Hi students!
Welcome to the Advanced Academic Skills Summer 2013 blog! On this blog, you will have the opportunity to express your ideas, opinions, agreements, and disagreements in short, written responses to questions related to our class discussions. You will also have the opportunity to respond to your classmates's ideas and opinions. It is expected that discourse on our class blog will polite, respectful, and most importantly, interesting! Your posts must be a minimum of 10 sentences. I look forward to reading your thoughts on important class questions. Here is your first question:
What are your academic goals for the summer semester? Please describe at least two important academic goals that you would like to achieve in the next 9 weeks. Please explain what each goal is and why it is important.
Happy writing!
Josh
this is a test. good morning!
ReplyDeleteTwo Academic Goals
ReplyDeletePeople have to improve their skills through time, for that they need to communicate, so they need to understand the same language. However English is the most popular language in the world, also the internet is universal today. That is the reason why? I want to improve both of them.
My first goal is improving my English skills in writing, speaking, reading and listening; to be able to communicate correctly. My second goal is increasing my knowledge in internet.
In the end, I want to acquire the maximum of information during my stay in USA this year, and that will be happened only if I will have good communication.
Hi Zineb,
DeleteThere is no doubt that you will become a more savvy internet user this summer since so much of our class activities and resources are web-based. I can assure you that I will do my best to help you achieve your other goal in all four main skills areas as well.
On Grammar:
1. you use a semi-colon (;) incorrectly in the first sentence of the second paragraph. Generally, we use semi-colons to separate two short, related independent clauses. Example: I was late; I missed the bus.
2. In your last sentence there are two errors: 1)that will be happened --> that will happen
and
2) only if I will have good communication --> only if I have .....(delete will here--"will" never comes after if).
Hi Josh,
DeleteThanks
My first goal for this summer semester is to improve my English Language skills. I need to learn more, in this order, listening, speaking, writting and reading. These abilities help me to communicate of different ways, as with native speakers as in University activities inside of the classroom. From this, I can participate fluently in many debates or conferences.
ReplyDeleteMy second goal is to get present a lecture about my field of study. I wish to prepare a interesting presentation and can speak clearly for all publics. Beyond of can realize group dynamics in class.
My third goal is obtain important techniques enough to publish scientific articles on websites, on Congresses or perhaps, on scientific newspaper. I belied that with theses three goals achieved, I will be ready to participate successful in the Humphrey Program 2013-2014. For this, I will be doing my homework, listening songs and interviews, and yet, studying English grammar.
Hi Diogenes,
DeleteYou have already met one of your goals in that you gave a successful presentation today on article 2. You will have the opportunity to present again, and I'm sure you will be equally successful. We will also continue to work on the other skills areas that you mentioned. You should have ample opportunity to work on improving your listening skills.
On Grammar:
1. communicate of different ways--> communicate IN different ways
2. I wish to prepare a interesting presentation and can speak clearly for all publics --> ...wish to prepare...and BE ABLE TO.....Note: you cannot use "can" as an infinitive; it is only used as a modal/helping verb. Therefore, you have to use the form "be able to."
Hello!
ReplyDeleteMy first goal for Summer Semester is improving my English grammar. This goal is a must because for my Humphrey activity I have to write a book in English. And without grammar skills, it is impossible.
A second goal is to develop my ability to write essay, or academic papers. Like for the first goal, is necessary because I can`t write my book in English in a way that is not appropriate for English.
Thank you and see you tomorrow!
Hi Florin,
DeleteI didn't know that you have to write a book! That sounds both exciting and a little challenging. What is your book going to be about? Have you started writing it? Interestingly, your grammar in this response is almost perfect. In fact, I can only find a few small errors.
On Grammar:
1. In the first paragraph you start the last sentence with "And," which is OK in informal writing (thus, it's OK here too!). However, you would usually avoid starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, yet, etc.) in formal writing.
2. Look at this sentence and think about what's missing:
"Like for the first goal, is necessary...."
If you guessed a subject, you are correct!
(...) it is necessary...
DeleteIt is ok now?
yes!
DeleteMy goals are to speak in English with few grammar mistakes and to understand other people's idea and then tell my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why I chose first goal is now I take grammar class because my grammar is really poor, so from that class I want to learn lots of things. Moreover I'm shy, so it is not easy to speak in front of many people, but I want to improve my speaking too. Therefore I want to overcome these weak points at the same time, and I want to improve them.
The reason why I chose second goal is to understand what other people say and tell my ideas , I have to concentrate on talk and listen carefully. I always try to do that, but sometimes I can't do that, especially when I am tired. I want to do that at all times. If I always do these things, I can communicate with people more and make good relationships. Moreover it will connect with improving my all English skills.
To achieve these goals, I will do my best.
Hi Chinami,
DeleteI'm fairly certain that you will have the opportunity to listen to other people's ideas and give your own opinion in discussions, presentations, and debates throughout the semester. To be honest, you don't seem all that shy, so I was a little surprised to read this about you. Being tired definitely makes it very hard to concentrate!
On Grammar (there aren't many errors!):
1. concentrate on talk and listen--> concentrate on talking and listening..... (After prepositions/particles like on, in, of, about, use the -ing form).
2. improving my all English skills--> ....all of my English skills
Hello Josh!
ReplyDeleteIn this semester, I intend to improve my skills in English, with emphasis in academic reading, writing, speaking and listening.
I wish to get rid of my fear and insecurity and to be able to express my opinions, my point of view and my experience of a natural way. This is my first goal.
I want to listen conversations, to understand while people are speaking, to be able to answer correctly and to keep one conversation about every topic, such as simple and complex topics. This is my second goal.
After this, I hope to be able to perform oral comunications, formal presentatios and debates with trust and confidence.
Furthermore, I'll be able to understand several topics in my area, through reading, listening and writing in academic research, suc as articles, newspapers, magazines and interviews.
I intend to write academic articles in English and to read and to share knowledge.
I want to do connections between differents areas and people, and to be able to establish effective communication and relation.
For all these reasons, this semester is very important for me, personally and professionally. I intend to do my best.
Thanks Josh for your attention.
Hi Fernanda,
DeleteI'm impressed with your list of goals. All of them are relevant and worth achieving. Truthfully, I did not realize that you have a little bit of insecurity when you express your opinions--you seem to do it quite assertively! I really like your goal of understanding an array of topics in your specialization through readings, listenings, research, and so on. One thing that is exciting about this class is that we can work on improving all of these skills by analyzing and discussing interconnected topics to your fields of study/professions. I'll also do my best to help you achieve these goals.
On Grammar:
1. of a natural way--> in a natural way
2. I want to do connections--> "...make connections.."
3.
Thanks Josh! Certainly, you're a great teacher!
DeleteI feel I have some difficulties in expressing my ideas sometimes, and it's related in insecurity and little domain of the language, especially vocabulary. But I believe that is possible to overcome these challenges. :)
Thanks.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteFor me, to speak English a little bit fluently is the most important goal in this summer semester. I just would like to say “fluently” but it seems a big challenge in two months even if I have to keep this goal higher. Indeed, the speaking is the major issue to solve before starting the class at the host University. I really don’t believe that I will have again this opportunity. I am sure I will start with the scientific debates and discussions as soon as I arrive in Atlanta, for example. I’ve also planned to have an oral communication during the 14 th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) foreseen in December 2013 in South Africa. In addition to having the oral communication, I will frequently meet the professional in my field of interest, and I will have to advocate for the resource mobilization and for the technical support to improve the quality of services in Africa, particularly in Congo.
To improve the Writing is my second goal in this summer semester. This will help to show well the strategic information; I mean how to present the evidence with data in my area. For instance, I will be able to write correctly the articles and the abstracts. Three tools are chiefly essential to accomplish this goal: the Writing, the Reading, and the Grammar class.
Hi Emmanuel,
DeleteI can see why improving your speaking skills is so important: you have a lot of talking to do in the next year! While your speaking is already quite good, I agree that there is room for improvement, and I think we can help you achieve this goal this summer. In the short term, I encourage you to speak up more in class. You have a lot of good ideas, and it wouldn't hurt to express them more often when we are having class discussions.
On Grammar:
There are a number of places in your response you use the article "the" unnecessarily. This is a complex grammar structure, so unfortunately, I can't get into all of the rules in this response. However, I can point out the errors and point you towards some resources that might help you
Article errors in your response: the speaking,the host University, the scientific debates and discussions, the oral communication,the professional, the resource mobilization. Can you find other article errors in the second paragraph?
Here is an informative site with a fairly comprehensive set of article rules:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/articles/
Let me know if you want to talk about articles after class sometime.
Dear Teacher,
DeleteMany thanks for helping me to understand this complex grammar structure. Let us talk after class.
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy academic goals for the summer are, first of all: improving my English skills in (speaking, listening and writing) and vocabulary.
And then, being able to make academic research, analyze and discuss on different topics related to my field.
Hi Rose Myriam,
DeleteWe will certainly spend time working on both of the goals that you mentioned. At this point, we've spent some time on vocabulary, but I feel like we could spend a little more time developing students' vocabulary each week. You should have plenty of opportunities to research, read about, analyze, present, and discuss topics related to your profession. I'll do my best to help you do things well.
On Grammar:
1. Generally speaking, we use colons (:) after independent clauses.
....are, first of all: --> ...are the following: first of all, improving.....
2. make academic research--> "do" academic research
I want to listen what Americans say more. I think listening is one of the most important part in conversation because without understanding what people say, I do not know what I should replay. So if can listen English more, I can convey what I think or my opinion to people who can speak English. It means I can get knowledge more. It is interesting!! I wanna make listening better.
ReplyDeleteI also want to speak English more. Sometimes it takes much time to create the sentence. It means I force people who talk with me to have a perseverance . I do not wanna do this. And I wanna convey my opinion clearly.
That is why I choose this two goals.
Hi Kei,
DeleteI like that your goals are so specific. At this point, you have had a lot of opportunities to listen to your classmates. Hopefully this is helping you understand a bit more of what people are saying. If you want more listening practice, however, I can certainly find it for you. Just let me know! I can tell you right now that we need to get you talking more in class. You are right in saying that sometimes it takes you a little while to express your ideas, which is actually OK (a little faster wouldn't hurt:)), but your ideas are usually expressed using very accurate grammar. This makes me think that you just need more opportunities to talk.
On Grammar:
1. Noun clause: what vs. how
You say "I do not know what I should replay." In this sentence, the verb is "reply," which is intransitive (no object). Therefore, you should use "how" because how describes manner (adverb). Ex--> I replied slowly. (How did I reply?). If you use "what," you need a verb with an object. Ex.--> I do not know what I should say (I said what?). Does this make sense?
2. much time--> a lot of time
Use "much" w/negative statements and questions; you can use "a lot of" for everything. On the other hand, if you mean "too much," you could use it instead.
Actually, for summer semester 2013 I have 2 main objectives: being able to say my opinions of subject and question, second objective understanding the logic to write in english.
ReplyDeleteI now have problems to express my opinions, frequently people don't understand this that I'm thinking, sometimes they take it on the wrong side. above in writing and speaking, but principally I'd like improving speaking because I've less time when I speak than When I write.
Second objective is to understanding english logic; writing is so different than speaking like people also is less tolerant with it. Every language has own style and logic expressing easily believing, thinking and academics reports. Not inly good grammar and vocabulary, it also is in american style.
Next It's a personal goal to enjoy, going to Las Vegas, if possible small trips around Montana and rafting and fishing.
Hi Andres,
DeleteI certainly intend to help you improve your writing by better understanding how to logically express your ideas in English. Written rhetorical styles vary in many languages, as you mentioned, so it's important to understand what is expected when expressing your ideas through formal writing in English. To be honest, maybe you could help me better understand how ideas are logically organized in formal Spanish writing at the end of semester. I've wondered about this for a long time.
On Grammar:
Your writing has lots of comma splices, which is common among Spanish speakers. Commas splices are when you put a comma at the end of a sentence instead of a period. Today's discussion on independent clauses and simple/compound/complex sentences should help you identify places where you should have a period instead of a comma. Here are two quick and informative sites on comma splices.
1. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/commasplice.htm
2. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/comma-splice.aspx
Let me know if I can answer any questions about this.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Josh!The summer semester must be a hot semester with hot comments!
ReplyDeleteFor me,the NO.1 goal is to improve my speaking and listening skills.Since this is the most important or ordinary skill that we can keep smooth communication with American and also my most weak field.In fact,i even couldn't understand what i was reading and speaking sometime.So what had confused me is which one could be driving wheel and another could be follower?When we talk about some topic,i have many words maybe accumulating as mountain but didn't know how to begin!
The second goal is to improve my writing skill.We often chat with somebody, but a clear and fine writing is necessary at the last of program or some formal situation.There should have three major steps:right English writing,professional English writing and elegant English writing.
I'm not sure i can complete all the goals just in these 9 weeks,but i want to know the right direction and suitable approach at least.
Hi Shumian,
DeleteYou’ve got great goals. Indeed, they are entirely appropriate for this class. You should have plenty of opportunities to speak both informally and formally in class discussions, presentations, and even (perhaps) debates. Blog writing is a perfect example of “English writing;” your first essay will provide good practice with more professional English writing; in your first formal A River Runs Through It response you may even get to try your hand at writing somewhat elegantly in English.
On Grammar:
1. Make sure you capitalize “I” in your blog response. This isn't entirely informal writing. You still want to use correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
2. Check your spacing. Make sure you have one space between each word and after each sentence.
3. There should have → there should be (“there is/are”).
This is Ayano's Week 1 Blog Response:
ReplyDeleteMy academic goals.
I'm poor at grammar and vocabulary so I want to improve these skills through summer semester. I sometimes make grammar mistakes so I'll study and I want native speaker to understand what did I say easily. Also, I want to get difficult vocabulary and idioms.
Moreover, I can understand daily conversation but it takes little bit long time to read and understand difficult essay or paper so I want to require reading skill and read quickly.
These all skills are connect to TOEFL and TOEIC. If I study and improve these skills, I can get higher score. In Japan, people and company emphasize qualifications so if I get high score in TOEFL or TOEIC test, it will helps to get job.
Hi Ayano,
DeleteI completely agree with you in that strengthening the skills you mentioned will help you improve your TOEFL and TOEIC scores. The question I often ask myself is whether students improve their scores on standardized tests like TOEFL better by studying for these tests or studying academic skills (reading, writing, vocabulary, etc.) and actual content. What do you think?
On Grammar:
1. what did I say easily. → This is a noun clause, so even though it looks like a question, the subject verb order is the same as a normal sentence, and we leave out the question word (did).
→ What I said easily.
2. Also, I want to get difficult vocabulary and idioms. → “get” doesn't collocate with “vocabulary.” → We say...to acquire difficult vocabulary.......
3. Check the form of the future tense in your final sentence.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
In the next 9 months, I wish - I would be able to perform a broad variety of oral communicative tasks with professional-working-proficiency level. - I would be able to write a cohesive, well-supported, organized essay with clear, thesis statement. I find these two goals real important, not only in my professional life, but in our everydays life. Though some think that we don’t need a usual argumentation to convince, but we are in a world where nothing is free. And arguing is a part of competition as well as, most of us, everyday’s professional task. At least, we have to report to what we do, some even need to defend or set up project. Therefore, these are the basic tools to reach such professional even life’s level.
ReplyDeleteHi Audace,
DeleteFormal argumentation is an important skill in our competitive, technology-filled world. I’ll add to that thought the idea that formal argumentation using the rhetorical style of the professional context in which you are studying or working is equally important. In our case, it is vital that we understand how to clearly state and support our opinion in a logical and rational way. I truly hope I can help everyone improve their ability to do this with the formal essays and formal presentations we work on this summer.
On Grammar:
1. I wish - I would be → You have two options here:
a. I would like to be able to...
or
b. I hope (that) I am able to...
2. Though some think that we don’t need a usual argumentation to convince, but we are in a world where nothing is free. → Note that you have two connecting words in this sentence (though and but). This is redundant. You can delete either one, though if you delete “but” and keep “though,”the emphasis changes to the independent clause.