week3

1. New things that you learnt from any of your HELP classes. (What are you learning in other classes? Share with me and also reflect on it
I did reading circle in my reading class for the first time! Reading circle is discussion about one topic with 2 or 3 students. One student picked up an article which he got interested, and also made 4 comprehension questions and 4 discussion questions. Then, he copied the article and questions, hands to the other students, and disuccuss!!! It is very helpful for me because I talked much about my opinion to them in English. It was not easy for me, but it was much fun! Every week the speaker is changed, and I cannot wait the next reading circle.

2. New things that you learnt outside of HELP. (You can talk about more than one thing. Is there anything interesting that you learned outside of class? Any interesting activities? Anything new in terms of cultural differences? )

I met Japanese girl shoppers at the import shop in Waikiki. And I talked much about them, me, and more with them. It was ever so special time! :) One lived in LA and worked at the other shop before. Then, she moved to Hawaii and stays during a short piriod. She works at the shop in Waikiki for help now, and so she will go back to LA. The other have lived in Hawaii. She lived in Hawaii kai before, and surprisingly it was very close to the house I am staying. I listened from them about their hardship of staying in foregn country, their life and work in Waikiki, or their love of Hawaii! It was very valuable for me. And I bought TOMS boots... ;p lol

3. Apparently, there are certain steps for creating GOs. What are your steps when creating GOs? Try to recall

 

First, I read a story from the beginning to the end with checking signal words.
At this time, I circle or underline them. Second, I check the signal words circled or underlined. Third, I read the sentence including signal words and the sentence before the one including the signal word. Forth, I create GOs in my mind or draw on paper.

4. After reading part of the article "Graphic Organizers in Reading Instruction" by Jiang and Grabe (2007), explain what the questions are in GOs research in your own words (p. 35). Also, according to Jiang and Grabe, what are the merits of GO instructions suggested by researchers (p.35)?

There are 4 questions. First, it is doubtful whether the impact of GOs is helpful for reading or not. Second, one's understandings and designs of GOs are different with the others' them. In other wads, the understandings and designs dwpwnd on each person. Third, the reserch about GOs not with people who use English as first language is not sufficient. Forth, GOs are usually studied with shot period practice, and it could be limited.