English Language Support this week

Hello students.   Today is the last day of classes and final exams begin this week.    Study well (hard and smart).    We are still around this week if you need help.   The best way to find us is to send an email to     englishsupport@viu.ca

Good luck and happy holidays.

English Language Support this week -- week 12

Final weeks of classes. Think like a racer -- don't let up till the race is done. Stay healthy. Stay balanced. This week there is a workshop on studying smarter. Off campus there is a music concert in the Christmas spirit. Remember music is food for the soul. Feed your soul and study well.

Keep up with VIU clubs and activities with Facebook

The student union's website is quite hopeless if you want to become and stay informed about VIU club activities on campus.     On the other hand,  this Facebook page is very informative.   Getting involved with other students on campus is one of the best ways to improve your English.  

If you don't use Facebook yet,  then you should learn as it has become one of the essential social media communication tools out there.   (Twitter and Instagram are less essential.)

Like fish in a fishbowl -- a reflection on culture

For most Canadians,  especially those born in Canada,   Canadian culture is to them as water is to a fish.     But for foreign students studying in Canada, living in a foreign culture can likened to being a fish out of water,  at least at first.

In your own culture you are in a similar situation to Canadians in Canada  --  culture is like the water surrounding a fish.    The water sustains the fish,  but the fish doesn't really know the water exists because it is always there and is everywhere.   The water is like air for humans.  Everyone needs it, but they don't usually notice it.   Most people don't study and analyze their own culture in detail,  don't seriously criticize it,  don't examine their own cultural beliefs.  They just live.   And life is relatively easy.

However,   step outside of your own culture and into another (strange and foreign) culture, and suddenly your own culture becomes highly visible.  You easily enter comparative mode where everything is related to the culture you are familiar with.    You become conscious of two cultures in a way you never could before.   A "fish out of water"  often will take two attitude routes -- everything in the new culture is better,  or everything in your own culture is better.     Culture shock can occur and your life becomes too stressful and unpleasant.   A month after arriving in a new country,  you may want to leave, and many people do.     There is no joy for them being out of the culture they are familiar and comfortable with.    Other people out of their cultural water thrive on the novelty and the challenge.   The newness is stimulating.   There is so much to see,  so much to do,  so much to learn.   But it does take effort and the ability to be happy in uncertainty and when not in control.        It can also take time.

The global travel writer Pico Iyer has discussed and written about all this for most of his life.    He has a wonderful TED Talk called "Where is home"  in which he describes the experience of traveling and living in different cultures.   You can read many of his essays for free here.   You can also watch two wonderful speeches he recently gave.






It’s only when we stop and step out of our lives that we can take stock of our lives and find out how happy we really are. It’s only when we step back from the canvas that we can see the larger picture.  - Pico Iyer

There is a famous saying,  "When in Rome, do as the Romans."    International students at VIU often quickly realize this when the academic performance that was successful in their own culture is not successful in Canada.    Learning Western academic standards can become a serious challenge, but necessary.   For example,  in Canada university students must study very hard.   There are many assignments and tests.     If a student thinks it will be easy like it is in their own country,  they will be shocked.    If you know this before you come,  you can prepare yourself mentally.

Strategies can help you successfully navigate the waters of a new culture. One of the best ways to learn how to thrive out of your own cultural water is to talk to other "fish out of water" who are thriving and happy.     They will share what they have done,  what they think.    Becoming engaged in that culture is also important.   Join a club.    Do some activities outside your own comfort zone, particularly with others who do not speak your same first language.       Keep a journal of what you are thinking and feeling.     Manage your stress.

By learning how to live in,  understand, and hopefully come to like a new culture,  you become a bigger person.

Improving your writing and grammar through cloze and reading

Can you place the following prepositions into the correct spots in the following passage?

WORDLIST:    * for * under *  between *  but *  by *  from *  in
                            *  into *  like *  of *  on *  since* to * with 

The world has been jolted again, this time __ the senseless and tragic events __ Paris. Because one __ the perpetrators may have smuggled themselves ____ Europe masquerading as a refugee, there is the risk __ a backlash. This would be most regrettable and unfair, _____ so many __ the refugees are themselves victims __ the Islamic State, much ____ the victims __ terrorism __ Paris.


This should not distract ____ the fact that a human tragedy __ unprecedented proportions is unfolding. Waves __ refugees fleeing violence and war are flocking __ the borders __ Europe ____ Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Others are migrating northward, ____ such places as Eritrea, Mali and Libya, seeking deliverance ____ dictatorship, ethnic exclusion, religious hatred and hunger.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has shown political courage and humanitarian solidarity __ announcing her country's intention __ accept 500,000 refugees this year alone. And here __ Canada? _____ our previous federal government, we planned __ accept just 10,000 Syrian refugees this year. The new government intends __ take __ 25,000 __ the end __ the year" an improvement, __ be sure, ___ is it enough?


You can check your answer here


This activity is called a cloze (or gap fill)  and it can easily be created by copying and pasting any piece of text into a website called George's Online Cloze Creator.         You can then choose which words you wish to delete as you can see in the image below.   Explore this tool.   Just remember to keep the original text so you can check your answers after.

Cloze activity is one of the most challenging for second language learners, but it is also one of the most beneficial.     It combines focussed grammar with reading in context.

Classroom Engagement Through Effective Questioning -- from a workshop

Here is the slide presentation and handout from a workshop delivered by English Language Support to graduate students at VIU on November 17th.

Classroom Engagement through Effective Questioning:

 A workshop for MASLM

November 17,  2015

Presented by Les Barclay and Bruce Cornwall

http://viulanguagesupport.blogspot.ca/

1.  Introduction   The wise man know what he does not know.

2.  Effective questions and discussion vs.  ineffective questions and discussion

                      

            Effective                                                                      Ineffective

3.   Fundamental Principles                                             & Strategies

        *  Attitude = spirit of inquiry                                            *   Have a clear purpose

        *  Be a critical thinker (reading & listening)             *   Practice

        *  Be collaborative                                                           *  Notice

        *                                                                                          *

What is the problem I am trying to solve?   What is the key concept I need to understand?

     

4.   What underpins engaged and critical reading and listening?

5.   Making good questions:

 a)   Principles                                                                   Strategies

  *   Build a conversation                                             *  Attend to grammar and vocabulary

  *   Focus on critical and higher order thinking          *  Use 10 Question Types

  *   Good questions have multiple answers                *  Don’t know/expect the answer

  *   Seek to build connections and understanding     *   Use follow-up questions

  *   Consider multiples voices and perspectives        *   Keep spoken questions simple and clear

  *   Good questions can lead to more questions       *    Save complex questions for written form

  *   Good questions are useful                                    *    Be guided by purpose

   Ten Higher Order Question Types

1.     Explore – facts, theories

2.     Challenge –assumptions, conclusions, interpretations 

3.     Relate/Compare – theories, ideas, issues

4.     Diagnose – motives, causes

5.     Action – to reach conclusions, actions

6.     Cause and Effect – look for causal relationships

7.     Extension – expand the conversation

8.     Hypothetical – what if

9.     Priority – identify most important issues

10.  Summary – bring it all together

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

           b)  grammar:  Statement usually goes

                   SUBJECT  (+AUXILIARY) + MAIN VERB (+OBJECT )

            But in a question it goes  QUASM    (QU=QUESTION WORD)

         Power is destructive. à

            Power can destroy. à

            Power destroys. à

            Power destroys communities. à

           

             Remember the 7 “WH”   questions:  

             Who   What  Where   When   Why   How   Which

               

            c) practice 1 – unscramble the questions

               Statement:   Inequality is the most important global social issue.

       

 Practice 2:    

People who serve as change agents in their organizations or communities also must work in intentional ways to produce the desired effects.

*****************************************************

The change agent, from this definition, is a person committed to a dynamic leadership process, lifelong learning,  and relationships.  

6.    Critical Listening

Think as you read,  watch listen …

• What surprised,  shocked, intrigued you?
• What didn’t you know?
• What do you disagree with?   What do you agree with?
• What was important?
• What was wrong?
• What was incomplete?
• What was biased?
• What came to your mind?
• How does this connect to you, your country, your
• What did you learn?

1 Question:  ____________________________________________________

1 Observation/Statement:  __________________________________________

7.      I will change the way I make questions by …

          

Week 11 English Language Support

Get ready for a wintry week -- cold, rainy, windy.   Stay warm and stay healthy while staying on top of things these last weeks of semester.   Don't leave matters to the last minute.     We are here to help.

Week 10

If you have made it this far,   you should succeed.     Don't forget the first blog post of the semester about Top Tips for Students.    In the meantime,   take advantage of the day off on Wednesday, but also learn somewhat about what Remembrance Day in Canada is.    If you are studying and living here in Canada,  you need to know what is going on around you and what it means.    You might find this webpage informative.

Clubs at VIU

One of the best ways to improve your English and your academic performance is to engage with other students in English, both Canadian and other international students.   It is an opportunity to engage in conversation in English and learn more about Nanaimo,  Canada, and the world around you.

Joining a club is a great way to do this and at VIU there are a number of active clubs that are ideal for international students to get involved with.   A good club meets regularly and welcomes new members.   Regular participation in a club is something you can even add to your résumé .

English Language Support  can recommend these clubs.    Read their websites or Facebook pages, come out to a meeting,  or email one of the contact persons to get more information.  After you have attended a meeting, if you don't like it,  then look into another club.

Another useful resource if you want to meet other students for more sporting activities is the VIU Student Life Activity Guide which you can download by clicking the link.

VIU Active Clubs 

1.   Toastmasters -- meets every Friday at 1:00 in building 255,  room 205



   VIU Toastmasters Facebook page

2.   Rotaract -- meets every Monday at 5 P.M. in the VIU Student residences boardroom.




VIU Rotaract Facebook page

Rotaract Website  

3.    WUSC (World University Students Club) -

           meets  Thursdays from 11:30-12:30pm Bldg 255 Room 135.

    VIU WUSC Facebook page  

    VIU WUSC Website

          

4.      VIU Dance Club -- 

    meets/practices every Thursday from 7:30  to 8:30 p.m. in the gym multipurpose room



   

VIU Dance Club Facebook page  

More clubs,   but waiting for web links and meeting dates/times/place  ....

6.      VIU Digital Media Studies Club  -- meeting times to come




Facebook page 



7.     VIU  Psychology Club -- meeting times to come




8.   Hospitality Club

9.   Beancounters Club

10.   Entrepreneur Club

11.   BSA  (Business Students Association)