Nice to Meet You Again, Brian

Thanks to my blog and FB, I got Brian's mail this morning. We're now chatting on FB. Having been chatting for 1 hour online.

Now, it's the year 2015. We are doing our marathon chatting from 2014 to 2015, as I mentioned in yesterday's entry. Great!

 

 

 

Reconnection with LANN

Last night, I was so touched and exhilarated by the responses to two of my previous blogs, especially the one to the entry posted on August 20th, 2012.

http://june.ettachou.com/2012/08/20/a-life-changing-sentence/comment-page-1/#comment-440157

The response, sent on December 27, was from a former student I taught at Chieh-show Junior High around 25 years ago. From the sender's name LANN and the fluent English, I guess it was Brian, which needs to be confirmed.

ELL Students’ Descriptions of Effective Teachers

http://blog.tesol.org/ell-students-descriptions-of-effective-teachers/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

ELL Students’ Descriptions of Effective Teachers

Posted on 27 December 2014 by Elena Shvidko

How can we become effective teachers? What do we need to do to better help our students and endow them with necessary skills and strategies, so they can continue obtaining knowledge independently? Receiving proper teacher education, attending professional conferences, observing experienced instructors, and conducting classroom research are only a few of the many tools that teachers can use to develop as professionals. However, our students, too, can be a source of our professional development. Therefore, asking students questions and reflecting on their feedback can help us better meet our students’ needs and implement activities that they want to see in our classrooms.

My comments: Reflecting on our own teaching right after class is also a good way.

Regina & William, Congratulations! Have a Happy Marriage!

at

Yesterday evening, I attended a former young colleague Regina's wedding banquet at Ambassador Hotel. She is an English teacher, conscientious, creative, and popular with students. Of course, among the guests from NHSH, English teachers accounted for the most.

What Is Intercultural Communicative Competence?

http://blog.tesol.org/what-is-intercultural-communicative-competence/

What Is Intercultural Communicative Competence?

My comments: This is the definition given by BBC TeachingEnglish.

 http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-database/intercultural-communicative-competence

Posted on 15 December 2014 by Yilin Sun

The TESOL President’s Blog

In recent years, several researchers in the ELT field have raised a series of conceptual issues around how we should express our cultures in English (Honna,2005; Byram,2009; Wen, 2013,). As a speaker, should you stick to your own way of thinking? Or should you adapt to the listener’s way of thinking? As a listener, should you impose your own way of thinking on the speaker? Or should you be sensitive to and tolerant of the speaker’s different way of thinking and speaking?

A Slip from My Routine

How could it be possible? I didn't keep my blog yesterday! I thought I did!

Two lessons I learned: First, do something right away when you know it's time for you to do it. Second, check what you've set your mind to do every day before going to bed even if you think you have gotten it done.

To Taipei's New Mayor, Mr. Ke, on Education--"柯市長，教育死亡谷......"--from LTN (Liberty Times Net)

http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/opinion/paper/841292

柯市長，教育死亡谷......

2014-12-23

◎ 張簡曉芸

柯市長，最近您一定為了究竟要奉行前任市長所定奪之基北區高中職免試入學超額比序的順次，於三等級積分後直接比十量尺，或採教育部的建議，在三等級四標示積分後，比無可比再採用十量尺，傷透腦筋。

My comments: Quite complicated.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

"Merry Christmas, everyone!"

The sentence said by the little boy of Mr. Scrooge's nephew at the end of the movie A Christmas Carol is such a classic!

Happy New Year! Two New Year Classroom Activities

I came across this article yesterday while surfing the Net and shared it with a friend who is still teaching. She said she'll try doing the activities in her class.

http://blog.tesol.org/happy-new-year-two-new-year-classroom-activities/

Happy New Year! Two New Year Classroom Activities

Posted on 22 December 2014 by ssahr

Celebrating the start of a new year has always been a favorite holiday of mine. During this time of year, in most countries I’ve lived in, regardless of religion, a country’s true culture rings through in song, festivals, and food. What a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and reminisce about the year gone by while looking forward to the year to come! So, be it the Gregorian New Year on 1 January, Vietnam’s Tết usually celebrated in February, or Ethiopia’s Enkutatash celebrated in September, it’s out with the old and in with the new for everyone!

A Happy Gathering--Stay Healthy; Stay Happy, Everyone

A really nice gathering with Mr. Han (韓靖宇老師) and other former colleagues, including some English teachers and two history teachers. I organized this get-together to express our concern about Mr. Han, giving him all our best wishes.

Observe Fang-chi's Teaching

This morning around 10:30 I met Fang-chi, a student teacher at NHSH. We discussed her teaching I observed on the DVD her mentor Ms. Tsai (蔡孟芳老師) gave me on Nov. 27. In fact, I already watched it around 2 weeks ago. However, because Fang-chi had been busy, we didn't have time to talk about the class until this morning. Last night I listed her teaching procedure as observed and also my comments/questions based on the notes I took two weeks ago. Then I found I forgot some parts, so this morning I watched it again and  completed my feedback.

Ray Du English--an Interesting English-Learning Website

The following is a website recommended by an FB group "I Simply Love to Share." It deals mostly with some daily phrases.

https://www.facebook.com/RayDuEnglish

For example:

Criteria for Choosing an Outside Reading Book--"選書考量因素"

While doing the cleaning, I came across a copy of this article. Glad that it can be found online. I don't remember if I have posted it on my blog. A review is always good, anyway.

http://www3.hchs.hc.edu.tw/english/readerhouse/consideration.html

選書考量因素

望著一堆課外讀物樣書卻不知道如何選擇是很多高中英文老師都有的經驗，尤其到了暑假前更是大家傷腦筋的時間，到底選擇英文課外讀物要考慮哪些因素呢？Rebecca斗膽就個人的一點心得來高談闊論一番： 

Tips on Taking the English Listening Test for High School Students--"拚英聽-鎖定情境用語"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/6915/569013

拚英聽-鎖定情境用語

2014-12-13      記者林秀姿／台北報導

第二次高中英聽測驗只剩下一個多月可準備，考生要如何從B咖變A咖？英語專家與補教老師建議，多練習幾個情境用語，平常養成多看英語電影、聽英語廣播的習慣。

Tips for Taking the English Listening Test--"考英聽-抓住5W1H關鍵字"--from UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/6915/587158

考英聽-抓住5W1H關鍵字

2014-12-19      記者張錦弘／台北報導

國中會考明年採計英聽成績，英語老師指出，英聽題目播放速度慢、每題播兩次，加上只占英語總分20%，只要考生平時多練習，每個單字發音念精準，並抓住5W1H的問題關鍵字和情境，即使偏鄉生也不難過關。

English Listening Test on CA--"國中會考英聽 成績占英語20%分2級"--frolm UDN

http://udn.com/news/story/6915/587156

國中會考英聽 成績占英語20%分2級

2014-12-19      記者張錦弘／台北報導

明年國中會考英語科將聽力測驗列入成績，計分方式已公布。為避免造成考生太大壓力，英聽考得較簡單，占分比重也只有兩成；且分成「基礎」、「待加強」兩級，沒有「精熟級」。

Diego, Good Luck!

Diego, a former student who graduated from NHSH in 2006, LINEd me yesterday asking me if we can meet up before he goes to Germany as an exchange student. Of course, I said yes. And today, we chatted for almost six hours!

Bravo, Meng-ze!

The concert at National Central University I went to yesterday evening really amazed me, especially my student Meng-ze's (陳孟澤) performance. The last one to go on stage, he played Liszt's Dante Sonata. After he finished, I called out "Bravo!" 

Going to a Concert

Leaving for National Central University to attend a concert. Meng-cher (陳孟澤),  a former student, who invited me, is going to play Liszt's Dante Sonata. He is not a music major, but have passion for the piano.  Last year, for some reason I've forgot, I didn't go. Good that this year I still can enjoy the concert.

This is how the music sounds:

Nice Seeing You Again, Spencer!

After observing Wei-ting's class and having a discussion with her, I left for a lunch date with Spencer, a former student who is studying in the States and came back for a brief visit.

Class Observation

This morning I was invited by Ms. Wen to observe her student teacher Wei-ting's class at 8:10.

Doing What You Have to Do Propels You Upward: "何大一：做「必須」做的事，人生才可更上層樓"

http://www.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5062704&eturec=1

何大一：做「必須」做的事，人生才可更上層樓

2014-11-27   作者：黃惠鈴

什麼是成功的方程式？如何得到幸運之神眷顧？發明「雞尾酒療法」的愛滋病權威、中研院院士何大一博士，今天在NU SKIN大師趨勢論壇「信念決定未來」，分享了10個重點：     

Cleaning the Toilet--"名家縱論／培養體貼 從掃廁所開始"

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/X1/9128692.shtml

名家縱論／培養體貼 從掃廁所開始

2014.12.14 02:21 am

清掃事實上沒想像中簡單。從準備工具、分配工作、執行、到掃完整理，因為細節多，過程繁瑣，要能養成「不怕麻煩」的毅力。看似簡單的清掃工作，實際動手做，收穫比想像中大很多。

Dance with the Trees

After a good night's sleep, today, George and I took a guided tour to Chilan Sacred Tree Garden.

Here I Am, Mingchih Forest Recreation Area

Yesterday morning, George and I planned to go to Miaoli to pick strawberries today. Then we changed our mind yesterday evening and decided to visit Mingchih, a famous scenic spot once recommended by my friends. Now, late at night I'm still here. Upon arriving, enchanted by the picturesque scenery, we decided to stay here overnight, bathed in its unique serenity and beauty.

Eduction in Finland--"芬蘭教育 世界第一的祕密"--from CommonWealth Magazine

http://m.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5012870#sthash.LWOLSXgT.dpbs

芬蘭教育 世界第一的祕密

2011-05-06 天下雜誌 384期   作者：蕭富元

教育，已成為芬蘭最成功的出口產品。人口不到台灣的四分之一，芬蘭憑什麼摘下教改桂冠？

Where Am I?

The Opportunity Cost of Education--"周行一／教育的機會成本"--from UDN

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/OPI4/9120723.shtml

周行一／教育的機會成本

【聯合報╱周行一】

2014.12.10 01:54 am

我問學生：「今天來上課的機會成本是什麼？」學生的回答五花八門，有的說是犧牲了看電影的機會，也有人說是無法打工所損失的收入，甚至有人說是已繳的學費。我再問學生：「既然有這麼多的可能性，到底哪一項才是上課的機會成本呢？」「既然來上課，是不是表示上課是最划得來的呢？」

My comments: According to BusinessDictionary.com, opportunity cost is "a benefit, profit, value of something that must be given up to acquire or achieve something else."

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/opportunity-cost.html

Happy Gathering

(Photo from Mr. Lin)

A happy gathering this noon with Mr. Lin (林煇校長) and Mei-hua (許玫華老師), a former colleague at Chieh-show Junior High School and good friend.

Taiwanese Food in English--"棺材木板？搖擺驢？菜英文翻譯怪 老外霧煞煞"

(photo from http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/5/4/24/n898751.htm)

Does this look like rocking donkeys?

A printout of online information found when I was doing the cleaning today. Happy that I can still find it online.

http://www.nownews.com/n/2009/09/05/715117

棺材木板？搖擺驢？菜英文翻譯怪　老外霧煞煞

2009年     09月     05日      13:57

聽奧5日豋場，世界各國選手齊聚台北，但不少選手如果想到餐廳吃飯，恐怕會出現「有看沒有懂」的情況。許多知名餐廳菜單的英譯非常怪，像是點心「驢打滾」明明是一種外層裹綠豆粉的紅豆餡年糕，菜單卻直譯成Rocking Donkey；而台南小吃棺材板，菜單更被翻成Tainan Coffin Board，嚇壞許多外國遊客。

My comments: Well, just let imagination fly!

Tips for Taking TOEIC--"專訪多益990分考生"

This undated article offers tips for taking a TOEIC.

http://www.toeic.com.tw/enterprise/business/business_people_03.jsp

專訪多益990分考生

【文／Edward Chung】

金融海嘯狂襲全球，台灣終究難能幸免，政府為提振經濟、刺激景氣，忙得不可開交；各行業受到波及困境頻傳，連帶使得勞動階層也因失業疑懼，人心惶惶。就連長期引領職場風潮的科技業從業人員也陷無薪休假、丟飯碗的窘境，大專學生多所採取「延畢」、「深造」方式，躲避失業潮。

目前可見的現象是：許多遭受無薪休假或資遣的科技新「跪」、各行業人員，為謀求退路、甚或尋求事業第二春，紛紛走進補習班充電，為的是學習第二專長、或是考張專業、英檢證照，準備在職場上東山再起。

根據多益測驗中心台灣區代表忠欣公司的統計資料顯示，儘管近半年報考多益的考生受大環境不景氣影響，考生人數未有成長，但走進考場的考生素質卻明顯提昇，不少人的多益英檢成績超逾九百分；在南部地區，考得滿分990分的考生，竟有七人之多。這些「多益菁英」，有半數正就讀大學研究所，為投入職場做好了準備；也有上班族，其中甚至包括一位十七歲的高三學生。

Hi, Yu-jung, Nice Seeing You Again

(Photo from Yu-jung)

Yesterday I had a gathering with a former student Yu-jung, who graduated from NHSH in 2006. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. Yu-jung works for an insurance company now. When asked about her job, she said she loved it very much because she could meet people from all walks of life. I'm really happy for her.

Learning/Teaching Vocabulary in Interesting Ways

This afternoon, an old colleague who is still teaching LINEd and asked me how to make vocabulary learning interesting. My answer then was what first flashed into my mind:

Good Time with Friends

I had a beautiful time with three friends today, all of whom were retired teachers from NHSH. Unlike what we usually do, we had a city tour today (We usually bathe ourselves in nature). First, we enjoyed  "Strange Encounter: 2014 Flower Arrangement Exhibition" and "All in a Knowing Smile: Jade Jewelry Designs by Penny Wang" at National Museum of History. Then we chatted over lunch at Bite 2 Eat, a Pizza & Pasta restaurant. 

"ESL Classroom Routines"--from TESOL Blog

For English teachers, this is an interesting and useful article.

http://blog.tesol.org/esl-classroom-routines/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

ESL Classroom Routines

Posted on 28 November 2014 by Elena Shvidko

Several years ago, when I was doing my teaching practicum in my MATESOL program, I had the opportunity to teach a community ESL class. Most of my students were immigrants who were taking the course in order to increase their proficiency level. The class followed an integrated approach, and, frankly, my coteacher and I found it difficult at times to balance “the right amount” of speaking, reading, and writing. Since for both of us it was our first experience teaching ESL, we were afraid that the course would seem to appear a bit unstructured. Our practicum supervisor suggested implementing classroom routines to help us keep the course more organized. And he was right!

"Taiwan's 'black Saturday' election: A rebuke to China"--from CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/02/opinion/taiwan-opinion-cole/index.html

Taiwan's 'black Saturday' election: A rebuke to China

By J. Michael Cole, special to CNN

December 2, 2014 -- Updated 0556 GMT (1356 HKT)

Editor's note: J. Michael Cole is a senior non-resident fellow at the China Policy Institute, University of Nottingham, an associate researcher at the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) in Taipei, and editor in chief of Thinking Taiwan. The views expressed here are solely his.

Taipei (CNN) -- As millions of Taiwanese headed for the polling stations across the nation last weekend, there was a general sense that change was at hand.

My Dear Students, You Amazed Me; plus Only Time

Today two encounters with my former students amazed me.