What we read
Bixby and Scanlon introduce each unit with a discussion activity, that is, an opportunity for us to share our ideas on the topic of the unit in a way that relates it to our own lives, ideas and experiences. Unit 1 of book 3 (Bixby & Scanlon [=B&S3], 2013, p.7) does this.
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My response
The research solidly shows that brainstorming or discussion activities for groups are more effective if participants start by working individually (O'Connell, 2010; Markman, 2017). In fact, experts at Harvard University's School of Management and elsewhere are sure that this can be very effectively done using online tools (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2015). Blogging is one effective way to do this, which is the reason I've turned Bixby and Scanlon's discussion exercise into a quick blogging discussion.
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Bixby and Scanlon's questions
In a comment, or two if you prefer, share your ideas on these three questions:
- What are five words that you would use to answer the question, "Who are you?"
- What are some of the social groups you belong to?
- In what ways are these groups important to you?
For all of these, you should write full sentences. You will also need to write a few sentences for each of your ideas, giving explanation, examples and other details to clarify and develop your ideas.
You can address the questions in any order. You can write one comment, or if you prefer, two comments, but not three.
Open a new comment box and start writing. You have five (5) minutes.
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References
- Bixby, J. & Scanlon, J. (2013). Skillful Reading & Writing, Student's Book 3. Oxford: Macmillan Education.
- Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2015, April 2). Why brainstorming works better online. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/04/why-brainstorming-works-better-online
- Markman, A. (2017, May 18). Your team is brainstorming all wrong. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2017/05/your-team-is-brainstorming-all-wrong
- O'Connell, A. (2010, February 4). Sometimes, it’s better to brainstorm alone. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2010/02/when-its-better-to-brainstorm
three words that describe me? "Australian" is definitely a word that describes me. This adjective tells me where I come from and who I am. I'm Australian. That's what my passport says.
ReplyDeleteAnother word is "aging". Unfortunately, I'm reminded of this more and more these days. I'm not the young man I was when i first came to Thailand. For example, it took me minutes to remember the term "regression analysis" for the kind of economic tool that modern economists apply to social problems! A slow brain is a symptom of aging, and that's part of who I am in 2018.
Word number 3? "Male" is a good one. This one is obvious, but it's still worth mentioning. I wonder how my life might have been different had i been a woman?
Number 4 is "brother". Actually I thought of this when i read the other questions from the book. But this is very important to me. I don't live near my family, but I go back to visit every year, and they have always been important to me in my life.
Word number 5: no time. I need to practice typing faster! That reminds me: "lazy" might be a good word. I've been meaning to learn to type in Thai, but I still can't! But my phone can turn my spoken Thai into written Thai these days, so maybe that's not so important.
Oops - meant three words in the first sentence.
DeleteAs you have probably already realised, we can edit our blog posts, but comments can't be edited after published.
That's not a big problem. We expect to make small mistakes when writing quickly for fluency, and if you look will find typing and other mistakes in my writing here. Even the New York Times, which has a very academic style of writing, has these sorts of mistakes.
If I notice a mistake that's not serious, I don't worry about. If I think it might be important, I add a reply like this one, which is what good newspapers and other publications also do when they realise they've made a mistake: after publication, it's better to add a note about mistakes than to simply change the text without telling your readers what you've done. And I've now corrected my mistake made when I was rushing in class this morning.
The "Australian" word is very proper for you that is because most of them are so kind, and you are! In my opinion, your brain ability is not slow. That seems like you are still young!. You have great memory when you tried to remember our name in class last saturday class that make me surprised!! However, do not worried about that brain will develop while you still think, analyze and plan, I believe. About your gender, you are male exactly. Missing home is nice one topic. You feel missing home when you stay far away and it is so wonderful that you have chances to go back home for fulfill and encourage your life. Lastly, you can type extreamly fast. Even though I think I am good at typing but you are faster and better than me.
Delete1.My answer question 5 words are Thai people , accountant, Buddhism,Laos, Vietnam
ReplyDelete2.My Family & SLC from AUA
3 From friends many kinds of groups
I am very interested that why Laos and Vietnam are your characteristics. I guess that your parent or grandparents may be Laos and Vietnam. Am I wrong??
DeleteI also describe myself in Thai-Chinese guy because my grandparent came from China and Chinese culture is around my life.
I have the same question as Gai. Did your ancestors have Laotian and Vietnamese background ? It's quite interesting for me.
DeleteThai-Chinese is the first word that can explain who am I. It's joke that when I walk in Chiang Mai, everyone talked to me with Chinese language and they were surprise that I answered them in Thai. Next word should be glasses guy, I wear the glasses since I was 5 years old and I don't have any idea to do a Lasix for fixing my short sight. Movie lover is the other word that I am, I love to watch documentary and drama movies. If I have a free time, I always go to a cinema.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it before, but reading Gaii's comment, I realised that "glasses" is also a word that could describe me. I've also worn them since I was about five years old. I tried contact lenses for a few months, but could never get used to them. From limiting my participation in sports, to marking me out as different in high school, wearing glasses has influenced who I am.
DeleteThank you Gaii for the new idea.
I sometime have experiences like you.For example, when I went to Japan for exchange program last two years ago, many people think that I am from China rather than Thailand.It may be because many thai people are half thai half chinese.
DeleteThat's so funny when you are greeted by others like you are foreigner because much people speak to me like I am Chinese, some say Korean and Japanese to me. However, my answer is "Can you speak English?". Lesic might be needed when you want to change your appearance, but you will fell lose yourself at the same time. Watching movies are nice hobbies because you cannot only relaxing but also practicing English and learning something new.
DeleteI have experience like you when I buy something at shopping malls or Markets have the Chinese traveller, Merchants often speak Chinese to me and tell price is higher. So nowadays I will speak before they speak to me.
DeleteAnswer for question.
ReplyDelete1. Work is meaning place and job
2. Relaxing. I not meaning on time but I focus freetime
3. Food, local food of Thailand and American food
Right! Work means place and job, but I think it means your love. Most people do their jobs because they fall in love with its. However, some do not. After stressful job, it is wonderful to relax your mind and body, I absolutely agree with that. Finally, international foods are diverse, and they will make you happy when you have a big big meal.
DeleteWho am I? Student, Designer, Friendly, Thai and Cheerful.
ReplyDeleteI belong many social groups such as Family, University's students, Architecture Faculty of Chulalongkorn University, Innovation club, Friends from middle school, high school and university, Exchange Students in the U.S. and Exchange Students in Finland. Each social group is very important to me. It let me to know new people from different background, culture, society and nationality. This help me to be an open-mind person. I know that sometimes There is no right, no wrong just different.
Reading Sine's comment, I started to think about my friend groups. The oldest date to back to my days at university, which was a long time ago now. One of things I always look forward to on my trips back to Australia to escape Songkran (sorry, I don't love it) is to catch up with those old friends from decades past. They are an important part of what makes me me.
DeleteThat's true. For me, each social group has totally different characteristic, For instance, passion and dreams from each group are in different styles. I totally agree with you that They are important part what makes me me.
DeleteThe five words that I use to mention me are friendly, quite talkative, disciplined, quite hard-working and a little chubby. The social group that I belongs to is the camp's group that is called NIP which stands for New Investor Program. I attended this camp when I was a Senior. Nowadays we are still keeping in touch and sometimes hang out and dine out together. This group is important for me since I have a lot of connections who study and work in various fields. So, when I have problems or want to consult in the specific field like Law or Account. I have a lot of friend to talk to.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I wanted to use chubby for myself either. lol
DeleteI also want to invest in stocks or funds as well. So, please recommend me some tips then ^^
"Chubby" wouldn't have come to my mind if I was writing a list of five words for you.
DeleteBut that and Bank's reply reminded me that a couple of days ago one of my aunts posted a photograph on my FB page of me at age eight months old. I was a very chubby child.
1. Bank, smile, friendly, talkative, movie and series lovers
ReplyDelete2. I'm not sure which kind of social groups that the question mean but I could say My family, My close friends, Chulalongkorn Alumi
3. My family are so important to me because they always beside me even though I did bad things and have tough moments.
My close friends who always support me and care about me while I was studying aboard. We have shared happiness and passed sadness together.
I love watching series too. At first I watched it because I would like to improve my English skill but now it changes because I enjoy and love it. My favorite series are game of thrones and prison break.
DeleteI'm series lover too I really like to watch Korean series and quite English and Chinese series. I watch thai subtitie because I have problem about vocabulary. My favorite series is F4 in Taiwan version, it's romantic series.
DeleteI enjoyed the first series of Prison Break, but not the later ones so much. Lately I've been watching Grimm on NetFlix. I like an hour or so of Grimm to relax with. It's silly and fun, and there is definitely no need for serious thinking.
DeleteThere are five words that can explain myself. I am from Chanthaburi, Thailand. I am 25 years old. My personalities are kind and forbearing person. Also, I never give up in my dream. During the process to catch my dream, my family is the most precious group to support me. When I feel exhausted, they hug and inspire me by kind words and beneficial recommendation. Lastly, They do not only support my mind but also funding.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWow, sound good that you never get up your dream. In my view, dreamless persons are pointless and dreams are the most important think to make a life to be meaning. My dream is making Thai people have a good quality health system. What is your dream??
DeleteMy dream is similar to you, but it is not my highest goal. Happy family is my all expectation. Thank you for replying my comment. Also, do not forget to do the homework! ;P
Delete1.Thai, Sweet maker, Thai Food, Cat lover, Yoga beginner
ReplyDelete2.Family - I visit them every week.
University friends - I have dinner with them several times a month.
3.Family make me feel like I'm loved. Even if others don't, They do. They give me lots of advice that solve my life's problems.
My friends make me comfortable when I'm with them.
I'm truly me, don't have to pretend someone else.
Your five words are lovely and meaningful to you. Nice to go back home for having great meal together because you tend to feel freely when you stay with them. Friends are important to me also, without them life might be hard.
DeleteI agree with Jane your words are quite cute.
DeleteMost of your answer are same as me, we can be friend =)
but just some of it like I can't make sweet, play yoga and I'm a dog person. haha
The five words that answer question " who are you ?" is twenty five, economics, banker, pets ,swimming. In addition, the group that I belong to is family. Finally, It is important for me because I have lived with them for all of my life. They are not just family but they are also friends. Whenever I have problems, they are always help me. I have never felt, I am alone.
ReplyDeleteThe five words that describe you are almost the same as me except pets and your age. I do not like any pets. I am twenty six years old. I was an Investment Banking Analyst and My major is my bachelor's degree is Economics too. Also,I like swimming.
DeleteThe five words about me are kind, shy, social media, eating and beaches.I'm a kind and shy person and I like to eating play social media and going to the beach. My social group are family, friend, and fan club group.The importance thing are money, social media and talkative.
ReplyDeleteOh. I love eating too , enjoy going to the beach and play a lot of social medias like Facebook and Instagram.
DeleteYes, eating, definitely eating. I love this so much that my father used to sometimes complain that I thought more about eating than anything else. But eating is an important part of my socializing, and while I'm happy to share some tasty kai yang and somtam with a visitor, I also like to sit in a favourite restaurant for something more special, a pleasure that is shared by my friend Yo's ten-year-old son Ea, who is particularly fond of lobster.
DeleteANd on my visits to Australia, my family and spent a lot of time eating, sometimes in and sometimes out. Now that my mum has retired from active cooking, my youngest brother usually does the roast duck and other delights that bring us together at the same table.
1. What are five words that you would use to answer the question, "Who are you?" - Yok is a woman who has brown hair, always wears eye glasses, loose T-shirt and pants, and looks for some tea to awake her up.
ReplyDelete2. What are some of the social groups you belong to? - I belongs to my family consisting of 4 members: me, elder sister, mother and father, my workplace and this class.
3. In what ways are these groups important to you? - Members of my family are important to me because we love, care about and support each other. My colleagues are the people who co-work with me and make it smooth.
I like to drink a tea too. My office have many kind of tea I can choose, I enjoy to taste its everyday. I think drinking tea when do work make my brain awake. Earl grey and Japanese green tea are my favorite tea. What is your favorite tea?
DeleteI would define myself as optimistic, open-minded, talkative, easy-going and sarcastic. I got to be sarcastic person because of my particular social group, university friends. They used to play sarcastic jokes all the time. At the first place, I couldn't follow them, but now I'm being sarcastic person myself and I'm happy with that.
ReplyDeleteOptimistic is a good personality to have, Sometimes you need it just to not make you too stress about things. I also found myself as an open-minded and talkative. Sarcasm is fun I know, but it can be very nasty sometimes, I wonder do you being sarcastic just for fun or also in a nasty way?
Delete