Mid-Term Horror

If you have been following my blog, you know that I am taking ENG 323 up at Cal Poly for my Independent Component. My mentor, Karen Russikoff, teaches this class and it's absolutely enthralling. She's very lively and fun and it's obvious that she loves what she does through her teaching. On Wednesday, our class had a mid-term. (insert scream here) A great way to spook the students just in time for Halloween. Since it's a 300 class, the content on the mid-term was quite a heavy load and I had to spend hours studying just to make sure I cover all the topics. I even met up with some other colleagues in my class so we can study together, plus they gave me a free scan-tron because I'm too cheap to buy a packet myself. You should've seen me on the day of the mid-term. I was freaking out and studying non-stop just to make sure I would do well. Of course, being the over-achiever I am, I always feel inclined to do my best in everything I do and since this is a 300 class, I felt more obligated to do so. This was my chance to show everyone that I can take a higher level class and perform well because I am fast and I am smart. :] The laborious hours of studying paid off because I was able to zip past the test and finish within 20 minutes (quite impressive considering it was 100 questions. I surprised myself). I had time to double check my answers and even go as far as triple checking them before I felt like my test was ready to be turned in. Next week, I should be getting my results. Let's all hope that I get an [e]!

Alyanna out. \m/

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

Title: Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

Label: Research

Due Date: Thursday October 16 by 8AM

1. What is your working EQ?

• What is the most effective way for a child to acquire a language?

2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.

• EQ: What is the most effective way for a child to acquire a language?
• Having daily conversations in what ever language that is targeted
• Association between the meaning of the word and symbols
• Introduce words to children by theme (example: cooking- "laddel", "spatula", "pot", etc.)

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

• The most important source I have used is an episode from the television series, "The Human Language Series." The episode I have watched revolves around language acquisition within children; more specifically, first language acquisition. The video goes into detail as to what goes on during a child's mind during the first few years of his life when he or she is acquiring his language and how children are able to pick up words, grammar logic, and new sentences without being taught. The video doesn't straight up hand me the answer as to what is the most effective way a child can learn a language, but it leaves me large puzzle pieces to put together and determine which learning pathway I feel children should take when acquiring language.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

• My mentor is Doctor Karen Russikoff who teaches Language Acquisition up at Cal Poly Pomona. Because she is teaching my senior topic, she is a very helpful source to turn to when I would like to learn about any for of language acquisition (whether it be SLA for adults, SLA for children, or first language acquisition). She helped me narrow down what form of language acquisition I would like my senior project to revolve around by having me explore all the different forms of language acquisition. From that, I knew that I wanted to do language acquisition with kids.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1.For my 30-hour independent component, I am planning on taking my mentor's, Karen Russikoff, Language Acquisition course at Cal Poly Pomona.  

2. To show the thirty hours of evidence, I will file the homework and paperwork Dr. Russikoff will give the class into a portfolio, take pictures of class as it is in session, and ask Dr. Russikoff to give me my test scores so I may file them into a portfolio as well. Basically, I will all paperwork in a file and I will document a couple of pictures of the class to prove that I was actually attending the class.

3. Since it is a college course revolving around my senior topic, I feel like taking the class will benefit me greatly and provide me more insight regarding my topic. It will also educate me in the entirety of Language Acquisition (IPA, etc.) instead of just the one branch I have been focusing my research checks on. This class will help me make a better decision as to what branch of Language Acquisition is. There is more than meats the eye and this class will help me discover/realize that.