Friday, April 27, 2007

Dr. Sharla Jones' Presentation Materials

Thank you everyone for sticking around on Tuesday despite the all the confusion, and waiting for Dr. Jones. I apologize once again for not being able to be there.

I heard from several of you that the presentation was very informative. Dr. Jones was kind enough to provide copies of her materials from her presentation. These are now available on our WEB-CT course site, in a folder titled "Dr. Sharla Jones Presentation"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. Wright,

Indeed, Dr. Jones' presentation was an example of technology in action in the real world. She made it very clear several times to keep the objective in mind before even thinking of technology. An excellent point that ensures we do not adapt the learning to the fun toys we have, rather than the other way around!

Sorry you were delayed in Austin; however, it is an easy car trip if 35 wasn't a parking lot.

I attach the correspondance from ChenChen in a word document, as you requested. She is so cute, and I hope that we can maintain contact in the future.

Let me know if you would like to have this in a color-coded word document.

Carol

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:36:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Carol Costello" View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert

Subject: ChenChen and Yoga
To: "huihuihuohuo"
Dear ChenChen,

I am sorry to hear that you had an emotional reaction to the exam. Maybe now you have it back, and did not do as badly as you think? Your English is so good! It was a nightmare! I am so impressed by your colloquialisms. You sound like you have been around it most of your life. When did you begin your study of English? And did you have native speakers as teachers, as you do now?

Don't worry about the gap in our mail. I have been working like a field (Japanese "shigoto no oni) on a 40 slide presentation for the ESL teachers course concerning HOW to teach language. There is a lot of guesses, but few solid results. I don't know about you, but we were expected to work and do exercises in language classes, and not just sit around playing and not speaking the foreign language. Also, corrections were very important to clear up errors in expression. I guess I have a thick hide, because I survived and did not grow shy when it came to expressing myself, especially in a foreign tongue. What about you?

Please let me know how tall you are: I am 170 cm and weigh 108 pounds, or about 48 kilos, I think. Thank you so much for your lavish praise. Much of it is undeserved. I was born with an "Asian" body, and it is important for me to stay in shape. That means having good endurance and discipline. Hot yoga (see www.hotbodyyoga.com) is a great way of providing the body with strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and discipline. Although certain postures should not be done if someone has injuries or joint problems, most of the postures are very healthy. A great first step is to learn the postures, or at least some of them. This is best done with a teacher. Then go into the heat and humidity to sweat for one and one-half hours. It is very relaxing, and helps to calm the mind to go to the place of no-thought. This is what Buddha talked about, helping to inculcate mental discipline. Then one can learn to use this discipline in every day life.

The wonderful thing about yoga and meditation is that even though I am officially "old" on the outside, and on my documents, I feel so good inside. It is important in delivering a top performance every day, and interacting with others. Also maintaining a perspective on what is REALLY important.

When is your Labour Day? Wow, seven days off. I wish you could come to see me here in Texas. University is finished in early May, and my son is coming on May 10 to see his grandma (and Mom). The next weekend I go with my "boyfriend" to New Orleans to see my sister, and then back to San Antonio. I plan to take as many classes as possible in the first semester of summer school this year. Then I will go to Germany and Italy for three weeks.

Let me know what your plans are, dear Chen Chen,

Have a great day!!!

Carol

wrote:

Hi Carol,

I just finished my exam yesterday.It was a naghtmare.I'm araid I did not do quite well in that,though I've prepared for a long time. I'm a little upset and spent a whole day sleeping,to get over from my sadness. But Anyway,I'm OK now and I'm quite sorry that I haven't replied your E-mail for such a long time!!I have recieved your last E-mail but I didn't have any time to reply then. Please forgive me and if you like let's continue this form of communication,OK?

I saw your pictures------how could you look so young and so charming??And fashionable??And maitain such a wonderful figure!!!!I show them to my roommates and they cannot believe the one I'm talking to is such a beautiful lady~!Is it yoga do all the good to you?? If it is ,I must start to learn more and begin to practice!Do let me know more about yoga.

Could you give me some links to yoga because I can't open your blog?

Labour's Day is coming. We'll have a seven days off,so I'm thinking about having a trip to somewhere.But it's still not decided yet.
Do you have any plans for it??

Hope you a good holiday!
Yours,

Chen Chen




ÔÚ2007-04-09£¬"Carol Costello"
Dear Chen Chen,

Now it is my turn to talk to the lovely 20-something year old whose birthplace is the same as Kong Zi. Your pictures, both those taken by Dr. Wright, and the one you sent, show you to have the gift of gorgeous looks. My poor son, he will just have to find another girlfriend. I think I mentioned to you that he is 36, so he is a little older than you, right? By the way, his birthplace is Sasebo, Japan. I attach a couple of pictures from our vacation to where I lived for thirteen years--Germany. We took a vacation there last summer. I lived there from 1989-2002.

Isn't it interesting how sometimes something means very little to us, and then at a later time, it becomes very important, through experience and greater understanding. The great spiritual teachers like Buddha and Jesus have messages that may seem difficult or meaningless at a younger age, and now are very significant. This is one of the great pleasures of becoming older, and hopefully wiser.

Today is Easter, and we had Chinese food! My mom is 89, and in a wheelchair. My father died several years ago. We went to the Mencius group restaurant called Formosa Garden (as you know, that is the first western name for Taiwan, given by the Portuguese. It means Beautiful--like you!) There were five of us with Mom and me--a couple newly moved to Texas from New Jersey, and my friend, also named Carol.

I recently learned that one of the professors in Electrical Engineering, Dr. Huang, has parents in Xian. They are at the Polytechnic University. Is this the same University as yours?

Thanks so much for the picture of you and your friend standing in New York with the Brooklyn Bridge behind you. I used to live on Manhatten.

The translation of your name is very helpful. Spring and morning--both good times to study. Well personally, I love the outdoors, and studying is better for me when I can't go outside. In the morning I do a short yoga routine, have breakfast, and then, when I am not working at the university, study in my dining room. The table is always covered with books!

Carol in German means "the one who is free," and that pretty much describes my non-conventional approach to life. Costello is the name of my first husband, the father of my son. It comes probably from Italian and means "castle." It is easy to pronounce, isn't it?

I love your blog, although my computer cannot read the kanji. I did see the picture of your class and Dr. Wright's father. I noted that you had a lot of links to homosexual websites. I am sorry that you cannot open my blog. You would see a lot of links to horses, yoga, and language.

Although you may not be able to use SKYPE, go to www.skype.com and see if you can download the software. We can talk for free using the internet. But it is not necessary. If you have www.yahoo.com, we can also use their messaging service, if we are on line at the same time. It is a good way to exchange pictures.

Dear Chen Chen, tell me how you did on your tests. Is the pressure off you for a while? Is there anything I can do to help?

I send you a few pictures which I hope you enjoy.

Cheers,
Carol

huihuihuohuo wrote:
Dear Carol,

I'm so sorry that I had such a busy week and I just get time to check my E-mail and reply it.We are preparing for an examination,a test of our English.We'll lose our academic degree if we fail,so everyone is work hard on that(the test is in April).

It's great to hear from you!Ni hao!My name,the second chen,means "morning".Just because I was born in a chill morning,I gusee. But,"morning" do have some sigficance in chinese: there's an old saying that "The most important season of a year is spring;the most important time of a day is the morning!" I think that's because chinese people used to (and even now,at least I do)believe both of the spring and morning are the best time for studying.So my name tastes of the fresh air in the begining of a day.O, what about yours? I had a real hard time to spell your family name correct!Is it a Ameirican name? That's a very cool name.^-^

O,I have a boyfriend. It's such a pity that I lose the great opportunity to get to know a great guy! Thanks a lot for the trust you put on me! Otherwise,I don't believe you would introduce your own son to me. Anyway,I send a photo of me attached to this letter,for you to konw me better! This photo was taken when I was in America(I have forgotten where it is),and I'm the one on the left,the girl wearing long hair.The girl beside me is my best frined;we have known each other since we are babies that can not run.

I have changed my hair style lately. I don't konw why,sometimes I just got an impulse to do something whithout thinking too much. Spring is coming;everything is blooming. The air smells so~ good. I want a change. So, I had my hair cut. My boyfriend was shocked when he saw me. I'm delighted about my change;it makes me feel different.A new man starts form a new head^-^. Is it aslo spring in your town? Do you enjoy the season as I do? Hope you too can breathe the sweetness.

I can't open your blog! I tried and tried,but I just can't open it! I don't know why... I have a blog too;but that is in chinese and I'm afraid you may not be able to open it too. http://www.blogcn.com/u2/83/49/huihuihuohuo/index.html I set up this blog mainly to record my learning of English,so there are some passages about some beaituful english sentences in my mind. That may sound rather childish to you;please don't laught at me!

I can't believe you once worked in China!No wander you can write "wan an"to me in that postcard!I have never been to Taiwan before,but I'm longing to.I traveled in Japan for two months,so,that's a lot of places I think.But I cannot recall the names clearly now;however, I do have a clear remember of the visit to the Disney land. That's really a wonder land to me!

I'm glad to hear that you are interested in Kong Zi(You even know his chinese name!) I was born in his bornplace,so I was accustomed to his idea. But maybe just because I'm too close to him that I used to think nothing of him. Time went by, I grow up to see the wisdom of that ugly man. Now I respect him from the bottom of my heart.

I don't have Skype address and I know little of it;so I'm afraid we can't use that to communicate. Let's keep in touch.

Wish you a happy heart and a sweet dream tonight!

Yours,
Chen Chen


??2007-03-20??Carol Costello
Dear Chen Chen,

How very nice to get your mail! Ni hou, ni hou ma? Please teach me more Chinese (chu koku go). What does your name mean?

How nice that you speak so much about your parents. But don't you have a boy friend? Please send me a picture if you want an American boy friend. My son is 36, handsome, and still not married! He lives in San Francisco! I could set something up. . .

We have many interests in common--Kung Zi, Japan, Xian and the famous army, Chinese, world history, language, and I am sure the list will go on and on. I lived in Fukuoka, on Kyushu, in Japan. Where did you go to visit? I worked in Taiwan for a week in 2000.

I am delighted to be in contact with you and look forward to developing our friendship. I am taking a graduate degree in English as a Second Language because I have learned several languages, and have also taught many subjects, including language. At the University, I work as a proofreader and lecturer in the Electrical Engineering Department. One of my good friends in from Mainland China. I want to teach her to cook Italian food, as I believe that the preparation bears much in common with Chinese food, although the ingredients are different.

Your English is perfect, and you are a great communicator.

The little wollen table decoration is made by American Indians (who came from Mongolia long ago) with a typical design and colors. So it serves to unite our two continents. You can put it under a lamp, or just leave it out on a table for color and style.

My blog is www.sisicostello.blogspot.com. I would be thrilled if you read some of it and comment. Do you have a blog also?

Anyway, I will be pleased to report to Dr. Wright this evening in class that we have achieved contact. I also have a Skype address should you have the facilities to place Internet telephone calls.

I wish you a great day and thank you for your warm letter!

Carol

huihuihuohuo wrote:
Dear Carol,
Hi!
I'm James Wright's students. My name is Chen Chen(Female,20 years old). I'm very excited that through this program I got the chance to know you!
Here is some basic information about me:
I'm from a rather small city-Qufu, however I believe it is quite famous since it is the bornplace of the Confucious. Do you happen to know him? I've spent 18 years in Qufu, Shandong. (Shandong is a peninsula province in the east of China.) But now I'm in Xi'an, Shanxi. Another historic city. I have heard say that you have been in China;which cities have you been to? I'm curious.
In the postcard you say you can ride horses! How I envy you. I have only ridden an camel once. And my mather cried her heart out and my eyes were moist because both of us are afraid of the hight and frightened by the slippery back of that tall animal.
My mother works as a tax receiver(?), I don't know how to express that, you know what I mean, do you? An official in the goverment. My father is a doctor in history and he once was a history teacher(I began to fail my history courses since I was in primary school);he was sent to Japan for a couple of years(during those days my mother and I went to see him and stay in Japan for two months)so he also taught languge for years.Now he works in sending students abroad.
Too much talk abou my parents.
I'll let you know me more next time.
Tell me about you. I'm so glad to have a keypal.
Thank you so much for the beatiful gift! I like it a lot. But I just couldn't figure out what is that for. Could you tell me how can I put it into better use?
By the way ,another question, what is you blog's address exactly? I cannot find that in the internet.

With best wishes!!

Yours,
Chen Chen