What I have learn

The most important thing that I have learn in the 2nd month is writing skill. It used to be very hard for me to write something and took very long time to finish. This month my writing skill improve a lot. I know how to write a good essay. How the introduction should be and how to write introduction to link to an outline.
My speaking is also improve. The seminar was very helpful for me to practise speaking and built my confident to talk in a group. I'm a very shy person. This activity push me to talk, to think and contribute. It also help outside the class. I have some English friends and when they discuss I usually quiet. From practice in the class I'm able to stop them and ask and follow the discussion.
Overall this month one thing that I really appreciate which I have learn is critical thinking. With critical thinking my idea develop and can participate more with other people.

The last seminar reflaction

The last siminar topic was about privacy case studies. I have prepared the answer for every questions that had given. My speaking skill improve more. I had chances to speak and I could argue my point more clearly. I also listened to other students opinion. Some of them have very good points. The language I used this time is still not very accurate. However, I think other people can understand what I was saying. Overall I think I did well with other people in my group.

What is privacy?

After read a lot of definition of privacy that have given on the website. Privacy is the right to protect a person's affairs. This include freedom from interruption, intrusion, embarrassment and accountability. Privacy is also related to anonymity and security.

Listen to an online lecture

Although I think that my listening skill is good but when I listen to a lecture, it is very difficult. I think this is because I have limited vocabularies.
One of the online lecture that I have listened was American dreams by professor Jonarthan Spence on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2008/
This lecture was about crucial aspect of China attitude toward the west and relationship between China and the America over the 2 centuries. The professor gave a knowledge in history of relationship between China and America and Britain. He listed what happen from the past since 1784 until when China is the host of the Olympic game. The relationship between China and America started in 1784. It was the time that Chinese market became open. The Britain introduced the America to the China. In 1840, There was an opium war and the bible had translated into Chinese. Also, dictionary English-Chinese. In 1870, Chinese migration to Liverpool.
In 1950, it was a Koren war and Chinese against the America. Now, Tibet protest, earthquake and explore of China to the world.
I miss out a lot of the lecture. I have to work hard on vocabulary building because it will help me to know what they talking about. Listening is harder than reading because I cannot them to stop talking and find the words that i don't know on dictionary.

Writing paragraphs

I have studied how to write a paragraph on the Weblearn language resources. There were 4 topics on the site and each topic has exercises to practise. I completed some of the exercises which I think they are useful. The content was very helpful tfor me to write an essay paragraph. Also, it is very useful to do exercises after read the content. This help to understand more and be able to write a good paraghaph.
This is the link to the exercise.
http://weblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/webct/urw/lc4130011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Vocabulary building / task 14

For this task I chose to do some exercises on Advanced Language Practice book by Michael Vince on Travel and Movement section.
1. Read text and decide which answer.
Most big cities were built long before the heyday of the private car. As result they rarely have enough space for moving traffic or parked vehicles, and long queue of 1........................ vehicles are a common sight. Indeed some cities end up being almost permanently 2...................... during the day. Those that have a relatively free 3.................... of the traffic at non-peak periods of the day do not escape either. the 4................... of early morning or early evening can easily see traffic brought to a 5.................. The effects of the exhaust 6................... on air pollution in cities has been well because of sheer 7...................... of other traffic, thus encouraging more commuters to abandon 8.................... transportation.

1. station
2. congested
3. flow
4. rust
5. standstill
6. fumes
7. volume
8. public

2. Match each person with one of the comments

1. I love wandering through the countryside along deserted footpathts. rambler
2. I'll bring you your drink in just a minute, madam. steward
3. I've been waiting all morning at this roundabout for someone to stop. hitchhiker
4. I was just walking down the street opposite the bank when I saw it happen. passer-by
5. I've spent the last half an hour looking for a spot. it's hopeless. driver
6. I'll ring the bell for you, love, when it's time to get off. conductor
7. The sign clearly says two hours only and you've been here all day. traffic warden
8. It's just impossible getting across the road here. We need a subway. predestrian
9. Do you think you could go a little more slowly, I'm a bit nervous. passenger
10. This train is late every morning. It has been for years. commuter

3. Complete the text

Dear Sir or Madum,

I travelled last week on a Transworld Airbus from London Gatwick to Copenhagen. This was the outward journey of a holiday in Denmark, a package tour arranged through a company called 'sunset' My flight was due to leave at 8.20 am on Tuesday 25th November, but did not in fact leave untill 20.30, a delay of more than eight hours. The reason give was that vital maintanance work had to be carried out. although all passengers were given a free meal, no other offer of assistance was given. Such a long delay is totally unacceptable, and i feel justified in the circumstances in requesting some from of financial compensation. I have written to the tour operator, who denied responsibility and advised me to write to you.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Your faithfully,

New vocabulary

stationary

conductor

commuter

traffic warden

hitchhiker

rambler

Understand plagiarism (Task 10)

I understand that plagiarism is to copy some one word to be your own. This task help me to know more about plagiarism a lot more. Actually plagiarism is not only the word that you have taken to be your own but it also include the idea, data and image. I did't know this before and when I did the exercise which is to choose which writing is plagiarism I did most of them wrong.
In my openion it is very hard to avoid plagiarism because if you take an idea from someone it is also considered plagiarism. When we study we take an idea from the book and some data as well. The Library Suvice 'Understanding Plagiarism' Tutorial suggested the way to aviod plagiarism is to give source's reference and put the quatation mark for the sentense that had taken.
It is very useful to learn this. After this I will have take the reference every time when I take note from books, journals or webside. Also, every time when writing I have to understand the source and write in my own words.

Surveillance seminar refection

This seminar topic was more difficult for me compare to the last one. The vocabulary used in this topic was very specific. I did prepare my self for the seminar by reading many articles related to the topic. Also, I'm sure that all my group member have prepared very well for today as well. When it came to the discussion it was very hard for me to contribute. Everybody have strongly argument. I could not interrupt when someone is talking. I think I didn't speak enough this time. I'm not sure why? Was it because I didn't have a chance to talk or was it because I did't push my self hard to argue. I realised that, it is so tired to argue with someone. I will practise on this more. Today I didn't care if my language I used accurate or not. I just wanted to talk. I was looking for the gap that I could add something so I can contribute.
Thank you Helen for the suggestion on the media seminar. I have keep you suggestion in mind and try to practise them. I absolutely agree with you that the more I practise the better I will be.