Feb 24 2015 Discussion Topic (Video and Article)

Please watch the video and read the article. Looking at both will help you better understand the topic.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/toddlers-tiaras-mom-defends-dressing-tot-prostitute-pageant/story?id=14497042

We will be discussing this topic in class, so please be ready with an opinion.

Remember to read the article at least two times and to watch the video at least two times also.

See you in class!

Matthew

Feb 19 2015 Discussion

Please visit the following website and read the article. Make sure to look up the words or phrases that you do not understand so that you are ready to discuss this on Thursday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/15271979

See you in class!

Matthew

Feb 17 2015 Discussion Topic

Please have a look at this resume and decide if you think it is a good resume or a bad resume. If you do not understand some of the idioms or language, make sure you look these phrases or words up. Use Google to help you out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/18/resume-fail-or-win_n_850353.html

See you in class!

I hope you had a great long weekend!

Matthew

Feb 5 2015 Discussion

Please look at the following article and then consider the questions below.
Remember to read the article more than once and to think about your answers before class.

See you in class!

Matthew

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/12/11/2007121161016.html

Discussion Questions

With your partner, discuss the following questions. Feel free to ask any follow-on questions you like.

1.     Who do you turn to first when you need help?  What about money?

2.     Do you often need support from your parents or are you independent?

3.     Do you agree that many Koreans are too dependent on their families?

4.     How much influence or control do your parents have over your life?

5.     Do you/will you give your children money whenever they ask for it?

Hi Mom!  I need some money. 

Role play- (for 2-4 students)

You and your partner(s) will act out a scenario in which a grown-up son or daughter is visiting his/her/their parent(s) and wants to borrow some money. 

The Son/daughter rarely visits his/her parents and usually only does so when he/she needs help.  He/she has a habit of borrowing money and has a track record of being irresponsible and careless with it.

The parents are tired of seeing their children waste their money and are reluctant to give them any more.  They are also annoyed at the infrequency of their children’s visits.

The teacher will assign you a role to act out.

Son/daughter- your objective is to try to get as much money from your parents as you possibly can by any means possible.  The money can be for any purpose and you must try to persuade your parents that they have to give it to you.  You can beg, cry, lie, exaggerate, make promises and use emotional blackmail if you have to.  Don’t take no for an answer.

Parent- you are reluctant to part with any more of your hard earned cash.  You want your children to be more responsible and stop coming to you every time they want something.   You are wealthy and you can afford to give him/her the money, but you will only do so if you feel that they really need it or are going to use it wisely.  You want to keep as much of your money as you can for yourself.  Don’t give in to them without a fight.

Feb 3 2015 Discussion

Please read the following article without stopping to look up vocabulary.
On the second read, you may stop and look up vocabulary.
On the third read, do not stop and look up vocabulary.

Also, please consider the questions below.

See you in class and I hope you enjoyed the travel home!

Matthew

His and Her Diary from the Same Day

Her Diary:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you, too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

His Diary:

Motorcycle won’t start…can't figure out why.

http://imgur.com/6icZ3

Discussion questions

1.    Do you think this was posted by a man or a woman? Why? What point do you think that he or she was trying to make?

2.    Who do you sympathize with most, him or her?

3.    Have you had similar misunderstandings with your significant other?

4.    Why are men and women so different?

5.    Is it possible for a men and women to really understand how the other thinks?

6.    Would you like to be able to think like a member of the opposite sex? Might there be any advantages in being able to do so?

7.    What does your significant other do that really infuriates you? What are the most frustrating habits that men/women have?

8.    Do you have any advice on how to understand and get along with the opposite sex better?

9.    Imagine you could switch gender for one day? Would you like to try it? What would you do? What would you like to find out?

The following are some selected comments about the article posted by internet users on the social media site Imgur. Discuss. Which do you agree with?

“Not sure if women are too complicated, or men are too simple.”

“The problem is that women try to analyze men as if they're women. And yes, men are actually able to think about nothing. Literally.”

“Women do this all the time...”

“Men are simple. They're the same sort of simple every day. Women are crazy. But they're a different sort of crazy every day.”

“Am I the only one asking themselves what guy keeps a diary?”

‘As a woman, I laughed because it's true.. Why can't we seem to stop this madness?”

“Ladies, when a man says there is nothing wrong, he means THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.”

“Would it really have been that hard for him to tell her that his motorcycle wouldn't start and it's frustrating him? Geezus.”

“Women want an ear, men want a solution.”

 “Women watch too many Drama programmes”