Melt Or Grow? Fate Of Himalayan Glaciers Unknown
By Richard Harris
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/24/151206843/melt-or-grow-fate-of-himalayan-glaciers-unknown
● Factual Questions:
Why do the scientists say some glaciers gain mass today(what do they observe)?
How many the glaciers that are melting are losing every year?
When do the scientists predict the time that glaciers could be gone if they continue at that pace?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
What factors make glaciers melt?
What can we do to prevent global warming?
● New Vocabulary:
cringe - to shrink, bend, or crouch, especially in fear or servility; cower
egregious - extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant
asterisk - a small starlike symbol (*), used in writing and printing as a reference mark or to indicate omission, doubtful matter, etc.
[WHAT]
For last 2 weeks, I have been to Lobs and Lessons, which is children’s after-school community program. Because I love children, I anticipated to seeing them. Also, I have learned about students from generational poverty, so I wanted to find out what I’ve learned from the class such as the hidden rules which are listed on the book. Thus, I looked forward to asking their school-life or family-life. However, in reality, since the program was scheduled by each time such as 30 minutes helping with their homework, 40 minutes playing tennis and telling and making a story for rest of the time, I felt sorry not to get any time to converse with them. Although it was hard to feel more academic atmosphere like previous communities, I had the most interesting time among communities I have been.
[SO WHAT]
Unlike what I expected on generational poverty, what I have found out in reality was that they were just merry and lively like other kids. Even though there were somewhat distracted atmosphere, it was just because they were children. Although I am a kind of the person who feels difficult to approach strangers, there were children who come to me and start to chat. Some of my classmates complained children’s distraction but I thought it was natural because they were children.
In my Jamaican team, there were two boys who did not want to join story activity except one lovely girl, Caiya. At that time, because I tried to find all their behaviors which are come from generational poverty, I wondered whether that kind of behaviors represented generational poverty or not. After I came back home, I asked my sister, who is in their age, what she will do if she were in the same situation, that is she is not interested in international students’ activity. Her answer was she would participate in the activity. Even me, I will be likely to follow the activity. However, I realized that it seemed pushy to judge that they were students from generational poverty. Children are usually frank with their emotion and clear to their like or dislike. Especially, boys in that age usually show defiant attitude for most things. I learned from this that prejudice is strong enough to make misunderstanding. Rather, one boy, after his defiance, showed us his well-informed knowledge about creating a story. Finally, he expressed interest in our activity and I could not find anything about generational poverty at all.
[NOW WHAT]
I felt that if I am good at English, I really want to volunteer assistance like other VCU students in Lobs and Lessons. By volunteering or dealing with children, it seems that I can build many skills for my future. For example, like two boys in my team, I can solve non-participation and teamwork problem with communication although they are children. All my classmates as well as I can be a kind of leader so we can build leadership skill, too. And I am a little bit ashamed to say that I felt that I want to play games, which we have played, with my children in the future. The games did not need many materials but it gave interesting memory even to adult.
My team had insufficient time to make a story, so I realized that we need to be in a hurry to make it for the next time. I also thought because we did not have enough pictures to make a story we need to search more pictures about Jamaica. I would like to share their school-life and family-life for the next time. I really look forward to seeing them this Thursday!
Student Loan Debt Exceeds One Trillion Dollars
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/24/151305380/student-loan-debt-exceeds-one-trillion-dollars
● Factual Questions:
What are Stafford loans and where does the money come from?
When does the Congress let the interest rates double? And is everybody who already has a Stafford loans affected by doubling of the interest?
How did the government reduce the interest rates to prevent student loans from being too expensive?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
In general, in South Korea, children are supported financially by their parents until their marriage. How does your country/culture do?
Trillion dollors is extremely high cost. It would be quite a heavy burden for young people. What can the government do in order to unload fiscal burden for them?
Even though the youth suffered from debt which is come from covering college/university tuition fee, do you think they can afford their health insurance if new law is legislated?
● New Vocabulary:
subsidize - to aid or support with a subsidy
cumulative - increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions
sensitize - to render sensitive.
agonize - to suffer or cause to suffer agony
New York Teacher Ratings Renew Evaluation Debate
By Beth Fertig
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/14/149171348/new-york-teacher-ratings-renew-evaluation-debate
● Factual Questions:
What is one reason why the ratings were criticized?
How are teachers evaluated?
What does the Obama administration try to do?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
How do you measure who is an effective teacher, and what are the judgement factors in evaluating a teacher?
By evaluating teachers’ achievement, what can we expect in terms of the quality of education?
What do you think that teachers are evaluated by students’ improvement on only their academic grades?
● New Vocabulary:
controversy - a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion
fraction - <Mathematics> a. a number usually expressed in the form a/b. b. a ratio of algebraic quantities similarly expressed.
tenure - the right to permanent employment until retirement, esp for teachers, lecturers, etc
disproportionate - out of proportion; unequal
ammunition - any means of defence or attack, as in an argument
contingent - dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional(often followed by on or upon)
arrogance - offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride
astounding - capable of overwhelming with amazement; stunningly surprising
tabloid - a short form or version; condensation; synopsis; summary
Obama ‘Confident’ Health Care Law Will Be Upheld
By Scott Horsley
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/02/149866211/obama-confident-health-care-law-will-be-upheld
● Factual Questions:
What did president Obama say the biggest problem on the bench?
On what did president Obama say getting health insurance has a direct impact?
What are the examples of some popular features of the law making a difference?
How is the health care system in Mexico?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
According to a movie, “Sicko”, majority of the europeans feel content with their National Health System even also, Americans who immigrated to Europe. Why Americans do not want to accept the law that president Obama has proposed?
For the past few years, although provisions of health care have been established and revised in a positive way, why haven’t the problems of the U.S. health care system been solved?
If the law, which president Obama has proposed, is passed, many people are worried about the shortage of physicians. What can the government do to solve this problem?
● New Vocabulary:
uphold - to support or defend, as against opposition or criticism
showdown - a conclusive settlement of an issue, difference, etc., in which all resources, power, or the like, are used; decisive confrontation
grill - to subject to severe and persistent cross-examination or questioning.
appellate court - a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies
brazen - shameless or impudent
activism - the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc.
restraint - the act of restraining, holding back, controlling, or checking
contingency - dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition; uncertainty; fortuitousness
inextricably - from which one cannot extricate oneself
mandate - a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative
summit - the highest level of diplomatic or other governmental officials
initiative - an introductory act or step; leading action
opt - to make a choice; choose(usually followed by for)
[WHAT]
For the last a few weeks, my class went to the Richmond public library and Hollywood Cemetery. First of all, the people who I have met in the public library were more diverse than Lifelong Learning Institute which is composed of the white American seniors. There were one group came from Islamic school and one black guy who said the state of Mississippi is his hometown. Especially, the Islamic group made me more nervous than any other audiences because I did a part of conveying information to my audiences like instructor and there was a real teacher who listened to my presentation with her students. And the fact that there is an Islamic school in Richmond was interesting and it reminded me the United States is the country that respects the diversity in terms of religion, ethnic groups, and cultures. I felt really interesting from them because if I said unclearly, the teacher made a well defined explanation for her students. By doing so, I can learn better expression so it was very helpful to me.
Compared to the previous community, LLI, the biggest difference was the atmosphere. Because LLI is also the institution for learning, it has a stable atmosphere. Moreover, because I could assume that my audiences would be the senior, it had been easy to prepare the topic of conversation before I went to the community. However, audiences in the public library could not be presumed in my head and especially, on our first time to visit the public library, people entered and went out repeatedly, so it created a distracting mood and it gave difficulty to focus on my presentation.
The tour of Hollywood Cemetery was good in terms of outdoor class while enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Unfortunately, because there were many students at there and the voice and distance were too far and weak to catch their saying, it was hard to listen to the guide students’ explanation. However, I really enjoyed the time that we spent outside.
[SO WHAT]
One black guy from the state of Mississippi was my worst audience in my life. From when we just started to converse about general topic, he did not seem to be interested in what I did. But I tried to find out his interesting field, we talked about various topics and finally I found that he was a devout Christian. I took out all my stories about Christianity on purpose, although he seemed to be interested in a little more, he did not often open his mouth. Therefore, I started to do my presentation to attract his attention. From when the presentation started, he showed me the worst attitude as an audience, for example, he began to shut his mouth tight and did not show me any attitude to learn or listen to something. Though I showed him some videos to catch his eyes, he looked elsewhere and yawned even without covering his mouth. I tried to ask him the questions related to the topic or “Are you with me?” to confirm his concentration, he just said “Yes.” It was the only word he said during my presentation. The more time passed, the more I felt upset. Because I was too upset to continue my presentation, I cut the work short in the end. I understand that my English is not enough to convey information to American but it seems a big difference of listening attitude between Islamic school group and Mississippi guy.
By experiencing him, I felt keenly the necessity of teaching the hidden rule of the middle class to the students from generational poverty. Though it is not good to judge people by their appearances and their saying, his clothes were not neat as much as ordinary people. When I showed him the picture of Cello, he seemed to not know well about musical instruments. It is common decency to contact your eyes to the speaker, focus your attention on the speaker’s message and listen carefully when you are in conversation. In addition, if you yawn, you have to cover your mouth and try not to show your yawn to others. If people from generational poverty are not taught about these basic manners, they do not know their attitudes are wrong and rude to others. It is also natural to inherit this impoliteness to their children. But I had just learned the educational problem of students from generational poverty from the book, it was a good case to think this issue seriously and feel through my skin.
[NOW WHAT]
I learned a lesson from Mississippi guy’s rudeness and it offered me the opportunities to look back on my listening attitude. Consequently, I also had my fault. I should have more tried to engage him in conversation and my presentation rather than becoming emotional easily. It could be occurred in any places, such as workplaces, classes wherever many people gather. Thus, I need to control my emotion and it is important for me to build an ability to make the audience focus on my speaking. I think it can be done depending on how the speaker leads the conversation. I also ponder seriously whether I just tried to explain academically at that time. It might make him bored and not interested in. Therefore, I have to reflect the situation and consider this case as changing myself in positive ways.
Facebook May Not Be So Friendly For Those With Low Self-Esteem
By Patti Neighmond
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/26/149237888/facebook-may-not-be-so-friendly-for-those-with-low-self-esteem
● Factual Questions:
What is important to people with low self-esteem?
According to the research, what did people with low self-esteem usually post on facebook? And why do they do that? How about people with high self-esteem?
Why did John Schultz, 24-year-old law student, recently delete his facebook account? How does he depict the feelings that people with low self-esteem suffer?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
If you guess, what contents do people with low self-esteem post on facebook?
What contents do you usually post on facebook? Why do you post that?
If you do not get any comments, likes or thumbs-up, how do you feel?
What do you think about advantages of facebook giving yourself except for letting you keep in touch with friends? Or what do you think about the reason why people use the facebook?
What do you think about disadvantages of using facebook?
● New Vocabulary:
censor - to examine and act upon as a censor; to delete (a word or passage of text) in one’s capacity as a censor
hollow - having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty
resounding - impressively thorough or complete
backfire - to bring a result opposite to that which was planned or expected
distraction - that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration
plaster - to cover (walls, ceilings, etc.) with plaster
psychiatrist - a physician who practices psychiatry
Jefferson Davis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Davis
● Factual Questions
1. Q: What is Jefferson Davis known for?
A: Jefferson Davis was an American politician and president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
2. Q: What did he serve under Democratic President Franklin Pierce?
A: Davis served as the United States Secretary of War under Democratic President Franklin Pierce.
3. Q: In which state, did he serve as a Democratic U.S Senator both before and after his time in the Pierce administration?
A: Both before and after his time in the Pierce administration, he served as a Democratic U.S. Senator representing the State of Mississippi.
4. Q: When was he elected to the provisional President of the Confederate States of America?
A: On February 9, 1861, after Davis resigned from the United States Senate, he was selected to be the provisional President of the Confederate States of America.
5. Q: How have historians appraised Davis’s work as a leader?
A: Historians have criticized Davis for being a much less effective war leader than his Union counterpart Abraham Lincoln, which they attribute to Davis being overbearing, controlling, and overly meddlesome, as well as being out of touch with public opinion, and lacking support from a political party (since the Confederacy had no political parties). His preoccupation with detail, reluctance to delegate responsibility, lack of popular appeal, feuds with powerful state governors, inability to get along with people who disagreed with him, neglect of civil matters in favor of military ones—all these shortcomings worked against him.
6.. Q: Before transporting his remains to Richmond, where was his corpse entombed?
A: Davis was first entombed at the Army of Northern Virginia tomb at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. In 1893, Mrs. Davis decided to transport his remains for burial at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
● Open-ended Questions
7. Q: Most historians criticize Davis’s imcompetence as a leader of military and the Confederacy such as his flawed military strategy, his selection of friends for military commands, and his neglect of the homefront crises. What do you think that what qualities should he have had as a leader and president?
8. Q: What do you think about slavery? Do you think that slavery is contributed to develop the U.S into the most powerful country in the world? Why or why not?
Domesticated Foxes: Man’s New Best Friend?
By NPR Staff
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/18/148758624/domesticated-foxes-mans-new-best-friend
● Factual Questions:
How did the foxes designate to crave human contact?
Why the professor personally does not want that fox become another pet industry?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
What do you think that pets are considered as family member?
Do you think that pets can be friends to human? In what terms of?
What ethic problems can be caused by domesticating genetically designated animal?
● Audrey, what is difference between domesticating and taming wild animals?
● New Vocabulary:
unseasonably - inappropriate for the season
compress - to squeeze together or compact into less space; condense
fetch - to go and bring back; return with; get
cuddle - to hold close in an affectionate manner; hug tenderly; fondle
rundown - in a state of poor health
barrack - a building or group of buildings for lodging soldiers, especially in garrison
dilapidated - falling to pieces or in a state of disrepair; shabby
shed - a small building or lean-to of light construction, used for storage, shelter, etc
lick - to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often followed by up, off, from, etc.)
crave - to long for; want greatly; desire eagerly
desperate - having an urgent need, desire, etc.
recoup - to get back the equivalent of; to regain or recover
exotic - of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized
tame - changed from the wild or savage state; domesticated
As Gas Prices Rise, Natural Gas Vehicles Get A Boost
By Steve Walsh
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/02/147756690/as-gas-prices-rise-natural-gas-vehicles-get-a-boost
● Factual Questions:
20 years later, how much will the gas prices hit; on the other hand, how about natural gas prices?
How much different is it to fill with natural gas and just diesel?
What is the reason that the economics today are far better than they’ve ever been since natural gas began as an option in the transportation market?
● Questions that elicit opinions:
As gas prices rise, what do you think the solution of transportation diffusion is suitable for Americans(or the United States)?
Which is better alternative ways to deal with rising gas price: use a hybrid car or use a natural gas vehicles?
To diffuse the use of natural gas vehicles, what do the government have to do?
● New Vocabulary:
flurry - sudden commotion, excitement, or confusion; nervous hurry
halfway - to half the distance; to midpoint
- almost; nearly; just about
trucking fleets - a large group of ships, airplanes, trucks, etc., operated by a single company or under the same ownership
retrofit - to modify equipment (in airplanes, automobiles, a factory, etc.) that is already in service using parts developed or made available after the time of original manufacture
scrapped - to discard as useless, worthless, or ineffective