Final blog entry-----Being Bilingual

This semester is nearly end, and my blog may also have a break. Every letter in this blog was typed with my fingers, every story was told from my heart. Everyone, see you next semester!

I have been in America as an international student for two semesters. During this period, my English advanced much and I learnt much about America. Being bilingual gave me much benefits but also some trouble. The best advantage of bilingual is that I can have both American and Chinese friends. In this way, I can receive more information and have various university lives. Another benefit is that I can learn both west and east mode of thinking. Americans and Chinese think in different ways on many questions. But they each have his strong point, and I can have both of their strong points. Another one shocked me is staying in two kinds of culture. There is so much difference between them. Since I am a bilingual student, I can understand both cultures deeper and monolinguals can never do this. For example, I understood the story of “grass-mud-horse” and can tell it in both English and Chinese. But any monolingual person cannot understand the story like me. But there is also some trouble with my second language. Since English is not my mother tongue, I always have words spelling and expressing problems. And I can not speak it fluently as my first language Chinese. Also, I need to learn much more basic knowledge about English language. When I a trying to write something with English, it usually takes a much longer time than in Chinese.
Generally speaking, I am glad that I can speak two languages, it benefits me much. I can study in both language and others cannot do it, I can live in multi-culture society but monolingual cannot, and there are more points bilingual benefits me. In one word, it is a pleasure to handle two languages; it brings me a various life.

Response Apr.14

Elizabeth Hill talks much about the writing literacy like photograph and so on. However, originally, they are all defined as “writing”. In this sense, I would like to talk about writing literacy in my own country----china.
As we know, the Chinese writing system is one of the oldest known written languages. According to some research, some of the earliest examples of ancient Chinese writing date back to 4,000 years ago. China is such a enormous country that it owns many different kinds of language. They are two main languages, which are Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese together with numerous dialects. Although the spoken languages vary from region to region, all Chinese write the same word. The Chinese writing was the one unifying element that brought all these languages into one standard written language. For instance, while the pronunciation of the word “one” may vary from Mandarin to Cantonese, the written character is the same. Spoken Chinese has changed remarkably over the centuries, while Chinese writing has changed little from the ancient Chinese. There are four distinct periods of Chinese writing---Oracle Bone, Greater Seal, Lesser Seal, Clerkly Script.
Traditionally, the Chinese characters are written in columns. These columns are read from top to bottom and from right to left. Because this writing system uses a single character to represent a word or phrase, there are literally thousands of symbols. This enormous amount of characters accounts, in pat, for the high illiteracy rate in China. In an effort to circumvent this problem, the People’s Republic of China introduced a program to simplify the language into a set of commonly used characters. The current writing system we use today just contains approximately 6,000 of these characters.
Current Chinese writing includes two main methods, one is classical Chinese symbols, which we learn in Chinese class and we are supposed to recite them as well. The other is baihua method which includes vernacular Chinese symbols and is what we use in our daily lives.

Literacy VS Technology

I agree with the opinion which technology is another form of literacy, and they were shaped by each other. At very beginning, literacy is only about wood board and sculpture. As the technology processed, words and papers were developed, so we had better type for literacy. Also, literacy helped technology develop. We record technology with literacy and pass it on. Now, we have advanced technology--- the internet. With internet, every can record their own literacy and upload it, so it can be broadcast to the world. What is more, compared with our ancestor’s literacy with sculpture, ours are much more diversity. For example, we not only have books, pictures and music, but also have something more attractive, such as IM, blog and YouTube. These fantastic literacy forms are all based on technology development. Relatively, technology could not advance so fast without literacy. Each invention is based on human dreaming and designing. As we have desire of a better life, technology processed.
Generally speaking, literacy and technology helped each other advancing in an incredible speed. We will have more diversity literacy and higher technology in the future.

Persuade me, come on!

I think videos can impress people most. Because human always interested in something can move itself with sound, it is like someone is talking to audience. In that way, audience will focus more on speakers’ words, and they can understand the purpose of speakers better. Also, it will be easier to persuade them. As an example, there are two versions for a story, one is novel and the other is movie; if we ask people that which version they prefer, most will chose movie. So, if someone want to persuade me with a media, video presentation is the best choice.

Fifth literacy blog entry

This time I want to talk about dreams. I am sorry to say that I got mono last few days and I had a seriously fever, 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It is really a hard time. I felt so terrible that I even felt death came to me.
While I was sleeping in fever, I dreamed my body was burning on bed, the flame of fire around me as a storm. I was struggling on the verge of death. I tired to jump out of the fire, but it could not make it, I was falling deeper and deeper in the fire. When I nearly lost, a hand showed in front of me, and I did not know whose it is, I just caught it and the one pulled me out. Then I was awaked.
I know it sounds like a paragraph in movies or stories, but it was true and happened on me. I always think about this question these days, if I did not catch the hand in the dream, I might already died in the night.
Dream is unpredictable sometimes. Some dreams look back on history, some predict the future, some mean nothing, and some have delicate relation with truth. It is hard to say what is the relationship between dream and reality, but sometimes dreams have incredible power. Dreams can make people happy or sad; also they can give people hope or frustrate them.
To the other meaning of dream, people own their belief. And their belief made them advanced, also made the world advanced.

Forth literacy blog entry

I think many had heard about that a creature named Grass Mud Horse and its friends was created by Chinese net buddies. China was trying to block something that the officers thought they were not beneficial to internet environment. But something they did not expect was they deleted too much. So that it affected the freedom of speech of Chinese. Then Chinese created some creatures to satirize this event.
These creatures are all named by Chinese dirty words, but they were not exactly dirty words. Chinese used partial tone to name them. For example they used “Grass Mud Horse” instead of “fuck your mother”; they had almost the same pronunciation in Chinese. These creatures were so famous that almost every Chinese known them. Also, some foreign Medias reported them, such as CNN. Additional, one creature named “River crab” occurred. This one had nearly the same pronunciation with the word “harmonization”. It showed Chinese government emphasized the policy of harmonization too much, they controlled too hard on internet, and it had affected normal life of Chinese people. Too much was harmonized. So they made the story of “Grass Mud Horse” fought with the “River crab” to hint they could not stand in such a hard policy. Reporter of CNN said a sentenced that my entire friend thought it was classical “But it involved their mothers.”
This should the diversity of literacy, it can critical much but without any dirty word. But people’s anger was released out. It also should nobody can give too much pressure to the society, or people will fight against it.

Third literacy blog entry

I was told that music can effect human emotion, but I did not notice it was a truth. Today, I found that music really works well on that. I worked at the cafeteria this afternoon. I was so tired because there were extra many came to my station today; also, my station was lack of one member, so my work was extremely busy. I was so exhausted that I told myself many times I should quit. Finally I got a chance to take my break. I sat in the corner, drank a glass of sprite, and tried to quit. Suddenly, a beautiful song came out of speakers, someone told me it called “Love story”. I felt so good with the song, it was like the sun shining around me, all the terrible feeling was left, I was relax because the enjoyable melody. After I back to work again, I tried to sing pleased songs myself, and it works well, I felt much better, even there was still many came.
I think human emotion has much relation with music, musicians write music when they were happy or sorrow, also, when others listen to music, they were effected by music, they feel happy when music were joyful, and lost when music were said. In conclusion, music means much: sometimes, we can listen to music for fun, but more important, music is a kind of psychoactive medicine, helps people to have a better life.

Second literacy blog entry

I do not know why that I felt so frustrated today. I should be happy as the sun shines in the sky. I do not know what should I do, and my friend told me that I looked like lost my soul. With my mind went blank, I looked at photos that I took in the great canyon last week. Then my mind was taken by one of them.

I still remember the day. The sky was so low that I felt it nearly melted with earth, and I was the connection of them. I stood at the edge of the cliff; I had never been so close to the sky. With one more step, I would fall down. I did not have any fear that time, the only thing I thought about was “Come on, one more step, I can hover in the sky as an eagle.” I understood much at that time. Human life was so small when we faced the magnificent nature. Days and nights pasted, the great canyon still stood there, but human changed generations by generations. When faced the age of great canyon, any human emotion or memory was not deserved to be proud. I felt it even was not important to talk about living or death. Everyone should open their mind, as broad as they can, till the edge of the sky. Everyone should have a free life, like an eagle enjoying in the sky, nobody was meant to be caged, both their mind and body.
I stood there, thought a really long time, stared at the horizon, enjoyed the attractive scenery, and told my friend to take the picture for me to memory.

First literacy blog entry

When we are talking about literacy, mostly we are talking about reading and writing. Literacy happens in our daily lives. Literacy happened when we having conversations or lectures. In previous day’s visual project, I was trying to figure out what does literacy means in my mind. And now I want to express it with my words.
I was confused when I first time saw the word “literacy”. I did not even know there is any relation with my life. I thought it was jobs of litterateurs. But after deep thinking, I realized that I was wrong. Literacy is a complex term concerns everyone’s daily life. Basically, it is about reading and writing, and after we expend it, we can see that it has different meaning to each.
To children, literacy mostly means a way to know the world; also, they feel outside and express themselves with literacy. They are learning from watching and listening. Children feel happy or sorrow because of literacy, and they express themselves by talking or writing.
To adults, I think literacy means much to their social relationship and success, because adults need more communication. Whatever they had conference or interview, literacy is extremely important to them.
To seniors, literacy is a tool that gives them an enjoyable time in their last days. It is not only a way of killing time, but also improves their life quality. For example, seniors who can read and write have richer life than the ones who cannot do that.
To me, my literacy is still processing. I need to learn more and create a better life for myself. And I also feel different culture have diverse literacy. I was living in an eastern country, and I felt much difference in literacy between eastern and western countries.
In conclusion, literacy means way of thinking and living, people with literacy always have a better life.

Literacy, culture

Literacy teachs me much. I can speak both English and Chinese, as I stay in different countries, I feel much difference between two culture. We have defferent on the way we talking, sociality. For example Chinese do not say much when people meet, usually we just say "hello", but American talk much, like"how is going", and Chinese hardly have a party, people in China living kind of "silently". Also, much difference can be notice in social behavior, for instance Chinese are told to have manners, they cannot do what they want in public area, but American live freely, people can go outside with slippers, they sleep outside on grass, sit on ground, it is a easier way of life, and there are much more difference in culture, these are all literacy brings us.

KISS - Because I'm A Girl

A Day in My Life

I get up at about 8. I was like “Oh, no!!! I just want to sleep some more, I do not want to go class!!!” Anyway, I had to get up. It was a good time in class; I could always know something I do not know and I enjoy the time there. After class, I went to shaw hall for lunch, it was a terrible time there, foods in shaw was extremely disgusting, I always hope to have better foods next time, but Mr. God never takes care of me. After one more class, I could finally back to my dorm and had a rest. Some time I play games to relax, but most times I do my homework. After dinner and watching a movie, I go sleep and that is the end of one normal day. Before sleep, I always pray for a better day tomorrow, but, tomorrow go with the first line again……

photo analysis

This photo was taken by Charles Porter, At 9:02, on April 19, 1995, Gulf War vet, Oklahoma City Bombing.

This photo impact me much, it showed how dangerous the bombing was. The little just died; nobody can stop it. His life stopped at the very beginning. What a pity! We can imagine what happened before the bomb. Maybe his family was having a happy meal together, or his parents were telling him a funny story, what a happy family they were, but every thing gone. Look at the boy’s body, I felt so upset with it. He must have much pain when fire came, how can a little boy suffering this horrible thing. The fireman also felt sad, no one wants to see such a little boy die there, he was watching the boy with such a sad face. He must pray for the boy, hope he has a better childhood next time. I stared at this photo for a long time; my heart seems to be prinked. Just imagine, a child cried in the fire, but the fire blocked the firemen’s rescue, they cannot do anything to reach the boy, but stood there and look at it, after they put off fire, the boy did not cry any more, only left was silent. A fireman rush in the building, and came out with slow steps, stared at the boy in his arm with bleak eyes.

Frost's List

1. I want to have a good sleep
2. I want to stay alone
3. I am expecting the spring break
4. I wish to have good luck
5. I want to reach 4 point on each course
6. I hope the snow can be more heavier
7. I wish to have infinity money, so that I can buy whatever I want
8. I want to go Bungee Jumping
9. I want to have a good eyesight
10. I hope less will ride on route 31
11. I like computer
12. I am good at skating
13. My favourite color are black and white
14. I am confused with my grades of this semester
15. I wish not to spend next Valentine's day alone
16. I want to be a member of honor college
17. I am a Chinese
18. I am not on the right track now
19. I am trying to concentrate on someting
20. I miss my family and friends much
21. I plan to go to Florida next year
22. I want to learn how to play piano
23. I used to get up early, but I failed this semester
24. I like math course much
25. I want to speak English as an American
    

I feel excited with this commercial, it was amazing, the song was good, but the best thing of this commercial was its idea, the ground become water pool, I can even feel the cooling this commercial brought, going to buy a sprite, feeling it!

STOP FAKING IT!!!

Everyone should express himself or herself truly. Too many fake in world of today, people do not hones at all. But how can a world processing without faithful? I heard a story about faking “A boy always call for help when he felt boring, and when he saw others came to help him in a hurry, he became happy and excited; soon, nobody came to help him, when he was really in trouble one day, whatever how many times he called for help, no body came to help him.” Also, faking is harmful to oneself. Faking too much may cause forgettery, the may confuse about oneself, and it is hard to oneself to remember the fact. Besides this, the one faking lives in a highly pressure, because the one must always pay attention to his or her words and action. Son that nobody know the one was faking. Just imagine how trouble it is! So it is easier to be faithful, which is the better way to live.

Homework #4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

The article writes about concentration camp during World War 2, showed exactly what The Nazis did in the concentration camp, they killed millions of innocent lives. To people today, it reminds us do not forget the fault someone made, and avoid it. The social form of this passage is special; it is during the war, so reader can learn something from it.

This passage does not have any emotional view, all the content is data from statistics. It also does not have any conflicting emotion, but anyone who reading this paragraph will have a conflicting emotion, because the number of death was too terrible. The author probably wants readers remember the history, and make our life better.

Author used parataxis, data column, and image as rhetorical perspectives. The paragraph wrote directly what the Nazis did without ambiguity. These rhetorical perspectives help express the horrible in the concentration camp in a better way, tell readers the mistake Nazis did.

The debatable rose of this passage may be why the Nazis did that, and how could they do that, everyone also may want to talk how to help victims survive; nobody would like to see this. Of course the author had sufficient evidence wrote this, all the references are listed at bottom. And nobody is able to argue with these truly data column.

It seems the Nazis hated Jews; almost all the Jews were killed. To the article itself, there is no ethical problem to be considered.

Position of Mother Tongue

Everyone has his or her mother tongue. No matter how many languages one handled, mother tongue is unique. When Amy talked about her mother tongue, it came different with her mother. Her mother cannot speak English well, others always confused about what she was talking about, although she can have normal working and communication, which is because her mother tongue is not English, so that she cannot express herself well. The author seems to be a bilingual, so she can know exactly what does mother tongue means to one. She said that the mother tongue can give her best feeling when she using that.
To me, mother tongue means a lot. When I read the part about her mother, I felt same things happened on myself. When I just arrived America, I cannot talk with Americans. At that time, I was so excited when I hearing my mother tongue. I felt warmness, happy, it seems I backed home. Now, my English is better, I can do a lot with English. Even though, when I try to say something with deep sensation today, Chinese still is the best way for me, as Amy said “So easy to read”.

Homework #2

Ten categories of skills that I brainstormed are listed as below:

1. study
2. work
3. acting
4. sports
5. cooking
6. communication
7. teaching
8. farming
9. arts
10. gaming

Many skills are under these categories, As an example, we can ask people about sports

1. organizing sports events
2. participating games
3. ability of single sports, like swimming, running, racing and so on
4. ability of team sports, like football, basketball and so on
5. extremely sports
6. being a judge in games
   
7. reporting sports games
8. fitness
9. electronic sports
10. being cheering squad

Words Language World

Words, it is not only means words itself, sometimes, words means the world. When we reading or listening something, the first we realized is language, then what we can understand. We can hardly understand anything without language. Words not only help us understand others and express ourselves better, but also form different kinds of culture, form history and the world. First, words helps us understand others and the world, also helps express how we feel. Almost all we can learn are from language: news, technology, history and so on; and so does what we want to express: sometimes we write diary, say something we feel happy or sad to friends or write them down. All of these are done with words, almost everything is based on words, nothing can be better than language. Second, language record history and helps descendant know it, to continue our civilization. In this way, we can say that words formed the world.

First day

Genesis

¹ First God made heaven & earth ² The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. ³ And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. ⁶ And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." ⁷ And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. ⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. ⁹ And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.