WANISAN

A few days ago in class we were talking about describing things. This lead me to a very common explanation people use when they talk about words.

When you want to remember words, it’s best to use pictures and ideas combined, not just the words.

We don’t ‘think’ in words. We think in images, flashes, feelings.

When someone says a word like ‘elephant’, you don’t think about those letters, but you see an elephant. That elephant may be different based on your idea of elephant though!

That’s okay, too.

Just remember to keep in mind images when you are explaining or need to explain things and to use them to help you remember, too.

Many people who know me know I really like super heros, especially comic book heroes and even more that I like Marvel heroes.

I think lots of people like super heroes for many different reasons, but maybe mostly because we want to have super powers or at least dream about having them!

This week the new Avengers movie is finally opening.

I am looking forward to seeing it though I might wait until it is released on DVD so I can watch it at home with my family.

I think I like Wolverine the best of the super heroes. He ages very slowly, is really strong, heals from almost any wound, and is a great fighter and loyal friend.

Who is your favorite super hero? What powers do they have that you wish you had?

Leave your answer in the comments below!

Finished up week one and it was a good week. Lots of fun with the new students, and catching up with student who have been in previous classes of mine.

I also started doing these doodles on the whiteboard for class just to have an image to show for when the OHC was on. This has morphed into me doing different drawings every week, and now into trying to do a different quick drawing for each of the four classes.

I’m not sure how long I will or can keep this up, but for now I will give it a shot.

Usually I just make a circle and then see what comes of it – so I don’t always have a clear idea of what I’m trying to draw. I usually just go with it, but occasionally I will start one over.

Anyway, they’re not great, I’m an English professor, not an artist, but I thought I would share them for fun.

Here are the ones from last Friday:

Tomorrow is the last day of the first full week of classes, and everything is going really well so far! Yeah!

Friday is Web English class.

Break time was great, but now it is time to get back to school.

I’m so happy to have back some of my old students and to get to meet so many new students.

Let’s have a great semester every body!

I find myself drawing in class a lot, and it does not always come out as I hope. I really should do some practicing and learn to draw some more specific things.

I am geting a little better at using drawings for illustrations in class, and a whiteboard is great for that. This is probably true in a lot of classroom settings, but I think it is even more so in a language classroom.

It is too easy to fall victim to using a dictionary, or translating, when you hit a snag trying to explain yourself.

I try to use English to explain English as much as possible in class, and drawings help me to do that. Drawings are great for helping students to have a better way to attach meaning to words rather than directly translating.

You don’t have to be great at drawing, but you need to draw with confidence.

Here is a quick illustration I did for headless, ghost, and poster: