"UNESCO's newest World Heritage Sites"--from CNN

Click the link, and you'll find 20 photos of the sites, each with a more detailed description.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/21/travel/new-unesco-world-heritage-sites/index.html

UNESCO's newest World Heritage Sites

By Katia Hetter, CNN

June 23, 2014 -- Updated 2021 GMT (0421 HKT)

(CNN) -- To explore a site inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List is to see a place of outstanding universal value.

My comments: The word "inscribed" is smartly used here.

And with more natural and cultural wonders added to the prestigious preservation list over the last few days, there are now more than 1,000 sites to visit all over the world.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has been considering new sites at a meeting in Qatar since June 15.

A Piece of News a Day

A way to get students connected to the real world is to have them read news. However, some students could have a feeling of fear if the teacher just says, "Now let's read a piece of news," because they always take news as something far above their English level, with many words or phrases unfamiliar to them and some complex sentences for them to dissect.

"Is there a distinctive 'Indian English'?"--from BBC

When I was studying in the States for my master's degree around 25 years ago, a professor in the TESL department already pointed out the term "Englishes." I don't know if it was coined by him. But at that time, I believe it was a stir in the air of the "English" world.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-28062387

#BBCtrending: Is there a distinctive 'Indian English'?

By BBC Trending

What's popular and why

27 June 2014 Last updated at 18:26

Is there a distinctive "Indian English"? Yes, according to a hashtag that's been trending in the country - #IndianEnglish.

Cherish Your Family

A few days ago, I read a LINE passage from my friend. It says that one day when we pass away, the company we worked for will soon find a replacement, but that to our parents and other family members, it would be like the end of the world.

"10 Words You Should Never Use to Describe Yourself"

An interesting article.

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/10-words-you-should-never-use-to-describe-yourself.html

10 Words You Should Never Use to Describe Yourself

BY Jeff Haden

Unless, of course, you're a little too full of yourself.

Consider the word "charismatic." If someone called me charismatic, I will be incredibly flattered (and hugely surprised.) But if I call myself charismatic, you will think I'm a jerk--and rightly so.

Where Should Education Focus?--"只改升學制度 教育品質呢？"--from UDN

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/X1/8762623.shtml

只改升學制度 教育品質呢？

【聯合報╱王伯元／創投業（台北市）】

2014.06.25 01:35 am

十二年國教一免放榜，就如每次大考揭曉一樣，幾家歡樂幾家愁，但今年不一樣的是充斥著許多委屈與憤怒、沮喪與不平。雖然蔣偉寧部長認為一免錄取率高九成多，且有百分之六十二點八六是第一志願錄取，顯示「適性輔導」政策奏效，但數字顯示的只是表象，事實上很多考生唯恐因為志願序扣分，逼不得已填選後段學校，先占名額卡位，再去拚特招。因此即便是第一志願錄取，也不去報到，形成中間學校報到率偏低的Ｕ型曲線，這樣的數字，到底代表多少意義，值得教育部省思。

My comments: A twisted phenomenon.

Mainland China Considering Holding Several English Tests in a Year-- 各國教育制度／大陸爭議：英語和高考分開考

http://mag.udn.com/mag/edu/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=521053

各國教育制度／大陸爭議：英語和高考分開考

好讀周報 2014/06/24

 

【聯合報╱文／戴定國】

大陸正在討論，要不要讓英語科退出高考。

Options for Junior High School Graduates: a Flow Chart--高中職第一次免試放榜後 有哪些選擇？

A flow chart on this webpage shows clearly the options for junior high school graduates after the high school admission results came out .

http://mag.udn.com/mag/edu/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=520494

高中職第一次免試放榜後 有哪些選擇？

【聯合晚報／綜合整理】2014/06/20

放榜了!不只「幾家歡樂幾家愁」，還充滿了許多無奈與無力，身為第一屆12年國教 的白老鼠，免試分發放榜的情緒更複雜。尤其在一級戰區北北基，更是戰況慘烈。有的如願考上第一志願，有的考5A++、作文5級分只上了第五志願，還有雙胞胎姊妹因 作文得分不同而命運迥異。到底高中職第一次免試放榜後，學生們有哪些選擇的管道呢？

Teaching Kids to Tell Right from Wrong--"嚴長壽：教孩子思辨是非更重要"--from the UDN

http://mag.udn.com/mag/edu/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=520832

嚴長壽：教孩子思辨是非更重要

【聯合報╱記者修瑞瑩／台南報導】2014/06/23

公益平台文化基金會董事長嚴長壽昨在成大演講表示，許多家長在十二年國教當中分分計較，事實上是扼殺孩子的自信與學習機會；讓孩子學習思辨是非及一技之長更重要。

How She Got a 990 on TOEIC--"看影集練英文 她多益990分"--from the UDN

http://mag.udn.com/mag/edu/storypage.jsp?f_MAIN_ID=381&f_SUB_ID=3658&f_ART_ID=520389

看影集練英文 她多益990分

【聯合報╱記者鄭語謙／台北報導】2014/06/20

台灣科技大學應用外語系學生陳玉孟靠著看影集練習、參加學校英語營隊擔任教學助理，磨練英語口說能力，不僅能說一口道地英文，也在今年拿下多益測驗990分的滿分成績。她說，想把英文學好，要先了解自己的興趣，找到適合教材，並持續學習，就能成為「英文萬事通」。

What School Uniform You Wear Does Not Count Much in Life--"人生成敗關鍵不在制服顏色"--from UDN

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/OPI1/8755327.shtml

人生成敗關鍵不在制服顏色

【聯合晚報╱社論】

2014.06.21 02:49 pm

頂著大太陽，生氣的家長怒吼「自己的孩子自己救」，哭喪著臉的學生不能想像 5A++還上不了第一志願，今天的這一批街頭抗議者格外辛苦。也難怪有候選人放言，「教改爭議將壓垮國民黨政權」。

My comments: Kids with confidence in his competence and passion for learning will always perform well whichever school they get into.

Writing: the Most Important Language Skill Among the Four--"作文凌駕一切 理所當然！"--from the UDN

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/X1/8747690.shtml

作文凌駕一切 理所當然！

【聯合報╱李振清／大學退休教授（台北市）】

2014.06.18 06:08 am

首次國中會考引爆的學科「極優」，卻因作文不滿六級分，以致無緣第一志願的現象，造成不少資優生斷腸落淚，家長也抱怨「作文凌駕一切」。其實，從教育觀點與語言學習理論來分析，建構在廣泛閱讀、悉心聆聽、口語歷練、背景知識，與多元思維基礎上的作文能力，當然凌駕其他讀、聽、說的語言技能。舉凡國中會考、大學學測或指考，作文能力成為關鍵勝負因素，這是極為正常的語言教育現象。

My comments: What concerns most people is the subjectivity of the raters.

What the 2014 CA Chinese Writing Topic Reveals--"平路／作文題洩露的祕密"--from the UDN

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/OPI4/8745205.shtml

平路／作文題洩露的祕密

【聯合報╱平路】

2014.06.18 06:08 am

隨十二年國教的推動，會考成績揭曉，選填志願的複雜度有如迷宮，加上北北基把作文當成排序的最優先，近日正急速累積民怨。

作文作為關鍵項目，包括評等過於主觀、五科皆A++竟以作文定江山的不合理等，浮現出許多問題。命題作文引領的思維方式，影響更為深遠…

My comments: Hopefully, the problem of subjectivity could be solved by each essay being graded by two raters, which is already in practice. 

"10 Words People Who Lack Confidence Always Use"--from Inc.

When I asked students a question, for example, "Do you think the tips the author offers are useful?" if their answer was "Maybe," it didn't give me much information. The following article I found at the TIME website points out ten words to avoid using because they could reveal one's lack of confidence.

http://time.com/2889520/lack-of-confidence-words/?utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29

10 Words People Who Lack Confidence Always Use

John Brandon                                             June 17, 2014

Want to avoid giving the impression you lack confidence and authority? Avoid these words

This post is in partnership with Inc., which offers useful advice, resources, and insights to entrepreneurs and business owners. The article below was originally published at Inc.com.

"A Day Spent with Friends Is a Day Well Spent"--Happy School Reunion

Today we, a group of friends graduating in the same year from Xing-xing Junior High School more than 40 years ago, had a get-together at Beitou Museum (http://www.beitoumuseum.org.tw/index.html), where our schoolmate Sally Lee (李莎莉) is the curator.

Farewell Lunch Party

An NHSH farewell lunch party held for three English teachers who are retiring this August: Li-chin (劉麗琴老師), Mei-yun (張美雲老師), and Wen-ho (張文和老師). Not only

Does It Really Matter Not to Go to an Elite School?--國教風波／無緣第一志願 就是鳳凰變成雞？

I really love this title, which is thought-provoking.

http://udn.com/NEWS/OPINION/X1/8742937.shtml

國教風波／無緣第一志願 就是鳳凰變成雞？

【聯合報╱陳文明／科技業（台中市）】

2014.06.16 03:08 am

十二年國教風波，很多家長一直向教育部與地方首長抗議，甚至連不要小孩「鳳凰變成雞」的言語都琅琅上口。好像小孩念第一志願的高中，就是家裡跟社會的鳳凰？沒念到就是雞？真的是這樣嗎？

My comments: Life is a long journey.

"Trouble sleeping? Put the iPhone down"--a CNN Film

Experiencing sleepless nights? Blue light emitted by the mobile device could be to blame.

"What Is It Like to Be Schizophrenic?"--CNN Film

This 5-minute CNN film, entitled "What is it like to be schizophrenic?" shows an exercise in empathy Anderson Cooper goes through,  hearing voices all the time. This film made me feel like crying, really sorry for those who suffer from schizophrenia. Watching it, you'll also feel sympathetic and empathetic toward them.  Hopefully, there will be a medical breakthrough to treat this mental illness.

You can have the subtitles on by clicking the setting icon. There is a delay between the speech/image and the subtitles, though.

History of Western Music in Seven Minutes--7分鐘讀懂西方音樂史

This is amazing! See how many of the musicians you know.

https://www.muzik-online.com/tw/article/focus/da506d2c-4a7f-13ed-f54e-e97736baa9f8

7分鐘讀懂西方音樂史

2014-06-13 作:MUZIK ONLINE