Well. I’ve dragged myself back in following a mid-term week of coughing, sneezing, spluttering and milling around aimlessly…yup, if it’s February in Edinburgh so it’s FLU time! I missed History (when we watched a video about the Dark Ages), French (I think we did a listening assessment, but I haven’t checked) and Study Skills (when I missed presentations on how good Study Skills is!).
I came back in for the last hour of Spanish, and all of Literature. Jordi mentioned that I don’t have to do some things for Spanish if I don’t want to, but I’m still not sure exactly what my options are!
In Lit we read a passage from a rock biography and did a wee assessment, but the questions were more concerned with the sentence structures than the content; I wasn’t concentrating on that enough and suspect I wrote too much in the wrong direction. Lesson – read intro carefully and mark KEY words in questions before starting to answer. We’re going to read “Heart of Darkness” & “A Streetcar Named Desire” for the class, so I did a bit of background research on them…
The big loser last week was my planned mid-term reading and research; I did nothing! I didn’t have the concentration powers available…I’d pick up a book or folder, but within about 5 mins I had to put it down again. I managed to complete the assessment about “An Inconvenient Truth” for Scott, but it’ll need a proof read.
Anyway, this week:
Today: Try to speak with Jordi to find out exactly what I’ll have to do if I want to take the actual Adv Higher.
Tues – I should speak to Letecia (if she’s in!) and plan out intercambio. Finish Communication assessment. Do some prep for the Philosophy of Lang class. Is Sara back?
Wed – Speak to Deborah about missed class.
Thurs – Ask Scott for planned dates, as I need to start working on presentations etc.
Fri – Speak to Evan about missed class.
Maybe get some cough medicine!!!
Monday 22 February 2010
Monday 8 February 2010
Monday 8th
Morning,
So last week we did some presentations in both Study Skills & Communication. On Monday Marta & I got a chance to practise our Spanish presentations, which was useful: having the opportunity to have a dress rehearsal really makes you realise what you have clear and what requires a bit of work. In the Spanish class everything went well, and I slipped a few subjunctives! Observing others on Monday was interesting; the way people used their personalities to overcome nerves & technical issues, the importance of the voice, eye contact and smiling!
Thursday was a little less serious, although the Dragon’s Den programme showed the absolute necessity of good appearance, being very well prepared, being able to deal with tricky questions and keeping cool. From our ‘sales’ presentations I observed that enthusiasm and humour worked well, and it was best not to get too technical.
I worked away on the Communications assessment as planned on Tuesday, did a proof read on Wed, and handed it in on Thurs. I read up a bit for the night class and arranged to meet Sara in a café…but by the time she got there, it was nearly time to go! Again I felt quite confident during the 1st half of the lecture, but the 2nd part just went too deep too quick. I know Sara feels about the same, and I reckon the older lady in the class is similarly bamboozled but what does the girl next to me scribbling away about??? I guess in a ‘heavy’ lecture you will feel a bit worried that you are the only one not getting it…so that’s when talking to other students is really important; you also have to recognise the bluffers!!!
I went over my history essays again noting key points, names, dates, acts etc. The Chartists seemed the most interesting, and I hadn’t written it in such a historical style so I picked it for the exam. I reckon I wrote a good essay which answered the question, covered the main points and was written well…but it sure hurt my hand!!! I haven’t had to write that much by hand since….I don’t know the 80s?? Are there any exercises to toughen up the hand muscles??
I reckon I’ve got those 13 verbs that take etre in the past: aller, venir (venu), retourner, rester, arrive, entrer, partir, sortir, monter, descendre (descend), tomber, morir (mort) and naitre (ne) …As Cedric said, there are a lot of opposites so that helped. Also trying to say a sentence seemed a good idea: Je suis allé au cinema, mon grand-pere est mort en 1992.
At the weekend I realised I had no outstanding work…sure there are always things to do: tidying folders, reviewing notes, revising, etc. but I did feel pretty free. I really enjoyed the gym -I didn’t feel that I should be hurrying myself so I could get back and do some work. It’s important to be able to turn one’s mind off from work and “detach from oneself”!
This week:
I should do some more prep for the Communications presentation: Peru? The History project: Thomas Cochrane? Spanish chat: (what did I agree with Jordi??) Cambios en nuestra sociedad and el turismo?
Tues– gotta get the bike fixed! So do that after Literature, then back to library for a couple of hours…. try for a haircut.
Wed – use time between French & Spanish
Thurs – there’ll be less time as we restart the tutorials, and I have evening work.
Right that’s yer lot!
So last week we did some presentations in both Study Skills & Communication. On Monday Marta & I got a chance to practise our Spanish presentations, which was useful: having the opportunity to have a dress rehearsal really makes you realise what you have clear and what requires a bit of work. In the Spanish class everything went well, and I slipped a few subjunctives! Observing others on Monday was interesting; the way people used their personalities to overcome nerves & technical issues, the importance of the voice, eye contact and smiling!
Thursday was a little less serious, although the Dragon’s Den programme showed the absolute necessity of good appearance, being very well prepared, being able to deal with tricky questions and keeping cool. From our ‘sales’ presentations I observed that enthusiasm and humour worked well, and it was best not to get too technical.
I worked away on the Communications assessment as planned on Tuesday, did a proof read on Wed, and handed it in on Thurs. I read up a bit for the night class and arranged to meet Sara in a café…but by the time she got there, it was nearly time to go! Again I felt quite confident during the 1st half of the lecture, but the 2nd part just went too deep too quick. I know Sara feels about the same, and I reckon the older lady in the class is similarly bamboozled but what does the girl next to me scribbling away about??? I guess in a ‘heavy’ lecture you will feel a bit worried that you are the only one not getting it…so that’s when talking to other students is really important; you also have to recognise the bluffers!!!
I went over my history essays again noting key points, names, dates, acts etc. The Chartists seemed the most interesting, and I hadn’t written it in such a historical style so I picked it for the exam. I reckon I wrote a good essay which answered the question, covered the main points and was written well…but it sure hurt my hand!!! I haven’t had to write that much by hand since….I don’t know the 80s?? Are there any exercises to toughen up the hand muscles??
I reckon I’ve got those 13 verbs that take etre in the past: aller, venir (venu), retourner, rester, arrive, entrer, partir, sortir, monter, descendre (descend), tomber, morir (mort) and naitre (ne) …As Cedric said, there are a lot of opposites so that helped. Also trying to say a sentence seemed a good idea: Je suis allé au cinema, mon grand-pere est mort en 1992.
At the weekend I realised I had no outstanding work…sure there are always things to do: tidying folders, reviewing notes, revising, etc. but I did feel pretty free. I really enjoyed the gym -I didn’t feel that I should be hurrying myself so I could get back and do some work. It’s important to be able to turn one’s mind off from work and “detach from oneself”!
This week:
I should do some more prep for the Communications presentation: Peru? The History project: Thomas Cochrane? Spanish chat: (what did I agree with Jordi??) Cambios en nuestra sociedad and el turismo?
Tues– gotta get the bike fixed! So do that after Literature, then back to library for a couple of hours…. try for a haircut.
Wed – use time between French & Spanish
Thurs – there’ll be less time as we restart the tutorials, and I have evening work.
Right that’s yer lot!
Monday 1 February 2010
Monday 1st
So, let’s start with Tuesday’s plan –
Go to the library at 1pm – Nope, didn’t go at all.
45 mins on Philosophy of Language notes – 15 mins at home = 15 mins on bus. That did aid considerably my understanding of the 1st half of the class. Sara cancelled the planned meet up beforehand.
45 mins on Spanish presentation – Nope. Nada. Zilch. Had to be put back, and was more of a priority.
45 mins with voila – 10 mins on bus on way home. I still don’t really like the layout or structure of the book, but it’s what the teacher uses, so needs must!
What went wrong with the plan? Well, for one thing I agreed with Jordi to give the presentation next Monday, so it immediately became much more important. It’s a bit pointless making any kind of detailed plan on a Monday morning when teachers are going to give you work during the week, which will require preference.
Then my cousin came round for lunch and a chat. Now, for those of you who don’t know cousin Helen; she speaks Italian, works at student recruitment in Dundee Uni, studied Philosophy and is studying French part time. So, we had a chat about my applications, some general Philosophy basics, and the pleasures of learning French when one is fairly confident in a Latin language. I left the house feeling satisfied, stimulated and motivated. Did I regret not following my study plan?? Did I hell!!
Of course, it’s important to get into good study habits, and there will be time with assignments and exam revision that it’ll be crucial to organise a detailed timetable but on a weekly basis? WHY? To prove I can?? It seems a bit of a waste of time to prepare something every week, only to adapt it every time. Is that a failure, or just realistic adaptation??
I’m afraid it just reminded me of a kind of 9 to 5 job...you always feel you should be doing something, and if I wanted that kind of job, I’d be working in one, thank you. Studying is not just about learning facts or techniques; it’s about developing as an individual, finding your own way of thinking, you own preferred work methods. If it makes you happy, gets you through the course and keeps your grades, teachers and college happy, then it’s good!!!
I felt good following the exchange of ideas with Helen; just as I do when I chat with nearly anyone I know, about what I’m doing and where I’m going. That I feel is a crucial part of this process: getting positive vibes about the whole damn thing.
Anyway….Deborah did a revision class and said we WON’T be using Voila much, so I did quite an hour’s work on the Spanish presentation on Wed.
On Thursday, I got a conditional offer from Glasgow…yeah!! I also went to the library, and continued with the Communication assessment. I also finished off the Spanish presentation…now all I need to do is practise speaking!
I read through my Chartist and Women’s vote history essays…it was very interesting to look back over them!
As for next week:
Tuesday: finish Communication assessment. Spend an hour preparing for the Language class: go back over last week’s notes and read up a little on the next part. Do some more history revision…although Thursday pm & Friday morn are the most crucial times!
Go to the library at 1pm – Nope, didn’t go at all.
45 mins on Philosophy of Language notes – 15 mins at home = 15 mins on bus. That did aid considerably my understanding of the 1st half of the class. Sara cancelled the planned meet up beforehand.
45 mins on Spanish presentation – Nope. Nada. Zilch. Had to be put back, and was more of a priority.
45 mins with voila – 10 mins on bus on way home. I still don’t really like the layout or structure of the book, but it’s what the teacher uses, so needs must!
What went wrong with the plan? Well, for one thing I agreed with Jordi to give the presentation next Monday, so it immediately became much more important. It’s a bit pointless making any kind of detailed plan on a Monday morning when teachers are going to give you work during the week, which will require preference.
Then my cousin came round for lunch and a chat. Now, for those of you who don’t know cousin Helen; she speaks Italian, works at student recruitment in Dundee Uni, studied Philosophy and is studying French part time. So, we had a chat about my applications, some general Philosophy basics, and the pleasures of learning French when one is fairly confident in a Latin language. I left the house feeling satisfied, stimulated and motivated. Did I regret not following my study plan?? Did I hell!!
Of course, it’s important to get into good study habits, and there will be time with assignments and exam revision that it’ll be crucial to organise a detailed timetable but on a weekly basis? WHY? To prove I can?? It seems a bit of a waste of time to prepare something every week, only to adapt it every time. Is that a failure, or just realistic adaptation??
I’m afraid it just reminded me of a kind of 9 to 5 job...you always feel you should be doing something, and if I wanted that kind of job, I’d be working in one, thank you. Studying is not just about learning facts or techniques; it’s about developing as an individual, finding your own way of thinking, you own preferred work methods. If it makes you happy, gets you through the course and keeps your grades, teachers and college happy, then it’s good!!!
I felt good following the exchange of ideas with Helen; just as I do when I chat with nearly anyone I know, about what I’m doing and where I’m going. That I feel is a crucial part of this process: getting positive vibes about the whole damn thing.
Anyway….Deborah did a revision class and said we WON’T be using Voila much, so I did quite an hour’s work on the Spanish presentation on Wed.
On Thursday, I got a conditional offer from Glasgow…yeah!! I also went to the library, and continued with the Communication assessment. I also finished off the Spanish presentation…now all I need to do is practise speaking!
I read through my Chartist and Women’s vote history essays…it was very interesting to look back over them!
As for next week:
Tuesday: finish Communication assessment. Spend an hour preparing for the Language class: go back over last week’s notes and read up a little on the next part. Do some more history revision…although Thursday pm & Friday morn are the most crucial times!
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