When I was young, I moved to Shenzhen which is a city near Hong Kong with my parents. Most people there speak Cantonese instead of mandarin. Therefore I got a chance to learn a second new language. However as Cantonese seems a dialect of Chinese, I am not sure about if my experience of speaking two different languages can be counted as bilingual.
When you are trying to adapt to a new environment, the most useful and effective tool is the native language, in my experience, it is Cantonese. Young age is an advantage in learning languages. I can speak Cantonese as fluent as most native Cantonese only after a few weeks of study, which helps me make lots of Cantonese friends and adapt into the life there. In general, native residence always shows prejudice and even discrimination on immigrants, the ability of speaking the native language would help bring kindness from those native residences to you. Furthermore, the understanding of the language leads to a faster comprehensive of the culture there. Nowadays, I can still both mandarin and Cantonese to communicate with people, it helps me a lot. Similarly, if you can speak both English and Spanish, it obviously helps.
Learning new language is always with difficulties. When you start to learn a new language, as the limitation of age and something else, you can hardly speak really native as native speakers did. Also, while the way of learning a new language, you might gradually lose your native accent of your previous language. However, it is not a big problem.
Being a bilingual is a good phenomenon of communications among cultures. I hope I can speak more languages in the future.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
ISB extra credit
5. Biotechnology
Biotechnology is one of the newest technologies that studied and applied by human in current world. It can simply defined by United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity as any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. In general, biotechnology can change our life in positive way, like more crop harvest, more food choice, medicine, biodiversity and so on. However, it can also cause some problems which refer to unhealthy food, ethical against and even a challenge toward to human’s dominating position.
First of all, biotechnology makes great impact on nowadays’ agricultural issues. It can dramatically increase the production of specific crops and plants. This huge add upon food supply in some regions, especially in developing country and the third world’s countries, help to solve the food shortage or so called hunger crisis happens there. For example in China, the total sales of biotechnological products in China have increased by nearly fifty times during a10-year period from 13 billion RMB in 1997 to more than 20 billion RMB in year 2000 (Ju, 2001). It really helped to release the hunger problem so that the development of the Chinese economy is performing well. Also in some developed country, an increase in crop production also helped. For example in the United State, a detailed study shows that biotechnology helped increase U.S. agricultural production by 8.34 billion pounds on 123 million acres in 2005, according to an article provided by Excellence Through Stewardship organization. Also, benefits like an increase in farmers’ income, enhancement in sustainability, reduction in environmental footprint and improvement in crops’ quality gained from using biotechnology helps us a lot. Plus, some future or potential benefits in more biological way is being studied by scientist.
However, biotechnology also brings some problems. A big worry from a social view is whether Genetic modified food is health or not. Although scientists tried to prove that Genetic modified food is not less healthy than natural growth food, people nowadays still prefer the natural one. Furthermore, the change of traits in organism in order to get better species is against human in ethic and moral aspects. Some species result from a modification in genetic way are proven with less or non ability to exist in nature world. One of the most examples of using biotechnology
Citation page:
1. Ju, Jin, “Life Science and Biotechnology in China”, May 28, 2001
2. “Agricultural Biotechnology: Benefits Delivered”, Excellence Through Stewardship,
Biotechnology is one of the newest technologies that studied and applied by human in current world. It can simply defined by United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity as any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. In general, biotechnology can change our life in positive way, like more crop harvest, more food choice, medicine, biodiversity and so on. However, it can also cause some problems which refer to unhealthy food, ethical against and even a challenge toward to human’s dominating position.
First of all, biotechnology makes great impact on nowadays’ agricultural issues. It can dramatically increase the production of specific crops and plants. This huge add upon food supply in some regions, especially in developing country and the third world’s countries, help to solve the food shortage or so called hunger crisis happens there. For example in China, the total sales of biotechnological products in China have increased by nearly fifty times during a10-year period from 13 billion RMB in 1997 to more than 20 billion RMB in year 2000 (Ju, 2001). It really helped to release the hunger problem so that the development of the Chinese economy is performing well. Also in some developed country, an increase in crop production also helped. For example in the United State, a detailed study shows that biotechnology helped increase U.S. agricultural production by 8.34 billion pounds on 123 million acres in 2005, according to an article provided by Excellence Through Stewardship organization. Also, benefits like an increase in farmers’ income, enhancement in sustainability, reduction in environmental footprint and improvement in crops’ quality gained from using biotechnology helps us a lot. Plus, some future or potential benefits in more biological way is being studied by scientist.
However, biotechnology also brings some problems. A big worry from a social view is whether Genetic modified food is health or not. Although scientists tried to prove that Genetic modified food is not less healthy than natural growth food, people nowadays still prefer the natural one. Furthermore, the change of traits in organism in order to get better species is against human in ethic and moral aspects. Some species result from a modification in genetic way are proven with less or non ability to exist in nature world. One of the most examples of using biotechnology
Citation page:
1. Ju, Jin, “Life Science and Biotechnology in China”, May 28, 2001
2. “Agricultural Biotechnology: Benefits Delivered”, Excellence Through Stewardship,
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Elizabeth hill boone reading response
In this essay, Elizabeth talks about writing systems in pre Columbia America era in order to find out a broader definition of writing.
The first part, for which the topic is “Limited notions of writing”, points that almost all the scholars who have looked seriously at writing systems in their general sense have defined writing as spoken language that is recorded or referenced phonetically by visible marks. However, seems most of these scholars are linguists; it is easier for them to tie writing to speech. “Speech has evolved as the fullest and most efficient means of conveying thought. Only full spoken language enables us as human beings to express any and all thoughts” said Defrancis. Also, other scholars give different opinions in order to emphasize the limitation of certain writing systems. Some examples of limitation for some writing systems are given.
We can simply define writing as the ability to write or compose, however, scholars, who are still trying to find out an inclusive definition of writing, pull out several meanings and definition of writing. By analyzing the focus and concentration of different definitions, we can get to those similarities which are the main characteristic of the issue, but it is still hard to announce an inclusive summary.
In the last sub topic of this article, Elizabeth talks about some writing systems in Pre-Columbian America, for sure the most famous one is the writing system that had had been used in Maya civilization.
In conclusion, this essay is actually talking about those writing systems that beyond only-writing which means other method and media of writing, like graphic and visual literacy. Writing or in a boarder way we can say literacy, plays a vital role in recording information for histories of human evolution. Sometimes these simple ways of recording or expressing could even be better than normal writing way which is text. Like in our assignment 4, the purpose is to use another forms and Medias of writing to express the topic that we composed in one form.
The first part, for which the topic is “Limited notions of writing”, points that almost all the scholars who have looked seriously at writing systems in their general sense have defined writing as spoken language that is recorded or referenced phonetically by visible marks. However, seems most of these scholars are linguists; it is easier for them to tie writing to speech. “Speech has evolved as the fullest and most efficient means of conveying thought. Only full spoken language enables us as human beings to express any and all thoughts” said Defrancis. Also, other scholars give different opinions in order to emphasize the limitation of certain writing systems. Some examples of limitation for some writing systems are given.
We can simply define writing as the ability to write or compose, however, scholars, who are still trying to find out an inclusive definition of writing, pull out several meanings and definition of writing. By analyzing the focus and concentration of different definitions, we can get to those similarities which are the main characteristic of the issue, but it is still hard to announce an inclusive summary.
In the last sub topic of this article, Elizabeth talks about some writing systems in Pre-Columbian America, for sure the most famous one is the writing system that had had been used in Maya civilization.
In conclusion, this essay is actually talking about those writing systems that beyond only-writing which means other method and media of writing, like graphic and visual literacy. Writing or in a boarder way we can say literacy, plays a vital role in recording information for histories of human evolution. Sometimes these simple ways of recording or expressing could even be better than normal writing way which is text. Like in our assignment 4, the purpose is to use another forms and Medias of writing to express the topic that we composed in one form.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Homework due on Apr 8th--how do literacy and technology shape each other
Reading response for “From pencils to pixel: The stages of literacy technology” by Dennis Baron
A development of technology means to answer the demand for more technological skills and knowledge. For example, what we are talking about is “how do literacy and technology shape each other”, each new literacy technology always begins with a restricted communications function and gradually becomes common in order to match the increasing requirements of majorities.
What differs human from animal is the use of tools. For literacy issue, tool means pen, pencil, printer etc. As the appearance of computer, computer-writing gradually removes the usage of pen and pencil. This is what we called an evolution of literacy technology, which encourages a more efficiency and convenience way of living. However, worries from anthropologists which are a risk of making humans disable in terms of over rely on high technologies. Time will tell.
A development in technology provides a wider space for literacy. More ways of communication and forms of media consummates literacy. Meanwhile, a higher requirement and demand for literacy skills like convenience and efficiency also encourages a promotion in technology.
A development of technology means to answer the demand for more technological skills and knowledge. For example, what we are talking about is “how do literacy and technology shape each other”, each new literacy technology always begins with a restricted communications function and gradually becomes common in order to match the increasing requirements of majorities.
What differs human from animal is the use of tools. For literacy issue, tool means pen, pencil, printer etc. As the appearance of computer, computer-writing gradually removes the usage of pen and pencil. This is what we called an evolution of literacy technology, which encourages a more efficiency and convenience way of living. However, worries from anthropologists which are a risk of making humans disable in terms of over rely on high technologies. Time will tell.
A development in technology provides a wider space for literacy. More ways of communication and forms of media consummates literacy. Meanwhile, a higher requirement and demand for literacy skills like convenience and efficiency also encourages a promotion in technology.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
3/31/09
There are so many kinds of media forms that we can use, however the most impressive one to me is video. I really appreciate with the feeling watching a short video with a background of a beautiful song, which could always make me calm down even when i am upset.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Personal reflecion essay...
When we first asked to define literacy, we almost got crazy as we found literacy is such an abstract word. From dictionary, literacy is simply defined as the ability to read and write, however the existence of some words like “Economic literacy”, “Mathematic literacy” and “environmental literacy” made us confused about what actually literacy is.
In class, we talked about every possible literacy forms that we generally accept, not only in our daily life, but also in our major field and jobs. We found that literacy is everywhere. However when we got out from the classroom, I still found myself knowing nothing about literacy. Therefore I started to pay attentions to things around to see if something is related to literacy. Symbols, books, newspaper, paper, music, sports, and skill and so on, I think about almost every substance around me. I collect similarities and relationships among these things. Generally conducted that Literacy is an expression and comprehending of things including emotion, culture, willingness, etc. The ability to express and comprehend extend into other skills like communication, computer, language, mathematic, etc. This is what we refer to new meanings of literacy; however it is still based on ability to express and understand. There are still some other forms and meanings of literacy exist in our everyday life. When we get older, which means gaining more life experience, we should be able to better explain what literacy is.
About the group literacy map, firstly we listed out all our literacy that is relative to our personal experience and ability. Then we sit together and tried to find out those similarities and differences. We summarized our thinking about literacy in order to find a most acceptable definition of literacy. Finding relationships among group members is not a hard job compare of listing them in a same map. We spend nearly one whole lab class time in searching for map forms via Google. We hope it works.
This project helps us gaining more information about literacy. I really enjoy the process co-operating with my lovely group members: Bofei Wang, Cong Hui and Richeng Liu.
In class, we talked about every possible literacy forms that we generally accept, not only in our daily life, but also in our major field and jobs. We found that literacy is everywhere. However when we got out from the classroom, I still found myself knowing nothing about literacy. Therefore I started to pay attentions to things around to see if something is related to literacy. Symbols, books, newspaper, paper, music, sports, and skill and so on, I think about almost every substance around me. I collect similarities and relationships among these things. Generally conducted that Literacy is an expression and comprehending of things including emotion, culture, willingness, etc. The ability to express and comprehend extend into other skills like communication, computer, language, mathematic, etc. This is what we refer to new meanings of literacy; however it is still based on ability to express and understand. There are still some other forms and meanings of literacy exist in our everyday life. When we get older, which means gaining more life experience, we should be able to better explain what literacy is.
About the group literacy map, firstly we listed out all our literacy that is relative to our personal experience and ability. Then we sit together and tried to find out those similarities and differences. We summarized our thinking about literacy in order to find a most acceptable definition of literacy. Finding relationships among group members is not a hard job compare of listing them in a same map. We spend nearly one whole lab class time in searching for map forms via Google. We hope it works.
This project helps us gaining more information about literacy. I really enjoy the process co-operating with my lovely group members: Bofei Wang, Cong Hui and Richeng Liu.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Workplace literacy--skills
Literacy is everywhere in our everyday life. Lots of new meanings of literacy appear in current society, like economic literacy, environmental literacy, health literacy and so on. The existence of these new meanings of literacy really doubles me from getting the exactly definition of literacy. Therefore, I have a thought in my brain which is that as literacy is traditionally defined as the ability to read and write, how about other skills that we possess, like technical skills and numeracy (mathematical literacy).
After searching on internet, I found a word, which is “workplace literacy”, that relative to what I meant other skills. Workplace literacy is defined as literacy services that are offered for the purpose of improving the productivity of the workforce through the improvement of literacy skills. It means a basic work and communication skills, those that are specific to job, not the ability to read books and literacy. These kinds of literacy skills is no doubt influencing the choice of employers, even some specific certifications are required for employees to gain more competiveness in the market. Now as we are still in the college, we have the opportunity to learn more literacy skills like computer skills, language skills, driving skills and public speaking skills. The more the literacy power we have, the more competitive we are.
As the result of searching for literacy for a few days, I still can not explain a definition that could describe all the meanings of literacy. Literacy is sourced from language, but gradually spread out into other fields of the human society. The only two words I think to describe literacy are “ability” and “power”. Literacy is an understanding and comprehending of life, as we gain more living experiences, we might be able to better say what literacy is.
After searching on internet, I found a word, which is “workplace literacy”, that relative to what I meant other skills. Workplace literacy is defined as literacy services that are offered for the purpose of improving the productivity of the workforce through the improvement of literacy skills. It means a basic work and communication skills, those that are specific to job, not the ability to read books and literacy. These kinds of literacy skills is no doubt influencing the choice of employers, even some specific certifications are required for employees to gain more competiveness in the market. Now as we are still in the college, we have the opportunity to learn more literacy skills like computer skills, language skills, driving skills and public speaking skills. The more the literacy power we have, the more competitive we are.
As the result of searching for literacy for a few days, I still can not explain a definition that could describe all the meanings of literacy. Literacy is sourced from language, but gradually spread out into other fields of the human society. The only two words I think to describe literacy are “ability” and “power”. Literacy is an understanding and comprehending of life, as we gain more living experiences, we might be able to better say what literacy is.
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