Learning Journal on 12/18/2007

In class, our classmates introduced a host of available websites which can help us learn English. If I were able to study English via these websites frequently, I might polish up my English ability. However, I don’t use them every day because I have no time. I feel that it is a pity. I realize that there is no royal road to learning English well. I wish I were able to practice English at least three hours per day, but it is extremely difficult for me to carry out in action. That is the main reason why I cannot enhance my English ability.

Learning Journal on 12/11/2007

This week I borrowed the book, “iBT TOEFL Vocabulary” in order to remember more vocabulary. It makes a sentence for each word. That would help me realize how to use those words. It also offers some methods like prefixes, suffixes, and assonance to help me memorize each vocabulary. It also gives synonyms as well as antonyms so as to increase the vocabulary. Although I am not capable of remembering the new English words completely, however, I still try my best to memorize all the data in this book.

Learning Journal on 12/04/2007

This week we discussed about contrasting as well as comparing. We are capable of using them in the aspects of people, affairs, and things. We need to compare one with another. We ought to find their not merely difference but also dissimilarity. Occasionally we have to give some instances so as to explain the reasons as well as ideas. As usual, almost everything has both positive and negative sides. For example, none of people would be perfect. We have both advantages and disadvantages. Likewise none of enterprises would be faultless. An executive of a business considers their strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats in order to make accurate decisions. Thus, we might face much comparison in our daily life.

Learning Journal on 11/27/2007

We watched a video film in class, but I could hardly understand what it said. It was too fast to catch it on. It makes me introspect myself. I think that I must polish up my English listening ability. Hence, I begin to listen to “Studio Classroom” in my spare time; nevertheless, I only could recognize some simple and basic words. To be honest, I still cannot realize the complete content after I listen to the same unit twice. In fact, I really feel disappointed. I wonder whether I could improve my English listening ability. I need to memorize more vocabulary in order to comprehend the meaning which they talk about easily. I hope that one day I am able to know the whole meaning that foreigners say totally.

Learning Journal on 11/20/2007

Some people tell me if I would like to polish up my writing in English, I must read more and more English articles in English books, magazines, newspapers or anything else. The reason is that I could learn how to use unfamiliar vocabulary, phrases as well as proverbs via reading the essays which are written by those whose mother language is English or people who master English. For instance, I can read English novels in order to train my reading ability directly and improve my writing capability indirectly. Notwithstanding, it is too difficult for me to read English novels, magazines as well as newspapers.

Learning Journal on 11/13/2007

We reviewed the chapter four in class. In addition, the teacher shared other people’s compositions to us for reference. In my opinion, their creations are even more wonderful than mine. I ought to make self-examination after reading their works of literature. I need to memorize more and more English words as well as phrases in order to express not merely my ideas but also my viewpoints completely and avoid repeating the same vocabulary over and over again. There is no doubt that knowing a host of English idioms as well as vocabulary will be a great benefit to my writing in English.

Learning Journal on 11/06/2007

In my opinion, deciding on a logical order for the points is terribly difficult to me. I cannot find out the relationship between those points. My logic is different from the author’s. Sometimes, I think that my idea is reasonable; notwithstanding, as my teacher announces the answer, I feel shocked due to the difference. I don’t know how to improve the condition and couldn’t have tips on the ordering in hand. It has really bothered me since I studied in senior high school.

Learning Journal on 10/30/2007

I think that remembering English vocabulary is terribly difficult. Every time when I try to memorize English words, I will forget them right away. The phenomenon really distracts me. I extremely envy those who are capable of remembering new words soon and won’t forget them forever. In fact, I wish I could become a expert who masters English. If I were able to read, write, speak, and listen to English, I could make a perfect presentation in English so as to display my ideas as well as opinions to both foreigners and managers.

Learning Journal on 10/23/2007

As I try to compose a paragraph, I should look up words in a dictionary even if I have already known the words because I couldn’t be familiar with the use of vocabulary. I think that it is a terribly serious problem in my writing. I cannot quit this bad habit. That does trouble me a lot. I am afraid that I cannot write the documents in English fluently in time by myself in the future. Perhaps I will lose my job due to the lack of the ability.
Today I fill out a questionnaire about writing in English in class. By this opportunity, I make a self-examination. I reflect that I ought to organize my paragraph carefully in addition to pay attention to the spelling as well as the grammar. Lacking one of them can make my paragraph defective. If I am capable of keeping an eye on the details, my paragraph may tend perfect. I should make a practice of noticing all the segments in my composition gradually.

Learning Journal on 10/16/2007

We talked about “The Parts of Paragraph”. A composition should have a title. The title introduces the reader to the composition, so it should give a clue to the main point of the composition. As we start a paragraph, indent the first line of each paragraph about an inch. A paragraph generally has three parts: a topic sentence, support, and a conclusion. First, the topic sentence is the main–idea sentence. Second, the support in a paragraph explains or develops the topic sentence. Finally, the conclusion of a paragraph summarizes or comments on the main idea.
There are three characteristics in a paragraph. One characteristic of a paragraph is “unity”. In a unified paragraph, all the sentences relate to the topic and develop the controlling idea. Another important characteristic of a good paragraph is “coherence”. In a coherent paragraph, the ideas are arranged logically. The ideas and sentences are in an order that makes sense to the reader. The reader will be able to follow a paragraph easily if the paragraph has a smooth flow. Smooth flow means that one sentence leads easily into the next sentence; the sentences are well–connected. This characteristic of a paragraph is called “cohesion”. One of the methods of cohesion is “connecting words”. Connecting words are words and phrases that show the relationship between ideas. There are four kinds of connecting words: key words in sentences, coordinators, transitional words, subordinators. All off the above are the main content in class.

Learning Journal on 10/09/2007

Miss Chen introduced us the contents of the textbook the day before yesterday. We will learn how to write a paragraph this semester. As I flipped through the pages of my book, I felt surprised that a paragraph could be too long to believe. I thought that a paragraph was extremely short, brief and concise before. Then, we taught chapter one. First, we talked about “Writing off Stress”. In my opinion, I approve that writing is able to help people prevent or heal the sick because it could help people reduce stress. Next, we discussed the article from page five to six. On account of time limiting, we were able to read only one paragraph in class. Finally, we had a test of composition around thirty minutes in order to make our teacher realize our level in English.