Last assignment:reflection paper

    In the beginning of this semester, my classmates and I were wondering what to choose as an optional class for the two degrees. We originally decided to go to the French class since we want to learn one more language. However, I didn’t think that I could handle so many languages a time to read when examining at the end of the semester. Finally, I chose this class named CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning). Why would I choose it? Actually, I initially thought it sounded easier to pass, which was a terrible for a student. However, as I came here to listen to the class first week, I changed my thinking. This class introduces me many useful websites I have never heard before, which help a lot for me when doing reports. Besides, all those websites are in English, so I can enhance my reading and listening skills at the same time, such as TED, Totalrecall, and Podcast.

     Now, I’d like to comment on the website, TED. It contains many inspiring videos for people in different aspects. Mag Jay, the speaker in the video I saw, told us not to waste our twenty. She said," Thirty is not a new twenty, so claim your adulthood, get some identity capital, use your weak ties, and pick your family. Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do. You're deciding your live right now." I think it worth watch for every twenty people, especially students at the age like me. Many people once said it's time for me to decide what I am going to do in the future right now. However, how I can think about my future without well knowing what I truly want. The third grade in college is coming after two months, which is also the last two year counting down leaving here. This video really taught me a lot for me not to feel afraid of the coming future.

      Another useful website, maybe I should say the application, is the MyET. Actually, I have heard it once before the teacher introduced to us. However, I have never give it a try because I did not have time. Now that the teacher makes us use it during the class, I can finally try it. I think it help a lot for those who are not the native speakers. With this application, I can fix my pronunciation so that I can communicate with foreigners smoothly someday I go on a vacation or study abroad. Moreover, many companies require English ability as a necessary one to hire their employees. If I perform well on my speaking, I can leave them a good first impression, which means I get a success first step toward my job.

#7 MIT OpenCourseWare

    I think the MIT OpenCourseWare is a very helpful software because it can be used in our learning lives. Some online programs provide the videos in class, even the interactive education. Moreover, it also provides a great help for those who always have reports to do like us. Besides, when reading the articles or watching the videos on the website, we can enhance our listening and reading skills at the same time. For us, sometimes we are not interested in the school classes, it could be a chance to take a look at the courses of foreign colleges. Since the MIT Open CourseWare is made by the MIT, most of the classes are beneficial for those who work or study in industry. When you use these programs at home, it seems that you are taking the real lectures in the classroom there. This website also sets an example for other open courses.

#6 TED movie

     I'm now a sophomore and twenty-year-old person. Many people said it's time for you to decide what you're going to do in the future right now. However, how we can think about our future without well knowing what we really want. The third grade in college is coming, which is also the last two year here counting down.

    Mag Jay, who is one of the speaker in TED, said," Thirty is not a new twenty, so claim your adulthood, get some identity capital, use your weak ties, pick your family. Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do. You're deciding your live right now." I think it worth watch for every twenty people.

Video : 【TED】二十歲的你應該明白的事

#5 Short story

    My name is Lucy. There are only four people in my family including my mom, my elder brother, and my younger sister. My dad died because of the cancer when I was in the third grade in high school. It was had time for me to pass through the time without him since the college entrance exam was coming. I suddenly lost my support in my life, so I barely had no target and effort to move on. However, one day I had a dream from my dad, telling me never my faith toward my life because he would always stay with me by my side. In the end, I entered the NTUB, and I think my dad would be proud of me.  

#4 Steve Job's Commencement address

The expressions I have learned from Steve Job's Commencement address

1. You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that dots will somehow connect in your future.

2. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything.

3. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love.

4. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what to believe is great work.

5. If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.

6. Remembering that you are going die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

7. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

8. Stay hungry. Stay foolish.



Video resource : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUUjU4Om0KI

#3 A useful English listening learning website - Podcast

    Actually, I have never heard of this website before the CALL class. However, I immediately fell in love with it after the teacher showed us about it.

    As a foreign-language-learning student, I always have to listen to dialogues between foreigners no matter what their accent are. But, sometimes I barely understand what they are talking about, which really disappoints me very much. To my surprise, I gradually understand what I have heard because the Podcast provides a conversion to play the conversation in the slow pace. 

    Now, with the help of Podcast, I practice my listening skills over and over again to make it better. Moreover, I won't bother to ask my classmates for translating for me anymore. As for its weakness, I think it will be more helpful if I can choose the topics I am interested in.

#2 Weekly homework-useful dictionary

Vocabularies

(1) preferable

      more desirable or suitable

      It was also viewed as preferable to a sacking which could prompt legal action.

(2) swap

      give (one thing) and receive something else in exchange

      This time they swapped their preferred beauty parade for some concerted tight exchanges, of which Mealamu's try was the icing.

(3) commuter

      a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis 

      More early morning rain and mist is also on the way for commuters as they travel to work the following morning.     

(4) neighborliness

      a derivation of neighborly: Characteristic of a good neighbor, especially in being helpful,       

      friendly, or kind      

      The sun, his friend for the moment, seemed sullen today, not wishing to warm the straw and heat his limbs in any magnanimous act of good neighborliness.

(5) enhance

      strengthen (an existing feeling, idea, or habit)    
      She said the educational system reinforces the idea that there is only one right answer, stifling creativity.

The comment after using the online dictionaries

    Before I have the CALL lesson, I have never known there are so many kinds of useful online dictionaries. After giving them all a try in class, I think the Oxford is suitable for me: an English learner. Why would I say that? It provides detailed definition to each vocabularies; moreover, there are at least two sentences in every one of them. As a non-native speaker who wants to learn English correctly, this kind of online dictionary does provides much help.