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Jewels
Jan 29, 2015 10:47:25 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Jan 29, 2015 10:47:25 GMT 9
Please introduce yourself.
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Jewels
Jan 29, 2015 17:10:09 GMT 9
via mobile
Post by Jewels on Jan 29, 2015 17:10:09 GMT 9
Hello, I am Jewels from India. I would like to briefly introduce myself. I am an eighteen year old animal lover and enjoy reading fiction. My other interests include playing several indoor and outdoor sports, experimenting with different cuisines as well as reading up on as much trivia as I can get my hands on!
I have never travelled to Japan, or lived in a different country alone, so I am excited as well as nervous at the thought of my first semester at Soka University. Regardless, I am really glad to be a part of this journey at FILA and look forward to meeting everyone in Japan this March.
Cheers!
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Jewels
Feb 1, 2015 21:09:12 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Feb 1, 2015 21:09:12 GMT 9
Dear Jewels, Welcome to the FILA message board and thank you for making your first post. Is there a particular animal you like? Do you like to play sports or watch sports or both? Since you experiment with different cuisines would you be interested in learning how to cook Japanese food? I'm looking forward to reading your weekly reports.
Sincerely,
Miyagi H
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Jewels
Feb 3, 2015 2:04:34 GMT 9
Post by jewels on Feb 3, 2015 2:04:34 GMT 9
Dear Mr. Miyagi, Thank you for replying to my post. Since cats and dogs are the two kinds of animals I have mostly interacted with, they top my list of members of the animal kingdom I enjoy spending time with. Honestly, I would rather play a sport than watch it, as it doesn't contribute to the adrenalin rush it gives me, which is what I enjoy the most. I would definitely like to learn how to cook Japanese food, and look forward to it when I arrive, even though I prefer eating food than cooking it! I have started on my daily assignments, and rather enjoy each of them, it gives me an opportunity to fine tune my English skills as well as learn a whole lot.
Thanking you, Jewels.
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Jewels
Feb 3, 2015 9:30:02 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Feb 3, 2015 9:30:02 GMT 9
Hi Jewels, Great to hear that you enjoy playing sports. It's also great to hear that you enjoy Japanese food. I'm sure your classmates would love to have a cooking party with you. I'm looking foward to reading your weekly report.
Sincerely,
Miyagi H
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Jewels
Feb 10, 2015 5:07:26 GMT 9
Post by jewels on Feb 10, 2015 5:07:26 GMT 9
Dear Mr. Miyagi,
I apologise for posting my report late. This week was interesting as I was able to understand the different ways in which each of the assignments were benefitting me and how I could learn from it.
Vocabulary: I stuck to the assigned 5 words per day assignment and made 25 vocabulary cards this week. Although I knew all the words and their uses in different sentences via different forms, I attempted to define each word I came across and simultaneously checked its meaning in the dictionary. I made a vocubary card for those words that I didn't know the word to word definition for.
Reading: This week I read a thirteen scene play called 'Tughlaq' by the Indian playwright Girish Karnad that described the turbulent rule under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi. This was an extremely interesting play as it portrayed the duality in the personality of Sultan through his seemingly contrasting ideologies. In one respect he displays a sense of idealism in his thoughts, words and actions and yet is bound by his traditionalism in regard to his ancestors and expectation as a leader. This duality seems to be the main cause for his downfall. In a way, it describes the complexity of modern political systems, where idealistic thoughts get converted to corrupt and manipulative systems in thirst for support and power.
Listening: My favourite part of this assignment was listening to an interesting TED talk by Suzanne Talhouk called 'Don't kill your language'. She laid an emphasis on the importance of protecting and preserving our national language. She began with a very practical reason; we can only master other languages once we master our own mother tongue. She described how nowadays, most people face a very common issue when extended usage of our own languages makes us seem ignorant and uncivilised to other people. Not only is it important to get rid of this bias, we must also realise that it is quite the opposite. Developing countries now find an increasing need to hold on to their languages as it if was sacred as it provides them with a sense of identity. People too are not exempted from relationship of their language and their identity. Our languages are not limited to words and conversations. They convey memories, emotions, feelings, thought processes, and the various stages in our lives. Therefore, she concludes by saying that it is not wrong to adopt words from other languages, as long as we do not give up on our duty to preserving our own.
Quick Writes: I wrote 5 quick writes this week. I started off with 196 words and ended with 290. Not only did I find myself writing faster, I was also thinking faster. Although my speed depended on the specific topic I was writing on, I have now started thinking about what I am going to write before I start. I hope to exceed 300 words by the end of this new week.
Thanking you, Jewels.
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Jewels
Feb 10, 2015 10:22:14 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Feb 10, 2015 10:22:14 GMT 9
Hi Jewels, Thank you for posting your weekly report.
Vocabulary: Yes, after learning the words its a good idea to go deeper into the meaning of words.
Reading: Very interesting. Thank you for sharing about this play. I believe the conflict between idealism and traditionalism continues to exist in many different cultures. This was definately true Japan was going through modernization and
Listening: Yes, some linguists believe languages guide how we think and therefore multiple languages help us to think in multiple ways. Preserving your language is good but don't let that hinder you from learning.
Writing: Wow! That' a 100 word improvement! That's fantastic! Great!
Great job Jewels! Please try to post on time next week.
Sincerely,
Miyagi H
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Jewels
Feb 16, 2015 14:36:21 GMT 9
Post by jewels on Feb 16, 2015 14:36:21 GMT 9
Dear Mr. Miyagi,
Here is my weekly report:
Vocabulary: I completed 25 vocabulary cards this week. I went over last weeks words as well as a form of revision.
Reading: I read an interesting book this week called "Dead Famous: Roald Dahl and his Chocolate Factory" by Andrew Donkin. It was a look into the life of Roald Dahl right from his childhood to the day he died. The book on the whole was funny and witty and used cartoons to portray different events in his life. At the same time, it shows light on his versatility and fun loving nature. He held several occupations before he became a full time writer which included being a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, a boxing champion during his school days, and an inventor! He was one of the men involved in the creation of a valve known as the Wade-Dahl-Till or WDT valve that is used to cure hydrocephalus, a condition his new born Theo Dahl suffered from. Not only was he a master prankster, his books also featured characters with the same traits he possessed. This is an amazing book for someone who loves his work and is looking for a funny book that is difficult to put down.
Listening: This week I heard a TED talk by Pico Iyer called "The Art of Stillness". This was an extremely simplistic yet beautiful explanation of how we can become happy in our busy lives; just by sitting still. It helps us become more appreciative and attentive to our environment, make sense of the past and the future, and understand what moves each of us the most. It is a luxury nowadays, to isolate ourselves once in a while and let go of exhaustion and connect to our true selves. He lays emphasis on how making a living and making a life are two completely different things. The most important part of this talk according to me, was when he very accurately said that so much of our lives happens in our heads, whether it is our memory, imagination, interpretations or speculations. Therefore, if we wanted to change our lives, we need to change the way we think. Regarding the listening assignments, I have now started taking quick notes while I listen, so I can organise my thoughts better while writing the report.
Writing: I wrote 5 quick writes this week and my word count increased from 270 to 318 words. I hope to cross 350 by next week.
Thanking you, Jewels.
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Jewels
Feb 18, 2015 11:42:36 GMT 9
Post by malcolm on Feb 18, 2015 11:42:36 GMT 9
Hi Jewels!
This is Malcolm, one of the FILA English teachers.
Good job this week on continuing to work on your English skills.
Twenty-five new word, great! Have you used any of them yet? Try using the new words that you learn each week when you write posts on this board or any time you speak or write in daily life. It may seem strange at first, but it does help you remember them. Maybe you have heard the phrase, "Use it or lose it." Using the words regularly with help you to remember them and keep them in your long-term memory. Then you can say with certainty that you have learned them. What was the most interesting word you studied this week?
Sounds like an interesting book. What was the impetus that pushed him to become a full-time writer?
It is true that modern life is busy or we fill it up so that we are busy all the time. How are you changing the way you think?
Good job with the Quick Writes! Are you writing by hand or typing. Try switching to see if you are consistent in both styles.
Keep up the good work!
Malcolm
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Jewels
Feb 23, 2015 22:58:27 GMT 9
Post by jewels on Feb 23, 2015 22:58:27 GMT 9
Hello!
Here is my weekly report:
Vocabulary: I made 25 vocabulary cards this week. Strangely enough, the most interesting word I learnt was precipitation. I learnt that it can also be used to mean "acting suddenly or harshly". I look forward to learning alternate colloquial meanings for the words I learn.
Reading: This week I read a couple of short stories by O Henry. The most interesting stories from my reading list include "The Last Leaf", "The Purple Dress", The Gift of the Magi" and "Memoirs of a Yellow Dog". I personally believe O Henry is one of the most gifted writers whose works I have had the pleasure of reading. His stories are so simple and common, yet capable of moving the reader to tears. He had mastered the art of understanding and relaying the human emotion into his stories and therefore touched each individual in a unique manner. "The Last Leaf" is one such exceptional story that shows, even if you make little efforts, you have the ability to improve someone's life. It portrays greatness as well as the power of the human will, in influencing the way we live. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this week.
Listening: My favourite talk this week was a TED talk by Lesley Hazleton called "The Doubt Essential to Faith". She was a biographer that documented the life of Muhammed and the events that took place when Muhammed received the revelation of the Kuran on a mountainside outside Mecca. She compares what actually happened in the earliest records to how Muslim fundamentalists interpret the same incident. According to her sources, Muhammed didn't experience any elation, ecstasy or a sense of a fore-ordained role as the messenger of God. Instead, he was absolutely convinced that it was his own mind that tricked him, or that he was hallucinating. This sort of reaction, that of fear, is in fact the most sane response that could be expected from a human. However, most Muslim radicals try to ignore this fact and pretend as if he he never doubted God or despaired. This sort of idealism, or want of perfection causes these radicals to remain intolerant to human imperfection. Hazleton in her talk rubbishes the idealism of perfection and explains how doubt is in fact essential to faith. Real faith has no easy answers and involves a continuous struggle and questioning of what we think we know. If we abolish all doubt, what is left behind is heartless conviction, leaving us as mere believers with no questions, only answers. In fact, extremist militants do not belong to any particular religion and form a cult of their own, replacing faith with fanaticism thereby confusing the two.
Writing: I wrote 5 quick writes this week and my word count increased to 346 words. However, my average number of words revolved around 300. Next week, I plan to switch to typing and improve my speed in the same.
Thanking you, Jewels.
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Jewels
Feb 28, 2015 9:19:24 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Feb 28, 2015 9:19:24 GMT 9
Hi Jewels, Great job on your weekly report. Your report is the type of report we want our students post. You have details, explanations, and impressions. Excellent! Vocabulary: Great work making 25 vocabulary cards. Words can have multiple meanings depending on how they are used. example: Fudamentalism can precipitate from a single speech. Reading: I love the stories by O Henry. Did you know that his mother died of tuberculosis? I think this influenced him in writing the story of The Last Leaf. For his bio please read here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._HenryListening: Yes, in FILA we want you to learn to think critically and have some doubt which leads to questioning. I had a chance to live in the Middle East and I found many who followed fanaticism were the poor, the hungry, and the uneducated. Hopefully we can change this cycle and help people see the benefits of struggling through questioning. Jewels, the world needs global leaders who understand this. Great job and thank you for sharing this TED talk. Writing: Great job getting to 346 words. I'm looking forward to reading how you do with the quick types. Sincerely, Miyagi H
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Jewels
Mar 4, 2015 4:17:48 GMT 9
Post by jewels on Mar 4, 2015 4:17:48 GMT 9
Hello!
Here is my weekly report:
Vocabulary: As usual, I made 25 vocabulary cards this week. I went over the words from the first two weeks as well. It was really interesting to know that even something as short as 'sub' can be used in such varied forms as prefixes and abbreviations, depending on the country of its use.
Reading: This week, I took a trip down memory lane by re-reading one of my favourite children's classics, 'Matilda'; and like every single time, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Roald Dahl is an even more interesting person through his books than what he is portrayed as in his biographies. He truly makes writing seem like such an amazing profession, full of wonder and magic and yet brings us to realise that it his pure unadulterated genius that makes it so. Till date, his stories are capable of transporting children and adults alike into his world, where events were over emphasised and humorous, but still had an instrinsic value embedded deep within it. 'Matilda' is one such story that is extremely close to my heart. Even though my life has been no where similar to hers, I lived that part of her life in the book. I personally felt frustrated with her parents for being "those adults" that felt that she was insignificant, and felt giddy at the thought of her frightening the terror that was the Trunchbull. Each and every character plays an important role and is unique, especially Matilda. She is extremely gifted, yet is like any other child of her age. She is special, and at the same time completely normal. Not only is she kind and respectful, she is a force as an individual. She will always be an unintelligible character for me. The different relationships between characters have been so beautifully portrayed, that 'Matilda' is truly a work of art in children's literature.
Listening: One of the talks I heard this week was "The year I was homeless" a TED talk by Becky Blanton. The only reason I wanted to hear it was because the title intrigued me. Usually, TED talks that relate people's experiences end with a value or an insight that the speaker is left with after that particular event in his or her life, and in most cases I try to guess what it is. This time however, I was at a loss. The speaker is an American writer and journalist who, after her father's death decided to quit her job as a newspaper editor and travel by camping in a van. Initially, the trip helped her relax and grieve, but it later led to anger and depression. Even her freelance job fell through and she found herself unable to afford an apartment. She was living in the van, travelling through extreme weather conditions of the heat and the cold unable to sleep, eat or even bathe. Through this she realised that society equates living in a permanent structure with having value as a person. Even though millions of people have no stable homes, and travel from work to their vehicles, they are continually criminalised and stigmatised. A person's identity is not determined by where they live or sleep, or what situations they are currently going through. This is also a kind of prejudice we have and one of the million things we discriminate against other people for. Even though Becky was a working homeless person, her identity was overshadowed by her status as a homeless person given to her by society. Homelessness is an attitude not a lifestyle. Despite being homeless, she was still the same person with the same integrity and set of values as before. This trend of ignorance continues throughout society and is inflicted on the poor, the disabled, and the downtrodden. However, as individuals, these negative perceptions that society has impacts our lives on a fundamental level only if we let it. After reading one of her earlier works that left her in tears, Becky began to write again, and slowly her life went back to normal. Her past had left a glimmer of hope for her future and it changed her life. Another thing that I took back from the talk was that hope can truly be a beacon for those who are lost. As she says "The human spirit can overcome anything if it has hope". It is important to have hope in oneself as well as others, to truly help human growth.
Writing: This week I switched over to typing. I typed five quick writes, and I was surprised to find that I typed faster than I wrote. I have never typed to a speed limit before, so this was a new experience. My word count started off as 354 words and had quickly jumped to 449 words by the last day. I am excited to discover this and will try to surpass my current word count.
Thanking you, Jewels.
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Jewels
Mar 5, 2015 13:12:20 GMT 9
Post by Admin on Mar 5, 2015 13:12:20 GMT 9
Great work Jewels!
Miyagi H
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