Final comments to level 8

I think level 8 is a very challenging but doable. I felt like real university courses with respect to the course work. Not only the research project is similar to university requirement with respect to searching library, writing and presenting, but also reading articles, text book project, evaluating the novel, writing summary and attending formal lectures (public lecture) are all good preparation for university.
Blogging was a really good exercise, not only because of writing but also experiencing doing assignments online is very important because many school now use internet for teaching. I really recommend this level for anyone who wants to attend university as a good preparation.

With respect to unite that I like the most is male and female communication. I was interesting topic. It creates good discussions and I learn how male and female are different in communication. Also ‘Looking for job’ was also an interesting unit. I leanred how to write good CV that has important information but not too much. In addition, animal experimenting was good topic that makes a lot of discussion including the debate. Happiness unite was also interesting and we learnt how to read two different papers and summarize them and state their differences and similarity. This was good learning training.
With respect things that I think should be replaced, I think the international marketing project should be changed to more general one. The exercise was ok but only the topic is not easy and too specific.

Finally, I notice that I learned listening, writing, reading and speaking all together which makes the learning more interesting rather than studying them in separation.

looking for a job: CV

The skill to write a CV is a very important. The layout of the CV may tell who you are. We need to make the CV a good representative of ourselves. It should not be too much info or details or lack of necessary details. It is the very step toward the job (of course after getting the necessary education). I think a CV should be short and written in an easy format. I learned that in many places in Canada they do not want you to write your date of birth or sex. I was surprise because in my country it is important to include that as part of the biological information. In many places in my county, if you know someone (like connection) they help you 100 times better than a good CV which is not good thing!!

Engineering the Impossible: Transatlantic tunnel

The idea of connecting not only tow cities or countries but two continents is very attractive. Transatlantic tunnel is the future!. As we learnt it is impossible because of many things: (1) unlike the other to tunnels (UK-France and Japanese ones), the distance is too long; (2) with the technology and engineering that we have now, it is IMPOSSIBLE. (3) Although not a very big issues because investors can make this issue resolve, but still it may not cover the cost. It could be too expensive to travel, (4) if it is started in our time it may finish after 100 yeas!!! So not practical. I am sure the idea of using undersea tunnel to travel is very smart but I do not see it as intelligent as internet!!.

I think this assignment was nice and fun in which we practice how we sell a project to others.

text book project: international marketing

I think the international marketing was not an easy topic to read and long one too. I had to read it many times to understand it. It was meant for people interested in business or may major in business. I must admit that the level of specification (like being for only business readers) is not so bad. I found it not boring but not easy topic. I liked the examples and comparisons. I like the section about global peace and how international businesses promote peace. I think the review questions were very useful to prepare me for the exam. Figure 1.3 is also useful in which it shows the international marketing task (like visual view of the ideas). Truly, I wish the reading was about something more general topic that interests the majority of people. Still it was a good experience.

Research Project Feedback: additional

This is additional feedback about the researcher paper and presentation (the original post is below)

Ok now we are almost there. I am pleasd with the end of session coming soon but sorry that I will miss you, my teachers and my classmates. I am not a big fan of delivering presentation or actually speaking in public. I used to get stress before presentations. But, one of my teachers told me that practice practice and practice your presentation and know your slides and be knowledgeable about your topics and you will do fine. That’s what I kept doing each time I have a presentation. I try to finish the presentation notes or slides early and practice very well. This makes my presentation run easily, not very easy but less stressful. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING

Evolution

Evolution means the changes from one generation to the next. It is always discussed in books, magazine, newspapers and TV that humans are the evolution of ape species (e.g. chimpanzee, gorilla, and monkey). This is because of the similarity between us, human of course ;), and monkey for example. This similarity is not only on the shape or body but also in brain. However, human brain is very complex and runs complicated functions like language and fine art and even writing. Monkey brain does not process language. Many attempts to teach Monkey language were not successful and even after years of trying and using technology! no way monkey is not speaking like human . They may say few words but that’s it, No language. So, I think human evoluted from human and monkey are just another species that’s look similar to us just like sheep to dogs. They are all belonging to animal group.

I also think with the technology nowadays and scientists are able to cloning (make identical copy of living beings), we may see new generation of animals but not for human brain eof the complexity in human brain.

Research Project Feedback

I think this assignment is a very good learning experience. Last week, I finished writing my term paper and I have just finished the first draft of my term’s presentation which I will delivery next week. After deciding my topic which is language development, I have learned how to set an appropriate outline that captures all the important aspects that I want to talk about. In addition, I learned how to develop a good argument and to present supporting details. I recap my knowledge of the APA reference system. I also realize that writing a research paper of 12 pages is totally different than writing short essay of 2 pages because the more your need to write, the more you need to read. Also, condense information is another skill that I learned. Sometimes, we know a lot about a topic but we need to present it over a short time or write it in little space. So, condensing the information and including enough and necessary details is an important skill.

Regarding my presentation, as I just said above, I am presenting next week but I can say something about it since I have just finished the first draft. I think making the presentation after finishing the paper is easier than writing the paper to some extent because all the readings have been done. But, because we need to select some parts ( like not to present everything), it is not easy to decide which points to include in the slides. I am also worry about going over or maybe under my time. I will practice it to make sure I stick with the 20 minutes.

happiness

Although no everything make people happy, the feeling and the appreciation of happiness is the same. I agree with Myers’s and Wiederman’s articles that maoney is not a reason to be happy. Of course more money makes our life easier and more convenient but still the feeling of happiness is related to other things than money. I personally think social relationships (family and friends) and health are more important for happiness. Especially heath that we tend to take it for granted but once we get sick we appreciate heath. We have an old saying in my country which is “health is a crown in the head of healthy people which is seen only by sick people”. I wish for everyone to have a happy 2008 year and also happy life in school, work, friends and family.

discrimination problem

I have not watched the movie because I was talking with Sherry. But I have an opinion about it. Discrimination was used to be a very serious in USA a long time ago. Theses years, it is getting less and less. However, the discrimination problem is worldwide issues. It is not fair to judge people according to how they look, dress, believe or even speak as well as their gender. I think discrimination goes beyond judging people. It includes not providing people with the same service (education, health, work and justice). As I wrote in some other people blog, the discrimination is a very serious in Africa where people from one tribe may kill, rap and torture people from different tribes. Also, discrimination may includes not treating handiacped very well and give them the same chance like normal people and provide them with the help to function like normals.

population growth

1- are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future in terms of population?

I am not optimistic about the population growth especially in poor countries. There is a food shortage in everywhere. In poor country, the health system and economy is not strong enough to accommodate all the people or at least most of the people. Many people are living below the poverty line. Africa is suffering from AIDS and hunger. Of course uncontrolled population growth has a role because of the weak heath and economic systems.

There is something wrong in the world in last few years .The oil prices are high and food is becoming more expensive. Countries are focusing more on making energy and developing industrially which consumes too much energy that put the earth in danger. We start speaking about global warming due to pollution. Thus, I think birth control should be introduced intensively by educating people not to have many kids while the family income is not enough to support them and make them live in security life in terms of food, heath and education..

2- What do you think should be done in the industrial world in terms of populations? What should be doing in emerging nations?

I think industrial countries should provide fund and encourage scientific research to solve food shortage, population growth, diseases and pollutions. These four variables are connected and they all need to be solved.
For emerging nations, as I just said above, it is important to educate people regarding birth control. Also, health and hunger issues must be addressed. Cooperative work with developed countries may help but the most important things are education and creating many job opportunities.

Learning Language

I started learning English as second language from intermediate school for almost 4 hours every week. But I consider my actual English learning started when I came to Montreal as an adult. Starting learning English at childhood would allow me to be competent English speakers because learning at young age is easier than later. Child’s brain is more flexible to accommodate more than one language.

I think having the guts to speak and make mistake is a very important. I must admit that I sometimes get hesitant to speak English with native speakers because I am afraid of making mistake. But, as I progress with my English classes, I am becoming more confident and pushing myself to speak up.

Practice is the key to learn anything. I try to practice as much as I can when I have chance. I also speak to myself in English (sometimes) and listen to English TV channels which are helping me a lot.

Is super skyscraper good or not?

I think it is not a good thing to have them unless there is a shortage on space like in Montreal downtown or Manhattan. First, there is no point of spending so much money in building them. Second, they cost more money than regular building and the same amount of money can be used to build more regular houses. Fourth, it puts more pressure in neighborhood services like parkings, health care centers, schools…etc because so many people live in small space in the ground but long in the air. Fifth, too many super skyscrapers in one place are not good for the environment e,g. too much garbage, crowed cars…etc. Last, skyscrapers may not last long time and the maintenance is very experience.

Most importantly, I do not see any good reason for them.

LOVE LECTURE

Love is a very beautiful thing in life but it is difficulty to define. I think when you love someone, you care about him/her and try to make their life better and happy. You try to be always available when they need you. I think love needs two people sharing similar love feelings or love will not be complete if it is only from one way (one person love another but the other do not share the same feeling).

The lecture by Judy Castle was interesting and I like the way that she presented the topic and how she made us involved in the lecture (like taking our names and ask us by names to comment). I never thought about different type of love: philia (friendships), Rmance (being in love), Agape (human caring) and Eros (loving our life and trying to make our goals true). It is good to know that

I have a question to you all? Where is love in our brain? If anyone knows please post a comment, I just want to know how we feel love

Also, when you love someone always look behind to make sure no one is cheating on you!!!!

I must admit...

Hello everyone…Ok I must admit… I am stress now specially with the end of the level is coming close. I hope things go nicely for everyone with their research project and other things in their life!

Public lecture: Borderline Personality Disorder

I went to a lecture about a medical condition known as “Borderline Personality Disorder”. This disorder is defined like a serious mental illness and a person with this disorder has unstable moods, unstable relationships with others (like friends, family and coworkers), and also instability in self-image, and behavior.

People with this disorder also have difficulty regulating their emotions such as love and hate. They may view themselves as evil or bad, and sometimes they may feel as if they don't exist at all. Their unstable self-image can lead to frequent changes in jobs, friendships, goals, values and gender identity.

Simply these people may be considered as hard to live with and always making trouble. This disorder does not affect the patients alone but also it affects their families and friends. These effects can be seen as frequent arguments, fights, running away, absences from and poor performance at school and work, frequent job changes and divorces.

I think if you meet a person who is aggressive and trying to make a fight, she or he may have Borderline Personality Disorder and they need help or you should tolerate them because it is not their fault, they just can’t stop it without proper medical help.

Update of my research project

I have made some slight changes to my research project. I am focusing in reviewing the course of language development. I will include some theories of language development, biological bases (brain areas), stages of language development and atypical language development (briefly). While I am reading and preparing, I am really amazed how young baby learn to speak and use language in a very short period of time. Language development is a very big topic but I will try to make a nice and interesting summary when I present in class.

novel project

I think the novel project was a good learning experience. Honestly, I found it difficult to understand everything in details and I had to reread again and again until I got it. Having few characters helps me o focus and be less distractive and remember the names. The theme was not very original just like many other novels about serial killer but the suspense was ok. It is very long but did not have many complex words and sentences except when they talk about autopsy. I like more the beginning and the end of the novel.

Also, I think by reading the novel, discuss it in class, present it and write review, I learned a lot not just reading a novel but more like speaking, reviewing and presenting

Male and Female Communication Patterns

I think there are gender differences, at least during childhood because in general girls have better language skills than boys. I do not know why but I think may be because girls like to play with dolls and kitchen toys and talk a lot during them. Boys are good at kicking, running and breaking things!! So girls spend much time talking than boys. Maybe due genes!!
For adulthood, I think yes women like to talk a lot. It is very common in my country that women talk a lot especially at phone. So, it is cultural + genes

Research Project

I am going to research “language development”. I will try to examine how language develops from birth to just before school age (speaking and understanding). I will also talk about important factors for the development and how to make sure children develop normal language. I will also spend time explaining the important of a critical age for language development.

**I will update this later