Dear Students,
First, the business: Please EMAIL me your updated story. (I don't want to retype them all!) Thank you! Second, more business. Tomorrow is the final exam - you will do great!
It has been my great pleasure to work with you this semester. Thank you for being so accepting and so kind to me. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, for listening to my lectures, for your courage in writing. You have inspired me.
I have been delighted to see how much you all progress. In particular, it was wonderful to see you trusting each other when you started to edit each others’ work. That takes a lot of trust – trust to let someone read and trust to tell someone if they made a mistake. Also, I know you wrote some difficult essays – something that embarrasses you, a bucket list, and letters to your teachers. That was so powerful to see! You all “stepped up to the plate” and worked hard.
I have said many times in class how good your stories are. I will be putting one of them on the website every Thursday – they will be in no particular order. Look for comments from other people! The website address is www.studentwritingshufs.blogspot.com – please look at it, and please read the stories your classmates wrote! It would be great if you gave your feedback to your classmates on the website.
If you want to continue working with me in English, send me a note. I will help you. I have a class program set up for creative writing. I will gladly work with you if you want.
If we don’t meet again, please know that I wish you the very best that life has to give. You deserve the best!
Pamila Jo Florea
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
If you didn't get swept away by the rain!
Hi everybody!
We only have a couple of more classes.
Tomorrow, Thursday, your stories are due. Please also bring your edited copies so I can compare them. We will work on one more writing piece - we will write letters. Also, please write a note on your paper.
Pamila, you may put my story on your blog.
OR
Pamila, please don't put my story on your blog.
Please read page 182 in the book tonight. We will practice writing letters tomorrow.
Friday is the final exam. I finished it today, and as I promised, it is half the size of the last test.
One of the important things about writing is putting things together. Writing is about seeing things differently, experiencing the world differently than other people do. Here is a video about that. I thought it was interesting.
(The link: http://wimp.com/fibonaccisequence/ )
See you tomorrow!
Pamila
We only have a couple of more classes.
Tomorrow, Thursday, your stories are due. Please also bring your edited copies so I can compare them. We will work on one more writing piece - we will write letters. Also, please write a note on your paper.
Pamila, you may put my story on your blog.
OR
Pamila, please don't put my story on your blog.
Please read page 182 in the book tonight. We will practice writing letters tomorrow.
Friday is the final exam. I finished it today, and as I promised, it is half the size of the last test.
One of the important things about writing is putting things together. Writing is about seeing things differently, experiencing the world differently than other people do. Here is a video about that. I thought it was interesting.
(The link: http://wimp.com/fibonaccisequence/ )
See you tomorrow!
Pamila
Monday, July 25, 2011
A Lie of Omission
I have 2 things for you today:
First, here is a commercial about people all having the same hair features! Have fun and enjoy it!
Journal Suggestion.
A Lie of Omission
Do you think a lie of omission is still a lie?
A lie of omission is when you don't tell everything. You tell the truth about SOME of what happened, but you don't tell everything.
First, here is a commercial about people all having the same hair features! Have fun and enjoy it!
Journal Suggestion.
A Lie of Omission
Do you think a lie of omission is still a lie?
A lie of omission is when you don't tell everything. You tell the truth about SOME of what happened, but you don't tell everything.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Reading your friend's story...
Hi Everybody!
Please read your friend's story. Relax, and enjoy it!
Then, please write an email to me. In your email you should say 2 things you liked about reading the story and two things you didn't like. You can write about the story, the person's way of writing (is it interesting / confusing / frightening / boring / fun / etc.?), whether you enjoyed it, etc.
Remember, for the adjectives with "-ing" or "-ed" at the end, YOU were borED / frightenED / interestED / confusED. (-ED is for inside a person, it's an emotion or feeling)
The STORY was borING, frightenING, interestING, confusING. (-ING is for an experience or a thing outside of the person. It's easy to remember - how do you spell thing? t h ING!)
Your comments will be private between me and you, and I won't tell your partner what you say (good or bad). If you want some help about how to say something, you can ask. For example, you hated the story. Don't say that to someone. You can say, "It didn't appeal to me." or "I don't like that kind of story." If you want to say that something was confusing, you can say, "It was confusing."
Say what you mean (be clear about what you are saying)
Mean what you say (speak the truth)
Don't say it mean (be kind)
See you in class!
Pamila
Please read your friend's story. Relax, and enjoy it!
Then, please write an email to me. In your email you should say 2 things you liked about reading the story and two things you didn't like. You can write about the story, the person's way of writing (is it interesting / confusing / frightening / boring / fun / etc.?), whether you enjoyed it, etc.
Remember, for the adjectives with "-ing" or "-ed" at the end, YOU were borED / frightenED / interestED / confusED. (-ED is for inside a person, it's an emotion or feeling)
The STORY was borING, frightenING, interestING, confusING. (-ING is for an experience or a thing outside of the person. It's easy to remember - how do you spell thing? t h ING!)
Your comments will be private between me and you, and I won't tell your partner what you say (good or bad). If you want some help about how to say something, you can ask. For example, you hated the story. Don't say that to someone. You can say, "It didn't appeal to me." or "I don't like that kind of story." If you want to say that something was confusing, you can say, "It was confusing."
Say what you mean (be clear about what you are saying)
Mean what you say (speak the truth)
Don't say it mean (be kind)
See you in class!
Pamila
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Writing a Story
You need to write your first draft of a story for class. It is due on Monday. The story should be from your notes on Music Day. You should easily have who, the relationship, what they are doing, and where they are. Also, you should add a thing that is hidden in the picture you got in class today. It is a mystery! What did someone hide? Why did they hide it? How did someone find it? It should be fun!
*500-600 words
Typed, double spaced
Printed with regular margins
Your name should be on it.
When you type, you should indent 5 spaces at the beginning of every paragraph. You should write in paragraph form. After a period (.), question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!) you should leave 2 spaces before you type the next word. After a comma, you should leave one space before you type a word.
You can send any questions or a draft to me at my email.
See you on Monday!
Pamila
*500-600 words
Typed, double spaced
Printed with regular margins
Your name should be on it.
When you type, you should indent 5 spaces at the beginning of every paragraph. You should write in paragraph form. After a period (.), question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!) you should leave 2 spaces before you type the next word. After a comma, you should leave one space before you type a word.
You can send any questions or a draft to me at my email.
See you on Monday!
Pamila
How to do Spell Check!
There are a couple of things you can do when you want to spell words correctly in English. First, please realize that English spelling is very hard to learn. Because we use so many words from other languages, the spelling can be strange. Many native speakers have the same problem!
If you are typing in English, there are several computer programs that can help you. In the USA, we have spell check programs in our Microsoft Word programs, but that doesn't happen in Korea. I noticed that my words don't get corrected or underlined if I use a Korean program.
Here are some options(choices) you have.
* You could type in an English version of Word that has a spell check as part of it. The library in our building should have that.
* Also, gmail, yahoo, and hotmail all have spell check programs. When you write an email to me, do you do "check spelling"? You can if you are using one of these programs.
* Lastly, you can use Firefox as your internet browser program. It will automatically check your spelling.
Those are your options for typing.
If you are spelling when you write by hand, there isn't a lot to do except learn and memorize or read. You will learn spelling better if you practice writing / reading. I don't like to give spelling tests because to me that is not what writing is.
For the final exam, don't worry too much about it. I have been teaching content (what to write and how to express it) not grammar and spelling. WHAT you say and how you say it are more important than the grammar and spelling in this class. It is like building a house. What you say and how you say it are like the framework for your house. I don't care what kind of nails you use as long as they hold the house together.
If you are typing in English, there are several computer programs that can help you. In the USA, we have spell check programs in our Microsoft Word programs, but that doesn't happen in Korea. I noticed that my words don't get corrected or underlined if I use a Korean program.
Here are some options(choices) you have.
* You could type in an English version of Word that has a spell check as part of it. The library in our building should have that.
* Also, gmail, yahoo, and hotmail all have spell check programs. When you write an email to me, do you do "check spelling"? You can if you are using one of these programs.
* Lastly, you can use Firefox as your internet browser program. It will automatically check your spelling.
Those are your options for typing.
If you are spelling when you write by hand, there isn't a lot to do except learn and memorize or read. You will learn spelling better if you practice writing / reading. I don't like to give spelling tests because to me that is not what writing is.
For the final exam, don't worry too much about it. I have been teaching content (what to write and how to express it) not grammar and spelling. WHAT you say and how you say it are more important than the grammar and spelling in this class. It is like building a house. What you say and how you say it are like the framework for your house. I don't care what kind of nails you use as long as they hold the house together.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Descriptions
Hi everyone....
Here is your homework for tonight -
Please use this online game to find people of different descriptions. The idea is that you are looking for different criminals and you will use the descriptions to find them.
http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/findPerson.htm
Find 5 different people.
Also, for homework: Please look at your writing about the 5 senses (remember good things in your life). Please edit it. Check for the following things:
1. Correct capitalization.
2. Correct punctuations (periods, exclamation points, question marks)
3. Does your subject match your verb? IS your subject plural? You will need a plural verb? Is your subject singular? You need a singular verb.
4. Look for number words (several, many, a few). After these words you should have a PLURAL countable noun.
We will work on these papers tomorrow. Please bring them EDITED to class.
See you soon!
Pamila
Here is your homework for tonight -
Please use this online game to find people of different descriptions. The idea is that you are looking for different criminals and you will use the descriptions to find them.
http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/findPerson.htm
Find 5 different people.
Also, for homework: Please look at your writing about the 5 senses (remember good things in your life). Please edit it. Check for the following things:
1. Correct capitalization.
2. Correct punctuations (periods, exclamation points, question marks)
3. Does your subject match your verb? IS your subject plural? You will need a plural verb? Is your subject singular? You need a singular verb.
4. Look for number words (several, many, a few). After these words you should have a PLURAL countable noun.
We will work on these papers tomorrow. Please bring them EDITED to class.
See you soon!
Pamila
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Noticing actions and faces for emotion
Hi everybody,
Please write a paragraph about your path to happiness
number 1: "Remember good things in your life." Use your 5 senses (tasting, smelling, touching, seeing, hearing) to describe the memory. Also, use the things we practiced with the music exercise today. Who is with you? What is your relationship with this person / these people? Where are you? When is it or how old were you in the memory? What are you and the other person / people doing?
Tomorrow, we are going to write about emotions. I want you to watch these videos. They are amazing and gifted actors - Matt Damon, Chloe Maretz, and Javier Bardem. They show "anger" but they show it in completely different ways. Notice their actions. Notice their faces. Notice how they express anger.
If I wrote something like this:
I walked in the room and saw my sister. I knew immediately she was angry.
How do I know she was angry? Do you know what she was doing? Was she like Javier Bardem or like Matt Damon or like Chloe Maretz? Maybe she was like someone else you know.... maybe she gets silent and quiet and doesn't say anything. Or maybe she becomes a martyr. "No, no, I didn't want to talk to you anyway. That's ok. No, no I'll sit here and bleed. I don't want to be a bother."
Matt Damon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKGTjrl9-78&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=10
Javier Bardem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i8qy4gDsd0&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=9
Chloe Moretz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waMa0TH8D8c&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=7
Some students asked about the music I played today.
Here it is:
1. Too ra loo ra loo ra
2. La Vie En Rose, Edith Piaf
3. Smokestack Lighting, Howlin' Wolf
4. On Earth as it is in Heaven, Ennio Morricone (from The Mission)
5. Sueno Mama, Roberto Poveda
6. Gregorian Chant Advocatam Libre Vernall
Please write a paragraph about your path to happiness
number 1: "Remember good things in your life." Use your 5 senses (tasting, smelling, touching, seeing, hearing) to describe the memory. Also, use the things we practiced with the music exercise today. Who is with you? What is your relationship with this person / these people? Where are you? When is it or how old were you in the memory? What are you and the other person / people doing?
Tomorrow, we are going to write about emotions. I want you to watch these videos. They are amazing and gifted actors - Matt Damon, Chloe Maretz, and Javier Bardem. They show "anger" but they show it in completely different ways. Notice their actions. Notice their faces. Notice how they express anger.
If I wrote something like this:
I walked in the room and saw my sister. I knew immediately she was angry.
How do I know she was angry? Do you know what she was doing? Was she like Javier Bardem or like Matt Damon or like Chloe Maretz? Maybe she was like someone else you know.... maybe she gets silent and quiet and doesn't say anything. Or maybe she becomes a martyr. "No, no, I didn't want to talk to you anyway. That's ok. No, no I'll sit here and bleed. I don't want to be a bother."
Matt Damon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKGTjrl9-78&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=10
Javier Bardem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i8qy4gDsd0&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=9
Chloe Moretz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waMa0TH8D8c&feature=BFa&list=SPD5262066345158FF&index=7
Some students asked about the music I played today.
Here it is:
1. Too ra loo ra loo ra
2. La Vie En Rose, Edith Piaf
3. Smokestack Lighting, Howlin' Wolf
4. On Earth as it is in Heaven, Ennio Morricone (from The Mission)
5. Sueno Mama, Roberto Poveda
6. Gregorian Chant Advocatam Libre Vernall
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Homework, Friday night...
Hi Everybody!
We did a lot of work this week. We talked about how to make paragraphs - topic sentences, supporting sentences, and concluding sentences. Everyone is really doing a good job!
Here is the homework:
1. Continue to write for 20 minutes every day in your journal. Your journal is where you write about things that happen to you. You can also write about memories, things you like, anything! You can draw pictures in your journal, add stickers, whatever you want.
Use the Free Write method I showed you in class. Write for 5 minutes, take a break, 5 minutes, take a break, and so on.
2. On page 44 in your book, choose one of the topics (a, b, or c. You can also make your own topic)and write a paragraph. Please type it and email it to me. If you send it to me by 8 a.m. on Sunday, I will grade it and send it back to you.
- Please send the paragraph in a WORD DOCUMENT as an attachment. Please don't put it in the email.
- Please don't sep-
erate words with a hyphen. (There are specific rules. You can learn those later. For now, just don't separate words.)
- Please spell check your document.
- Please type your name at the top of the document.
I will see you in class on Monday.
Have a great weekend!
We did a lot of work this week. We talked about how to make paragraphs - topic sentences, supporting sentences, and concluding sentences. Everyone is really doing a good job!
Here is the homework:
1. Continue to write for 20 minutes every day in your journal. Your journal is where you write about things that happen to you. You can also write about memories, things you like, anything! You can draw pictures in your journal, add stickers, whatever you want.
Use the Free Write method I showed you in class. Write for 5 minutes, take a break, 5 minutes, take a break, and so on.
2. On page 44 in your book, choose one of the topics (a, b, or c. You can also make your own topic)and write a paragraph. Please type it and email it to me. If you send it to me by 8 a.m. on Sunday, I will grade it and send it back to you.
- Please send the paragraph in a WORD DOCUMENT as an attachment. Please don't put it in the email.
- Please don't sep-
erate words with a hyphen. (There are specific rules. You can learn those later. For now, just don't separate words.)
- Please spell check your document.
- Please type your name at the top of the document.
I will see you in class on Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Topic Sentences
Hi everybody!
Here is the homework for tonight:
Please look at your bucket list. Put all your wishes into several groupings. You might have travel or career or adventure or just for fun. Your topics will be different from each other. After you put your wishes into three or more topics, please write a topic sentence for each group. For example, I could write a list with travel like this:
Travel
Sail through the Panama Canal
Walk on the Great Wall of China
Visit my friends in Germany
Topic: Travel
Topic Sentence: There are many places I want to travel in the world.
Please write your sentences in YOUR words. Just like in class, your sentence should be different from mine and different from your classmates' sentences.
Please EMAIL ME with your topic sentences.
Thanks,
Pamila
p.s. Here is a video to watch for fun. http://www.wimp.com/largeaurora/
Here is the homework for tonight:
Please look at your bucket list. Put all your wishes into several groupings. You might have travel or career or adventure or just for fun. Your topics will be different from each other. After you put your wishes into three or more topics, please write a topic sentence for each group. For example, I could write a list with travel like this:
Travel
Sail through the Panama Canal
Walk on the Great Wall of China
Visit my friends in Germany
Topic: Travel
Topic Sentence: There are many places I want to travel in the world.
Please write your sentences in YOUR words. Just like in class, your sentence should be different from mine and different from your classmates' sentences.
Please EMAIL ME with your topic sentences.
Thanks,
Pamila
p.s. Here is a video to watch for fun. http://www.wimp.com/largeaurora/
Writing a Bucket List
Good morning everybody!
I'm so happy you are doing well in class! Please watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX8XEXmhHss
It's only about two minutes long, and I hope you enjoy it. I will be working with you on this in class tomorrow.
After you watch this trailer, please write a bucket list for your life. Please have at least 20 things on your list. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. For example, some of the things on my bucket list are below:
1. Sail through the Panama Canal.
2. Wear lipstick everyday.
3. Write letters of gratitude every week to someone.
4. Get 100 visas in my passport.
5. Learn to juggle.
6. Forgive my dad for some mean things he said.
7. Give a TED talk.
8. Dye my hair pink.
9. Become a vegetarian.
10. Visit all 7 wonders of the natural world.
11. See all the movies that won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
12. Read 3 classic books every year.
Please use a present tense verb as the first word. THINK BIG!
Thank you so much!
Pamila
I'm so happy you are doing well in class! Please watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX8XEXmhHss
It's only about two minutes long, and I hope you enjoy it. I will be working with you on this in class tomorrow.
After you watch this trailer, please write a bucket list for your life. Please have at least 20 things on your list. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. For example, some of the things on my bucket list are below:
1. Sail through the Panama Canal.
2. Wear lipstick everyday.
3. Write letters of gratitude every week to someone.
4. Get 100 visas in my passport.
5. Learn to juggle.
6. Forgive my dad for some mean things he said.
7. Give a TED talk.
8. Dye my hair pink.
9. Become a vegetarian.
10. Visit all 7 wonders of the natural world.
11. See all the movies that won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
12. Read 3 classic books every year.
Please use a present tense verb as the first word. THINK BIG!
Thank you so much!
Pamila
Monday, July 11, 2011
Homework Day 1
HOMEWORK:
Write an email to me at pamilajohufs@gmail.com
Remember to write your name in English at the end of your email.
Tell me one thing you liked about class.
Tell me one thing you didn’t like about class.
Get a journal. It should not cost more than 1,000 won.
Please watch this video about a Coca Cola Happiness Machine in London:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0D3jKLz6sA
Check the blog every day after 3 p.m.
We will use your book tomorrow. Please bring it!
Have a great day!
Pamila
Write an email to me at pamilajohufs@gmail.com
Remember to write your name in English at the end of your email.
Tell me one thing you liked about class.
Tell me one thing you didn’t like about class.
Get a journal. It should not cost more than 1,000 won.
Please watch this video about a Coca Cola Happiness Machine in London:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0D3jKLz6sA
Check the blog every day after 3 p.m.
We will use your book tomorrow. Please bring it!
Have a great day!
Pamila
Welcome! FLTTC Summer Writing Class!
Instructor: Pamila J. Florea
Blog: hufswritingclass.blogspot.com
email: pamilajohufs@gmail.com
******************************************
TEXT: Ready to Write 2
by Karen Blanchard and Christine Root
Additional handouts will be given to you.
Description:
The goal of this class is to improve your writing in English. You will practice writing in this class. We will review how to write well and how to help others with their writing. You will practice writing good quality paragraphs, essays, letters, and journals.
Goals for this class are to improve your general writing, learn how to express yourself in a creative way, and how to edit other people's writing.
What you can expect from the teacher:
1. I will show you formats for different types of writing.
2. I will give you feedback about your writing.
3. I will show you how to give feedback to other people.
4. I will not correct all of your mistakes.
5. I will show you how to edit your work.
6. I will give you notes on this blog to help you.
7. I will provide you with different things to use as inspiration for your writing.
What I expect from you:
1. You will do your homework and come to class.
2. You will discuss your work during class.
3. You will do exercises in class that will be used for further writings.
4. Assignments are due the class day after it is assigned.
5. Missed assignments and late assignments will negatively affect your grade.
The final exam will be on the last day of class. It will be a written exam.
Class will be held Monday to Friday.
Rules for class:
Please bring something to drink to class.
Please don't use a cell phone or translating dictionary during class.
Please use English to communicate in class.
(You can draw or act out what you are trying to say). If that doesn't work,
then you can use the dictionary.
Plagiarism:
Don't use someone else's writing and say it is yours.
Blog: hufswritingclass.blogspot.com
email: pamilajohufs@gmail.com
******************************************
TEXT: Ready to Write 2
by Karen Blanchard and Christine Root
Additional handouts will be given to you.
Description:
The goal of this class is to improve your writing in English. You will practice writing in this class. We will review how to write well and how to help others with their writing. You will practice writing good quality paragraphs, essays, letters, and journals.
Goals for this class are to improve your general writing, learn how to express yourself in a creative way, and how to edit other people's writing.
What you can expect from the teacher:
1. I will show you formats for different types of writing.
2. I will give you feedback about your writing.
3. I will show you how to give feedback to other people.
4. I will not correct all of your mistakes.
5. I will show you how to edit your work.
6. I will give you notes on this blog to help you.
7. I will provide you with different things to use as inspiration for your writing.
What I expect from you:
1. You will do your homework and come to class.
2. You will discuss your work during class.
3. You will do exercises in class that will be used for further writings.
4. Assignments are due the class day after it is assigned.
5. Missed assignments and late assignments will negatively affect your grade.
The final exam will be on the last day of class. It will be a written exam.
Class will be held Monday to Friday.
Rules for class:
Please bring something to drink to class.
Please don't use a cell phone or translating dictionary during class.
Please use English to communicate in class.
(You can draw or act out what you are trying to say). If that doesn't work,
then you can use the dictionary.
Plagiarism:
Don't use someone else's writing and say it is yours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)