Evan

It is my first time to study abroad alone, living in an unfamiliar place which called LEEDS. With parents’ worries, I came by myself here on July 7^th.Staying here for 4 days. Still keep an excited mood to communicate with people who live here and enjoy cooking with roommates, taste different flavors.  I think study here is totally different with my country, China. How to study, here teachers they give us a topic, and then we discuss about that. We all think that is hard to fit in. While a few days passed, we got our homework to do, to finish the exercises, I think not only practice our speaking but also improve our writing and personal thinking that is a great step to help our English and communicate skills. 

Today our teacher taught us how to think independently, I think that it is totally different with teachers which teach us in my country. That is more challenge and also, we could think more. I assume this it did will help a lot. And at class, our teachers always asked us to talk, to communicate, I think this not just make us not so shy and also let our classmates get familiar with each other. It is a good way for letting us to contact with each other and get to know different countries hobbies, I think this is a good way for studying, not just class books, it is that real use in our lives.

Today I hang out with my friends to a place called SNOWSHILL. That is a lovely place with a bunch of lavenders. It took about 3hours to get there, even it is hard to get there. But when you saw views there, you found that it is quite make people cozy and relax. And also, we took many great posts on Instagram. We all totally enjoy today, and hope to see them again. 

These days always practiced my clarinet and had classes, day by day. Maybe after 4 weeks, that would be better. At the beginning, life cycles, I think everyone should find something interesting to do, nor just follow the step of life instead we should walk out this cozy zone. And this weekend I found something to do, go to Oxford with my friend, I think that might be interesting and also take some great pictures there which I could post on my Instagram. That is kind of sharing my life, because when the future I looked back that might be interesting~

It is my first time used YOUTUBE to listen a report which is meaningful to me. The speaker used drawing and imaging let us more easily understand what he wants to show to audiences. And he draws different color hats to show different emotions, but the most important one is also critical thinking-people should have their ideas and use their imaginations to think, to create more creatures that is what Edward De Bono want to tell us.

Ellen

To be honest, it is not easy for me to follow the talk, especially when de Bono talks about some examples and long sentences. So sometimes, it is difficult for me to understand the whole meaning by only listening once.

In yesterday’s lecture, we were taught how to take effective notes. Therefore, I try to use the new method to write down the information that I heard and it is very practical for me. I divide my note into two areas, one section is overview, the other section is key points and details. This way helps me remember the speech and clarify every part of it.

de Bono describes that we need to think of possibility and the purpose of thinking is creating values. We shouldn’t always focus on right answer and judgment. In my opinion, critical thinking is about thinking towards many directions and training your mind to explore and creative more possibilities. This material explains Six Hats very clearly and helps me understand more about critical thinking.

In my opinion, I still have rooms to improve my listening skills. Sometimes, I could not concentrate on the listening material immediately. Every time when the speaker talks about long sentences and long paragraph with a fast speed, it is hard for me to catch up some points, and then I can’t comprehend what the speaker wants to express. In addition, when I heard some unfamiliar words, I just couldn’t help thinking the meaning of it, then I might miss the next essential information.

There are many ways I can do to improve my listening skills. Firstly, the most important thing is to enlarge my vocabulary (like ‘pang’ said). Besides, watching and listening the TED Talk or other video materials repeatedly, which not only can practice my listening but also can improve my speaking skills. The more you practice, the more you learn. Moreover, making friends with different countries and having chitchats with them is also an effective way to get familiar with various accent. 

Melody

We were asked to attended independent seminar on this Monday, and I was really wanted to try new things so I was volunteering to be the leader of my group. It was quite challenging for me to lead a seminar, because I never did this before. I always tell myself to be brave to leave my comfortable zone and try things that meaningful. I’m so glad that I did it.

Despite of the excitement of challenging myself, I did a lot of preparation, not just prepared my speech of genre analysis report, but also how to organise 40min to make sure everyone in my group has chance to express their ideas. As for someone are too shy to speak out, I was preparing the questions to guide them, such as giving background information, the reason to choose this text, and how it related to courses, etc.

Rethinking of this seminar, I think I’m not good at managing time because of the time we spend it’s almost 50min for both sharing ideas one by one and discussing some questions. And I don’t think I am good enough to get everyone involved, I should try harder to make the atmosphere more active so that my group members will be more willing to talk. I should do more preparations of how to enhance people’s enthusiasm. I start to ask myself that controlling the big picture of the discussion is a good way for a leader or not, because sometimes it will restrain people’s mind.

As for the bright side, I think I was very concentrated on everyone’s speech because I need to give feedback to every group member. That’s a responsibility of being a leader. Because of that, I learned so much from everyone’s speech, and some inspirations come from the discussion. I love the feeling to experiencing new things and I am willing to try more to open my mind.