"Learning Reflection "

Learning Reflection

1. What did you learn in this course?

 In this course, I learned 10 units about  Discourse approach in reading. There are :

Unit 1: Recount

A recount is the unfolding of a sequence of events over time.

I got a lot of knowledge in this unit. I knew about discourse marker and I could write a recount.

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Unit 2: Narrative
A narrative or story is any report of connected events, actual or imaginary, presented in a sequence of written or spoken words. Purpose of narrative is to entertain.

In this unit, I got a lot of vocabulary and knew about discourse marker. I acted a role play about Kylie's story. I'm enjoyable very much because
I liked the acting so much.

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Unit 3: Description
Description is a text which says what a person, a thing or a place is like.
In this unit, I knew about meaning of description and discourse marker. I could describe person, animals, things, and place.
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Unit 4: Procedure
Procedure or instruction (How something is done).Purpose is to tell the reader how to do or make something.
In this unit, I made Bananas Frozen. It was very enjoyable and I liked this unit so much
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Unit 5: Comparison and contrast
Comparison and Contrast pattern presents similarities (comparisons) between two or more thing, differences (contrasts) between two or more thing, or both similarities and differences. Purpose: Authors use it when they want to explain or describe how two or more things are alike or different.
In this unit, I knew about discourse marker of comparison and 
contrast.
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Unit 6: Cause/Effect
Cause/Effect is used to show how the facts or concept result due to other facts, events or concepts. In this unit, I could drew the cause and effect diagram. Moreover, I knew about discourse marker of cause and effect.

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Unit 7: DefinitionA definition is statement which explains what a thing is. It is a statement that answers the question “What is this thing?”.






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Unit 8: Classification
Classification may refer to categorization, the process in which idea and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood.

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Unit 9: Exemplification

Exemplification is the use of examples to illustrate an idea, an opinion, or a generalization. Purpose of adding more information to explain.

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Unit 10: Problem and Solution

Problem and Solution is a pattern of organization where information in a passage is expressed as a dilemma or concerning issue (a problem) and something that was, can be, or should be done to remedy this issue (solution or attempted solution). In this unit, I knew about discourse marker and drew the problem and solution diagram.

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2.What did you find easy?

I think recount,narrative, description, and procedure  are easy for me because I can understand them and the texts are easy for reading.

3.What did you find difficult?

I think comparison and contrast, cause and effect, exemplification, problem and solution, and definition & classification are difficult for me because I don't know meaning of words in each texts.So, I can't do the exercises.

4.How did you solve the problem?

My solving is I try to do the exercises myself, although I don't understand it. Sometimes, I review the lesson after I have free time. Moreover, I practice reading with my friends. 

5.What are your attitude toward the course?

This course is very interesting. I can know a lot of vocabulary from it. Some unit is difficult, but I can understand  it because a teacher teach. I think this course is very useful. I can apply with my teaching in the future. I like Dr. Usa very much because she is a good teacher and she is my idol teacher. I love Discourse approach in reading so much.

The 15th week "Problem and Solution "

     Problem and solution

        Today is the last day in A Discourse Approach in Reading subject. First, my teacher assigned me to do exercise about (a) write a sentence explaining the main idea of the text, (b) write a title related to the main idea, and (c) create the diagram that represent the problem and solution.I could do some item and I couldn't create the diagram because I didn't understand it. I felt very bad that I couldn't do it, but I tried to do it.

         Next, I did an exercise about Robots in factory. I answered the questions in my handout. It has six items, 1-5 are multiple choices and the last one is to find solution from this text. After I finished this exercise, I watched video clip about procedure of my friend. My feeling in this course, I feel both happy and bad. Although, I was happy in my class, but some exercise I couldn't to do it, so I was bad.

The 14th week In the afternoon"Problem and Solution "

The last Friday, I studied this course in the afternoon. First, my teacher taught me about exemplification from last week. I did the exercise about Itazards in home and Language in birds. It was easy for me because I could do it. When I finished this unit, 

she gave me a new sheet about unit 10. It was about problem and solution. It was last unit for this course. Then, she explained me about what is a problem and solution. After that, I did an exercise 1 and she answered the exercise . Then, she assigned me to do exercise about this genres. My problem in this course is I couldn't draw a diagram. Lastly, I feel enjoyable in this course, but it is difficult for me and this unit like the unit cause and effect. So, I will practice more and more.

The 13th week In the afternoon"Exemplification "

Exemplification

      In the afternoon, I learned about exemplification. Firth, teacher assigned to look for the meaning of word in dictionary. There are specific, vivid, persuade, illustrate, evidence, mental imagery, and the author's intended meaning.

      
      Then, she told me about commonly used abbreviations and transitions in exemplification text, such as f.e./e.g.- for example, i.e. - that is, viz. - namely, and to illustrate etc. 

      Next, I did the exercise in text 1" College Students'Pressures ". I found the main idea, marker, and drew the diagram.

      After, I read the text 2 about fun things to do in Great Falls and matched the place with the activities.

      Finally, I did the exercise about the text 3. It was difficult for me because I didn't know about vocabulary in text. So, I tried to understand about meaning of text. I thought exemplification is important for me because it help me to understand when I read academic paragraph. 

The 12th week In the morning"Definition and Classification "

Definition and Classification 

      Today is Monday 23 March.In the morning, I learned about  definition and classification. I thought it's useful for me because if I'm sure to meet unfamiliar technical words and their definitions. I will also find that writers use classification to divide general concepts into a number of different types.Identifying and understanding texts that contain definition and classification will help my academic reading.
      Then, teacher told me about examples and explanations of definition, for example

      Example
      Phonetics is the study of the speech sounds used in human languages.

       Explanation
       Here a technical term is defined by the words that follow a form of the verb to be.

      After, she taught about some common definition and classification marker, such as to be, to define, to refer to, to categorize, to classify, and to group etc.

      Next, I did the exercise 1, circled the definition marker, highlighted the technical terms, and underlined the definitions. It was very easy for me because I could understand and do it. In the exercise 2, it was difficult because I must draw a diagram showing the classification. I tried to do by myself, but I couldn't do.
     Then, I read the text 1, What is Anthropology? and answered the questions. I found the definition and classification marker, completed the diagram, and decided which statement is true and which is false in the text 2.
      My problem in this lesson is I didn't understand to draw the diagram. So, I will practice to draw the diagram. My feeling is I'm happy when I studied this class and I think it isn't difficult, if I intend to study.

The 11th week In the afternoon"Cause and Effect "

        In the afternoon, teacher taught me about unit 6 "Cause and Effect ". She taught about cause and effect marker, such as cause, connection, origin, reason, to cause, and to contribute to etc. Then, she assigned me to practice skill in my handout. She told me to highlight cause, underline effect and circle markers for example


The prices of new cars  are forcing many people to keep their old cars longer than they used to.

On account of the bad weather, the baseball game has been
canceled.

A lack of rain is creating problems for farmers. Their crops are not growing well.

       Next, She assigned me to do exercise about accidents on U.S. highways and Titanic. I found cause and effect in paragraph, marked the markers and wrote it into correct box. 

accidents on U.S. highways

Titanic

      Then, I did exercise about the Effect of Stress. It was difficult for me because I didn't understand about meaning of text. So, I had to read text many times and tried to understand about text.
      I think I had to attempt in this lesson because this lesson is very difficult and interesting. 

The 10th week In the morning"Comparison&Contrast III "

      In This class, I learned about comparison and contrast from last week. I did exercise about "Men and Women : Do they speak the same language? It was about the differences between the languages of men and women, for example women look for relationships with others more than men do.

      Then, I did exercise about understanding the text by choose the correct answer,or follow the directions. It was easy for me because I understand about this lesson.Next, I did exercise about signal expression by match the relationship in column B with the signal expressions in column A. It was difficult for me because I didn't know about meaning of vocabulary in the text. Finally, she assigned me to do exercise about the difference of Thai man and Thai women.

      Reacting to the Reading.

B. Are any of Tannen's points about the different personalities of man and women true in your native culture? Explain. Do men and women in your native culture use the language the way Tannen claims American men and women do? 
give specific examples.

       Answer

In Thai culture, men and women has something which different from Tannen's point that are

1) The main problem in a lot of relationship is women don't know       what men want.
2) Men like to feel acknowledged, respected, and appreciated than       women.
3) Women is more confident than men.

      My feeling is this lesson is not difficult and not easy for me. Some text has vocabulary  that I don't know. So, I have to intend to study and read text more and more. 

The 9th week "Midterm Test and Comparison and Contrast II "

" Midterm Test and Comparison and Contrast "

      Today I had a midterm test of A Discourse Approach in Reading. It about Unit 1 - Unit 4. Next, I studied about comparison and contrast continue from last week. I read text about subway systems of New York/Paris and Hurricane Andrew/Hurricane Katrina.After, I found about the differences and similarities between subway of New York and Paris. The exercise was easy for me because I read the text many times.

Subway systems of New York

Subway systems of Paris 

Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Katrina

      My problem is I couldn't understand about meaning of text. So, I will practise about my reading more and more.

      My attitude towards the lesson is it make me know about my ability that what can I do. Finally, I am very happy when I studied this class.

The 8th week "Comparison and Contrast"

      Today, I had this class in the afternoon because teacher have a meeting in the morning.First, we had a test before midterm test about recount, narrative, and descriptive. I was very excited because I was afraid that I couldn't do the exam.Then, teacher taught me about procedure continue from last week.It was the learning second language and I did the exercise 3. I thought that it was easy for me because I could translate the text.

      After that, she started to taught new lesson with the question about the differences between apple and orange.

      

      Then, she told me about comparison or similarities words and contrasts or differences words, such as both, same, parallel, common, while, unlike, conversely, although, and yet etc. Moreover, she told me about words that describe comparison and words that have opposite meanings, such as slower, faster, safer, the employed, and the unemployed.

      In my opinion, the comparison and contrast were difficult for me because I couldn't understand about them, but I will try to do exercises and read books more and more.

      My attitude towards the lesson is I feel bad when I can't understand in this lesson, but it make me practise and develop my skill.

The 7th week "Description and Procedure"

Description and Procedure

      This class, my teacher answered two exercises. The first text is about Budapest, the Hungarian capital. I found the words that describe the places according to the text, such as fantastic, oldest, and delightful etc. Therefore, it made me get any vocabulary more and more. The second text is about Prague.

Budapest

Prague

     Before teacher taught lesson 5, I watched a video about how to make omelette by Jamie Oliver. I liked to cook when I had free time. Next, I wrote vocabulary from the video. I matched each sentence with the correct picture. 

How to make omelette

     Then, I watched about how to make a banana milkshake. After that, teacher explained about purpose, types of procedural texts, text organisation, and language features. 

how to make a banana milkshake

     Then, she taught about how to make banana cake and chicken soup. I did the second exercises about chicken soup. Finally, I watched the video about Kylie story from my friends.

banana cake

chicken soup

     In my opinion, the texts about Budapest and Prague were very difficult for me because vocabulary  in the text is difficult to understand and I have never known about vocabulary in the text. 
Thus, my problem is I couldn't understand the meaning of vocabulary so, I will read and memorize vocabulary more and more. 

     My attitudes towards the lesson was I felt enjoyable and very happy with this lesson because it make me get knowledge and experiences more and more.

The 6th week "Description"

 

         On 9th February 2015.In this class,teacher asked me
 to work in group.First,we described the picture about Komodo Dragon.Topics have type,appearance,diet/food,size,and habitat.Then,teacher described body parts about an ant in sheet.After that,I read each description text and answered the questions.Next, I mathed each word with the correct meaning.Finally,I watched video about Kylie's secrets and teacher ordered homework.

Komodo Dragon

    
     In this class,I though that description Komodo Dragon picture is very enjoyable but my problem is I don't know vocabulary about description so I will develop about my memory skill more and more.
      My attitude for this class is attempt because I try to describe about Komodo Dragon although I don't know vocabulary about description.

The 5th week "Narratives 2 "

Narratives(the week 5)

 

    On 2nd February 2015.First,teacher gave us to make 7 groups.a group 5-6 people and we discussed about Kylie's story part 2 and report to the class.After,teacher ordered us to write own feeling about the story.In my opinion,I felt sad about this story because
I think Kylie is a pity girl and I realize children problem is the most problem in family then,teacher gave us to write about feeling for Kylie.Kylie's mother,and Philip.Our group have only one different opinion thing that he admired Kylie because she can get through a lot of thing by herself ant the rest think they felt sorry for Kylie because no one pay attention to her.For Kylie's mother,we have the same opinion.We disapproved of Kylie's mother because she doesn't even thing about take care Kylie.For Philip,we have the same opinion,we dislike he because he always hit Kylie although she was just a child.

     
      After that,teacher ordered us to do exercises.It's easy for me because I understood about the structure of past simple tense,but my problem is few vocabulary so I will read the vocabulary books everyday.My attitude for this class is the unity.