Video – The Look of Love (Chris Botti / Vocals – Sy Smith)

The Look of Love is a recent jazz standard (a song that almost every jazz singer sings). We have seen Chris Botti (trumpet) perform with other musicians before. This time is with the singer Sy Smith. In addition to singing she scats. When she does that, she is really another musician in the band. Enjoy it again below.





The Look of Love (Diana Krall)
The look of love
Is in your eyes
A look your smile can't disguise
The look of love
Is saying so much more than
Just words could every say
And what my heart has heard
Well it takes my breath away

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

You've got the look of love
It's on your face
A look that time can't erase
Baby be mine, tonight
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let's take a lovers vow
And seal it with a kiss

Don't ever go
Don't ever go
I love you so

The look of love
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let's take a lover's vow
And baby we'll seal it with a kiss

Fall Lesson 02

EWr

We did Extensive Writing (EWr). The topic was the question, My MACBIA goal. Enter your score in your EWr Log.

Quizlet

After leaving feedback on our classmates' EWr Journal, we spent time doing language-focused learning studying vocabulary on Quizlet.

Reading

We worked on the reading handout: Unit 7: What We Remember, What We Forget. The vocabulary is now on our Quizlet study list. Finish the tasks before the next lesson.

Due 9/27 in class

MACBIA Paper

You will write a formal paper about your MACBIA goal. You will write it using Google Docs with APA formatting. 

For proper formatting, please bookmark and utilize the Purdue OWL website:

Purdue Owl APA

I strongly recommend looking at the sample paper there.

APA formatted Sample Paper

You should have the following sections:

• Title page
• Section headings (eg., introduction, literature review, MACBIA, conclusion)
• Sub-section headings (eg., measurable, achievable, etc., …)
• In-text citations
• Reference list
• Appendix or two (optional)

In Google Docs give it the title, full name + MACBIA and share it with me. 

First draft due 10/1 23:59

Fall Lesson 01

Welcome back! I hope you had a nice Summer break!

In this semester, we will be doing project work. In a later lesson, we will talk about project work and start thinking about project ideas.

Some parts of our Spring pattern will continue. We will continue to do EWr, reading graded readers, journals, and blogs.


EWr
Bring your notebooks to class for extensive writing. We will do it about once a week.


MACBIA
One new task you will do is an individual project. You will choose a goal and shape it into a MACBIA goal:

A good goal is challenging, measurable, achievable, incremental, and beneficial. And it helps to be accountable to supportive onlookers. Otherwise, it's too easy to procrastinate / despair / stay in bed.    –Sylvan Payne (2014).

MACBIA is a way to remember that a good goal is…

• Measurable
• Achievable
• Challenging
• Beneficial
• Incremental
• Accountable

Prepare a MACBIA goal for our next lesson.

Here are the slides from my presentation.

Macbia introduction from Daniel Beck


Homework
Write a blog post about your proposal to do a MACBIA project. Explain how you will use MACBIA to reach your goal.

Due 9/21 23:59

Leave a comment for 3 of your classmates, the 3 classmates below you on the list.

Due 9/24 23:59

Lesson 28 – Test and Reflections

Final Test
We took a short test about what we have learned and vocabulary.


Project Presentations
Each group presented a progress report about their projects.

Submit any materials, even if incomplete, today. I will inform you if any revisions need to be made.

Due 7/19 23:59


Spring Term Reflection Questions
Talk with your partners about the following questions.

• We repeated a few activities this semester (speed reading, extensive writing, Quizlet study, academic vocabulary reading, presentation skills, extensive reading, blog writing, essay writing).  

• Which was your favorite and why?  Which was your least favorite and why?

• Think about those same activities? Which ones benefit you most in your other classes? Which ones do you think might benefit you after you graduate?

• Did you have a favorite lesson? If so, why did you like it?

• What are two things you did well this semester and why you think you did them well?

• What two things you would like to improve next semester and why you want to improve them?



Journal
Write in your journal about the above questions. Also, write about these questions.

• Do you think you helped your classmates participate? Is there something you can do to help them more?

• What did Daniel do that was helpful for you? What can Daniel do better?

• What grade do you feel you deserve in this class? Why do you deserve this grade?  Are you satisfied with your performance (behavior, participation, attendance) in this class?  Why or why not?

Due 7/21 23:49 


Essay Revision
Submit your revision of your essay based on the meeting we had. 
Due 7/23 23:59

If you need to do another revision, I will let you know.

Lesson 27 – Presentations and Preparation

Presentations
We had our final group of presentations today. Use the feedback form below:

Final Presentations Feedback



Unit 5: The Study of the Seasons
We checked our homework. These words have been added to Quizlet set and will be part of the final test.


Projects
Continue working together on your projects. On Thursday your group will present your project (whether completed or in progress) to the class. Also, you will need to negotiate the final deadline for your projects if they are not completed by Thursday.


Test
We will have a short test on Thursday. Review the Quizlet set, CRAP and the 4 Strands.

Video – Let the Bright Seraphim (Kathleen Battle & Wynton Marsalis)

Let the Bright Seraphim
Kathleen Battle is a famous opera singer and Wynton Marsalis is a famous jazz trumpeter. Marsalis is the only person who has ever won grammies for both jazz and classical music. I love how they have shining eyes and bring out each other's shining eyes.

The music was composed by George Handel about an episode in the Bible.

Lesson 26 – Presentatoins (cont)

Presentations
We continued with presentations today. Use the feedback form below:

Final Presentations Feedback



Homework
Do the tasks in the handout, Unit 5: The Study of the Season. We will check the answers in class. Also, the vocabulary will be on the final test.
Due before class. 

Video – The Piano Guys original tune: All of Me

The video we watched an original tune by The Piano Guys: All of Me. Jon Schmidt (the pianist) wrote this song years ago and many people have performed it on YouTube. Finally, he recorded his version for YouTube.

Enjoy the video again.

Lesson 25 – Presentations and Project Work

Presentations
We begin the first group of presentations today. Use the feedback form below:

Final Presentations Feedback

Those who haven't given their presentations yet should learn from today's feedback. Also, go back and look at the recent posts about handouts, PUNCH, Q&A and finishing strong.



Projects

Continue working together on your projects. Write a submit a report about what needs to be done and how it will be completed.

Write a document together using Google Docs. Share the doc with your members and then share it with me. Title your group report with AE18 Project Report L25 + group members' first names.
Due before midnight. 


Call for Volunteers
The special interest group (SIG) I am involved with for the teaching organization I am a member of (The Japan Association for Language Teaching – JALT) is holding their 25th anniversary conference at Rikkyo September 15-16. If you can help on either or both days, I would be very happy.

JALT CUE Conference 2018 (25th Anniversary)

Volunteering duties would include helping people to find the campus, help people on campus to find the conference rooms, helping conference goers with their questions, helping conference presenters with time management and equipment, etc …

Volunteers will receive a T-shirt which will identify you as a volunteer. You will be able to keep the shirt. Each day, you will receive a bento lunch and you will also receive a small amount of money that will help with transportation or other costs. In addition, I will invite you to a pizza party. By this, I don't mean we will order cheap takeout and sit in a room. I will take you to Borsa, my favorite local restaurant.

Presentation Handouts

For your presentations, you should prepare 10 handouts (which includes one for yourself so you can show it to the audience).


Here are some things to consider:

• Show numbers, graphs, quotes, and other information that is too long or detailed to put on your slides.
• Include your references at the end.
• You can use serif fonts and smaller font sizes for your longer texts.
• You can use sentences and even paragraphs if you need to.
• Keep your handouts to two pages printed double-sided on one piece of paper. A single page is fine.

Also, review the Lesson 19 post to review tips for handouts.

Essay Meeting Reservations

Each of you needs to make a reservation with me to go over your essay at my office. I have made a spreadsheet on Google. It's first come, first served, so I suggest you make your reservation early. If you can not find a time on the spreadsheet, you will need to make arrangements with me directly.

Essay Meeting Reservation Spreadsheet

Note: You can only sign into the spreadsheet using your Rikkyo account. 

Lesson 24 – Benjamin Zander & Finishing Presentations

Benjamin Zander at TED Talk
We watched (again!) Benjamin Zander's TED Talk called The Transformative Power of Classical Music. I didn't realize I had assigned this video for homework before. Somehow, I can't find it on the blog. However, I hope you benefited from watching it again. Perhaps having done the homework and seeing again helped you see how much more you could understand and appreciate. 

What I hope you notice this time is how Zander used humor as his PUNCH strategy to introduce his topic. 

You can watch the video again here:

Write in your journal about these questions (and any other thoughts you have)

• What is one-buttock playing?
• How can you be a one-buttock player?
• What similarities can you find between Zander's talk and Duckworth's talk including what she wrote about her experience?
• How can you apply these ideas to your presentation, to your studies, to your life?
  Due 7/8 23:59

Make your ending sticky
Here are some suggestions for making your ending sticky. Being sticky means that your ideas will stick and be easy to remember. The idea comes from a book by Chip and Dan Heath, Made to Stick. Garr Reynolds in his book The Naked Presenter refers to their ideas when suggesting how to finish your presentation strong.

Here is a summary of the points Reynolds shares from the Heaths' book:

• Simplicity – do not add much new information at the end of your talk.
• Unexpectedness – just as your PUNCH can include something unexpected, your ending can as well. In fact, you begin an anecdote or a question in your introduction and give the conclusion here.
• Concreteness – Avoid being abstract. Give a specific example or use a specific image to make your final point.
• Credibility – Use a final example or statistic to make your final point.
• Emotions – Find a way to make your audience care about your final point. This can be similar to the Personal part of PUNCH.
• Stories – Use a story to help your audience remember your talk. People like stories.

Just like with PUNCH, you probably cannot use each of these ideas. But, consider using one or more.



Handling Q & A
Here are some tips for handling the question and answer time (also from The Naked Presenter).

• Be engaging – Keep your energy level high. Consider getting physically closer to your audience members and look them in the eyes.
• Be brief – Keep your answers to the questions short. Don't give a second presentation during this time.
• Be silent – Let your audience member finish their question even if you think you know what they want to ask.
• Be gracious – If your audience member is annoying you, continue to remain calm and kind.
• Be assertive – Even though you are being patient and kind, do not let an audience member to take too much time from the rest of the audience.
• Repeat or rephrase the question – This shows consideration to the full audience who may not have heard the question. Reynolds says this is a "pro tip", an action that shows your skill.
• Know when to stop – When your time limit is approaching, do not continue to go on speaking. Or, if someone has a question and you know you will not have enough time to answer, take control. You can say something like, "I'm sorry, we are running out of time. You can come speak to me after the presentation."

Finally, end the Q&A time with about 1 minute or so left in your time and close powerfully with your main point. One way to do so is to say something like:

If you only remember one thing today, remember that …Thank you.

Lesson 23 – PUNCH and Projects

Project
You revised your reports from lesson 22 and continued work on your project by planning goals and roles.


Keep in mind:

• Most of your grade will be based on the usefulness of your final product to the target audience.
• Your final product will be in English.
• You should use English as much as possible to achieve your goal.
• Your final product medium should be what is most useful to the target audience.

Write a document together using Google Docs. Share the doc with your members and then share it with me. Title your group report with AE18 Project Report L23 + group members' first names.
Due before midnight.


PUNCH
Presentation expert Garr Reynolds has written on his blog and his book The Naked Presenter about starting your presentations well. He says this is necessary because of the primacy effect, that is, how what people hear at the beginning has the biggest impact on how effective your presentation will be.

Read more about PUNCH on his blog:
PUNCH on the Presentation Zen Blog

On Thursday, we will learn more about Q&A and finishing your presentation well.

Lesson 22 – Project Planning

RF
We did Reading Fluency (RF) practice again. Remember to enter your time and score in your RF Log on Google Sheets.


Project
We began working on group projects. You met with your groups to begin planning.

Keep in mind:

• Most of your grade will be based on the usefulness of your final product to the target audience.
• Your final product will be in English.
• You should use English as much as possible to achieve your goal.

Write a document together using Google Docs. Share the doc with your members and then share it with me. Title your group report with AE18 Project Report L22 + group members' first names.


Presentation Slide Feedback
I met with some of you to go over your presentation slides. I will meet with the others on Tuesday.

I know you are busy with other classes homework. However, I hope you will try to do a good job with your presentations. This means lots of practice. 

Submit your handout to me using Google Docs:

• Make a new Google Doc and share it with me.
• The title should be your full name + AE + Handout (ex. Reiko Suzuki AE Handout).Due 6/30 23:59

Video – Coldplay - Paradise (Peponi) African Style (ft. guest artist, Alex Boye) - ThePianoGuys

Paradise is a popular song by Coldplay. In this version, the Piano Guys join with Alex Boye, an African singer who is a YouTube performer. He uses the Swahili word peponi which means paradise. They shot this video somewhere near the Four Corners, a place where four states connect in the Southwest part of the United States.






Here is the original version with the original video.


In my opinion, the cover version and video are better. :)

Here are the words:

When she was just a girl she expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep and dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes

When she was just a girl she expected the world
But it flew away from her reach and the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

And dream of para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

She'd dream of para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

La-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She'd say, "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I know the sun must set to rise"

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh, oh

This could be para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise

This could be para-para-paradise
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Lesson 21 – Presentation Feedback 2

EWr

We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) again. The topic was the question, What do you think might be a goal that you could have passion and perseverance for long-term? Could you beat your score from last week? Enter your score in your EWr Log.

Presentation Feedback

Once again you gave your presentations in front of a 2 or 3 classmates who gave you feedback. Use this feedback to make improvements. We will begin our presentations next Tuesday.

I will be a bit strict in my feedback on your presentations. Consider visiting me at my office (please contact me first) or exchanging emails or messages with me. I would be happy to coach you.

As I said before, practice often. If possible, practice in front of someone or some people. Consider recording yourself so you can see how you look.

Send your slides to me via Dropbox or Google Slides. If you have used Powerpoint or Keynote, use the link below.

Dropbox Upload Link

Due 6/27 23:59

Essay Peer Revision

Use the feedback from your partner to revise your essay.

Follow these steps:

• From the File menu, click on Make a copy.
• Edit the file name by adding 2nd Draft to it (don't forget to remove the "Copy of". 
• Click on the box Copy comments and suggestions. Click OK.
• Read your partner's feedback comments.
• Make any revisions you need to. You can click on resolve after you deal with a comment.
• Share the document with me after you finish.
  Due 6/29 23:59

Video – Fragile (Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Botti)

Sting wrote this beautiful song about 30 years ago. I was in high school and was very touched by it. This live version includes Chris Botti (trumpet) and Yo-Yo Ma (cello). You can read the lyrics below.

 


If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are

How fragile we are how fragile we are

Lesson 20 – Essay Peer Review

RF

We did Reading Fluency (RF) practice again. This lesson's topic was Business and the Internet Remember to enter your time and score in your RF Log on Google Sheets.

Presentation Feedback

You gave your presentations in front of a 2 or 3 classmates who gave you feedback. Use this feedback to make improvements. You will give your presentations again in front of a few classmates next Tuesday. Next time should be much better.

You should be able to give your presentation with very few umm-s or pauses.

Practice often. If possible, practice in front of someone or some people. Consider recording yourself so you can see how you look.

Essay Peer Revision
Use the Revision Checklist on p. 97 to help your classmate revise their essay.

Follow these steps:

• Read your partner's paragraphs.
• Use the comment function by highlighting the text you want to comment on.
• Click on the + button on the right of the doc.
• Write your comment and click save.

Due 6/25 23:59

Video – Me and My Cello - Happy Together (Turtles) Cello Cover - The Piano Guys

Happy Together is a popular song by The Turtles. In this version, Steve from The Piano Guys answers the question about why he always seems so happy playing the cello. It is because of quality time together. This video shows the many things Steve and his cello do together.  Enjoy watching it again.






Here is the original version by the Turtles from 1967.

 

Here are the words:

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together

If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together

So happy together
And how is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)

Lesson 19 – Presentation Handouts and Example (Updated)

Updated

EWr
We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) again. Could you beat your score from last week? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Essay Revision
Use the Revision Checklist on p. 97 to help you revise your essay. On Thursday, you will share your essay with a partner who will give you constructive (negative) feedback.


Presentation Example
Angela Duckworth gave a short talk at TED Talks – Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. She practiced many hours to give this talk. How much time should you practice?

Note: You can go to the TED.com website to find more resources such as subtitles and transcripts. You can even download videos.

Homework
Watch the video again and observe her delivery. Ask yourself these questions:

• How well did she communicate her message?
• How well did each of her points fit with her main point?
• How was her posture? Her eye contact? Her gestures? Her voice?
• How was her storytelling? 
• What was her "hook" (something to make you interested at the beginning)? Was it effective?

Write your answers in paragraph form on a Google Doc. The title should be your full name + AE18L20.
Due 6/25 23:59


Presentation Handouts
Consider the advice from these website resources:

13 Best Practice Tips for Effective Presentation Handouts

How to write a Presentation Handout: 5 Effective Ideas


If you are interested in learning more about grit, I recommend reading Angela Duckworth's book: Grit – The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

Lesson 18 – Essay Preparation

RF

We did Reading Fluency (RF) practice again. Remember to enter your time and score in your RF Log on Google Sheets.

Essay Handouts

We went over the answers for the essay handouts. You will write an essay using the structure found on the new handouts.

Due 6/20 23:59 

Video — What Makes You Beautiful (The Piano Guys Cover of One Direction)

What Makes You Beautiful 
(The Piano Guys Cover of One Direction)

I wonder how much practice they must have done to make this video. Enjoy it again!

Lesson 17

EWr
We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) again. Could you beat your score from last week? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Reading
We worked on the reading handout: Unit 4: South American Empires. The vocabulary is now on our Quizlet study list. Finish the tasks before the next lesson.

Send your answers for Paraphrasing Practice using Google Docs (AE L17).
Due 6/13 23:59


Quizlet
We took a test using Quizlet. We also used it when we had downtime.


Presentations
Make a presentation comparing two countries or products. In your presentation, you should use at least 3 kinds of graphs. Be sure to use good CRAP design. Your presentation should have a good introduction, body, and conclusion.

You will make a handout for your classmates. Use the appropriate design for text and visuals depending on the medium.

The presenters will be chosen randomly each time, usually 2-3 per lesson beginning 6/19.


Essay Handouts
We will discuss the essay handouts in the next lesson.

Lesson 16 – Making Pie Graphs

RF

We did Reading Fluency (RF) practice again. This lesson's topic was Business and the Internet Remember to enter your time and score in your RF Log on Google Sheets.

Making Pie Graphs

I demonstrated how to make pie graphs (or charts) in Google Slides. You will need to use these skills in your next presentation.

Homework

Work on the handouts I gave about writing essays. We will go over it in the next class.

Video — Indiana Jones Rocks Petra with this Arabian Classical Remix! - The Piano Guys (Wonder of the World 4 of 7)

Indiana Jones Rocks Petra with this Arabian Classical Remix!
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the fourth in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to Petra a city built into the rock in Jordan. The name Petra means rock.

Because Petra was a location in the 3rd Indian Jones movie, they use music from the soundtrack in this tune.

Enjoy the video again.


 





You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World