No dust

my ESL 114 class

2010-04-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

If possible, we call the English we learn in China as ESL, English as a second language. Usually we have four parts, listening, speaking, reading and writing, which go hand in hand. However, I just have to talk about writing, exactly academic writing here.
Academic writing in English has a lot of differences from that in Chinese. We did not use to the pattern of "thesis statement-body paragraph-conclusion", which is the general styles of writing in English. Though I learned the grammar about the articles, I still found problems in writing, which was solved in the class. And I knew that whether a comma appears in a certain sentence make a big difference. I also got idea about the importance of citation in writing (Although I am not used to). OK, maybe I am much better at writing in English and searching for information in this language.
I think I have to thank you, Joy. It is really nice to meet you in my new school. And thanks for the classes and all the things you did for us. And also to my classmates.

What can I do with my knowledge about math?

2010-04-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

I think I have talked about a similar problem with my college mates in SCU. We get the conclusion that math is everywhere. Yes, definitely. But how can we deal with living problems with what we get from class?
Once I also discussed the differences between teaching in China and in US, with the former more theoretical while the latter more practical. For instance, if we want to give a formula that P(E/F)=P(EF)/P(F) (the conditional probability is the quotient of the probability that both events happen and the conditional event happens), we usually get the exact explanation in a Chinese math textbook while we can see some examples in a American one. It suddenly comes to my mind that the father of one of my classmates in high school works in the casino in Las Vegas, and that he is a math major now. OK, suppose A is a student in math, then we get the conclusion that he will be a worker in a casino. It must be a false statement in math, but it seems that reasonable in reality.
I learn what blackjack means and know the five-hand deal, which are not something to that I could access in China. We do the problem like “ sleeping beauty problem”, “ the dating problem” and “ the winning strategy”. I am being in love with the questions asked us to compute how to maximize the probability when we bet with someone. Once I get a job to flip coins in order to make them all back up, which difficult me for I cannot get those many coins to do the experience. I had to draw pictures to present coins. Wow, I got ten papers full of money!

Gradually, I get used to look for more practical problems to a certain equation, from the Internet and my previous books. Google, Baidu, Wikipedia are much more familiar to me now. To the definition of 90 children, I am totally one of that generation girls. I am also used to talk about questions and something that confuses me in class or in life. I opened a window to see the TV series Lizzie McGuire and heard Gordo saying” what! I am a blackjack dealer?” I was feeling that good to be here.

Oh, once more, I have to bet against Alice to win money for the professor.

a BIG qustion

2010-03-20T07:48:00.001-07:00

Whenever I am free of homework or have nothing to do, I begin to think about the big question why we exist in space & time. I remembered talking the issue with my dad, my politics teacher and a couple of friends.
I was quite a little girl when I came to my dad with this question. Dad pretended to think for a while and answered me, ‘Well, it is really a huge problem. Before we go to this one, we should think about what the life is, which comes after the question how evolution works…’ I ran from him.
My politics teacher in high school is a wise woman. She taught us to not only think what is going on now, but also to image what we are going to do. To this question, in her words, there is no answer, or any response is the answer.
The question has been with me for many years and I was more curious to the right answer for me after I entered the college. This is a period of time I questioned myself and questioned what my future is like. I was unsure about my decision to choose my major as math, which seems not the right thing for a girl. I had 17 hours in math a week, 20 hours learning by myself. I had no idea what I could do with my knowledge. My mom thought I was silly since I bought her a pair of socks which turned out to be different in color. My hair began to drop and some turned white. Once again, I continued to consider this question carefully.
I still went to classes every day and finished assignments every week. But the question never disappeared. Gradually I became used to the content we learned even though it was too hard for undergraduate students, and I tried to be accustomed to the way we learned new things. I also went to many activities and met a lot of friends. It seemed that I was much clear about my goal and I felt myself fulfilled. No matter what I do, no matter where I am, no matter what kind of people I am with, I am sure where my destination is.
When someone asked me why I decided to transfer while I can find a good job and live a high standard life in China, I told them it is very important to make sure what you are doing and what you are going to do.

New experience in academic area

2010-03-12T11:01:00.000-08:00

Before I came to the new land that I had never been, Mom said that it took a certain time to adapt the new environment, both academically and socially. Well, it is definitely true. Every time I saw something different, good or bad or something totally beyond my imagination, I called my mom and told her what I experienced. Mom’s answer is all the same “oh, good, you are growing.” Yes, Mom is always true since she has experienced much more than I.
I had the experience to decide all the courses I want to take by myself, which is different from what I had in SCU, where I could only decide few of them. I am also free to drop any class that is not quite suitable for me. Oh, I dropped AST 210 before I took the class for it conflicted the time with MATH 348, one of the major requirements. I dropped PHYS 419 after I went to the first class for the professor warned us it was a writing class. I also dropped GER 101, which I had been to the class twice but found it not a good time for me to start the third language. I dropped MATH 535, which is a graduate math course (yes, it also took me a second more to register for that class). The last class (I really hope that is the last ever this semester) I dropped so far is CWL114. Literature class is not a good choice for international student for the first semester. I told me friends my amazing class dropping experience but only got a cold response that almost everyone does so in their first time. Well, I am nobody different. I just have a strange schedule now.
I went to an advisor to ask whether I could register for MATH 299 for I want to do more maths. She asked if I dropped MATH 241(it seems true what my friends said that many students do the same thing), to which my answer was no. Then she wondered what math courses I took now. I told her and got the reply that I did not have to take that course since I had one more advanced course. I was so down. But she gave me another choice to ask a math professor to instruct me on independent study. I was also so glad that my professor of MATH 461 consent it immediately. That means I have the chance to do what I want to about math. Awesome! Today I went to the computing applications building to overload one more credit hour to be ready to register for the new, excellent course.

Abortion

2010-03-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

Opinion: Abortion should be eligle.
Support 1: Some families can not afford an unexpected baby.
Support 2: Some fathers and moms are not ready to have a baby, which is bad for both the baby and the parents if the baby is going to be born.
Support 3: There are teenage mothers or some mothers they do not want to give birth to a baby whom they have no love for.

outline

2010-03-03T18:00:00.001-08:00

Thesis statement
There are many differences between American and Chinese TV series, especially in the way of organization and contents.
1st topic sentence:
We usually can get the idea of American series from the very beginning. Chinese series generally take the first several hours introducing the background of the series to the audience.
Supporting details:
In the Greek, the conflicts between Casey and Rebeca, Cappie and Evan, Rusty and the new school are so apparent since the actors and actresses first appear. In some Chinese series, such as , the first episode tells us the living condition of the heroine, where she lives, what she does after graduates, how her mother urges her to get a new job in the hospital, and the second episode describes the growing process of the hero. I did not get the idea that it is a romance between a doctor and a nurse until they finally meet in the 4th episode.
2nd topic sentence:
Most of the American series are long, which gives a story of many years and many things happening while the Chinese ones are mainly talking about one story.
Supporting details:
In the Gossip Girls, we see the several short period of Serena, from the first time she comes back to school and exposes the secrets why she escaped, what happens to her previous best friends Blair, after which her new boyfriend Dan appears bringing the past of Serena’s mother, which leads to their break-up, how she finds a new boyfriend, and boyfriend one, two, three.
In most Chinese series, there are only one story, even in a long TV series like Princess Huanzhu which has three seasons, the writer tells how a princess whose existence is not known by her father finally finds her family and true love. Chinese series are more like movies with long descriptions of unimportant details.
3rd topic sentence:
Most American TV series are broadcast before finished writing and usually writes to the audience’s the reflection while the Chinese are broadcast only after the shooting ends.
Supporting details:
In the Prison breaker, we waited so long for the next episode.
4th topic sentence:
Most Americans are more willing to pay attention to some superhero, and Chinese are taught we can achieve the success only after we work together.
Supporting details:
There are many series like Superman and this kind.
Conclusion:
We can see a lot of differences between American TV series and Chinese TV series from the making and broadcasting.

2010-03-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

To compare the picture on the left with the picture on the right, they are both clock with the position on the edge of an object. However, the clock on the left is located on a tree while the clock on the right is placed on a desk. Moreover, they are curved in the same shape and showing the same time. To contrast the difference between them, they are made of different materials. Still, the clock on the right is broken whereas the clock on the left is not.

outline

2010-02-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

Thesis statement:
There are many bad effects of the overuse of PC, and here are the three most important ones: (1) health, both of physical and mental, (2) the skill of language goes backward

1st Topic sentence:
The most significant result of the overuse of personal computer is the increasing of diseases, such as decreased vision, obesity, mouse hand and some cancers because of radiation.
Supporting details:
This hurts our sights a lot when facing computers too long. As the data show, the number of sight problems caused by computer is 10 times more than other reasons.
The eating habits change when we spend a lot of time with computers.
When being used to push bottoms, we may become mouse hands.
Computers also release radiation, which causes bad diseases.

2nd Topic sentence:
Except for the physical diseases, the longtime of using computers will also results in some sever mental problems like sleeplessness and nervous tensions.
Supporting details:
Most of the computer-addicted people have a day and night reversed schedule, which influences their sleeping quality.
As we live in a high speed-moving environment, the stress of competition makes people nervous, which is more apparent in Internet world with the highest velocity of development.

3rd Topic sentence:
With the help of the developed technology, our basic skills of using languages decrease.
Supporting details:
My mom once said because she always composed with the software word, which helps her find the spelling mistakes or writes the right words for her. This leads to her disability of using her native language.
Also, when we talk with someone by computer, we do not speak out, which affects our speaking abilities.

Conclusion
The bad effects of using PC too much reflect in both physical and mental health and the backward of language skills, which shows that people are back-socialized.

Harbeby, welcome to US

2010-02-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

I reviewed the classic TV series < Friends>, which was popular during the last two decades and which reminded me of my days with my best friends in SCU less than two years before.
Well, I have to commit that our life is not that like the way Jennifer, Cox or Mathew acted in their episodes. But we do have a lot of similarities. We love each other ,yes, love and we tried to do the best to get our goals and helped others. We shared a lot of things and we are just that, born friends.
It was just two of us who joined in the debating team of our college, when it was not attractive and people thought we were silly to do such things. We ignored all those comments and enjoyed the days talking and joking. Then the last of us was interested in that, and she became one of us. When I realized that we were in a big group, the number of members has been the largest ever. In a school that almost everyone only concentrated in his or her own stuffs, it was really nice to have someone who have the same habits as you and who can accompany you wherever you go.
I still remember the topic of the first match to College of Business Administration. It is about the gossip. Even though Chengming, one of us was not into that topic, who was quite embarrassed, we have a lot of fun talking and discussing. I have to admit that only in that time I was totally relaxing. It is a good tie to connect most of girls, and we are just that ordinary. We also knew a lot of other guys in the group. I felt great about it, which was the first time I had that feeling since I came to this university.
We furthered our friendship to life long relationship. We designed our futures when others playing important roles. We chat longer and longer; we never hide our secrets for we know these are reliable friends; we pursued one to go for her love; we met others’ boyfriend and joined the plan for their wedding.
All in all, I wrote today to welcome your coming to US, though you live far away from me. We are never to be separated. I am here waiting for you. Remember, I do my best to realize our dreams. How about you?

a big question

2010-02-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

Feb Dance

2010-02-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

It is still a quarter before the dance begins when we are seated. I take a general glance at the hall, surprised to see there are only several lights on the stage, which is quite different from the dance concerts I have ever seen. I am waiting for something special.

The dancers appear in white, dressing themselves loose and comfortable, just as daily customs. There are no tough actions. Everyone stretches and curves as s/he does all the time. They stand up and lie down the way they do every morning and night. It seems that the performers care less about what others are doing, but it is that harmonious. Music is not a big part, and what we hear is as familiar as the actors and actresses show us.

The first dance ends and all lights are on. People begin to talk about it. The lecture on Trisha come to my mind. Just as the dance presents, Trisha tried to make dance something that is not a form of acting, but something beautiful in life, simple but meaningful.

The second dance is totally different as a dancer coming out with smile on her face. Music is going exciting and the other dancers are running happily. They must be celebrating something. Maybe it is someone’s birthday. They dance, jump and run to spread their happiness all around. The rest are looking at a main dancer dancing by, smiling.

I am still in the happy atmosphere and enjoying the scene as if it was going on. Suddenly another music begins from the ceiling and someone among the audience stands up and twists. There comes the flash mob! One and one join which cheers everyone up. No criteria, just move.

The third dance is really confused for the performance is not natural as we see in dance. They are blunt. Unitl I hear gun shoots, almost at the end of the show, I convince myself it is about sickness of war.
　
I am glad to have the chance to be there and to experience something I never met.

What do you think makes good friends? Season 2: college period of Sar

2010-01-29T14:37:00.001-08:00

I have been always thinking why some people are born friends just from first sight.
Actually I have no answer for that but I am glad to see that my roommates are such friends of me.
Since the major I chose in SCU is really not something for girls, there are only five in my 40 class. Maybe someone meeting another is not a scene in drama, for we girls were like in the moon. Math-majored girls only cared about what the courses taught them and how to finish their homework well. We didn't talk though in the same dormitory.
Sar seemed no difference at first. She is someone performing the same way as other science ladies. She can read tough topology when I was playing cello and Harbeby guitar. And she would respond to my question after such a long time that the rest of us came to the next. She is also the guy that laughs when others finished doing so because of some math problems staying in her brain. She is quite weird to us but we became best friends! I can't remember how it happened, but I keep in mind that we understand and love each other. She still a girl regarding what is happening around but she would laugh and talk loudly with us. She becomes good at joking and kidding about some popular topic that was not her taste before. She is totally someone in our world. At the same time, we learned to respect each's way to do things. We are so closed and having own privacy.
Sometimes a good friend is some person you can talk to about your personal problems and who can comfort you no matter what the problem is.

What do you think makes a good friend? Season 1: High school

2010-01-29T14:02:00.000-08:00

I really love this topic, which reminds me of the sweet time I had with my best friends.
I have a very good classmate who is also sitting beside me for the whole year of Senior 3 when everyone in our class is working hard for college and having no time for fun. Before we joined the new group, we actually know nothing about each other. Long time later, she told me that she thought I to be so proud a person that even did not want to talk to anyone else, which actually she denied after we were chatting about gossips while eating nuts.
We sneaked off the classes we don’t want to attend and do something else, sometimes writing an article judging the current affairs, sometimes asking our lovely physics teacher about some space & time questions. We went to the playground to have some exercises like jogging. When other students were worrying about their homework, their problems of a certain course after the self-study part, we always sang a son loudly through the building, succeeding in attracting many attentions. We never tried to hide our feelings. I thought hard to come with an idea to bring her boyfriend, though they broke up later. She heard my story carefully and comforted me whenever I needed.
Now, when I have some news, no matter good or bad, I am used to call her or write to her for I think some good friends are those who can laugh and cry with me.

this culture and that one

2010-01-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

It is the first time I come to the US and also the first being abroad, so someone asked me whether I felt something totally different from my homeland or whether I felt the cultural shock exist.
En, actually no. The only time I realized that I was in a country about which I had no idea was when the flight AA288 was flying around the O'hare airport and when I saw western style architectures which I can only touch in pictures before. That is so amazing! But after that I do not feel anything else that is quite different from that of China. Then I come to a conclusion that the globalization is indeed there.
Ok, maybe sometimes there is a tiny difference. We don't have to buy textbooks ourselves for the school has done that for all the students and the books won't charge at such a high price, which is much more than a meal. So is the note book. Well, save our trees and protect our environment for a better life! But the meal is so big, so is the tissue!
I have less class than before, but I find I have also less time for meal or some entertainments. Oh, I am doing my best to adjust myself to the American life style!
I was always hoping some international students living in my dorm, especially someone coming from a country that I even never heard of. Then I can have access to another culture of this magic world and know more about it. But my native roommates seem having no interests in my country or my ways of living. Come on. Ask me. I want to tell you about all the things I know!
If I was asked about the problem, I would say that is my tuition fee and some other payments. I am looking for some internship and workship or summer schools to cut down my costs here. Whenever and wherever there is some information about this. Please let me know!
Oh~~, I will move out of ISR and be somewhere else. I will post~