Oct. 11

Today was supposed to be a national holiday, but we had school as usual.

we had the class outside today because it was sooo nice :) I feel happy when it's nice and warm.

we had discussions and talked about many topics.
I think Japan should be more open to foregners so that Japanese economy will boost.
The fact that Japan had SAKOKU during edo period affects the current situation of not being able to accept many foreigners in Japan, maybe?
If Japan wants to win the economic competitition, then we have to change our mind and be more international.

CRAP!! Oct.8

Today we learned how to make good presentation slides!
we checked over the slides of people in group and gave comments.

And Rab told us CRAP to make our slides better.
C-contrast
R-repetition
A-alignment
P-proximity

Simple slides are the best to give information.

everyone was tired today because we hat PWT this morning? or you worked hard last night to finish essays and slide shows?

hope you have a good weekend.
byebye

Affirmative Action! Oct. 6

Today, we discussed "affirmative action", the system which allows minorities to enter universities. We can say it "positive discrimination" in easy words. I've never heard the words, but it was an interesting topic.
I thought that the words "positive discrimination" is kind of irony that people were actually trying to help minority, but it was also discriminating them bu racism.

White people from poor family couldn't get in to universities because SAT score for them was set higher than minorities.

well, treating people equally is kinda difficult, but i know i should. people have their own stereotype and we tend to judge others by the stereotype for the first sight.

ELP class always makes me think and consider issues around me!!

Tuesday, Oct.5

Today we discussed the video we watched for homework.
the video made me realize that i had streotype toward Arabs that they are bad people.
but i don't know where the stereotype came from.. maybe from 9.11? when I see Arabs at airport, even though i know that all Arabs are not bad, i get scared.

I thought the media infuluence is so storong that control people's minds.

and also we talked a little bit about PWT coming up this Friday.

I recommend you guys to watch movie "Crash". it is very interesting and made me think about racism. you can rent DVD at TSUTAYA!!
and one more.. go on to the Youtube and look for the video called" talk to Iraqi". it is also an interesting video too.
well, right now, we are busy with essay, PWT, and presentation, but when you get time to chill, please check it out!!

ttyl

Oct. 4

Today, Rab started the class with talking about Census in U.S.A.
Here are the changes through the American history:
1830's: white, black, mulatto
1850's: white, black, mulatto, Chinese, Indian
1950's: white, negro, American Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Philippino, Other
2000: Starts with question"Are you Spanish/ Hispanic/ Latin?"

Today's class was very interesting, I thought. The history of American Census shows history of American and progress of racism. The most recent census in 2000 was because there are many illegal immigrants from Mexico, also U.S.A. doesn't have good relations with Cuba.
Later on, we had discussion. It is very difficult to categorize and define nationality. Rab always asks "Why?" questions to us, which makes us struggle....
The way of Japan treats foreigners should be reconsiderred. And I came with the quetion that should be people allowed to have two nationalities? well, if people are allowed to get only one nationality, it will establish their identity.

I am watching the video that Rab told us to watch for homework as I am posting my blog...... some scenes are pretty gross.... ouch...

Have a good night everyone!

Radical Evolution Chapter7 & Epilogue

"Transcend builds on, expands and gives measure to The Prevail Scenario, in which technology does not control us, but we control technology."

I think that technology will never exceed human nature. Because technology is what people create, it is impossible that technology create themselves. I liked the scentence on tehe page 234 due to this reason.

On page 253, it says that culture and values change more slowly than technology. "Yes, it is true," I thought. But I also thought that our culture and values change as technology develops, which means the more rapidily technology develops, the more rapidly our life changes. I am not able to catch up with advanced technology.... The rapid delvelop of technology brings up the gap between people who master technology and people who are not familiar with technology.

In this chapter, I kinda felt people's ego that people say they use technology to help those who are in need, but it seems to me that they are testing those people for their pleasure. I mean that it seemed to be hypocrisy. What purpose of us using technology? we have to be clear about it. Now, it doesn't seem like we are using technolgy for only the usefulness. It's more than that.
Do we need to make a limit of technology advance?

Actually, I am so sleepy and I don't really know what I am writng...

Anyway, we have to carefully think how we deal with technology!

Presentaion....

Funky Friday!

Today, we learned how to use google doc, and how to make google presentation .

I like making presentation in front of people, even though, I felt kind of shy when I was recording video and listing to my voice. But Rab said that listening and watching one's presentation is the best way to practice presentaions.

We'd not better put many letters on slides because pictures are more effective to make people memorize things. So less letters on slides are better!!!

By next Friday, we have to finish our essays and presentaions! next week is gonna be such a tough week...!!

have a good weekend!