of their advertisement say “quick service” and the customers can’t stand anything being delayed or late. Even at the restaurant, we only wait for food about 15mins. Even though it’s not fast food. In the fast food restaurants, works will take customer’s order with their electronic machine while customers are in the line. Also in school, we’ll find out our exam result before we go home due to the computer systemic exam paper and the pen we use. The US has different story except big cities. If I go to the places in Binghamton, I feel like I’m watching slow motion. The KFC near school, just taking my order takes forever even though it’s fast food restaurant. Waiting for the line at the bank, student service, cashier etc. Either there are lots of people or not enough works. I’m not complaining but sometimes I need to ask one simple question but if previous person takes too long, sometimes I become very impatient.
Everything was handy and so fast back home. I got used to it that’s why I feel things are so slow in Binghamton. However fast doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes I need to learn how to take things slow too.
South Korea has developed rapidly since 1953. After the Korean War, we lost everything and only thing we have was people and the land. However without anything we had great first president. He basically founded South Korea. At that time education didn’t even matter, just surviving day by day was the problem. Despite the poor environment, we could held “1988 Olympic” and "2002 world cup" in South Korea. We developed so quickly and amazed the world. The time sense of South Korea certainly begins from our history. Koreans always say “hurry up” all the time. It’s just part of our daily life. There are lots of foreign workers in Korea. The first word they learn is that how to say “hurry up” because their bosses always urging them to do thing quickly. There are lots of delivery services and most of their advertisement say “quick service” and the customers can’t stand anything being delayed or late. Even at the restaurant, we only wait for food about 15mins. Even though it’s not fast food. In the fast food restaurants, works will take customer’s order with their electronic machine while customers are in the line. Also in school, we’ll find out our exam result before we go home due to the computer systemic exam paper and the pen we use. The US has different story except big cities. If I go to the places in Binghamton, I feel like I’m watching slow motion. The KFC near school, just taking my order takes forever even though it’s fast food restaurant. Waiting for the line at the bank, student service, cashier etc. Either there are lots of people or not enough works. I’m not complaining but sometimes I need to ask one simple question but if previous person takes too long, sometimes I become very impatient.
Everything was handy and so fast back home. I got used to it that’s why I feel things are so slow in Binghamton. However fast doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes I need to learn how to take things slow too.
"Competition and time sense" Blog Asignment #2
There are various kind of time sense in the would. While some countries not much care about accuracy time, others think that getting on time is very important than their life. In my country, time sense have changed. Compare with past time, the time sense becomes more accurated and stricted.
Before mordernization begin, Korean had no method to check time. Although there was sun clock using shadow of sun, it was effected by whether. Therefore they used to late fifteen to twenty but it was not big deal. Some white people who visit Korea at that time called this "Korean time" implying indifferent of late for appointment. However there is evidence that our ancestor thought managing time is very important. Several proverb related with time value remained now. For instance, "Every minute seems like a thousand", "Time is gold"
Anyway after modernization, the perception of time is completely changed. High competition resulting from development require strict concept of time sense. Now in my focus, American time sense looks like very slow. For example, driving car, working speed makes increase my patience. I guess rate of competition almost decide time sense. Thus if competition were very high, people has strict time sense.
Before mordernization begin, Korean had no method to check time. Although there was sun clock using shadow of sun, it was effected by whether. Therefore they used to late fifteen to twenty but it was not big deal. Some white people who visit Korea at that time called this "Korean time" implying indifferent of late for appointment. However there is evidence that our ancestor thought managing time is very important. Several proverb related with time value remained now. For instance, "Every minute seems like a thousand", "Time is gold"
Anyway after modernization, the perception of time is completely changed. High competition resulting from development require strict concept of time sense. Now in my focus, American time sense looks like very slow. For example, driving car, working speed makes increase my patience. I guess rate of competition almost decide time sense. Thus if competition were very high, people has strict time sense.
"Binghamton VS Hong Kong" Blog Assignment #2
In the articles "Social Time: The Heartbeat of Culture", it said 'Formal "clock time" may be a standartd on which the world agrees, but "social time," the heartbeat of society, is someting else again.' This is also what am i thinking now. Since we have "Central Standard Time" to unify different local's time soze, but we do not have any standard to formulate our pace of life. Different country or location have different "time sences". For me, Hong Kong 's speed is much faster than Binghamton.
When i live in Hong Kong, everyone are running race with time, because in their mind, time is priceless, nothing can instead of it. Hence, they are so care about the time management. On the other hand, people who live in binghamton are pay more attention on their life quatility than the efficient of life. They are not really care the distriubtion of their time, since except the students, most of the residence are retired. They have a lot of time, and don't know how to use it, that's why the speed of the city is much lower than Hong Kong.
For example, in Hong Kong's Macdonald restaurant, the receptionist can not take the order more than 60 seconds, otherwise, Macdonald restaurant will give the customer a gift card for next visit. However, in Binghamton, for a 3 people's line, the receptionist use more than 15 mintues to serve those 3 customer. It is almost 5 times of Hong Kong's. In this example, we can see the different of the "time sences" between Hong Kong and Binghamton.
In average, Binghamton's pace of life is much lower than Hong Kong, but it just the average. In some specific case, Binghamton also can become a very efficiency town, such as our ESL 210 Class in Binghamton University. In this class, we are not only have the deadline of the date, we still have deadline of the time. So can we say that all people who live in Binghamton are lie fallow, maybe this is not ture. I think all my classmates will agreed with my opinion.
When i live in Hong Kong, everyone are running race with time, because in their mind, time is priceless, nothing can instead of it. Hence, they are so care about the time management. On the other hand, people who live in binghamton are pay more attention on their life quatility than the efficient of life. They are not really care the distriubtion of their time, since except the students, most of the residence are retired. They have a lot of time, and don't know how to use it, that's why the speed of the city is much lower than Hong Kong.
For example, in Hong Kong's Macdonald restaurant, the receptionist can not take the order more than 60 seconds, otherwise, Macdonald restaurant will give the customer a gift card for next visit. However, in Binghamton, for a 3 people's line, the receptionist use more than 15 mintues to serve those 3 customer. It is almost 5 times of Hong Kong's. In this example, we can see the different of the "time sences" between Hong Kong and Binghamton.
In average, Binghamton's pace of life is much lower than Hong Kong, but it just the average. In some specific case, Binghamton also can become a very efficiency town, such as our ESL 210 Class in Binghamton University. In this class, we are not only have the deadline of the date, we still have deadline of the time. So can we say that all people who live in Binghamton are lie fallow, maybe this is not ture. I think all my classmates will agreed with my opinion.
Yulia Smirnova, Blog # 2
I think that time in my country and USA is the similar. In Russia where I was born, and in USA people plan every second,they have not got time for the rest or not planned actions, spesially in big cities. But I think that time in Russia is more limited.
In my country it can't be that you come to your work 10 minutes late.All people have planners where they write all their meeting, actions etc. They write time for dinner or for talking with friends,or so simple things that should be random. For example, when I studied in high school and had practices,I wrote in my planner all my classes,practices,also I wrote that I will eat from 2pm till 2.30 pm,that I will talk with my coach from 5pm till 5.15pm.So all my day was busy. I can't go to the cinema with friends random,I should plan it the week befor,because of my tournaments and practices. That's crasy. Sometimes you want to stop everything and all day just sleep, eat,meet friends, do things that you want and don't look at the time. And this situation is happened with all people who live in Moscow and have job or school or other.
I think that live in such countries like Russia, Usa, Japan is very difficult,you should always worry about your time. But I can't believe my life without so busy schedule.
In my country it can't be that you come to your work 10 minutes late.All people have planners where they write all their meeting, actions etc. They write time for dinner or for talking with friends,or so simple things that should be random. For example, when I studied in high school and had practices,I wrote in my planner all my classes,practices,also I wrote that I will eat from 2pm till 2.30 pm,that I will talk with my coach from 5pm till 5.15pm.So all my day was busy. I can't go to the cinema with friends random,I should plan it the week befor,because of my tournaments and practices. That's crasy. Sometimes you want to stop everything and all day just sleep, eat,meet friends, do things that you want and don't look at the time. And this situation is happened with all people who live in Moscow and have job or school or other.
I think that live in such countries like Russia, Usa, Japan is very difficult,you should always worry about your time. But I can't believe my life without so busy schedule.
Lakshmi Blog Assignment #2
Yes. There is a difference in the time sense between my country and the US. It is said because of that most of the people in Sri Lanka do not want to work on time although they are responsible to do so.
Every thing in Sri Lanka too is expected to do on time. But the people do not want or not allowed to do so. The people in the offices who don't work on time don't let the other people to work who work on time. To change this situation we have to change the public attitude. To achieve that the politicians have to play a big role because they dominate all around in Sri Lanka. Otherwise the time sense also would be just a phrase.
There are idioms and proverbs in my language too which deputise the value of time.
"The time is similar to gold."
"We can't drag the time at least by an elephant when it is passed away."
I have seen in most of the business places they hang a board saying,
"I need no answer for lateness. I only need only your work to be completed on or before time."
These statements implies us about what most of the Sri Lankans expect from time sense.
According to my most recent experience with time I was mad at the state service in Sri Lanka. When I was offered the admission to BU I had to apply for my leave from my teaching. I spent over two weeks to get the approval. They wasted my time sending me here and there to complete the documents by myself instead of doing themselves. When I go to the offices they recognize me and ask about the rumours and my career in the drama field. But then they say to go to another office to bring another document. Once I was confused and surprised when they asked me whether we don't have the course available in Sri Lanka to follow which I had applied here at BU. Actually it was a big joke. Being the Edcation office it was their responsibility to find out what were the courses available in Sri Lanka. It was not my business.But I was embarrased being having only two more working days available to get every thing done as my deadline to enter the US was becoming closer. But again I was asked to go to the University Grants Commission to bring a confirmation letter mentioning that the course I had applied to follow here is not available in Sri Lanka. I received that letter on the Friday which was the last working day before my leave. I was supposed to leave by Sunday. I went to the education office with all the documents completed what they asked me to bring. I don't have the words to express the feeling in my vocabulary when I heard that the person who should sign on my documents to authorize my leave aprroval was on leave. I was asked not to leave the country without the approval and was exhausted. I had to take a hard, right decision. I love my contry and I do have the respect for my service.(I always beleive teaching as a service and my profession as acting.)I applied to BU to be more educated myself to give back the knowledge to serve my country. The decission I made was an opportunity for me to share my experience with you. When comparing about the time sense between the processing of my applications to offer the admission to the Graduate School and to approve my leave from teaching, it was a decisive fact that the BU did the process earlier than the Education Office of my country. It was a big process to offer me the admission as a funded student. The rare priviledge that a Sri Lankan was offered was ignored by the symbolic educated people in the Education Office.US is a half way around from my country. To the Education Office it is less than ten miles. But the time the two administrations spent to process the applications were the opposite. The time acquired to offer admission to BU was only the time for me to go to the Education Office but without being approved my leave documents the time I spent on trying to get the approval took the time for me to fly the half way around the world.
Every thing in Sri Lanka too is expected to do on time. But the people do not want or not allowed to do so. The people in the offices who don't work on time don't let the other people to work who work on time. To change this situation we have to change the public attitude. To achieve that the politicians have to play a big role because they dominate all around in Sri Lanka. Otherwise the time sense also would be just a phrase.
There are idioms and proverbs in my language too which deputise the value of time.
"The time is similar to gold."
"We can't drag the time at least by an elephant when it is passed away."
I have seen in most of the business places they hang a board saying,
"I need no answer for lateness. I only need only your work to be completed on or before time."
These statements implies us about what most of the Sri Lankans expect from time sense.
According to my most recent experience with time I was mad at the state service in Sri Lanka. When I was offered the admission to BU I had to apply for my leave from my teaching. I spent over two weeks to get the approval. They wasted my time sending me here and there to complete the documents by myself instead of doing themselves. When I go to the offices they recognize me and ask about the rumours and my career in the drama field. But then they say to go to another office to bring another document. Once I was confused and surprised when they asked me whether we don't have the course available in Sri Lanka to follow which I had applied here at BU. Actually it was a big joke. Being the Edcation office it was their responsibility to find out what were the courses available in Sri Lanka. It was not my business.But I was embarrased being having only two more working days available to get every thing done as my deadline to enter the US was becoming closer. But again I was asked to go to the University Grants Commission to bring a confirmation letter mentioning that the course I had applied to follow here is not available in Sri Lanka. I received that letter on the Friday which was the last working day before my leave. I was supposed to leave by Sunday. I went to the education office with all the documents completed what they asked me to bring. I don't have the words to express the feeling in my vocabulary when I heard that the person who should sign on my documents to authorize my leave aprroval was on leave. I was asked not to leave the country without the approval and was exhausted. I had to take a hard, right decision. I love my contry and I do have the respect for my service.(I always beleive teaching as a service and my profession as acting.)I applied to BU to be more educated myself to give back the knowledge to serve my country. The decission I made was an opportunity for me to share my experience with you. When comparing about the time sense between the processing of my applications to offer the admission to the Graduate School and to approve my leave from teaching, it was a decisive fact that the BU did the process earlier than the Education Office of my country. It was a big process to offer me the admission as a funded student. The rare priviledge that a Sri Lankan was offered was ignored by the symbolic educated people in the Education Office.US is a half way around from my country. To the Education Office it is less than ten miles. But the time the two administrations spent to process the applications were the opposite. The time acquired to offer admission to BU was only the time for me to go to the Education Office but without being approved my leave documents the time I spent on trying to get the approval took the time for me to fly the half way around the world.
Javier Rodríguez Blog Assignment #2
Today, time conception is very different among societies. In my own experience Puerto Rico, which is my place of origin has a weird conception about time. I believe that geographical position makes an enormous influence on this issue. Puerto Rico is an island located in the Caribbean ocean and has a population about 4 million people. Puerto Ricans are very "tropical" people. What I would illustrate with this information is the following. A big proportion of this society are not very stress about time. People in this country are usually very unstressed and does not hurry them self if they have to get late to somewhere. This is an issue which depend on each person.
Moreover, we can experience this issue by going to any place around the island. If we use as an example stores we can see that cashiers take their time to give attention to consumers. Is something that we have to improve but at the same time shows that they are not hurried to charge you. These people are giving you time to think if you really want that or not.
On the other hand, scholars and business people have a different conception about time than others in the island. This kind of people tend to rely on time in order to complete every task .
Furthermore, a big proportion in the island usually take their time to get to social or even professional activities. On example, pubs in Puerto Rico usually opens around 9:00p.m. but their clients on average arrives around 12:30a.m. If we use this as an example people in my country are not stress enough on time. Time conception is in the eye of the beholder and we can just act as individuals and chose if we fallow this behaviors or adopt our owns.
Moreover, we can experience this issue by going to any place around the island. If we use as an example stores we can see that cashiers take their time to give attention to consumers. Is something that we have to improve but at the same time shows that they are not hurried to charge you. These people are giving you time to think if you really want that or not.
On the other hand, scholars and business people have a different conception about time than others in the island. This kind of people tend to rely on time in order to complete every task .
Furthermore, a big proportion in the island usually take their time to get to social or even professional activities. On example, pubs in Puerto Rico usually opens around 9:00p.m. but their clients on average arrives around 12:30a.m. If we use this as an example people in my country are not stress enough on time. Time conception is in the eye of the beholder and we can just act as individuals and chose if we fallow this behaviors or adopt our owns.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Blog Assignment #2
Due date for all posts is Feb. 13th at 10pm
Due date for all comments is Feb. 14th at 9am
Note***Please post at a reasonable time to allow your classmates to comment.
1. Write for 10-15 minutes on the following question:
Do you think there is a difference in the "time sense" in your country of origin compared to the "time sense" in the US?
a. If yes, describe the difference and give an example of a personal experience that made you realize there was a difference.
b. If no, describe the similarity and give an example of a similarity.
2. Read your classmates' posts.
3. Comment on 1 post.
Due date for all comments is Feb. 14th at 9am
Note***Please post at a reasonable time to allow your classmates to comment.
1. Write for 10-15 minutes on the following question:
Do you think there is a difference in the "time sense" in your country of origin compared to the "time sense" in the US?
a. If yes, describe the difference and give an example of a personal experience that made you realize there was a difference.
b. If no, describe the similarity and give an example of a similarity.
2. Read your classmates' posts.
3. Comment on 1 post.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Mario Laborda "1st Assigment"
Before coming to Binghamton several thought usually were flying in my head. How will be the people there? I continuously ask myself. In one point, when my travel became imminent, I started having dreams about my arriving and the first experiences at this new country. Sometimes my dreams were very similar to the experience that Zitkala Sa describes about the train travel of her character in the story. Everybody looking you, judging you, and may be saying things about you without even meeting you. Another times, the dreams were marked by indifference and solitude.
It is very funny to see now, with the emotional distance acquired in this 6 months that I had spend at BU, that none of my fears (that were represented somehow in the story of this Indian girl) become reality. Just in the contrary, everybody had been very nice with me since the day of my arriving to this frozen city.
I think that my experiences are not very similar to the story about the Indian Student. There are a lot of differences but one seems fundamental to me. I chose to be here, I worked to be here, nobody pressure me in anyway. That make an incredible difference even if some of the experiences are similar, like trying to survive in a place were people speak and behave very different than me. But in my circumstances is vastly easer.
It is very funny to see now, with the emotional distance acquired in this 6 months that I had spend at BU, that none of my fears (that were represented somehow in the story of this Indian girl) become reality. Just in the contrary, everybody had been very nice with me since the day of my arriving to this frozen city.
I think that my experiences are not very similar to the story about the Indian Student. There are a lot of differences but one seems fundamental to me. I chose to be here, I worked to be here, nobody pressure me in anyway. That make an incredible difference even if some of the experiences are similar, like trying to survive in a place were people speak and behave very different than me. But in my circumstances is vastly easer.
Grace Kim - 1st Assignment
Sometimes one could feel that not everything about one's own country is suitable for their life. Just like how I felt when I was 14. Actually I was a little younger; elementary school student, when I started to travel English speaking countries during summer and winter vacation. Such as, English camp, girls’ and boys’ encouragement camp to Canada, New Zealand and Australia etc. Even though I wasn’t old enough to think about my future, I always had one dream I’d like to stay in English speaking country and attend school there. From that little dream, It made me decide to study in a new studying environment.
The culture difference gave me a new studying environment. For example, I went to Canadian high school. I had 2 years of Korean middle school experience; very strict, teacher and memorizing based studying etc. However, the way how Canadian students participate during classes or discussions were somewhat too informal I’d say. It took me a few months to adjust in a new environment. Such as, disturbing teacher to ask questions while they were explaining, debating freely, doing homework is mostly how you prepare for exams etc. Just listening, taking notes, going academies after school, none barely asks question during class; how I experienced in Korea. I can say they are two opposite environment of education. Then I transferred to International school to take IB courses. If there were too much freedom in Canadian high school, it was too strict taking IB. I had to adapt another new studying environment. Taking 8subjects per semester including English, Economics, Math, History, and Business etc. However besides strict studying system, international school was the best environment for me. I could make lots of friends from all over the world and having great school activities internationally. Without saying, I love trying new things in a new environment. Just like how I spent my middle and high school life in 3 different countires.
Zitkala-Sa’s case is a bit different than mine. She was younger and with others’ prejudice. But we both had to adapt the new life environment plus learning new language. For everyone, facing new things could be very tough. We experience failure and learn from it because if there’s no failure meaning you never tired anything. When there’s difficulties for me, I always realize that I’m trying enough to face difficulties that I have to overcome and soon I will achieve what I want like how I’ve been last 4years and just like how Zitkala-Sa lived at age of 9.
The culture difference gave me a new studying environment. For example, I went to Canadian high school. I had 2 years of Korean middle school experience; very strict, teacher and memorizing based studying etc. However, the way how Canadian students participate during classes or discussions were somewhat too informal I’d say. It took me a few months to adjust in a new environment. Such as, disturbing teacher to ask questions while they were explaining, debating freely, doing homework is mostly how you prepare for exams etc. Just listening, taking notes, going academies after school, none barely asks question during class; how I experienced in Korea. I can say they are two opposite environment of education. Then I transferred to International school to take IB courses. If there were too much freedom in Canadian high school, it was too strict taking IB. I had to adapt another new studying environment. Taking 8subjects per semester including English, Economics, Math, History, and Business etc. However besides strict studying system, international school was the best environment for me. I could make lots of friends from all over the world and having great school activities internationally. Without saying, I love trying new things in a new environment. Just like how I spent my middle and high school life in 3 different countires.
Zitkala-Sa’s case is a bit different than mine. She was younger and with others’ prejudice. But we both had to adapt the new life environment plus learning new language. For everyone, facing new things could be very tough. We experience failure and learn from it because if there’s no failure meaning you never tired anything. When there’s difficulties for me, I always realize that I’m trying enough to face difficulties that I have to overcome and soon I will achieve what I want like how I’ve been last 4years and just like how Zitkala-Sa lived at age of 9.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Jacob Lee Assigment # 1
When I first came to
I came to study in
Compared to the Indian girl, I did have a better chance to adapt easier, because at least I was able to speak in English. I could not image trying to adapt to a new environment without knowing the language of the country.
Lakshmi Assignment # 1
It's not the same experience that I get by learning English in the environment which I am really in now. Zitkala-Sa's wishes what had with her before coming to the Red Apple Country was unknown to her. She did not know what is going to happen or what she has to do when she goes there. She was thrilled with the feeling and was dreaming to roam as freely and happily as she could like what she had her in her native place.
But I knew very well that I have to live in a totally different environment and has to study in English. The knowledge I had was not enough for me to further my higher studies and I should be prepared to sacrifice my time only to focus on my studies. I love learning English and when I applied for the Master's I mentioned my faculty that I should be learnt English in the university as well as my theatrical subjects. So I was totally hoped to do so but not as Zitkala-sa. Actually Zitkala-Sa did not know that it is going to be difficult for her to be changed totally from the environment which she had. She was too small to understand that and she did not have experience. But not me.
For me this environment is confused only because of the pronounciations and with the spelling. As being taught the British English in Sri Lanka it's very difficult for me to change the pronounciations and the spelling in to American English. It was really funny when I was in the united states in 2005 I did some musical progrmmes with my friend named Ruth who is a singer in Albany. The word schedule is pronouced in a different way in Sri Lanka. We had scheduled our programs and had to use that word very often. She made me funny and I made her funny when pronouncing the same word spelled in the same way. But it was a great opportunity for me to understand some words used in American English. At the same time I am confused about when I go back to Sri Lanka after being several years here won't my english be funny to Sri Lanka again?
But I knew very well that I have to live in a totally different environment and has to study in English. The knowledge I had was not enough for me to further my higher studies and I should be prepared to sacrifice my time only to focus on my studies. I love learning English and when I applied for the Master's I mentioned my faculty that I should be learnt English in the university as well as my theatrical subjects. So I was totally hoped to do so but not as Zitkala-sa. Actually Zitkala-Sa did not know that it is going to be difficult for her to be changed totally from the environment which she had. She was too small to understand that and she did not have experience. But not me.
For me this environment is confused only because of the pronounciations and with the spelling. As being taught the British English in Sri Lanka it's very difficult for me to change the pronounciations and the spelling in to American English. It was really funny when I was in the united states in 2005 I did some musical progrmmes with my friend named Ruth who is a singer in Albany. The word schedule is pronouced in a different way in Sri Lanka. We had scheduled our programs and had to use that word very often. She made me funny and I made her funny when pronouncing the same word spelled in the same way. But it was a great opportunity for me to understand some words used in American English. At the same time I am confused about when I go back to Sri Lanka after being several years here won't my english be funny to Sri Lanka again?
Kyung Gon : Assignment #1
One day morning when I was very young, my mother told me “ Let’s go, my son” and I followed my mother without knowing what’s what. She brought me to the 4 stories red brick building and entered a large room. There were a lot of children and their mother in the room. And they are really busy to fill the room with noisy. All children sit down their chair and mothers stood at the rear the room. A few minutes later, a young woman came into the room and said something. Of course I cannot remember what she said because my greatest concern was ‘where is my mom?’. Every single minute I turn my head around to make sure my mother keep watching me. My mother explained several things on my way home : the building is my school, the young lady is my teacher and I become an elementary student. At that time I didn’t understand what it mean. The only what I can understand was every morning I get up early and go to this new place and spend some time with new friends. I thought it’s fair and endurable. If somebody had told me I have to do this for the next at least 16 years, I would have been unhappy. Fortunately nobody did. My mother look so happy regardless of her son’s unconcern. And I was also happy because I knew I had her happy. This is my memory of the first day of schooling in my life.
It was true Zitkala-Sa was not happy although nobody told her the secret of what happen in the next 16 years. What is the differences between her and me? In my case, it can be said the school was new place and new environment for me. However, there were something common in this new place. Every classmate had same mother tongue, cultural background and regional characteristics. And most important difference was my mother could taken care of me continuously, but her mother couldn’t.
However, I can understand her crying at the first evening after arriving the new place. I believe that every international students have same or similar experience to Zitkala-Sa’s during the study abroad. It is difficult to accommodate to the life in this country because of several barriers which are the same as the what Zitkala-Sa has. Her tear is really understandable.
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