The Special Blog (My feeling about the discourse approach in reading class)

Today is Sunday, so I have free time to write my blog. Recently, I'm always busy with my studying because I am going to have the final examination. Today, I'll write about my feeling in my reading class.

This subject helps me about reading. There are a lot of articles that I can practice to read. I can understand the article because I use the discourse markers to link my idea when I read. For this subject, I like the procedure reading because my friends and I could share our food's menu. However, I think, some units are difficult for me such as the problem and solution reading and expository text reading. Maybe there are many markers that I don't know their meaning, and I can't remember them. I'll practice more.

The teacher, Dr.Usa Noytim, taught us to know approach in reading. I really like her Instruction media. The text sheets are easy to understand. When I stay at home, I can reread them by myself. I like that the teacher let us to write blogger because I can add some pictures and decorate my blog. The teacher is a good model for students. I learned many things from her. Her learning experience that she told us make me feel good.

This subject is useful for me. My reading and my writing are better than last year, I think. However, I know, I should learn more.

Expository Text

Today, I learned about Expository text reading. I think, this unit is the most difficult for me.

First, Teacher let us read the article "The Internet and Society" It was a long text, and had many unknown words. The teacher told us that it is academic article, so they used many unfamiliar words. Then, we read the first page, there was meaning of expository text. The expository text included cause and effect, comparison and contrast, description, question and answer, simple listing, and time order. I think, this kind of text is the most difficult for me. However, the teacher let it easy. She helped us to read the text. That made us can did the practice. Last, the teacher assigned us to prepare for the final examination.

After class, I talked with my friends that we should write our bloggers in daily, don't write them late.

Problem and Solution

Today, my friends and I had a discourse approach in reading class. We learned about problem and solution reading.

First, we got new sheets from the teacher, and read them together. There were a short example text and a small diagram. At first, I thought, this unit was easy but when I opened to the next pages, I met a lot of markers that I wasn't familiar with. I tried to read and remember them. The teacher helped us to translate them to Thai, so that was good for us. We repeated them together. However, I think, the texts in this unit were hard for me. Especially, the text which about the machine gun. That I didn't know the words. I just translated them before I read, so that took a long times. During the class, I often read the texts, and opened to look the meaning of markers because I couldn't remember them. Last, the teacher assigned us to do homework.

This unit is hard for me, so I should practice more. The important are the markers, which can help me to understand the texts. I will study about them.

Exemplification and Procedure Presentation

Today is Sunday but I went to the university for a discourse approach in reading class. In the morning,  we learned Exemplification. In the afternoon, we presented the procedure.

In the morning, I prepared the sandwiches for my friends. Then went to the university. I was happy when I saw my friends happy with my sandwiches.Then the teacher came. We checked our homework together. Next, the teacher taught us about the exemplification. There was a lot of markers. We read the first text, and I could do the practice because filling a diagram is easy for me.The second text was not hard too because we just matched the place with the activities after we read. It was about the Great Falls. But in the third text, I couldn't connect my idea because there were a lot of unknow words. I circled the markers, and tried to read the text. Then, the teacher let us read together. That helped me to understand the text. Next, we read the fourth text. It was about the language. We did the practice, completed the sentence. And we took a break for lunch.

In the after noon, we presented the food menus of each groups. My friend and I presented how to make toasted ham and cheese sandwich. In the morning, I gave my friends the sandwiches to try, and they like them.

My sandwiches

Today, we learned, and ate many kind of foods in class. I like this day because It was fun, and had knowledge for my reading.

Definition and Classification

I had a discourse approach in reading class. Today, I learned about reading the definition and classification. They is so helpful for my reading.

First, the teacher let us read  the example sentences. Then, I noticed many markers that show me what is definition. The teacher pointed us to look definition markers and classification markers. I just knew the meaning of classification reading.
Then, we looked skill practice 1. We circled the markers, and underlined the definition. I just knew the word "the technical terms". It is the words that we don't know. So, we must to use the markers to help for reading. Next, we did skill practice 2. They were the short texts, included with classification and definition.
We wrote diagram of each texts. It wasn't difficult for me. Then, we did skill practice 3. It was a long paragraphs. We read it, and filled in a division form. 

Today, I could do the practics, and understood all of them because I guessed from the markers. :)

Cause and Effect

Today, I had a discourse approach in reading class. I learned about Cause and Effect. Then, my friends presented their menus. 

First, teacher let us to read example texts and look the diagram which show the cause and effect. Then, we did the practice. It's sentences that include the cause and effect in one number. We circled the markers, highlighted the cause, and underlined the effect. I think, it's a good way to remember the differences between the cause and the effect when we read. Next, we read some paragraphs. The paragraph was about the Titanic. I can read and filled in a diagram correctly because I circled the markers when I read. That helped me to understand the text.
I think, this lesson is difficult. Maybe we confuse that which is the cause? which is the effect? but we can use the markers to help for understand the texts. It's not necessary to know all of word in the texts but we can guess.

Before the time out, my friends presented how to make fruits salad. It continued from the procedure lesson. I felt hungry. All of classmate like their menu.

After that, I went to the restaurant quickly and ate many foods! It's the common every Monday that I was. LOL

Comparison and Contrast 2: And NPRU Open House

Today, my friends and I learned about comparison and contrast (continued from last week). Then, I attended NPRU Open House.

I was hurried to do my homework before the class because last night, I went to my uncle's wedding, and I couldn't do it. First, the teacher came in classroom, and she asked us that how about our homework. We told her that it finished. Then, she explained it, and we checked the answers together. I understood them. They was about hurricanes, compare between Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Katrina. I was correct all the answer because they was easy for me. Next, we read a topic "Men and Women: Do They Speak the Same Language?" It was about American sociologist Deborah Tannen's views. This text told us that men and women have difficulties in communication because they are raised differently. Then, the teacher let us to answer the questions about this text.

I agree with Tannen's views on the subject because I'm a woman, and I think, women like to tell stories about other people more than her story. In addition, I look at myself, when I talk with another, I like to tell about my silly thing that I has done because I would like them feel fun. On the other hand, I saw, many guys liked to talk something that make them seem confident in themselves.

After the class, I went to NPRU Open House. Then, I attended in the exhibition, 3 places. First, I went to Tawaravadee building. There was the local wisdom shows. I saw many inkjets show the teachings about Buddhism and many goods from local. They were interesting. Second, I walked to A7 building. There was anti corruption exhibition. I like this exhibition. They included student's slogan about anti corruption with the beautiful flag of Thailand wall. I took a lot of photos. Last, I went to Management building. There was Asean exhibition. I attended to do small worksheet and passed the checkpoints in that showroom. The weather was hot and sunny but I was fun.

Then, I went to home and rested.

My friend and I bought the dolls from an Art student.

Comparison and Contrast

My friends and I had a discourse approach in reading class, we had an exam and learned about comparison and contrast.

First, we had an exam, It was many paragraphs. I think, it was much. However, I tried to do it. Then, the teacher gave us some sheets, and we read them. They was about comparison and contrast. They were easy for me because I could understand them. They had markers to point out comparison and contrast. I read the first text. It was about subways in New York City and Paris. I could compare which were different and similar. After that, the teacher let us to do homework, read the text and answer the questions.

I think, this lesson is easy for me because I could read and underline the compare  sentences. I like it. In addition, the sheets which the teacher gave to us are easy to understand. :)

Procedure

December 16, 2013

My friends and I had a discourse approach in reading class, and learned about procedure texts. Today, the teacher gave us 2 sheets that used to explain about the procedure.

First, the teacher let us to think about own favorite food and wrote it on own paper. Then, she asked us how to cook those menu. Some students wrote fluently, some used their smart phone to search for their favorite food. My favorit food that I wrote is chicken fried and I wrote it quickly. When we finished, the teacher taught us about the meaning and the purpose of the procedure. The purpose is to tell the reader how to do or make something. Then, we read many texts, for example, how to cook omelette, how to cook chicken soup, learning a second language, etc. About the text "Learning a second language", It told us about how to learn a second language. It's so interesting.
Final, we did the exercise together.

Today, I was interested in every texts because many of them was about the food! ha ha ha :)

Descriptive

December 15, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
Today, we learned about the descriptive.

First, the teacher let us to read the mind maps. Then, she told us the meaning of descriptive.
Descriptive text is a text which says what a person, thing or a place. This kind of text helps us understand a topic.
It uses the simple present tense, attributive and identifying process, and adjective to describe.
Next, we read 3 descriptive texts. The first text is about the Komodo Dragon. It is so frightening! The second text is about Budapest. I just knew, the Budapest has many place where are interesting. 
The third text is about Prague. This text describes the city of Prague and its uniqueness.

In the class, I was sleepy. So, I skimmed the texts, and I didn't get the meaning of the words.
When we finished, the teacher allowed us to go home.

Secrets by Tim Winton

November 2, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
The teacher taught us the narrative.
The title was "Secrets", it was written by Tim Winton.
We read this story and summarized it.

The summary of this story
Kylie felt left out from her mother and Philip's activities. (Philip is her stepfather.)
She became interested in the chickens in the yard.
Somehow her secret helped her to feel less lonely.
She found a second egg and then found out where other are being laid by an unhealthy-looking hen.
In the holidays, Philip and her mother left her alone.
She was happy and went to the yard for looking her photo album.
There was the bore well which thirty-six deep.
Kylie was forbidden to lift the lid.
First, she sat near the well and looked her photo album.
After that, she went down into the well everyday.
On a sunday afternoon, Philip caught her down the well. Then he hit her.
Kylie had something in her heart.
She thrown the chicks down the well.
Next, she hit the hen and thrown it down too.
In that night, Kylie cut off her head from the special photo and thrown it away.


From this story, I feel sorry for Kylie because she felt left out from her family. That made her was lonely.
I dislike Kylie's mother because she didn't care her child.
She was only interested in her new husband.
I dislike Philip because he was violent for Kylie.

I think the themes of this story are...
- Neglect: Kylie's mother had a new husband. She was interested in her husband but forgot her child.
- Coping with the absence of a parent: This story gave the example of the child who had the problems in a family. When I read it, I thought about how to solve the problems.
- Loneliness: The little girl usually separated herself from her family and stayed alone. She liked to think about her father. These thing show me that her felt lonely.

This story have many symbolic.
In my opinion...
- The egg refers to the child that was cared from their parents.
- The well refers to loneliness and sadness.
- The photo refers to the good memory that can't come back again.
- Kylie's cutting of the photo shows the umbrage of Kylie.

Reading The Narrative

November 1, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
The teacher taught us the narratives.

First, she told us the purpose and types of the narrative.
The basic purpose of narrative is to entertain.
There are many types of narrative. They include fairy stories, mysteries, science fiction, romances, myths, etc.
Then, the teacher taught us about the text organization.
The narrative begins with an orientation, follows by the complication, and ended with a resolution.
It use normally past tense to explain the story and use many linking words to do with time.
The teacher gave us new sheets, there are the example of narrative.
We read them and discussed together.

I understood some parts but some parts I didn't because I didn't know the words.
Sure! I have the way for read them.
I guess the words from the context.

This picture shows us about the text organization of Narrative.

My first recount

On Saturday 30 November, I went to Watmai Pinkeaw. 
I had a listening to sermons activity.

First, I arrived at the temple, I waited for my friends.  Then I sat on the chair and called to my friends. They learned on the class.
At that time, many students came to the temple.
The personnels asked us to come in the pavilion. They explained the steps of activity.
Next, I offered some alms to the monk.
Suddenly, my friends finished their class and came to the temple.
I told them to do the same thing that I did.

Soon after, the personnels took us to the place that we had to listen the sermons.
We sat on the second floor of the pavilion.
There were many students waited for the monk.
Then the monk came on and taught us.
I intended to listen the teachings.
Later, we finished and went down.
The personnels gave us some paper for write.
We wrote the opinion and sent it back to them.

Final, I came back to my home and rested.

Read the recount

November 25, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
First, The teacher repeated the story that we learned yesterday (Title: My Grandpa's Funeral in Toraja).
Then, she asked us to read the new story.
The title is "An Excursion to Botanic Gardens".
It was easy for me because It was short and It had discourse markers.
This recount told me about the experience of a student who had a trip at the Botanic Gardens.
Next, my friends and I  answer the questions.
I think the recount is easy for me.

These are the picture of the Botanic Gardens that I searched from Google.

 

What is Recount

November 24, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
I learned about a recount.
The teacher taught us to know the meaning, purpose, types, text organisation, and language features of a recount.
A recount is the unfolding of a sequence of events overtime. It tells about the past experience (to tell what happened).
Then the teacher told us to look the examples of recount. 
We analysed the text organisations and the language features.
In the exercise 2, we read the text and answered the questions.
The title of this text is "My Grandpa's Funeral in Toraja".
It's told about the funeral ceremony of ethnic group indigenous in Indonesia, that the writer has been personally involved in this ceremony.
When I read, I understood it, Although I didn't know some vocabularies.
But I guessed from context.

A Discourse Approach in Reading Class

November 18, 2013

I had a discourse approach in reading class.
I'm so happy because Dr.Usa Noytim taught us again.
Today, we had a course introduction and learned about discourse markers.
The teacher asked us the question about the meaning of the words such as "discourse".
She explained what is discourse markers, gave us a list of discourse markers, and  gave us the examples.
I didn't know vocabularies, but I will  study more.
Final, she assigned us to work in group for homework.
We have to search for the examples of sentences which use discourse markers.

I like this course because It help me to practice of linking ideas.
And It's useful for reading and writing.

Diary 22nd day

On Monday 25th March, 2013

Today, the weather is very hot.
I'm allergic to the heat.
But I remember the monk's teaching.
"We should not complain about the heat in the summer."

Diary 21st day

On Sunday 24th March, 2013

Yesterday, I watched TV with my mother.
I watched Green Chanel.
"Gai kui Tui kear" They were funny.

Today, I went to Tup Luang, Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Pathom.
I joined an ancestral worship ceremony (Cheng-Meng).
The weather was hot.
But I feel good because I met my big family.

Diary 20th day

On Friday 22nd March, 2013

Today, My mother and I gave alms to monks.
I feel good. :)
I helped my mother for work.
In the night, I played on facebook and listened to music.

Diary 19th day

On Thursday 21st March, 2013

The day before yesterday, I played on facebook, talked with my friends,
and helped my mother for work.

Yesterday, 
My mother and I went to market.
I bought 2 black skirts.
Then In the afternoon,
I waited for MV (TossakanMana - Keng Tachaya).
When it was post on True's website, my friends and I watched it.
It's nice. :D 
We shared to public. It's the way to support him. ♥

Today, My mother had customers since early morning.
I washed dish. I made a fried egg stuff with hot pan.
It's delicious! ha!
In the afternoon, the weather was hot.
I will shower.
:)

Diary 18th day

On Monday 18th March, 2013

I ate a noodles for lunch.
I stayed at my home.
I'm bored! :(
In the afternoon, the weather was hot.
I showered again and again.

Diary 17th day

On Sunday 17th March, 2013

Yesterday, I stayed at my home.

I helped my mother for work.

Today, My mother and I went to Mahachai, Samutsakorn.

My mother bought Alfararf Milano color for her customers.

(It's a good quality color.)

The weather was hot. I felt sick.

Diary 16th day

On Friday 15th March, 2013

The day before yesterday, I'm stayed at my home, played on facebook,  talked with my friends, washed the cloth, and helped my mother for work.

Yesterday, I took out the garbage, cleaned bathroom.
I played on computer then I searched for guitar's info.
(I want to buy guitar. I love it's sound.
But now, I keeping money for buy it.)
In the night, I watched TV (Daradaily chanel).
It had daradaily The Great Awards 2.
And TheVoiceTH get television program of the year award in 2012.
I'm glad so much :)

Today, I voted for Keng Tachaya (TheVoiceTH).
I cheer him to get Seed Awards!
I talked with my friends.
I'm so happy :)

Diary 15th day

On Tuesday 12th March, 2013

Yesterday, I stayed at home with my mother.
I washed the cloth and swept the floor.
Then I watched TV with my mother, talked together, listened to music, and slept on sofa.
Last night, I watched Tonight Show (Variety Show on TV). 
Stamp Apiwat came there.
I like him very much because he's a cute man.

In this morning, I got up late.
Because last night went to bed late.
I ate noodles for breakfast. It was delicious!
I cleaned the floor and went to shop.
Then I played on facebook and talked with my friends.

Diary 14th day

On Sunday 10th March, 2013

Yesterday, My mother and I went to my uncle ordination ceremony at Wathuaichorakhe, Nakhon Pathom. 
The weather was sunny.
My family got together and talked.

This morning, we got together again and took a lot of photos.
In the afternoon, I gone home and relaxed.
I felt sick because the weather was hot.

My perception and attitudes

On writing for communication class,
I had the knowledge to write on a daily basis
such as...
writing an email to invite or request,
writing cards for various occasions,
how to send e-cards, diary writing, how to create a blog etc.
This course made who wrote the sentence wrong became a more correct grammar.

I had develop from the past because I had to practice constantly.
I could search for knowledge from other sources by myself.
I learned the culture of other country.
My friends and I enjoyed to work in group.
We shared knowledge and offered ideas to other groups.

Teacher made me happy in the class.
Teacher suggested when I wrote something wrong 
and told me what correct.
I thank for her kindness and 
I admire what her have really done, not just her role.

Diary 13th day

Itinerary Presentation

On Thursday 21st february, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
Today, I had a writing test about...
Telephone message, Postcards and Travel, 
Requests, Diaries and Weblogs.
It was somewhat easier than I expected.
Then we presented our Itineraries in class.
I'm so excited but everything was well.
every group presented good and interesting.
I like this unit.

Diary 12th day

On Thursday 7th Febuary, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit 12 Itineraries.
Teacher taught about meaning of Itineraries and how to write sentences describing.
My friends and I wrote itinerary for summer vacation.
Teacher checked our Itinerary.
Then we shared our Itinerary together.
I think this unit is interesting because we can think about place and activity.

Diary 11th day

On Thursday 31st January, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit 8 Requests.
This unit is about how to write requests.
If you want someone to help you do something, you can write notes and pass them to someone whom you want to request.
Teacher assigned us to write notes.
And I passed them to my classmates.
We enjoyed very much. Because we can practiced and shared knowledge together.
Then teacher assigned us to find an English course offered online and write an e-mail to request for information and application form.

Diary 10th day

On Thursday 24th January, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned about the telephone message,
then looked at conversation that I search form website and took a message.
Teacher assigned my friends and me to check together.
Today, I think I better than last week! Good job!

Diary 9th day

On Thursday 17th January, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit 4 Telephone Messages.
It's about how take a message form caller to who they need to contact.
This unit is easy for me.
Teacher assigned us to search telephone conversation form website.

Diary 8th day

On Sunday 13th January, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit 11 Small Advertisements.
In this unite have tips for writing small ads for notic boards.
I had a practice.
And Teacher assigned us to write a small ads for homework.
I think this unit is easy.

Diary 7th day

On Thursday 10th January, 2013

To day, I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit10 Completing Forms.
It's about how to filling out forms
such as departure form, arrival form, and application form.
It has many things to fill.
Teacher assigned us to search a website of an education institution that offers English courses
and download application form.
Then complete the form.

Diary 6th day

On Thursday 3rd January, 2013

I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit9 Invitations.
It's about how to sending invitation cards.
And It's more formal than inviting on email.
I think it's difficult.
Teacher assigned us make invitation cards.
I made an invitation card for my birthday party.

Diary 5th day *HNY 2013

On Monday 31th December, 2012

In the morning,
My mortorcycle broke down.
I felt bad!
My mother and I couldn't go anywhere.
We stayed at home, talked together, sang a song, ate pizza.
It made me feel better.
At 11.00 pm, we waited for Countdown to New Year 2013.
I so happy in that night.

Travel Blog @Sanam Chandra Palace

On 15th January, 2012

My friends and I had a nice weekend in Nakhon Pathom.
We visited Sanam Chandra Palace.

Sanam Chandra Palace is a tiny castle-like structure 
built in a combination of French and English styles.
The palace grounds is located on Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 
and consists of five buildings and a Ganesh shrine.
The palace was built from 1907 to 1911 by King Vajiravudh.

We did some sightseeing, took a lot of photos, 
and bought lots of postcards.
The Palace was beautiful and peaceful.
The weather was sunny.
We walked around and took photos together.
It's nice memories for me.

Diary 4th day

On Thursday 13th December, 2012

In the morning, I had a writing for communication test.
It's about using e-mail to introducing oneself, notes
and messages, and writing cards.
It was somewhat easier than I expected.
But It had something difficult too.
When the test finished, we continue learned writing invitations.

Diary 3rd day

On Thursday 6th December, 2012

In the morning, I had a writing for communication class.
I learned unit9 Invitations.
This unit learned about how to write invite people to attend something
such as invite them to dinner, invite them to do some sightseeing.
I think that importance for me.
The teacher gave we join in groups.
We shared and enjoyed for this class.