Lebow's ENG 318 (Fall 2014)

ENG318 - Practical English Conversation BUFS - Fall 2014 Instructor: Jeff Lebow" Email: pufslebow@gmail.com

This is the class blog for Lebow's ENG318 Course.  This site will bed used to post materials and assignments related to our discussions and class activities.

Group Notes: ENG318-3  ENG318-4

Quizlets: ENG318-3  ENG318-4

Exit Chat Schedule Here
Stay Tuned to your Class Band for any updates

Handouts & Readings

Week#4: Domestic Abuse
Weeks#5: Friendship Readings & Links  

Week#6; Nutrition Readings
Week#7: TV & Movies

Week#10: Money Readings

Week#11: Stress Readings , Gender Handouts

Our Spectacular Final Conversations

End of the Semester Message

End of the Semester Message

from Jeff

December 21, 2014 

Dear ENG318 students

Your grades are now posted on the BUFS Website. As expected, because of the grade quota, I was not able to give everyone the grade I feel they actually deserve. Some of you will look at your grade and think, “I should have gotten a higher grade!”  I probably agree. If you have any questions or concerns about grades or anything else, please email as soon as possible at: pufslebow@gmail.com

Please know that regardless of what grade you received, I appreciate the hard work and positive attitude you showed as classes. Thank you for a great semester. I enjoyed our class time together and especially appreciate the bravery and creativity you showed in tackling the 'final spectacular’. I hope the course was useful and/or interesting for you as well.

Wishing you all a fun, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Jeff

P.S. I plan to continue experimenting with online language learning webcasts in February. I will send out an invitation when I begin and would welcome participation from any of you who are interested.

2014 Final Spectacular

ENG318 Homestretch Spectacular

Why: To boldly confront public speaking challenges now and in the future...

Components of our ENG318 Final

Part#1: Vocab Quiz:  5 points (4 quiz, 1 Quizlet study) [in class Week#15] Part#2: Final Conversation Project: 15 points  [online and in-class, Weeks#13~15] Online Talk Show  style discussion  or   In-class presentation and discussion Beforehand, post show prep materials on your blog. This should include a non-copied introduction, links to relevant media, and discussion questions/talking points Part#3:  Follow-up blog post   (5 points) [due within 48 hours of your Part#2 Conversation]             (reflection on the experience + additional comments on the topic) Part#4: Exit Chat w/ Jeff: 5 points (ungraded)  [via Hangout or face-to-face, after Part#3 is completed] *Participation Points (5 points) : Awarded for participating in your classmates’ shows and presentations

Part#2 Final Conversation Project Details

Assessment Criteria:
Framing the topic in an interesting way

• Introduce the topic, present some information or resources, and/or tell a personal story

Leading and/or participating in a meaning, authentic conversation

• Ask interesting questions, listen to responses, and go with the conversational flow

/Comments:

• DO NOT READ!!!! DO NOT READ!!!! DO NOT READ!!!!
• DO NOT PREPARE A SCRIPT and tell yourself YOU’LL JUST LOOK AT IT ONCE IN A WHILE.
• Prepare an outline and/or some talking points.
• Use earbuds, find a good wifi spot
• Guests students from elsewhere are welcome, including Mixed ENG318 participants
• Teachers may view, but participants will be mostly global peers.  Hopefully Jeff doesn’t speak much.
• Shows and presentations can begin as early as Week#13 if people are ready
• One hour classes, Week#13, and #14 will be prep meetings with Jeff

Possible Topics

• Job, Career Planning.  
• Addiction (alcoholism, smoking, gaming, etc)
• Education - homeschooling, dealing with the system, alternatives
• Cultural Identity - Who is a Korean/American?
• English learning tips and strategies
• Friendship, Love, Dating….
• Gender Identity
• Health
• Sports Talk
• Media (movies, tv, music)
• Other

Midterm Extravaganza

• Part#1 - (solo or with  a partner) 5 points, due Oct. 19
  Prepare a topic for an in-class discussion and post it on your blog. This should including some interesting materials related to the topic and discussion questions. If materials are in Korean, you’ll need to provide a translation or summary in English. There is a list of brainstormed topics here , but feel free to choose something else. Please do not copy and paste long articles. You can quote a sentence or two, but link to the full article.

• Part#2 (solo) 10 points, occurring Oct. 20~23
  A Google+ Hangout with Jeff. We will sign up for time slots in class. During the Hangout, we will first talk about your non-linear life timeline, entrance survey responses, blog posts, and anything else you'd like to discuss. Then we will talk about your in-class discussion topic and how to turn it into an interesting class activity.
  Make sure to find a spot that has strong enough wifi and is quiet without personal distractions. Please use a headset or ear buds if possible. When it’s time to start, I will contact you via the Hangout app.
  Google+ Hangout Guide here

Hangout Schedule Here

• Part#3 - 5 points, due Oct. 24 A Quizlet Workout (vocabulary practice)
  Make sure you have registered for a Quizlet Account (you can sign in with Gmail if you like) and joined the ENG318 Quizlet Class.   Quizlets: ENG318-3  ENG318-4
   On a computer, complete each of the following tasks:
  Flashcards, Learn, Speller, Test, and attempt to achieve a Scatter score of 20 seconds or less. Please make sure I can recognize your Quizlet username. You can edit that at: https://quizlet.com/settings ‘change your username’.

Weeks# 5/6 - Friendship & Midterm Preview

• Friendship Readings & Links 
• Nutrition Readings

Midterm Preview

• Part#1 - (solo or with  partner)
  Prepare a topic for an in-class discussion.  This should including some interesting materials related to the topic and discussion questions.  These will eventually be posted on your blog.
  List of brainstormed topics here (but feel free to choose something else)
   
• Part#2 (solo or with your Part#1 partner)
  A Google+ Hangout with Jeff. First, we will discuss your non-linear life timeline, Entrance Survey responses, blog posts, and anything else you'd like to discuss with me.  Then we will talk about your in-class discussion and how to turn it into an interesting class activity.
  Google+ Hangout Guide here

To Do:
- Bring your life timeline to our next class
- Make sure you have registered for a Quizlet Account (you can sign in with Gmail if you like) and joined the ENG318 Quizlet Class.
- Install the Hangout app on your phone and/or computer

Week#4

Pronunciation Resources
To practice the pronunciation activity we did in class.

New Assignment  (Due Sept. 28)

• Create a blog post.  This can be an introduction, a travel story, commentary on a topic of interest or anything else you would like to post. Try to be authentically you, but professional.  Excellent example from Grace. 

Old Assignments

• If you haven't already join the class BAND, please do so.
  Install the Band App - Android Apple
  Access Codes
  ENG318-03 Access Code:    6460    USED
  ENG318-04 Access Code:    6925   ODDS
• If you haven't already done so, create an English Blog:  (you can be anonymous if you want)
  Blogger: To do so, go to Blogger.com , log in with your gmail address and click 'create blog'. More information at the Blogger Guide
  
  When you've created your blog, email the URL of your blog to Jeff (pufslebow@gmail.com) or post it in the Band.
  
  Please adjust your blog settings to English.  You might also want to change your blog's timezone.

How to adjust widths for Blogger templates

Posting Video to your Blogger Blog

Week#3 - Planning for Discussion Streams

COURSE GOALS

• Have fun speaking English
• Improve your language skills in general
• Practice likely usages of English (professionally and otherwise)
• Help you pursue your desired path (career related or otherwise)

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Based on input from your entrance surveys, most topics of interest fall into these categories...

Discussion  Streams

• Health, Nutrition, Exercise 
• Media - TV, Movies, Music Books 
• Sports & Recreation 
• Social - Love, Dating, Friendship 
• Current Events - News, Social/political issues 
• Beauty, Appearance, Fashion

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TO CONTEMPLATE

21st Century Skills

• Building your reputation, Shaping your 'brand'
• Content Production
• Adaptability
• Interpersonal and intercultural skills
  
  Examples:  양띵  (wikipedia) ,  Michelle Phan  YT , Bethany ,
  Pewdiepie,  How my blog got me my full time job, 

Confidence = Competence + Experience

To achieve the course goals, we will do…

• In class discussions - fun, friendly, relaxed practice opportunities
• Virtual Hangouts:  value in recordings: post-discussion analysis, presentation style
• Hangouts on Air: same as above + interact with a real audience
• Individual blogs - post materials and reflections related to topics of interest + build your online reputation

Possible Ongoing discussions/shows

• Fan Shows (BBT Club, Harry Potter, Sherlock)
• Kpop This Week
• International News Weekly
• Sports Update
• Dear 선배
• Debate Club (e.g. should the grade quota system be banned, should cigarette taxes be raised)
• NBA News

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TO DO

• Install the Band App - Android Apple
  Join Your Class Band
  ENG318-03 Access Code:    6460    USED
  ENG318-04 Access Code:    1582   COLTON
• Create an English Blog:  (you can be anonymous if you want)
  Blogger: To do so, go to Blogger.com , log in with your gmail address and click 'create blog'. More information at the Blogger Guide
  
  When you've created your blog, email the URL of your blog to Jeff (pufslebow@gmail.com) or post it in the Band.
  
  Please adjust your blog settings to English.  You might also want to change your blog's timezone.