Thursday, 27 June 2013

Speech Scores - Oral


Here are your scores, based on many things such as delivery, length, content. 

You all did very well.  As for how much the speech is worth in your final grade? I am still working on that. 






Kickback
91.50
Optimus Prime
91.90
Bumblebee
91.20
Ratchet
91.70
Ironhide
92.00
Mudflap
91.00
Jolt
91.60
Inferno
93.00
Sentinal
90.50
Wheeljak
93.00
 
 
Led Zeppelin
91.50
The Beatles
91.80
Pink Floyd
92.00
Van Halen
93.00
Queen
90.80
The Eagles
92.00
Metallica
92.30
U2
91.50
The Doors
90.50
The Stones
92.10
The Beach Boys
92.00
Guns 'N Roses
94.00
Pearl Jam
91.00
Bon Jovi
90.60
Nirvana
90.50
Coldplay
91.90


Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Your Upcoming Speech

Hello Freshman,

So far I'm very happy with your enthusiasm for this class.  You all try to participate, and show each other proper respect and politeness during the exchanges.  Keep up the good work.

Regarding your speech, here are the details and expectations:

  • Step 1 - Choose a personal topic that is interesting.  You can choose a "Motivational Speech" or "Inspirational Speech" model.  Click the links to learn more.  Keep in mind I want you to incorporate your own personal experience - perhaps telling a story with an underlying message. Avoid cliches and common subjects.
  • Step 2 - Write it out.  A 5 minute speech will probably be about 500 words (depending on how fast you talk).  Even if you know what you want to say (or think you do), I still want to see it on paper before you go ahead and speak in front of the class.  I will ask you to complete a second draft as well.
  • Step 3 - Practice.  Practice in front of your homates.  Get some feedback. Of course, know that volume, eye contact, confidence, and fluency are important.  Common sense, right? 
  • Step 4 - Give your speech in class.  Get feedback.
  • Step 5 - Give your speech in the auditorium.  Get your final score.
  • Step 6 - Think about competing in the KMLA Speech Contest in June.:)
When is the rough draft due?  March 20th/21st.  

TED.com has many wonderful speeches for you to watch here . I think the one we saw in class was a great example, and of course there is always the famous Steve Jobs speech.


Thursday, 7 March 2013

Welcome!


Hello Freshman! I hope your first week of KMLA has been everything you hoped it would be (or maybe even what it wouldn't be), and I'm looking forward to having fun with our small group.  As far as I know, this class will have 7 students, which is truly the perfect size for a class that is driven mostly by "the art of conversation."

Just to be clear, I posted the details of this class on the KMLA website as follows:

Description: The purpose of this class is to develop the critical thinking and participation skills that KMLA's unique education system requires. In a "roundtable discussion" environment, students will be asked to introduce discussion topics which we will then discuss withiin an informal debate structure. Using multimedia sources, such as videos, articles, and various websites, students will be asked to create blog which we will use within class to generate interesting discussions. Videos from TED.com will play an important role.

Both digital presentation and public speaking skills will also be touched upon, as students will be expected to deliver both as class assignments. Mixing in some Debate, Public Speaking, and Current Issues, this class is not as simple as a "conversation class," but does intend to be fun, educational, and active.
 
Grading: 성적산출방법 (Grading Policy) 등록(Grade)

기말고사 (Final Exam) - Argumentative Essay 20%
과제물 수행 (Assignments) - Public Speaking, Discussions, Debate, Speech 40%
수업중 활동 (Classroom Activities) - General Participation 40%

교과서 및 교수-학습자료 (Textbook and other teaching-learning materials)
TBA, but mainly various articles, websites, videos and excerpts from respected authors etc. 


독서평가 방법(Evaluation Method) Students will be graded heavily on their individual participation in class. KMLA requires students to engage with their peers in a respectful group environment, so paying attention and offering opinions is highly encouraged. Speeches, Presentations, and small writing assignments on blogs will make up a great deal of the final grade.
독서평가 시기(Evaluation Period)
예) 5월 4주째 (4th Week of May)
  강의 진도 계획 (Tentative Class Schedule)  *강의 주제만 모아 주세요 (Class Topics Only)
Note: This is a tentative schedule.

Week 1: Ice breakers, and setting up blogs at Blogspot.com
Week 2: Introduction to public speaking. Schedule for student speeches set.
Week 3: Review of a TED.com video. Schedule for student-led discussions set.
Week 4: Student's Choice - student led discussions.
Week 5: The Story of Stuff - discussion, informal debate, written responses assigned.
Week 6: First Speeches, peer feedback
Week 7: First Speeches, peer feedback
Week 8: Midterms
Week 9: Digital Presentations - introduction, modeled after TED.com. Schedule planned.
Week 10: Film Review/Discussion
Week 11: Student's Choice - student led discussions
Week 12: Short Story Review/Discussion
Week 13: Formal Parliamentary Debates
Week 14: Student's Choice. Student Led Discussions
Week 15: Digital Presentations
Week 16: Digital Presentations
Week 17: Final Examination

Note: The above is very general, and will be subject to change.  We have 4 hours a week together which is definitely a lot, so we will have a great deal of opportunity to explore many different things.  While the class title is "English Conversation," I don't want you to think of it as a typical hakwon-style class where we flip through a text-book and talk.   Our purpose is to learn and communicate while developing critical-thinking.  The more you participate, the more you'll succeed.

As discussed in class, I will expect you to start a blog using www.blogger.com.  When you have completed the process, please reply below this post with a message indicating your name and blog URL.  Thanks!

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Final Exam Scores

Hey guys,

We already talked about this in class, but again I remind you - I was as fair as possible while grading these. This is only 20% of your grade. I will have a full breakdown ready very soon.


Here are the results:

121086-92.6
121046-91.9
121058-91.5
121043-91.3
121132-90.8
121063-90.6
121002-90.1
121139-89.9
121044-89.8
121095-89.5
121116-89.2

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Debate #3: Gay Adoption



This was a pretty good debate, and featured some good speeches from both sides that we can learn from.  Yoonhong and Hyungwoo delivered well time-wise and content wise, and Hyungwoo showed the best example of sign posting.  IF there is one thing every speaker can easily improve, it is this.  List your arguments and then summarize at the end.  Even if your arguments are not that good, they will be that much better if your audience knows what you said and in what order.  In some debates it is the team that is clearest that wins.

Another thing - don't repeat your teammates arguments.  Present NEW examples and add to what they say.  And if you guys summarize more - you will be closer to 5 minutes. 

AND - BIG AND - you guys need to have more fun BEFORE you start your arguments.  "Set the table" with a little story that peaks the audiences interest.  In the case of gay adoption, you can paint a picture of an ideal set of parents who have money, success, and good values - and then reveal that they are gay.  Meanwhile, you can paint a picture of two parents who are not ideal - with no money and no success and alcohol addiction - and then reveal that they are heterosexual parents.  Which home is better?  More of that kind of analogizing and preamble is necessary to make your speeches more interesting. 

For this debate, the Opposition won narrowly because of Hyungwoo.  There wasn't a single POI in this debate despite some pretty ridiculous things said that SHOULD prompt the other team to say WHAT???  Such as Gyushik saying that women also clean more than men.  And that last thing he said. 

Anyways, we will leave debate alone and move on to more creative things.  Hope you enjoyed it and hope you take debate next semester.

THB: Homosexual couples should not be allowed to adopt.
Date: May 7th

GOVERNMENT

OPPOSITION
Introduction
Pts
Yoonhong

Mingyu

Delivery
9.2
/10
Good delivery, but arguments need better signposting.  Unclear what main arguments are and what sub-arguments are.  Be clear and list them in a better conclusion. 


9.0
/10
Really good listing and sign posting.  But more confidence and flow needed, and more time needed.  Third argument was too short and you didn't summarize.  First two arguments very good.

Arguments
9.2
/10
General perceptions of homosexuals - no longer viewed as harmful. Celebs etc. are changing the status quo.  Discrimination is "almost gone" (really?).  However, we are against adoption.

1. Not a good environment for education development.  Children won't learn gender roles.  They still exist and are still important.  

2. Maternal - breast feeding.  Men can't do this.  Mental growth etc. depends on this.  

3. Conflict between children and society combined with inner conflict.  Young kids are effected by prejudice etc.  Kids will suffer emotionally.  Inner conflict - kids will feel different from others.  At a young age, this is not good. 

6:06

9.1
/10
Homosexuality has long history. Gay adoption is often secretly conducted.  We should consider their rights.  3 reasons:

1. We should consider their rights.  They have the right to be parents and have a family. It is a natural human desire.  Also, if they become old, they will be lonely.  Without kids, they will have a hard time.

2. No specific evidence that kids suffer from problems.  Foster care 1999 stats show that - children are no worse off than those in straight families.  It is prejudice and bias that we assume kids will have problems.  Problems are not restricted to gays.

3.  Other ways to adopt?  (not sure about this one.)


3:40


Notes
Tot
18.4
/20

Tot
18.1
/20


Rebuttal One
Pts
 Jungseong
Pts
Hyungwoo

Delivery
8.9
/10
Started well, but ran out of gas and sign posting.  Blended arguments.  Too short.  Rebuttals better than arguments. Didn't add to what PM stated really. Slow down and elaborate clearly.  Have some fun.
9.3
/10
Excellent.  Good all around. Clear and good arguments.  Nice signposting and time management.

Arguments
9.0
/10
Rebuttal 1 - "protect natural rights" - what about the rights of the children?  Children can inherit conflict and problems from their environment. Children should be considered more than the parents because they have limited choice.

Rebuttal 2 - prejudice about problems.  You say no evidence, but how can we say that? Evidence is hard to judge.

Rebuttal 3 - This argument doesn't stand because we are not arguing about black market.  We are debating about "adoption."

Argument 1 - Education - kids won't know about normal family environment.  A lot of discrimination exists, and kids shouldn't have to deal with this.

(????? too fast... coulnd't catch it.)

3:24 
9.2
/10
Rebuttal 1 - first reason - not good for nurturing children without gender roles and maternal mom etc. - (WHY NO POI etc. assuming that these two parents are MEN???).  Grandparents etc. will make up for that.  Society enables this education, and we can't limit it to parents.   Breast feeding etc. - not strong enough of a reason to ban adoption.  A good parent is better than no parent.  (GOOD).

Rebuttal 2 - Kids can be discriminated - Sure - BUT government can actively change this problem, and it will be solved eventually.  Again, not strong enough - single parents also have problems.  Most kids have something to be ashamed of - so why discriminate?  

Rebuttal to rebuttals - Ideal conditions should be considered - and this does not need to focus on sexual orientation.  Kids need homes, and some gays are willing to adopt kids that other people won't - such as teens.
 It's a win win and we should thank these gay parents who want to do so.  Will we tell them no?  And keep kids out of homes?


5:05

 

Notes
Tot
17.9
/20

Tot
18.5
/20























Conclusion
Pts
Gyushik
Pts
Hee Hyeon

Delivery
9.1
/10
Good considering the circumstance of limited time.  But... arguments not so organized or strong.
9.0
/10
Good considering the circumstances, but you need to spend more time within the arguments

Arguments
8.9
/10
Rebuttals - yes kids can learn from grandparents - but parents are the most important.  

Breastfeeding - just an example and there are far more reasons gay parents are not ideal.  Cleaning etc. (Really??? No POI?? Come on guys.)

Children have negative views of homosexuality.  Children won't want gay parents. That is their right.

Gays love boys - ????? Not sure where you are going with this.  Homosexuality is wrong (?).  

4:05
8.9
/10
Differences - yes - but true value of human rights needs to be kept.

Childrens rights - identity problems - but what about regular families?  They will have that as well.  Everyone needs to figure this out.

Gender roles - society teaches this.
Breastfeeding - not strong enough reason.  What about handicapped parents?  We can't think they are bad parents, so we can't think this about gays.

Discrimination - social problem. Not the problem of gays.  So this can not be considered.  

Finally, you said that you can't believe our evidence.  But that's not correct.  

So we think it should be allowed.

3:27

Notes
Tot
18.0
/20

Tot
17.9
/20