This semester, I met with my conversation partner only once, so obviously my experience was not that great. However, there are many in the class that had excellent experiences and this proves that it was a good program. It just needs some tweaking.
One thing I think would help get it started is to have a group meeting between the classes. This gives everyone a chance to meet their partner in a non-stress setting. Also, there is not the problem the first time of trying to figure out who your partner is in a cloud of strangers. It can be a little get-together with food and games to get to know each other. This will give a background to make it easier to go off of.
Also maybe a survey of interests would help. This way, you may have something in common to make a starting point when meeting them.
These are just some ideas about how to start off the program more effectively, but after that initial meeting, it really is up to both the partners how to proceed.
Monday, December 6, 2010
My teacher from Spain
This semester, I am taking an European history class with Professor Sola. He is from Spain, and it is easy to see. His Spanish accent is so thick! Sometimes, it can be hard to understand him in class because with a different accent, I don't know which word he is trying to say. The other day in class, he was trying to say "barrier" as his powerpoint clearly said, but it came out as "BAreer."This happens a lot in the class, but we are all able to understand the point he is trying to get across.
What I love most about his lecture are his asides about the differences in the countries. His classes all know he is from Spain, not just because of his accent, but because of the bias in which he presents certain issues. It is extremely clear that he does not like Queen Elizabeth or the French. However, even with these biases, he is able to teach the course without bias. Though he may not like the French, he respected their efforts in the French Revolution, and he said Queen Elizabeth was the best king England had ever had.
While he jokes about the differences in the countries of Europe and the small rivalries, you can see that believes in the European Union. Americans have never had the same prejudices that he explained Europeans had about their neighbors, so it was hard when he was trying to explain the difference that the European Union made in the views of the other countries. However, he said that it was a feeling of nationalism in the continent, not just in their nation. There was a connection between all the countries. So maybe instead of describing my teacher as Spanish, I should describe him as European because that is what he thinks of himself as.
Because I am planning on going to Spain in the fall, I am glad I took this class because by listening to him, I have understood the European mindset a little better. It was interesting to see the differences in the way Europeans view their nation and the way Americans do.
What I love most about his lecture are his asides about the differences in the countries. His classes all know he is from Spain, not just because of his accent, but because of the bias in which he presents certain issues. It is extremely clear that he does not like Queen Elizabeth or the French. However, even with these biases, he is able to teach the course without bias. Though he may not like the French, he respected their efforts in the French Revolution, and he said Queen Elizabeth was the best king England had ever had.
While he jokes about the differences in the countries of Europe and the small rivalries, you can see that believes in the European Union. Americans have never had the same prejudices that he explained Europeans had about their neighbors, so it was hard when he was trying to explain the difference that the European Union made in the views of the other countries. However, he said that it was a feeling of nationalism in the continent, not just in their nation. There was a connection between all the countries. So maybe instead of describing my teacher as Spanish, I should describe him as European because that is what he thinks of himself as.
Because I am planning on going to Spain in the fall, I am glad I took this class because by listening to him, I have understood the European mindset a little better. It was interesting to see the differences in the way Europeans view their nation and the way Americans do.
Conversation Partner, revised
Since I had such a hard time meeting my conversation partner after the first time, I get the opportunity to write about people that I have met that were not originally from America. Fortunately, I have met several. The first I will talk about is my sorority sister, Shealea. She is from China, and she is studying here in America. It is always interesting to talk to her because she is hilarious. She always has something shocking to say, and can make everyone laugh with the simplest things.
I have asked her several questions about what she misses most about China and why she decided to come to school in America. Honestly, the thing she misses most was the sleep schedule. Whenever she goes on holiday, she gets to go back to the fifteen hours! of sleep that she would normally get in China. I'm lucky if I get eight hours a night. But Shealea seems really American in most of her ways. She went to high school here, and because she liked it so much decided to go to college in America.
She has no problems, in the time I have known her, in expressing herself in the language. She has caught on to all the nuances in the English language that take a while to learn.
Meeting Shealea was great because it helped me to understand that for the most part, students are going to act similar. Though there are cultural differences, for the most part she enjoys many of the same things I do.
I have asked her several questions about what she misses most about China and why she decided to come to school in America. Honestly, the thing she misses most was the sleep schedule. Whenever she goes on holiday, she gets to go back to the fifteen hours! of sleep that she would normally get in China. I'm lucky if I get eight hours a night. But Shealea seems really American in most of her ways. She went to high school here, and because she liked it so much decided to go to college in America.
She has no problems, in the time I have known her, in expressing herself in the language. She has caught on to all the nuances in the English language that take a while to learn.
Meeting Shealea was great because it helped me to understand that for the most part, students are going to act similar. Though there are cultural differences, for the most part she enjoys many of the same things I do.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Sea Change
When reading this, I was rather shocked. I thought I knew what it was talking about, but it seemed strange that he would let her go with another girl and then come back to him. The topic of homosexuality was an interesting one to read in the iceberg technique. You think you understand what they are talking about, but I had to go to an analysis just to make sure I would not be making a fool of myself in this blog.
I like the fact that we are reading this after my lead discussion group. During that class we had people write from a similar perspective. It made this a little easier to recognize. While the fact that he is writing about this topic is not at all shocking, it is rather interesting that he makes the male character so understanding of the lady's needs. He not only lets her go, but he even tells her that she will be able to come back to him when its all over. This makes it seem more like an experiment for the girl. Like she's not completely sure what is going on herself.
I feel bad for the male in the story because he obviously is hurt by her decision. It seems like there is pain in his voice when I read it. And the way he watches her leave adds to this. However his change is harder to describe. I think it is just more understanding and a wordliness, but it may be something completely different. It is also interesting that Hemingway names only the barman in the story. Neither the male or female are ever named, unless Phil is the name of the man. I was not sure about that because of the way she said it.
Altogether, although I understood the idea of the piece, the reaction of the man was harder to fathom. In the end, he just kept talking about how he was different, but I was not sure in what way.
I like the fact that we are reading this after my lead discussion group. During that class we had people write from a similar perspective. It made this a little easier to recognize. While the fact that he is writing about this topic is not at all shocking, it is rather interesting that he makes the male character so understanding of the lady's needs. He not only lets her go, but he even tells her that she will be able to come back to him when its all over. This makes it seem more like an experiment for the girl. Like she's not completely sure what is going on herself.
I feel bad for the male in the story because he obviously is hurt by her decision. It seems like there is pain in his voice when I read it. And the way he watches her leave adds to this. However his change is harder to describe. I think it is just more understanding and a wordliness, but it may be something completely different. It is also interesting that Hemingway names only the barman in the story. Neither the male or female are ever named, unless Phil is the name of the man. I was not sure about that because of the way she said it.
Altogether, although I understood the idea of the piece, the reaction of the man was harder to fathom. In the end, he just kept talking about how he was different, but I was not sure in what way.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hills Like White Elephant
Though I have read this story before, every time something new catches my interest. The first time I read it, I was shocked to find out that the "simple operation" was actually an abortion. This was something that I did not expect. However, the more times you read the piece, the more obvious it becomes. Now when I read it, I am not shocked by the fact that they are discussing an abortion, I am more shocked at the different way I understand certain sentences every time I read it.
So much depends on the way you read the way the characters' dialogue. If you read it one way, sarcastically, the idea is completely different than if you read it with the girl being completely innocent. This time when reading the story, I also picked up on small sentences that use the symbolism in the beginning. The last paragraph, when he puts his baggage on the other track could mean a new decision, but there is also the idea that the train is not there, which means a decision was not made. When discussing in my group for the lead respondent assignment, all three of us picked up on different sentences throughout the whole that brought new meaning to the piece for us.
This is very much an example of Hemingway's IceBerg Technique. Because of very little narration, the story is mostly about what is being said. This leaves the interpretation up to the reader. You must figure out what you think Hemingway meant when he was writing "Hills Like White Elephants." This has always been one of my favorite stories by him. It was what first sparked my interest in his writing. before reading this in high school, I had only heard of him. After that I really enjoyed his writing. It is his way of saving the best information for himself. In this story we have absolutely no idea what the readers are actually thinking. We can only guess by context clues and the tone we personally read it in.
I am really glad I picked this story for my lead respondent assignment because I cannot wait to hear what each in the class has to say about the different topics we discussed. I know we each had our own ideas when planning the different assignments, but I think the class can bring new insights. I also look forward to hearing from the people that have not read this story before and that maybe don't understand what it is talking about the whole way through.
So much depends on the way you read the way the characters' dialogue. If you read it one way, sarcastically, the idea is completely different than if you read it with the girl being completely innocent. This time when reading the story, I also picked up on small sentences that use the symbolism in the beginning. The last paragraph, when he puts his baggage on the other track could mean a new decision, but there is also the idea that the train is not there, which means a decision was not made. When discussing in my group for the lead respondent assignment, all three of us picked up on different sentences throughout the whole that brought new meaning to the piece for us.
This is very much an example of Hemingway's IceBerg Technique. Because of very little narration, the story is mostly about what is being said. This leaves the interpretation up to the reader. You must figure out what you think Hemingway meant when he was writing "Hills Like White Elephants." This has always been one of my favorite stories by him. It was what first sparked my interest in his writing. before reading this in high school, I had only heard of him. After that I really enjoyed his writing. It is his way of saving the best information for himself. In this story we have absolutely no idea what the readers are actually thinking. We can only guess by context clues and the tone we personally read it in.
I am really glad I picked this story for my lead respondent assignment because I cannot wait to hear what each in the class has to say about the different topics we discussed. I know we each had our own ideas when planning the different assignments, but I think the class can bring new insights. I also look forward to hearing from the people that have not read this story before and that maybe don't understand what it is talking about the whole way through.
Monday, October 18, 2010
My conversation partner
Tonight at six, I finally met my conversation partner. Due to unanswered emails, this is the first time I was unable to meet with her. It was rather frustrating the last few weeks to know that I was missing the opportunity the rest of the students in class were getting, but now that is over.
When I showed up, I forgot to ask her what she looked like and didn't give her any information about me. So I was there looking for her for awhile, but after all we met. She has lived in Texas for ten years now. She was born in Mexico, but moved here with her husband. She now has two sons. When in Mexico, she graduated from college. Now she is at TCU to improve her English and possibly change careers.
We come from completely different worlds. I am the typical college student fresh out of high school working on my first degree and planning my future. She is a mother of two trying to better her chances of doing well in a country that expects her to learn a new language. Since she has lived her ten years, she has a good understanding of English. She speaks clearly and better than many of the people I remember from my high school!
I really liked meeting her. We talked about where we were both from. Mine was easy, but with hers I learned what it was like to move away from everything and everyone she knew to a completely different culture. Luckily for her, she does have some family here that she lives close to. I am the person that she speaks English to because with all her family and friends she speaks Spanish. Of course, she wants her children to understand both languages so she speaks to them in Spanish and they talk in English at school, but with everyone else it was just what was natural for so many years.
By learning English, she wants to have a better chance in the business world. For almost any job in the United States you have to know English, and she wants to be in a good position. As of my first meeting, I was surprised that she was taking classes for English. It seemed like she already knew how to speak well.
We talked about all the things we like to do in Fort Worth. Being a mother, her interests were in things she could do with her sons. However, we did have a few things in common with what we both like to do... like shopping! I really am excited to meet with her again. It helps my understanding so much of the different people that live here in the US that are immigrants.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
When I read the short story, I was very surprised. I expected it to be more like the movie. Firstly, his parents kept him. In the movie they don't. But what surprised me the most was how he in personality represented those ages as well, not just in looks and problems with his body. As an old man, he was born 5'7". (Can you say painful??) But he could talk as well. It was very weird.
When he went through the stages he really annoyed me. Like he started out old and got younger in his mind. But when it came to his wife, he seemed to stay the same age almost. He started out liking her for her looks when he was 50 and then as she got older, he stopped liking her because she was no longer pretty. In that point, he never actually seemed mature.
I thought it rather crazy how the author presented the people. They were very fickle and soon forgot things, even who he was. He seemed to have a low opinion of people in general. Then there was the fact that all thought it was his fault rather than a medical miracle. His wife and son complained that he would not stop changing and that he should stop what he was doing. In this way it seemed to be a criticism on society at the time. He criticized how the people all seemed to fit into a norm rather than accepting the differences. People were not worried about the health of the old baby as I would have been. It would have scared me thinking that my baby was about to die because he started out so old. No, they were just worried about what society would think about them when they saw him.
Benjamin Button was a weird character in that I wanted to feel sorry for him and his situation, but really could not. In the beginning I did, but soon afterward I was just disgusted with him because I really expected him to mature instead of immature. But I know this is what the world probably felt about him too and it makes me feel like just one of the crowd when I read it like that. However, in the end I began to feel sorry for him as his helplessness set in and he was forced to rely on people who were simply embarrassed of him. The short story as a whole presented something completely original and different. It made me think of how I would react in the case of something so different. Would I be like the ordinary people or would I make an effort to be sympathetic to the situation?
When he went through the stages he really annoyed me. Like he started out old and got younger in his mind. But when it came to his wife, he seemed to stay the same age almost. He started out liking her for her looks when he was 50 and then as she got older, he stopped liking her because she was no longer pretty. In that point, he never actually seemed mature.
I thought it rather crazy how the author presented the people. They were very fickle and soon forgot things, even who he was. He seemed to have a low opinion of people in general. Then there was the fact that all thought it was his fault rather than a medical miracle. His wife and son complained that he would not stop changing and that he should stop what he was doing. In this way it seemed to be a criticism on society at the time. He criticized how the people all seemed to fit into a norm rather than accepting the differences. People were not worried about the health of the old baby as I would have been. It would have scared me thinking that my baby was about to die because he started out so old. No, they were just worried about what society would think about them when they saw him.
Benjamin Button was a weird character in that I wanted to feel sorry for him and his situation, but really could not. In the beginning I did, but soon afterward I was just disgusted with him because I really expected him to mature instead of immature. But I know this is what the world probably felt about him too and it makes me feel like just one of the crowd when I read it like that. However, in the end I began to feel sorry for him as his helplessness set in and he was forced to rely on people who were simply embarrassed of him. The short story as a whole presented something completely original and different. It made me think of how I would react in the case of something so different. Would I be like the ordinary people or would I make an effort to be sympathetic to the situation?
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