First few sessions after the Xmas break

Hi everybody. This is how I plan to spend the first few weeks back after the holidays:

Tuesday 11th January 2011 - practise analysis of an oral presentation (in groups)
Thursday 13th January 2011 - finish off above and listen to Dave's presentation
Tuesday 18th January 2011 - assessment on presentation analysis (Oral Presentation Skills)
Thursday 20th January 2011 - finish off assessment / remediation as necessary
Tuesday 25th January 2011 - listen to radio programme on Language and answer questions (in groups)
Thursday 27th January 2011 - finish off questions / discussion as necessary - hand in essay (Evan's class)
Tuesday 1st February 2011 - assessment on listening (Comm 4 Listening outcome)

Many thanks, Mark

Presentation delivery, the final session!

I thoroughly enjoyed the talks today and well done to all presenters this morning for researching a wide variety of topics for us to enjoy and learn from. Thank you to our resident cameraman Christian who did a good job too. Today we listened to Anna discussing her oven baked cheesecake, Vesela on the beer making process (pefect pint pulling), Ellen's healthy lasagne, Gavin's not so healthy but certainly tasty Big Mac, Christie's juggling demo and Arron's perfectly cooked French Toast! Well done to all, you did very well this morning. Dave, as discussed this am via e mail, we will listen to your 'how to be awesome' presentation on Thursday 13th January. Have a great Christmas and Ne'er whatever you are doing and we deserve this break as we've all been working very hard! We have lots to do in 2011, but we'll make it, no sweat!

Take it easy guys, Mr H.

Presentations, phase III

Although I was coughing, wheezing and spluttering like a 19th Century consumptive, I really enjoyed the talks yesterday. And despite the French Toast being undercooked by a couple of minutes shall we say, the session went well. I look forward to seeing the rest of the presentations on Tuesday. All the best, Mark

Assessed presentations, round two

Well done to all four presenters this morning in a very entertaining (and informative) session. We had a varied selection box again to tuck into, and this time the contents were how to make chewing gum, how to poach an egg, how to tune a guitar and how to make the perfect espresso.

It was nice to see Alma, Sean and Luigi enjoying their presentations back on their memory sticks. Remember, this filming is optional and is personal to you, so there will be no You Tube videos, Facebook entries etc coming from me, but what you do with these works of art is entirely up to you!

So, we have three more talks to come on Thursday and that will be Christian, Gary and Aaron. All other students will now present on the last day of term, which is Tuesday 21st December. Hopefully Christie will deliver his presentation on Thursday as he missed out today.

Great stuff again, and I will see you all on Thursday, for the third set of oral presentations.

Stand free, Mark

Presentation delivery times reminder

Hi all, just a brief reminder of the assessment dates for the oral presentations:

Tuesday 14th December in 211 - Christie, Gavin, Dave, Leigham, Luigi, Alma, Sean and Lorena
Thursday 16th December in 425 - Aaron, Christian, Vesela, Gary
Tuesday 21st December in 211 - Ania and Ellen (and anybody else who either didn't pass or didn't attempt their talk in previous timeslots).

Please remember to either bring a USB with you on the day or e mail me your talk prior to delivery so that I can save it for you.

When we come back in 2011 (already, wow, where has the time gone I ask myself) we will look at another assessment for Comm 4, which will be listening. This will be a case of listening to a recording of a radio show on language and answering questions, similar to those asked for the reading assessment. That's all for next year, just keeping you all in the loop!

See you all tomorrow, Mark

Well done to our first three contenders!

Well done to Michal, Jon and Hanni who presented so well in their talks today. Subjects of the day were how a magnetic compass works, how to start a new religion from scratch and how to make tasty falafel. Well done to all and please have your presentation plans to hand for Tuesday if possible.

If anybody wishes to post any feedback on the talks (presenters or audience members), please do!

Have a great weekend all, Mark

How to do talks start on Thursday

Hi to all of you. I noted a lot of good work going on in the class today and a big hello to all those students who were unable to make it in today. I authorised your absence for today. As the Napier session is cancelled for Thursday, we can start the assessed talks. We have Jon, Hanni and Michal getting us started. Remember you should all complete your presentation plans before you deliver your talk, either handwritten or typed. They can of course be submitted after you do your talk as it is part of the assessment, but that wouldn't make much sense really! Great to see you back today, lets hope no more snow for a while! All the best, Mark