• a meeting of such a group • any meeting for exchanging information and holding
discussions • Forum, workshop, group discussion, round table,
symposium, colloquium
I think (that)--What about you? For me, --I would say (that)--Yeah, absolutely. Yes, but what about---? What do you think? I see what you mean. I don’t agree with that (at all) I think that’s right, but--I wouldn’t say that. I agree (with/that)
Other ways of expressing opinions
How to show our opinions if we agree/disagree? 1. I’m in favor of/agree with the idea of doing… 2. I hold the opinion that 3. I believe that 4. I’m for the idea that 1. On the contrary, Im in favor of the idea that… 2. But I hold the opposite opinion that 3. But others are against the idea that 4. However, I object that…
Skills: Asking and answering questions; Expressing opinions
Task 2 Understanding question forms
• Listen to Extract 1 about the education system in their countries.
discussion
Seminar
• a small group of students, as in a university, engaged in advanced study and original research under a member of the faculty and meeting regularly to exchange information and hold discussions
Brazil: money is important
• The speakers ask eight questions. Two of which are given below. Listen again and make a note of the other six questions.
1) So you have two education systems? 2) So these private schools---how are they different? 3) Do you have to pay to go to private schools? 4) It must be expensive, is it? 5) What about in Korea? Is it a similar situation? 6) Are the classes big? What about the classes? 7) Why? How is it different in Brazil? 8) Anyway, what about your universities?
1. Where are the students from? 2. What’s the main point each student makes
about their education system?
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea and Brazil
1st group of tasks
Task 2 Task 4 Task 5
Understanding questiding to an opinion
Recognizing language for expressing opinions
(Here light and sacred draughts) • Yale: Lux et Ventas (Light and Truth) • MIT: Mens et Manus (Mind and Hand)
What is critical thinking?
• Critical thinking, also called critical analysis, is clear, rational thinking involving critique. According to Barry K. Beyer (1995), critical thinking means making clear, reasoned judgments. During the process of critical thinking, ideas should be reasoned, well thought out, and judged.
Critical thinking in academia
Critical thinking is considered important in the academic fields because it enables one to analyze, evaluate, explain, and restructure their thinking, thereby decreasing the risk of adopting, acting on, or thinking with, a false belief. However, even with knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning, mistakes can happen due to a thinker’s inability to apply the methods or because of character traits such as egocentrism. Critical thinking includes identification of prejudice, bias, propaganda, selfdeception, distortion, misinformation, etc.
• The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking defines critical thinking as the ‘intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.’
Mottos of Ivy League universities:
• Harvard: • Let Plato be your friend and Aristotle but more let
your friend be truth. • Oxford: • The Lord Is My Illumination. • Cambridge: Hinc Lucem et pocula scacra
Critical thinking in academia
Edward M. Glaser proposed that the ability to think critically involves three elements: 1) An attitude of being disposed to consider in a thoughtful way the problems and subjects that come within the range of one’s experiences 2) Knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning 3) Some skill in applying those methods.
1A Speaking
This module covers
• Asking and answering questions • Preparing for and taking part in a seminar
discussion • Summarizing and reporting on a seminar
Do the speakers agree or disagree with the statement?
• The speakers broadly agree that education is very important and should not be cut where possible.
• UAE: public (state) schools and private schools where you have to pay---these are seen as better