December 23 [Emperor's Birthday] class notes

December 23 (The Day After Winter Solstice)
In-Class Writing
(End-of-year) Reflection
Looking back over the past year, please write about your own learning in one of these areas.

• What I Learned in Writing 4 (and Writing 3) in 2009


• What I Learned in My English Classes in 2009


• What I Learned in My Classes at Dokkyo in 2009


• What I Learned in 2009 (not just in classes)

We will take about 45 minutes. Start now, 13:30 and hand in your work at or before 14:15.

Do you think you are a better writer now? What have you learned? How has your writing changed from what you could do one year ago? Does this affect your writing ability in other languages?

If that topic is too narrow, how about your English skills in general? How have they developed? If they haven't developed well, why not, and what could you do differently in the future?

Looking back at the second year of university, what do you think? has it been as productive as the first year? How was it different? What was the main area of your learning? What would you have missed if you had not been a university student?

In 2009, you may have experienced or learned many things outside of your life as a university student. For example, there were many political changes: a new president of the United States and a new prime minister elected in Japan. You may have made new friends or traveled to strange new places and seen new cultures. Feel free to write on this topic if you prefer!

Our next and final class is January 13, 2009. Please attend, as the plans are to:

• return your papers and discuss them,


• complete a self-evaluation,


• have a small quiz (not a Final Exam, but a check-up),


• give an opportunity for students who missed December 23 to write their reflections,


• have your last chance to report any extra credit such as blogging.

Happy holidays! Aloha!