SAT Writing- 句子的連接邏輯

Writing 能考到 280 的學生，基礎文法通常沒太大問題，剩下要克服的題型有句間邏輯和兩文間指涉關係的問題。

句子次序要不要調整？句子要不要刪除，because ...？學生在時間壓力下，出錯率很高。

要如何克服？

熟悉  transitional words and phrases 是基本功。Similarly, however, by contrast, ... 大約有幾十個 '語義邏輯元件‘ 要整理出來單獨練習。

再來是根據段落的主題和目的，判讀句子之間該有的語義邏輯關係。常見句句關係有 正/負，支持/衝突，通性/特性，概念/實例，前提/暗示 ... 等。

最後要壓抑跳 tone 的中文習慣。

高中生出國留學英語班- learning 'Mesopotamia'

Syllabus of Learning 'Mesopotamia'

This page puts together the materials and my plan of teaching the 'Mesopotamia' chapter in H. Van Loon's book. Dr. Simon Shauming, ESL/Math Tutor

Objects 

• Increase listening ability for ancient history contents. 
• Increase word power.
• Learn how to describe events, places, and time.
• See the parallel and contrast structures of the text.
• Become curious how human civilizations began.
• Expand geographical knowledge of West Asia. 
• Appreciate the relevance of the lesson to current news events.

Class Time   3 hours

I. Pre-class activity
The students listen to the audio track and read the text at least once before coming to the class.

MESOPOTAMIA
THE SECOND CENTRE OF EASTERN CIVILISATION

I AM going to take you to the top of the highest pyramid and I am going to ask that you imagine yourself possessed of the eyes of a hawk.

Way, way off, in the distance, far beyond the yellow sands of the desert, you will see something green and shimmering.

It is a valley situated between two rivers.

It is the Paradise of the Old Testament.

It is the land of mystery and wonder which the Greeks called Mesopotamia the "country between the rivers."

The names of the two rivers are the Euphrates (which the Babylonians called the Purattu) and the Tigris (which was known as the Diklat).

They begin their course amidst the snows of the mountains of Armenia where Noah's Ark found a resting place and slowly they flow through the southern plain until they reach the muddy banks of the Persian gulf.

They perform a very useful service.

They turn the arid regions of western Asia into a fertile garden.

The valley of the Nile had attracted people because it had offered them food upon fairly easy terms.

The "land between the rivers" was popular for the same reason.

It was a country full of promise and both the inhabitants of the northern mountains and the tribes which roamed through the southern deserts tried to claim this territory as their own and most exclusive possession.

The constant rivalry between the mountaineers and the desert-nomads led to endless warfare.

Only the strongest and the bravest could hope to survive and that will explain why Mesopotamia became the home of a very strong race of men who were capable of creating a civilization which was in every respect as important as that of Egypt.

II. Classroom activities

Listening
Audio echoing exercise.
Notice speech pattern, emphasis, and so on.

Reading
List proper names, such as Old Testament, the Greeks.
List words and phrases that you are not familiar with.

• First, guess what the strange words mean from the context.
• Don't write Chinese translation next to them.
• Look the unfamiliar words up in an English-English dictionary, such as Longman Dictionary.
• After that, explain them in your own words.
• Finally, create sentences with your favorite strange words.

Text analysis
Condition of nature vs human activity.
Two parts separated by the sentence containing 'fertile garden'.
What rhetoric purpose does this structure intend to serve?
What conflicts can you detect in this article?
Break down a few very long sentences into clause trees.

Discussion
Imagine a desert. Describe what it is like. What does it have? How does it feel to you?
Have you ever been to an arid area?
Have you ever been to a fertile farmland?
What differences between them have you noticed?

III. After class

review the following words and phrases:
centre (Br) = center (Am)
civilisation (Br) = civilization (Am)

imagine yourself
possess, possessed of, possessed by, possession
the eyes of a hawk
Way, way off in the distance
shimmer, shimmering
situated between

amidst (lit.) = amid
turn ... into ...
arid regions
fertile garden

it had offered them ...
roamed through the southern deserts
claim this territory as their own
exclusive possession
rivalry between
desert-nomads

... lead to ...
lead, led, led (verb)
lead (noun)
LED light

endless warfare
that will explain why ...
in every respect

IV. Extension Learning

A) Cradles of Civilization - The First Cities l Lessons of Dr. David Neiman

B) Biblical account of Adam created in charge of the Garden of Eden
Genesis 2:7-15

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

SAT Reading- 小說分析舉例

這是 SAT 閱讀練習題的一小部分, 節錄自官方網站的練習範例。這一題考小說閱讀, 文學分析的能力。

這裡我簡單示範, 如何閱讀故事型考題。重點是迅速釐清幾個元素:
- 角色, 角色彼此的關係,
- 場景的時地, 季節, 經濟條件, 社會階級, ...
- 角色的動機: 感情聯繫的, 精神超越的, 事業發展的, 物質報酬的, 社會正義的, ...
- 完成目標的阻礙

Questions 1-10 are based on the following passage.
This passage is from Lydia Minatoya, The Strangeness of Beauty. ©1999 by Lydia Minatoya.
The setting is Japan in 1920. Chie and her daughter Naomi are members of the House of Fuji, a noble family.

題目文本摘自於一本小說。 上面提示說這是講一對日本母女的故事, Chie 是媽媽, Naomi 是女兒, 出身於貴族家庭。
注意: Chie 是比較東方名字, 而 Naomi 是西方名字。所以讀者可以猜想,是否關於隔代文化衝突?

Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive? He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind.

開頭有一個角色 Akira 出現。Akira 是 男的 (he),
場景: 冬天晚上, Akira 去拜訪 Chie 家。
Akira 想要是如果先請他媽媽去問他爸爸, 做 go-between 來找 Chie 談, 會不會比較有效?  (點出新生一代, 對老一代之間注重傳統的應對進退, 這些規矩, 很難取捨)
拜訪動機: 他要 Chie 接受甚麼?

The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie. Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy.

貴族家庭所以有 maid, 做開門迎接不速之客的工作。 而 Chie 坐著不動, 享受女主人的地位。

She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their legs were tucked inside with the heat.

場景: 母女坐在有烤爐的房間取暖, 和室。

“Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off the maid’s lacquer tray.

“Shinoda, Akira. Kobe Dental College,” she read. Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air.

“I think you should go,” said Naomi.

這段對話, 很短, 可是暗示一些 Naomi 和 Akira 的過往。你有聽到女兒 Naomi 倒抽一口氣嗎?
(考題還有其它段落)

衝突還沒出現, 但敏銳的讀者, 讀到這裡應該 對 Akira-Chie-Naomi 三者之間可能發生的衝突有些預感了!
小說讀很多, 對文學類型熟悉的人, 可能會在猜, 這個故事發展下去, 會不會是 羅密歐/茱麗葉 類型? 家族間的衝突, 世代間的隔閡造成年輕戀人的阻礙?
透過文類 (genre) 預期性的思考, 是老練的讀者, 自然而然會發展出來的讀書技術。

SAT Math- 個位數的英語

consecutive: 連續的
integer: 整數

consecutive integers: 連續整數
例如 玩 '喜巴辣' 丟三顆骰子, {1, 2, 3} 通賠, {4, 5, 6} 通殺 的點數。
{-5, -4, -3}  或是 {-2, -1, 0, 1}  或是  {4, 5, 6} 也都是 consecutive integers

the units digit, the ones digit: 個位數

the product jn: j 和 n 相乘的結果

what is the units digit of k: k 的個位數是甚麼?

解答提示
1 ~ 9 中哪兩個整數相乘, 結果個位數會得出 9?
j < k < n, (j, n 這兩個整數中間隔另一個整數 k)

Quiz
十位數, 英語是甚麼?
百位數, 英語是甚麼?

SAT 考試系列 (3)- 註冊和考試日期

版主吳博士叮嚀: 要申請明年秋季入學的人, 最好報考今年僅剩的 2 次考試

SAT 考試日             最後一天可以註冊
Nov. 5, 2016            Oct. 7, 2016
Dec. 3, 2016            Nov. 3, 2016

Jan. 21, 2017          Dec. 21, 2016
March 11, 2017       Feb. 10, 2017
May 6, 2017           Apr. 7, 2017
June 3, 2017           May 9, 2017

成績寄出日期 Score Delivery Dates
Nov. 5 test date: Nov. 29 score delivery
Dec. 3 test date: Dec. 23 score delivery

SAT 官網

SAT 考試系列 (2) 申請 UCLA 大學部, SAT 12月底前要考過!

台灣學生申請 UCLA 大學部, 必要這些考試成績:

• SAT 必含 essay session 或是 ACT + ACT Writing Test
• 理工科的, 強烈建議考 SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 + a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) 
• IELTS >= 7.0, 或 TOEFL iBT >= 83, 或 TOEFL PBT >= 550 (成績要從考試單位, 直接送 UCLA Undergraduate Admission Office)
• 明年秋季的入學, 今年 12 月底就要考過

Simon 老師建議:
- 三種英語考試: 建議考 iBT
- SAT vs ACT: 建議考 SAT. (ACT 在中西部大學中比較流行)
- UCLA 的 SAT 入學成績: 1750 贏過　25%, 2160 贏過 75% 的入學新生.
- 要補救 SAT, TOEFL 家教效果最好: 聯絡本部落格版主 吳博士(SAT Subject 也有教)

高中生出國留學英語班- 第一個 12 週課程

高中生出國留學英語班  
課程設計與授課教師 Teacher and Course Designer
吳曉明博士 Dr. Simon Shauming Wu
手機: 0975-237-356

E-Mail: simon.shauming@gmail.com

時間: 每週 3 小時, 每回合 12 週, 共計 4 回合

(3 hours x 12 weeks x 4 terms = 144 hours)

地點: 舞蹈教室

一班10人

2016年9月開始上課

【目標學生 Target Students】
針對計畫去美國, 英紐澳 讀大學的國高中生而設計。
適用英語程度分布不均的班級, 但最好至少有 TOEIC 400/900, , TOEFL ITP 350/677, TOEFL iBT 40/120, IELTS 3/9 的程度。(僅供參考: 台灣近年平均分數 TOEIC 536, ITP 494, iBT 80, IELTS 6.1)

【一年期目標 One-Year Goal】
take TOEFL, IELTS, and maybe SAT and have good scores in a year
have successful communication in the future college admission interviews
develop fluent English communication skills for living in the US, UK or Europe
develop proper Academic skills for western campus

【第一個12週的課程目標 Goal of the first 12 weeks】

listen well and sound good (intonation, stress, pitch, length, volume, reduced and linked sounds)
think critically and write with structures (phrase, grammar, thought organization, fact finding)
learn natural and social sciences as in English classroom
understand western history from ancient civilizations to Roman Empire

【第一個12週的每週課程分配, Class Sessions】
聽和發音 listen well and sound good (50+10 分鐘)
美國課堂習作 language arts, critical thinking and sciences (50+10 分鐘)
西方歷史 western history (50+10 分鐘)
以上三節課之中, 會隨時有造句練習(口說和寫作兩種形式)
每週會有 homework, 下次來會個別訂正

【第一個12週的教材, Text and Audio Materials】
TOEFL ITP, ASSESSMENT SERIES, Practice Tests, volume 1
Publisher: ETS
ISBN 978-0-88685-410-2

Daily Learning Drills, Grade 2
by Vincent Douglas, Publisher: Brighter Child
ISBN 0-7696-3092-8

American Accent Training (book and DVD)
by Ann Cook, Publisher: Barrons
ISBN-13: 978-1438071657

The Story of Mankind by Hendrik van Loon
下載有聲書: MP3 或 其他格式 
下載電子書: pdf, epub, 或其他格式檔

【教學特色軟硬體, Computer Technology for the Course】
iPad + Anytune (非常有效的聽力訓練 App)

【對學生的要求, Requirement for the Students】
每次上課攜帶筆記本+筆
上課之前完成前一週的 homework

SAT 考試系列 (1)

最近我有學生(台灣高中生) 因為申請的美國大學要求, 而要考 SAT。我為學生整理了基本的報考資訊, 現在 po 在這裡, 也許可以幫助其他想考, 卻不曉得去哪裡報名的人。

SAT 的主辦單位是美國 Collge Board  www.collegeboard.com
必須去這個單位的網站報名考試, 報考 SAT 費用美金 $45

一年會有好幾次 SAT 考試, 上網註冊考試時, 要先挑日期。然後網站會提供那天的考場供選擇。
查看考試日期和考場
Register for the SAT　(報名考試)

即將來到的兩次考試的註冊截止日, 以及考試日期。
- Registration Deadline: Sept. 1, 2016, Test Date: Oct. 1, 2016
- Registration Deadline: Oct. 7, 2016, Test Date: Nov. 5, 2016

台北有數個考場, 蠻便利的。其他城市也有考場，例如新竹的考場有
- National Experimental High School, Bilingual Department (國立科學工業園區實驗高級中學 雙語部, 新竹市介壽路300號) Center Code：70120

- PAS PACIFIC AMERICAN SCHOOL (美國學校)
3f No 151 Section 2 Guangfu Rd, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Center Code: 70122

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考試當天,
A. 必備證件及用品
Your Admission Ticket (事先要登入報名網站列印)
Acceptable photo ID (有照片身分證)
Two No. 2 pencils with erasers (2B鉛筆 2枝)
An approved calculator (計算機)
備用電池可帶但不可放桌上


B. Nice to Have: A watch (without an audible alarm, 可帶沒有鬧鈴的錶入場)

C. What Not to Bring (不可帶入考場):
Audio players/recorders, camera, smart phone, ....
Separate timers of any type
Protractors, compasses, rulers
Highlighters, colored pens, colored pencils
Pamphlets or papers of any kind
Dictionaries or other books — there are no exceptions, even if English is not your first language
Food or drinks (except for during breaks),

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以後再寫 SAT 考試形式和內容。如果你有 SAT 考試的任何問題, 歡迎用 comment 發問, 或是 email 給我也可以。