ELC Insights - Spring 2016

S P R I N G

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English Language Center Insights A Newsletter for & about our student & faculty

Language? It’s ongoing The Beauty Of Change Written by Janice Anoka Students enjoy indoor climbing at the Wabasha Hall Climbing Center

Students prepare to read poems on the Winona Radio station KQAL in honor of National Poetry Month!

What’s inside?...

Students Writing This semester our student did a lot of writing and reports.

Civic Engagement Project

Student Culture

Understanding

students take us on a

the meaning of civic engagement.

Two of our ELC journey to their culture.

People say change is the only constant thing in life and I agree. For the ELC student at Winona State University, Change seemed like dragging the world but somehow with the help of all our instructors, we scaled through. A lot of the ELC students came to the United State with little or no knowledge of English, but somehow we embraced the beauty of change and a new culture, a new language, we fought with grammar, communication, writing, pronunciation and lots more. I have watched myself and classmate progress from one step to another and every step we have dealt with the best of our abilities. All of our instructors have carried us through and have used the best method possible, I would say we are not the best, we are not perfect but the change is ongoing.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

How to Be a Good Student

By Mike Yu To be a successful student, you need to follow the following points:

First, successful

student need to communicate with their teacher, because the teacher can help students to improve the learning progress and be to understand better.

Second, they should go to class every time on time to ensure that they have quality learning Students enjoy a night of games during Conversation Partners night in March

time. Third, they should be active during class, and

participate

actively

when

they

have

-------------------------------------------------------Successful Students

by Raghad Almahsnah

discussion. Forth they need do their homework all the times. They are not afraid to make mistakes

Successful

because we can learn a lot from mistakes. Fifth

students

have

several

they should take notes during class that will help

characteristics. First, successful students take notes

to review important points. Finally, they need

during class to study for the exam. If the teacher

practice, because practice always make perfect. It

writes important things on the blackboard, students

not hard to be good students, but it hard to be

know that they must study them. Second, students

always be a good student, because we need to

work with groups. If they have project or

stick with good habits. That will be tough but

homework, they learn to help each other and know

worth it.

mistakes. Third, they go to class every time on time. Like me, I’m never late for my class, so I improve and spend more time with the teacher, but some students in my class don't come to class on time, so they don’t spend more time with the teacher and they don’t improve. Fourth, students do homework .all the time. If the teacher gives them homework, they do homework on time because the grades go up, work improves and they get help. Also student are not afraid to make mistakes on the exam or anything because students learn from their mistakes. Successful student’s

Students wave from the frigid Lake Winona during February ice skating at the Lake Lodge 2

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

News Article Summary Writing from Karla’s 025/035 Students The Starfish Project

STARFISH PROJECT

By Janice Anoka

By Hamad Aldowais

In this article “Starfish Project” the

According to a report in Winona daily news, by Stefani Schmidt, there are three

author, Stefani Schmidt reveals the activities

students from WSU are planning to do some

of three of Winona State University’s student

volunteering work and make documentary helping people around the United States after they graduate from the University. The name of the article came from famous Story in the past, it’s about a boy was helping starfish on the beach and return them one by one in the sea, then there was a man saw him and asked what the difference can the boy make, which

who decided to be civically in their youthful age. According to the author of this, article the student Kai, Wiley and Spencer together came to a decision, to be involved in voluntary activities which the mission to not make profit but go around places in their gap periods or gap year to assist others.

Their inspiration came from a popular TV

means small thing maybe will make a big difference.

show “Buried Life ” and also, the name “Starfish” came from a popular story in the past. They travel to places to help people, get

Starfish Project

messed up at their expense and they’re

Written by Tianyuan Bai

delighted to do it.

This article “The Starfish Project” by Stefani Schmidt tells us about three students

Starfish Project Written by Kyoonghoon In the article about the starfish project, the author STEFANI SCHMIDT explain that three students from WSU who are volunteering and helping others.

in Winona State University teamed up to make a group names The Starfish Project, and they make plan to spend most of summer together to help other people.

After that the author tell us the three students make three plan and record their work.

Three graduate students create nonprofit project named ‘starfish’ and using documentary to help after they graduate their university. Starfish named from parable.

They go another place to help others and then the students explain why they use “Starfish” named their project, they use one famous story to explain this project real implication. “To

They started at South Dakota first time and according to Hovden, they have a fresh experience while they helping some other countries.

express how anyone can do anything”. One of the three students-Hartz said.

At last they say their plan is hard to start but they won’t stop the trip, they will do their

They inspired from famous MTV show and then they maintain that anyone can do anything.

best to help other people.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

Civic Engagement Research Paper - Written by Abdullah Al Dharfan There is some disagreement to define Civic engagement of different resources, but the purpose is still the same.

There is a lot of research that studies the difference in Americans’ engagement. The research shows different kinds of activities of civic engagement and percentages of Americans who are or are not engaged. I will be defining civic engagement, discussing trends and showing examples.

Civic engagement has a substantial range of definitions. Some definitions of civic engagement emphasize participation in service community, collaboration, joining activities, and the citizen’s role in a group of people. Some other definitions point out citizen’s responsibilities, whether alone or with others. GPC Engage defines civic engagement as “being active and participating in the community.” Being active and participating in the community means citizens are effective in their community. Participating in community means showing your action as a citizen. The community is any group of people such as friends, family, neighborhood and student club. GPC Engage uses different symbols such as a heart, pencil, microphone, and thumbs up. These symbols have meanings of civic engagement. The heart symbol for community service means showing ability and action that improve your community. The pencil symbol for academic courses means learning about community issues then share it with your community. The microphone symbol for advocacy means speaking out and validity to share opinions and ideas. If the citizens are silent and they do not share their ideas, they won’t achieve improvement in their community. The thumbs up symbol for voting means the ability to vote in your community. These symbols are about how citizens contribute in their community. Citizens could contribute their time, knowledge, skills or money. The benefits of contributing are for all individuals who belong to the community.

The trends in civic engagement show percentages of different groups of Americans. There are two kinds of activities, civic activities and political activities. Civic activities mean your action and participations in social community and these activities are irrelevant with government. Political activities mean your action and participations in activities that are relevant with government. Adler and Goggin show four types of engagement. 48% of Americans are Disengaged, 20% are Electoral Specialists, 16% are Civic Specialists and 16% are Dual Activists (Adler & Goggin). Disengaged are Americans who almost do nothing of civic activities or political activities. Electoral Specialists are Americans who do nothing of civic activities, but they do a lot of political activities. Civic Specialists are Americans who do a lot of civic activities, but they do almost nothing of political activities. Dual Activists are Americans who do both kinds of activities.

The highest percentage shows that Americans are not active in their community, which is not good enough to achieve the improvement. I think showing these percentages are important to make people realize what things they should be active in.

Adler and Goggin explain the impact of being asked to volunteer (Adults Age 55+). According to pie chart that Adler and Goggin show when the older people were not asked 17% volunteered, but 83% did not volunteer. The other pie chart shows when the older people were asked 16% did not volunteer, but 84% volunteered. It is a big difference between these two pie charts, which means we can get older people to volunteer by asking them. I think older people have desire to volunteer, but sometimes they do not know when to volunteer. Asking older people is an easy way to get them to volunteer, which means simple things can make a big change.

The examples of civic engagement show how the individual affects the community. Universities in the US support civic engagement. For example, each year WSU chooses a university wide theme, which serves as a center for engagement that involves the students in the Winona community, such as class projects, lectures and community workshops. The students at Boy & Girls Club of Rochester participated in two projects that connected them with kids (www.winona.edu).

WSU teaches students how to connect things students learn in classes with their lives to help to improve their community.

According to the GPC engage, research tells the impact of civic engagement on the students. The research emphasizes that the students who are engaged get high grades, pass difficulties to achieve their goals and also they have larger social network. That means when individual affects the community, he will be affected.

This project defined Civic engagement, discussed the trends and showed the examples. Civic engagement is the individual’s responsibilities to be involved to develop the community, such as showing energetic actions, sharing opinions and helping others. Adler and Goggin show the four types of engagement. The four types are about percentages of Americans when they engage in civic and political activities. WSU is an example of universities in US that help the students get involved in the community, such as Boys & Girls Club of Rochester and the students also learn to give back to their community. The students who are engaged achieve success.

Work Cited Adler, Richard P. & Goggin, Judy. “What Do We Mean By Civic Engagement?” Journal for Transformative Education 3.3 (2005): 236-253. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.

Engage GPC. “Unpacking Civic Engagement.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 15 July. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-sPZlCpxfY Winona State University. Community Engagement.Web. 12 Feb. 2016. http://www.winona.edu/engagement/default.asp 4

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

An Illustrated Reflection of China By Tianyuan Bai

China is a country that has a long history for over 5000 years. It is situated in the east of Asia.

Beijing is the capital. Chinese civilization is the world's oldest civilization, and today it's largest with well over a billion people. It's home to more than 50 distinct ethnic groups and a wide range of traditional life styles often inclose partnership with nature. We know that China faces immense social and environmental problems, but it is beautiful here too.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

Category 1: Helping Other People Questions Sample Responses What are the benefits of helping others?

• •

Feeling happy, I like to help students because my job requires this; desire to learn new things and acquire knowledge; get a smile, improve knowledge In club I help the football team because it is my habit; listening to other people’s questions and helping them to solve their problems because then people help me; I give people what they need, for example, money, because I may need help in future; I offer technology help to others because I want to help spread the use of technology

• • • •

No I don’t exercise because I don’t have time due to work and study.

When I do exercise, I feel better than if I do not exercise.

I like exercise but I don’t know why.

I like it because it makes me healthy.

• • • • •

How do you help other people? Why?

Category 2: Physical Exercise Do you like exercise? Why or why not?

What kind of exercise do you like? Why?

• I like running, swimming, and bicycle riding because these activities are easy for me.

• I like running because I just like it.

• I like yoga because it relieves my stress.

• I like walking and biking because it is easy to do.

Category 3: Connecting with Friends and Family How do you communicate with your family?

• •

What are the benefits of family and friendship connections?

• •

I connect by phone or by meeting.

I connect with text message, Skype, Viber, Snapchat…

Family and friendship connections support me.

It deepens the relationship between friends and family.

• We talk about problems and my family helps me.

• Solve problems.

• I can explain my situation.

• Feeling comfortable.

How much time do you • I spend all my time with my family when I am home. spend with your family?

• I go home two weekends each month.

• I try to go home every weekend because my family is nearby in Wabasha.

• I spend time with my family once a week.

• Only on weekends.

• 2 hours per week.

How much time do you • Every day. spend with your friends?

• 10 hours per week.

• During the week.

• 24 hours per week.

• Maybe 2 hours a day.

Category 4: Taking vacations/spending time away from work/study Do you take vacations?

Do you find it difficult to relax on vacation?

What do you like to do on vacation?

9 students answered no. (If no, go to last 2 questions.) 7 students answered yes.

• • • • • •

No, it is not difficult to relax.

Not really difficult to relax.

I like to make some new food while I am on vacation.

I traveled to Europe and Paris.

I go on a trip or play games.

I really like spending time on the beach.

What do you do to take a break from work or study?

• • • •

Sleep, exercise, and drive to a restaurant.

Talk with friends, and eat.

Watch You Tube and Facebook in the library.

Listen to music.

Where do you go to take a break from work or study?

• • •

I often go to Lacrosse because it’s close and they have nice restaurants.

I go to the library.

Cafeteria.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER INSIGHTS

SPRING 2016

Please enjoy this spring word search from “Gold Violin”. http://blog.goldviolin.com/largeprint-word-search-spring-2011/

We hope you’ve enjoyed all of the seasons this semester!

See you in the summer!

Students get a ski lesson during the Mt. La Crosse Ski Trip

A special thank you to all of our Newsletter contributors and to our very talented student, Janice Anoka for putting this Newsletter together!!