Holly's Video

Hi Guys

This is the link to Holly's video ( the new edition ). You may see the video directly in the web page or hit the download button and save it for yourself.

Link : https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cd844sxg9uw5lp/5ABspring2013.m4v.

If you have any problem with the video, please let me know.

Best Regards

Dennis

Dear Students...

At the end of the semester, I always have conflicting feelings. On the one hand, I'm happy that I'm going to get some time off. On the other hand, I'm sad that we have to disband after building our very own little international community and finally getting truly at ease with each other. So, bittersweet, as I said on the video...

You all should feel very proud of yourselves. You are reading, writing, speaking, living, breathing, maybe even dreaming by now in English. This is quite an accomplishment and your levels of fluency are truly impressive. Each and every one of you has made progress. It's not easy to do what you're doing, but you're doing it. Some days better, some days worse, but you're doing it.

For those of you staying in Houston, please come and visit me at the LCC or email me (holly_cin@yahoo.com) or call (713-721-3460) to say hi. If you throw a party, invite me and I will try my best to come. Also, if you need anything while you are in Houston, and I can be of help, feel free to contact me. Former students often consult with me on their academic decisions as well as their parking tickets and baby questions! Should you have a legal issue, my husband is a good person to consult. If in the future you lose my contact information, you can always call the LCC office and they'll know how to reach me. At the very least, you can remember my last name. That's Cin. C-I-N. Like cinammon. Or cinema. Of course I hope you will remember more than my last name!

For those of you entering the university, I wish you tremendous success. It won't be easy but with hard work and determination you will achieve your goals. To be a successful student requires a good brain (which you all have) and a lot of hard work.

For those of you returning home (Francisco, others?), I wish you a safe and pleasant journey and I hope you continue to learn and to practice, and I hope to see you in your country one of these days soon.

Finally, I want to congratulate Karina and Maryam for being chosen as outstanding students. There were many very bright and hard working students in both classes so it was not easy to isolate the "most outstanding."

Thanks, 5A and 5B, for a really great semester. I have enjoyed not only teaching with you, but getting to know you and hanging out with you too. I will miss both classes a lot. I had fun with you guys practically every day.

Yours,
Holly

Picnic Stuff

Hi guys,

I need to know who is going to the picnic to Huntsville and what are you going to bring that day. Please let me know in order to avoid misunderstandings.

Please let me know ASAP or post something on the blog

Dennis

Take home reading test

Guys,
I have tests from the following people.

5A:
Maeva, Suliman, Talal, Ahmed, Abdul, Dennis, Karina, Igor, Hang, Jennifer, Francisco, Song, and Serena

(missing tests from Jinda, Essa, Rita, and Xiao)

5B:
Maryam, Fatimah, Monny, Phuong, Ibrahim, America, and Zhao

(missing tests from Suzan, Moath, Jean, Sam, Merry, Hamzah, Tim, Sara, and Kexin)


Please let me know if the above is incorrect.

Conference Schedule for 5B

Thursday in Greg's room

10:30:  Jean
10:40:  Phuong
10:50:  Monny
11:00:  Suzan
11:10:  America
11:20:  Fatima
11:30:  Merry
11:40:  Maryam
11:50:  Kexin
12:00:  Ibrahim
12:10:  Sam
12:20:  Zhao
12:30:  Tim
12:40:
12:50:

Sara, Moath, and Hamzah:  Will you be here for conferences?

Huntsville Field Trip - List - Contact Info

Hi guys

      This is the info about the field trip to Huntsville, is on April 24. The meeting to load the busses is at the UC at 8:30AM, we will leave at aprox 9AM. We will leave the park to return at campus at a pro 2:30PM and be back by 5PM.

      There is no cost for this trip. If you plan on driving separately , there will be a parking fee of $2 per person.

      Bring recreational equipment  such as footballs, soccer balls, etc.

      Canoes will be available to rent

      Swimming and hiking is also available

Once again ALCOHOL IS NOT ALLOWED


This is the list of things that we have to carry to the picnic. Holly & Team Saudi are in charge of the hamburgers and hotdogs. Please let me know want are you going to buy for the picnic and don't throw away the receipt, at the end we are going to need them to see how much money we need to pay to those who bought the food or things.

If you have any question please don't hesitate on contact me or Holly.

This is my number 832-205-07-63, to my email dennis@angeris.net , Facebook or Twitter (@dnis88)

Send me your pictures!

I will include them in the final version of the video for you.

Thank you to America and Phuoung for sending me pictures already.

Answers to practice reading exam

1. A  2. B  3.A  4.C  5.B   6.C   7.A   8. A    9.B  10. D
11. A  12. B  13. D  14. D  15. A  16. B  17. C  18. A  19. D  20. A

What you need to know...

1.  Tomorrow we will combine classes, most likely in 109.
8:30-10 a.m. with Greg
10-12:30 with me (reading test plus surprise)

2.  Bring your final folders, which should contain your tests and writing from the second half of the class (since midterm). For my class, that means listening tests and reading tests that you have. I realize that the purpose and tone test and the organizational patterns work was on line.

If you forget to bring your folder tomorrow, bring it to me or Greg on Monday before or after the writing sample. If you don't find us at the LCC, ask someone in the office to put your folder in our box.

3.  This is from the office:  Please update your cougarnet password. You'll need an updated password to register for next term.

4.  Field trip to Huntsville is next Wednesday. We need to know who is planning to go by LCC bus. Please let me know so we can get a good count and have enough spaces for everybody. You are also welcome to drive there if you wish.

5.  Your take-home reading test is due tomorrow.

Please send me pictures

If you have pictures from the party last night, from the picnic, or from during the semester, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!

Compass Test Tomorrow

Guys!

I want to wish you success on tomorrow's test.

Some motherly advice: It's VERY IMPORTANT to get enough sleep so that your mind will be quick and sharp tomorrow. PLEASE TURN OFF THIS BLOG. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER AND GO TO SLEEP BY 11 P.M. SO YOU WILL BE FRESH IN THE MORNING.

ALSO, make sure to eat a good breakfast so you'll be able to concentrate on the test.

Tomorrow night, you can relax and celebrate. You can look forward to a international delicious dinner:
1.  Spring rolls (Hang and Phuong)
2.  Arepas (America and Team Venezuela/Bolivia)
3.  Kebsa (Ahmed and Suliman)
4.  Kebab (a special treat from a former Turkish student)
5.  Salads
6.  Chocolate brownies (famous American dessert)

Your final videos (updated)

It's not a race, but Team China is definitely in the lead. Kexin, Sam, Vicky, Jinda, Xiao, Tim, and Zhao--great work! Serena is in too.

Team Vietnam--IN

Team Latin America--I received videos from America, Dennis, and Karina.

Team KSA--I have only received one video from Ibrahim, but I'm expecting work from Fatimah and Maryam, who have spoken with me.

Teamless students: Igor

If my numbers are correct, I'm at about 50% participation here. I hope this number will not correlate with the passing rate from 5A and 5B :(

Please let me know if you have not been accounted for above!

Smart kittens (they like to read)

Cooking for the party

Dear Students,

For the party Tuesday night, I'd love to have some food or drink represented from each country.

The only thing is that all of the cooking/preparation must be done at my home--and I have to discuss the ingredients with you--due to some religious restrictions I have when it comes to food.  So if you're interested in cooking, or just in helping, it would be great if you could come over to my house early on Tuesday to prepare.

Let me know!

Linguistic Intelligece?

Class tomorrow

We'll be combining classes tomorrow. We'll start out in the room next to mine.

8:30-11:30:  I'll be teaching. We'll have the lecture and listening test and we'll also discuss/work on argument, so bring your reading book. You don't need your listening book.

We might also watch the first part of the movie Holes, if we have time. I'm not sure yet. I hope so.

11:30-12:30:  Test with Greg.

Get your hearing checked for free (but also check out the use of statistics in this promotion)

Free Hearing Screenings offered at The University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic Department Communication Sciences and Disorders 713-743-0915 Did you know?  Thirty-six million Americans have hearing loss.  One in three developed their hearing loss as a result of exposure to noise.  Approximately 12% of all children ages 6-19 have noise-induced hearing loss.  Noise exposure is a known cause of permanent hearing loss.  How much is too much exposure?

Source of noise Length of exposure resulting in permanent hearing loss Rock concert; chain saw [110 dB] More than one minute Power tools; string trimmer More than 15 minutes Power mower; heavy city traffic Prolonged exposure

In recognition of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month, free hearing screenings will be held in May (for anyone 10 years or older). The University Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic: A United Way Facility invites you get your hearing screened. Screenings will take place every Friday in May from 8:30-10:30am and from 1:30-3:30pm. No appointment necessary. Screenings will be done on a first come first serve basis. The USLHC is located at Entrance 8 at 4505 Cullen Blvd.

Michele Leonard USLHC Receptionist University of Houston A Carnegie-designated Tier One Public Research University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders 100 Clinical Research Center Houston, TX 77204-6018 713-743-0915 (office) 713-743-2926 (fax) mmandeville@uh.edu

LCC Soccer Team News

Hi All,

So the soccer team is in the playoffs and we are one of the number 1 seeds. We have games this week-end on Saturday 4/13 at 2 PM. Should we win our first game, we will be playing again on Sunday 4/14 at 4 PM.

If we win both games this week-end we will be playing in the semi final next Friday 4/19 at 3 PM, where we should be playing much more formidable competition.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

Eriberto Calderon

GO EAGLES!!!

Extra reading help on townsendpress.net

For practice, I have opened up some exercises and tests on "argument" in "Ten Steps to Advancing Reading" (that's the book we used last term in level 6). This is great reading exercise for your brain!

Sound familiar at all?

The Teacher Bias Against Girls and Math

By KJ DELL'ANTONIA

Another discouraging research headline: Teachers Think White Females Lag Behind in Math.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found that high school math teachers rated the math abilities of their white female students lower than those of their white male peers, even when their grades and test scores were comparable. (The researchers say previous research has already documented a racial bias.)
In examining the data from a cohort of 15,000 students from their sophomore year of high school, into higher education and the work force, Catherine Riegle-Crumb found a “subtle” but “definitely present” tendency among high school teachers to deem their white female students less competent than white male students with similar grades and scores, and to consider them less comfortable in a particular math class, or to be less capable of advancing.
The bias “may very well be something they are not consciously aware of,” says Dr. Riegle-Crumb, but that doesn’t mean it’s without influence. How do we help our teenage girls combat that?

Bring your listening books tomorrow, and 5B, come on time or you'll miss an important part of the test

Please send me your pictures

Hi Guys,

If you've taken pictures this term, would you please send them to me (if they're good)? Maybe you have photos from our picnic, or from a Friday Fun Day?

If you're interested in how statistics can deceive, check out this powerpoint

http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~ricko/CSE3/Lie_with_Statistics.pdf

Attention UH applicants

Sam Long has asked me to provide him with the names of students who have applied to the University of Houston for Summer or Fall 2013.

If this is you, please let me know.

If the topic interests you...

More videos on BODY LANGUAGE (they're short)

1. This one is about aggressive body language:
http://vodpod.com/watch/3167407-how-to-read-body-language-examples-of-aggressive-body-language

2. This one is about the McCain/Obama debates (before the 2008 election). The expert evaluates their body language. You might find this interesting.
http://cnettv.cnet.com/obama-mccain-body-language/9742-1_53-50054885.html

3. And body language in the workplace...
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6250380n

4. The body language of FEAR:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438808_examples-insecure-body-language.html

5. OPEN body language:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438802_examples-open-body-language.html

6. The importance of eye contact:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438811_importance-eye-contact-body-language.html

7. How to flirt (show attention to the opposite sex):
http://www.ehow.com/video_4438796_flirt-body-language.html

Final schedule

Monday, April 8 (in the Call Lab):

Body Language video (part 1)

Facts and opinions part 1

HW: RS, pp. 286-291, read “Free and Uneasy” and answer the comprehension questions

Tuesday, April 9:

Facts and opinions, part 2

Body Language video (part 2)

HW:  RS, pp. 436-439, read the two articles and answer the comprehension check questions (for Thursday)

Wednesday, April 10:

Body language listening test

RS, argument, part one

Argument fallacies (from “Improving Skills”)

HW:  Townsendpress.net, chapter on argument

Thursday, April 11:

RS, argument, part two

ALE, chapter 8 lecture

Friday, April 12:

ALE, listening test

RS, bias

Monday: Vocabulary test Holes 36-50 plus reading questions

Tuesday:  Compass Test

Tuesday night:  Class party at my house

Thursday: Reading test on facts/opinions, bias, and arguments

Class tomorrow (Monday) in the Call Lab

8:30-10:20:  Greg's class
10:30-12:30:  My class
first half of my class--fact and opinion (bring your reading book)
second half--body language video/note taking

Help with infinitives

Infinitives from holly_cin

Help with Gerunds

Gerunds from holly_cin


Also, here is a video I made explaining gerunds with the above powerpoint:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ogfBsyCf5w   (part one)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf1d0Xs7dA  (part two) 
 

Grammar help with gerunds

Gerundslides from holly_cin

The purpose of these slides is to help you remember certain verbs and preposition combinations which are followed by gerunds. 

Some help with causative verbs

Causativeverbs from holly_cin

Since I was in Greg's class today, I thought I'd give you this powerpoint to help you out. 

Have a great weekend

We've got a lot going on in the next two weeks, so please work hard to keep up.

Homework:

--> 

DUE before MONDAY's class:

RS, pp. 280-281, vocabulary (exercises 2 and 3)

RS, pp. 304-309, read “Some Say Cop Videos Misleading” and answer the comprehension questions Also, underline the stated opinions, and explain why it’s an opinion in the opinion box. FOR Monday.

DUE SUNDAY NIGHT:

If you haven’t already done so, complete the tests on townsendpress.net (10 Steps to Improving relationships I and II, mastery tests I, II, and III—this is for a grade. I recommend you do the practice exercises as well). 

The following people have done none or nearly none of the townsendpress.net work which has been assigned this semester:

Suliman, Essa, Talal, Moath, Ahmed, Ibrahim, Jean, Rita, Monny, Jinda, Francisco, Hamzah, Tim, Xiao, Kexin, Zhao, and Sara

Congratulations. 

Note to these students:  If you don't pass the level on your own, I will not make an appeal for you to go to level 6.  Ask Jean and Suliman if a lawyer can win a case without evidence. Moreover, as written in my syllabus and explained early in the term, letters of recommendations will only be written for those students who are in good standing with the work in the class. My work includes the website and all blog assignments.

Finally, I have seen a close correlation between your performance on the reading website and your performance on reading tests. Those who are doing the work are improving in their reading skills. Those who are not doing the work are not. It's very simple. You don't have to be a genius to figure it out!

Final Presentation Videos

Final Presentations: Body Language, Touch, Space, and Artifacts in Your Culture

Prepare a 5-7 minute presentation on some aspect of body language, touch, space, AND/OR artifacts that we should be aware of if we visit your country. For example, regarding space, what is the proper space between people on a bus? At a bus stop? In the elevator? In the supermarket? Regarding touch, who can touch whom and how? Think same sex contact and think opposite sex contact.

Tell us what we can do, what we should do, and what we shouldn't do if we want to avoid trouble in your country. For example, I would tell you that if you visit Boston, don't wear a New York Yankees shirt or cap because the people in Boston consider the Yankees their enemies and they are very serious about sports, especially baseball. So New York Yankee shirts and caps would be ARTIFACTS to avoid if you're traveling to Boston if you want to avoid a fight.

You may also want to teach us the proper ETIQUETTE for a certain situation (weddings/funerals/parties/meeting your girlfriend's or boyfriend's parents for the first time/etc)

Please tell me what you're thinking about presenting before doing it just to check that you're "on the right track."

Be thoughtful. Be creative.
Remember to make an interesting introduction, a well-organized body, and conclude in a memorable way (not just "I'm done")!

This is an opportunity for you to teach the class about your country and culture from an angle that we don't often consider.

Because we won't have enough time for everyone to present live, I'm asking each of you to prepare a video for me and your classmates to view.

This video is due Monday, April 15th.

Blog Writing # 10: Responding to some readings about body language (due Monday)

1. How to end a date (notice the "closing gesture" that is suggested).
http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=5942&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=741573

2. Some elevator etiquette advice from an expert:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35755.asp

For this assignment, all you have to do is READ the 3 short articles above and post a comment about what's interesting, funny, or strange to you.

Elevator Etiquette

The Do's and Dont's in an elevator!

Blog Writing #9: Misunderstanding Body Language

Please tell us about a time where you misunderstood a message due to misreading some aspect of body language (gestures, posture, facial expression, tone of voice, space, or touch).

He gave me "the finger."

Thanks, Hamzah, for telling me about this.

Reading Body Language

Listen to this video and tell me what sounds familiar to you.

Work for Friday

RS, pp. 280-281, vocabulary (exercises 2 and 3)

RS, pp. 304-309, read “Some Say Cop Videos Misleading” and answer the comprehension questions Also, underline the stated opinions, and explain why its an opinion in the opinion box.

Holes vocab test 36-40 will be moved to next week.

See you tomorrow!

Hi Guys!

I'm really sorry about not coming back today. I boarded the flight at 6 a.m., and sat on the plane until 7 a.m., when the pilot announced from the cockpit that the plane was missing its radar (or something unbelievable like that) and that we had to de-plane (yes, that's a word). They put us all on another plane, but by the time we got off and on and they loaded the luggage and the plane got on the runway, it was about 9 a.m. So my plane didn't land in Houston until roughly 11 a.m.

There is an expression:  "Man plans; G-d laughs." So I guess I gave G-d a good laugh today. But I wasn't laughing ;)

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Please bring both books. We'll be discussing touch, space, and artifacts as well as facts and opinions. So its going to be a full day. Don't miss it.

On Friday, I'll be teaching everyone together for the first two hours in room 301 of the LCC bldg. (Greg is giving me "makeup time' from today). For the last two hours, we'll be having a Friday Fun Day:  Holes Edition. Get ready for some fun.