New Start!

Actually I didn't know how to start my blog this time because it's quite hard to face to my failure. However, I really relaxed when I first stepped out. I failed at my listening because there was no enough time for me to transfer the answer to my answer sheet and I misunderstood the question paper was the final answer sheet. So stupid I was!!! I could give up because I didn't have to pass the E7 for any further education. But I decided to pass it through my harder working.

After one week study I found it's helpful for me even though sometime repetition of the same content is a little bit boring. But I study from different teacher from before and I reckon every teacher has something different  that we can learn from. This time is quite unusual because there is no special class for the repeaters. At the begining I thought it was not good because we were wasting time on the same thing instead of the weak skills that we should really concentrate on. Whereas now I think it is effective to study with some new classmates because we can learn something new from others which we haven't learnt before.

In this module, I will focus on my listening, especially the note-taking. I will follow the strategies last module and find other useful methods, then share with my friends later. It's time for study...hope everything goes well and pass the E7. Then I can go back for holiday soon and meet my lovely, lovely puppy!

Discussion Board 3

Subject: RE:English is lingua franca around the world !!! 
Author: Minjia ZHANG
Creation date: Thursday, October 7, 2010 11:40:44 AM EST
Date last modified: Thursday, October 7, 2010 11:40:44 AM EST
Total views: 2  Your views: 3

Parent Post--by Mohammed Saeed A ALSHAHRANI
As we know, English regarded as a lingua franca/global language all over the world. People who are from different nations . Communicate with each other in English, It is spread across culture and improve economy. There are several of reasons to present why it is as a lingua franca. Firstly, English become language of technology, America grew powerful through technology innovation. Furthermore, economy is a majority factor to lead English as a super language. People do business from different countries, and make money from trade by communicating in English. It shows global economy can be improvement. Finally, it is educational language , it means many subjects use it to describe these knowledge to be understood and involved such as Medicine, Computer, Engineering and accounting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I absolutely agree with you on the issue. In my opinion, the trend of lingua franca depends on the ecnomic power. Look back towards  the history, there were several reasons which pushed the English language being the dominant language in a numbers of countries. Then many documents and information were stored in English. In the modern society, more and more countries adopted English as their compulsory courses in basic or tertiary education. It has been spreaded widely and widely. Furthermore, computer usage especially internet which was invented by American became a significantly important element in our lives. People nearly cound not live without the techology. It is involved in public service, daily work or social lives. Also English is the primary language on the internet. So English is definitely the lingua franca in the world.

Discussion Board 2

Subject: ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP  
Author: Minjia ZHANG
Creation date: Friday, October 1, 2010 10:16:55 PM EST
Date last modified: Friday, October 1, 2010 10:16:55 PM EST
Total views: 5  Your views: 5
Parent Post--by Rita AZAR
 When you migrate to another
country, it's very important to speak the language of this
country.  People who receive the Australian citizenship must speak English
in my opinion.  I'm not talking of a high level of English but at least
the common language that will help you when you go at the grocery store, when
you have to call for an emergency or when you have to explain to your doctor
what's your problem...  Speaking the minimum language of the country where
you migrate gives you more independence and self confidence to face every day’s
life situations.  It's also a sign of respect for the people of this
country to understand and be able to communicate with them.  If you want
to go to University or work, you will then need a higher level of English.
Some people are afraid to loose their traditions or even forget their first
language if they speak English.  I think you can do both: speak the language of
your new country and keep your traditions.  This can only make you a more cultured person.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I saw your great opinion and actually I partly agree with you. But I 'm afraid I've got the different view with you on " People who recieve the Australian citizenship must speak English ...". It sounds quite strong and unreasonable and also it has not been legislated into a law. I think it's necessary for a people who wants to immigrant to get the language skills of the country they choose which is important and necessary in their daily lives no matter public service or private needs. For the case of Australia, everybody who wants to be a citizen has to get a ILETS mark over the standard and know about the history and culture here as well. That means they do need to speak English and get preparation of being a Australian. However, language is just a tool of communication which assists people to live well, not the stuff that drives people's lives. For example, if a person can talk with his/her friends in another common language, they do not need to speak in English even they are in the English-speaking country. It's the personal rights everyone does have. In addition, the biggest feature of Australia is multicultrual, everyone can share what they have which is interesting and amazing. That's the stuff that make Australia be more attractive.

Discussion Board 1

Subject: RE:Importance of English in economic growth of exports 
Author: Minjia ZHANG
Creation date: Friday, September 17, 2010 1:24:05 PM EST
Date last modified: Friday, September 17, 2010 1:30:15 PM EST
Total views: 16  Your views: 13

Parent Post--by Katherine Russell
If a company wants to grow and become multi-national, global English allows them to sell their products worldwide.  This has an effect on employment opportunities for locals as they will need to speak English to find a job. Is this a positive or a negative?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It brings much more positive effects than negative ones because with the development of multi-national companies, more and more people intend to learn English as their second language which can help them to find a good job. Some people reckon that it would produce a culture-shock in the countries where people do not speak English. However, I think it's really a good challenge to the locals which can help them to train their brain and a opportunities to enjoy mutil-culture, and the development also provides so many job opportunities to the countries as well. In addition, it's pretty easy for the people who can speak English to travel all around the world.

the last reflection...

Well, this is the last reflection of my E7 learning journal blog which sounds a little bit sad. Actually at the begining with the task, I thought it was so redundant because there was already so much homework waiting for us.But now I think it's quite useful sometimes. We can review what we have learnt and what we should improve. Also this is a good platform for communication with classmates, helping each other and making progress together.

Today we did a listening practice, everyone thought it was easier and we hoped that the speed of speaking in the EOC exam would be similar to this one. The skills of taking notes are important and we have to distinguish the digression and the key information.

My presentation has not been finished,555555~~~so I really have to hurry up with it. I guess I must be nervous in the exam day, more or less. One friend told me it was better to remember the main structure and try to speak it in your own words. Because although the transcription is wirtten by yourself, you still can not remember exactly what you wrote. If you try to recite that, then you will focus on your memory and probably you would lose your eye-contact with your audience and not be natural...

Tonight I'm gonna go to sleep earlier, otherwise I can not concentrate on the study tomorrow.
Finally, Let's make a wish...everyone will pass and see your guys at the university...O(∩_∩)O~

Ongoing assessment~

We had a writing test last week which is used to assess how much we have grabed and what problem we have got. It was not very difficult because we had discussed in group before writing. I did a lot of work last week so that I didn't update my blog on time, sorry about that.


This week I got the result of the wirting assessment which is quite satisfatory to myself because I supposed I have not pretty much idea of the critical analysis writing. But I do have to work hard on the area because grasping critical thinking is very important in the later study. One thing that would be hard to me is the extensive vocabulary, the new words. If I can not get the main idea or the details of the article, I can not analyse it in a correct way.


Last week I did some listening practice and I tried to take notes of the lectures. I can understand most of the meaning which surprised me because listening was my weakest skill before. I think I should continue to focus on it. We should understand what other people say before we reply to them, so it is really necessary to be improved.


For Speaking part, I have to do a good preparation for my presentation which could help me to be more relax instead of being nervous. I have fininshed my main part of content but did not start with my visual aids. So in the later week, I will concentrate on doing the powerpoint. But it will not cost much time of mine because as Kate said," It is the stuff to assist your speech not to drive your speech."


Finally, recommend some useful websites, hope everyone can do well in the EOC exam!!!Fighting~~~
http://www.ted.com/
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
Also both TED and ABC could be stored as a software in your iPhones which is really conienvent to listen, no matter on the train or in the kitchen,hiahia~~~

Melbourne Show--Carnival (Sep 25th,2010)

Yesterday I had fun in the Melbourne Show at showgrounds which is a fantastic carnival for all the people in Melbourne. I found that a good way to practice my oral speaking and listening as well is to participate public events like this as much as possible. Because our teachers always try to speak clearly and slowly to make sure we can understand all what they say. It's quite good for the class indeed. But it's impossible to ask everyone we meet to adjust their speaking speed for us. So I have to improve my listening even with some accents and my speaking also. Anyway, the show was so so so...great !!!


Return back to my study, we mainly focused on critical analysis writing this week. I suddently found that maybe I began to realise a little bit what a critical analysis is. It always took me appoximately 2 hours to finish whereas now maybe I can get the idea quickly although there are still several problems in it.

This week I did rarely on listening skill but watched soap opera every day which was helpful as well. I found quite a lot information about my oral presentation but it also needs to be organised. One thing which could be the most difficult for me is to relax and be natual when I am giving a speech in front of my classmates. I remembered the last time when I gave a presentation in E6A, I was really nervous and within an inch of forgetting everything I prepared. That's really a terrible memory for me but also a lesson to me. So I have to do a good preparation and practise enough.

Today is going to be the history while tomorrow would be a present. Go to bed and have a sweet dream, then welcome the next exciting day even there will be much tough...

Good Try

E7 has gone through over one week which already made me feel so frustrated and stressed. I finished my homework at the weekend. That's my first time to try how to write a critical analysis essay...totally different from the ones before.


Today (20/09/10) I trudged to the school with such a sleepy body in the morning. Acutally I could not concentrate on my study at the begining. But I know it's quite hard and should be followed step by step. So with the tutorial and patient guidence of Mario, I began to know a little bit about the important elements of critical analysis wirting which are argument, bias, evidence, logic and tone/language as well. I will not lose my confidence to learn although it really...really confuses me.


I think the writting is the most difficult one for me because we have practised discurssive, argumentitive or cause & effect essays for a long period. All of these made me quite familiar to them. Then I have to overcome several troubles of critical article which are what is critical analysis, how to find the important elements which could be cirticized, and how to aviod the same errors with the original article writer.


In addition, I will carry on my research of oral presentation. Actually I thought the topic would be quite easy at the begining, but now after a serious of research, I found it was difficult because there was not a huge mount of information which i can use. However, I still do not want to change my topic, I will pay more attention on it. Hope everything will be OK...


Anyway...the new week is coming...try to overcome all the difficulties even though they are hard...because no pay no gain...(be written on Sep 18, 2010. but so late to update...)

My Long Journey~~~

E7 could be a long journey even though it will last for 5 weeks because I really felt it is tough and quite different from the study in any other levels. I think I have to concentrate on my study especially the weak areas and think about some strategies which could be helpful.



1. Listening could be my weakest area among the 4 skills. I want to get at least 5% higher than the last mark I got which was 80%.

• go to the ILC and use the resources at least twice a week.
• try to have some extra listening practise out of the class and talk with others who have different accents.
• access some good websites (eg: TED or ABC) to listen to some updated news and try to take notes.

2. Speaking(Oral presentation) is also the area whick I should pay more attendtion to. I want to get at least 5% higher than the mark I got in E6A which was just 70%.

• get really good preparation before the week 4 whick might help me feel not so nervous in the exam day.
• practice  body language and eye contact within the presentation in the limited time.
• try to speak with intonation and control the volume appropriate.
• communicate with friends in English as often as possible which could help me to speak much natural.

Hope my English skills would be improved through my hard hard hardworking~~~~~~~~~hahaha O(∩_∩)O~