Robert Full: How engineers learn from evolution

Hello Class,

I came across the following video, which is a presentation, by Robert Full , on how engineers or future engineers like you can learn from animals to build robotic structures.

Hope you like and enjoy it as I did :)

Welcome to English for Engineering 123 of Summer 2008

Hello and Welcome to English 123 of this 2008 Summer Session!

This is our class blog where I'll be posting information and links that should help you improve your grammar and writing skills. The information might include links to useful websites, audio/podcasts, and videos that are all relevant to the syllabus of this course.

You are welcome to post comments or questions on anything I publish on this blog.


The class wiki has more resources and projects created by my students who joined previous English 123 classes; you are welcome to have a look at it using the following URL: http://buthaina.wikispaces.com


I will distribute handouts in class soon with more stuff and URLs of our Google Group and Flickr Group with directions for all of you. I am sorry that we still don't have a computer-lab in our English Language Unit of Engineering yet, but I'd be more than happy to show you or assist you with anything needed through my PC in my office.


I wish you all a happy and successful Summer Session.


Looking forward to working and learning with all of you :)

Buthaina Al-Othman (Ms.)

Reading: Stories from the CNN and CBS

Hi Class,

Noura has asked me to provide her with links to websites with articles to read in order to improve her reading skills. Well, as I mentioned in class try to read everything and anything you see in English whether on the Net, or in newspapers, on TV, or even advertisements you see on buses on your way to school or back to your homes.

And I've selected the following link for you to read some news stories from the CNN and CBS created with reading activities for English learners everywhere in the globe:

http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/archives.html


I hope this is helpful!

Grammar Games by the British Council!

Hi Students / Learners,

Please visit the following link to play some grammar games:

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/grammar_games_index_page01.html

Please note, you need to read the instructions or directions provided to you in order to understand what you need to do.


Hope this is helpful!

Formulating Definitions

Hi Students,

The following are answers of the exercise, Formulating Definitions, in EfS p 72:

2) An antibiotic is a drug that cures bacterial diseases.

3) A lung is an organ for breathing.

4) Acoustics is the science of sound.

5) Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture food.

6) A catalyst is a substance that speeds up but is not changed by a chemical reaction.

7) A calorie is a unit that measures heat. OR A calorie is a unit for measuring heat.

8) A cyclotron is an apparatus that bombards the nuclei of atoms.


Hope this is helpful!

Commas Game by the BBC

Play the "commas" game at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/punctuation/commas/game.shtml


Enjoy!

Auxiliary Verbs, Linking Verbs, & Transitive Verbs

The following are answers to Abdulla's questions:

Q 1) What is the difference between "auxiliary verbs" and "linking verbs"?

Auxiliary Verbs:

Auxiliary verbs are also known as helping verbs. The verbs Be, do, Have, and Modals, (such as Can, Shall, Might, Could,..etc) are auxiliary or helping verbs. Auxiliary verbs or helping verbs are used in conjunction or combined with other main verbs in a sentence or clause.

Example 1:

"I am writing a research."

In the example, above the auxiliary verb(be / am) is a helping verb that occurs in conjunction or combined with another verb (the verb Write + ing). So, the auxiliary verb (am)in this sentence helps to express the progressive or continuous aspect of the main verb or action in this sentence.

Example 2: "I am a lifelong learner."

a linking verb is a verb that links a noun, or an adjective, or both nouns and adjective with their subjects. In the example, above the verb be (am) is a linking verb since it links the noun (learner) and the adjective (lifelong) with their subject (I). Also, a linking verb, such as verb be can be replaced with the symbol (=) And the sentence would still make sense. For example, I = lifelong learner.

Please note, the verb be can act either as auxiliary or as a linking verb. For more details on Linking Verbs, please visit: http://grammar.uoregon.edu/verbs/linking.html

2) What does "intransitive verb" mean?

Transitive Verbs:

A transitive verb is an action verb that takes a direct object; for example, the child broke the window; (broke) is a transitive verb because it has the direct object (window). In other words, the action of breaking occurred to the (window). For more deitails on transitive verbs, please visit: http://grammar.uoregon.edu/verbs/transitive.html


Hope this helps!

PS Please let me know should you need more help with these topics.

Transitive Verbs, Intransitive Verbs, & Linking Verbs

Hi Class,

Please complete the interactive practice at

http://grammar.uoregon.edu/verbs/Verbquiz1/Iquizv.html

The above practice helps you to understand the difference between Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking verbs.

Please let me know if you get more than four (4) incorrect items.

Thanks!

Vocabulary & Synonyms - Watch the Video by TED

Hi Class,

Below is a video by TED showing the amazing talk, by Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain researcher telling the story of her own stroke as it happened!

Notice that the brain researcher used many vocabulary words that are similar to those included in the two reading articles of Unit 1/ chapter 5 in EfS. However, those words were used in different contexts or situations than those of readings 1 & 2, which makes it interesting to us to see how synonyms work, and how contexts are important. Also, pay attention on how the left sphere of the brain is responsible for language learning.

Please watch the video and then post your comments to your blogs.

Thanks to Faisal, Alzahra, & Abdelraheem!

Hi Students,

I'd especially like to thank, Faisal for being the first student who created his blog, named About Me Faisal.

I'd also like to thank Abdelraheem for being the first student who sent me an SMS as well as Alzahra who was the third student who sent her SMS. However, I haven't received the URLs of your blogs yet!

I look forward to reading your posts to your blogs and to communicating with you online and learning, together!

Thank you for your interest in learning and improving your English skills.


See you in class, tomorrow!

Week 1 - HW Assignments!

Hi Class,

Your first homework assignments using technology for this week are the following:

1) Please send me an SMS with your name and student ID number.

(Please note, my mobile phone number is included in the handout with some information about this course, which I gave you earlier in class).

2) Create your Writing Blog using Blogger.com.

(Please note, you will use your blog to post your writing assignments, in addition to anything useful you'd like to share with all of us. Also, please follow the instructions I gave in class on how to create a blog by blogger. If you still need help with that, let me know, please).

3) Do exercise A on page 10 in your workbook.


Good luck!

Welcome to English for Engineering 123 Blog - Spring 2008

Dear students,

Welcome to English for Engineering course #123 section #4!

This blog was created to be used for our online communication and learning, together!

I will be using this blog to post important announcements, including those related to homework assignments, in addition to useful links relevant to the content of this English course, including writing, grammar, and reading. So, please try to visit this blog as often as possible so that you don't miss important information.

Also, you could send your questions or comments about any part of the course by using the comment section provided at the bottom of each post on this blog. If you need help to post your comments or questions please let me know when we meet face-to-face in class.

I hope you enjoy this course and find it beneficial to improve your English.


Wishing you all the best of luck and a happy Spring 2008 semester!