Seminar 3

The seminar starts with the discussion of possible questions related to the grammar exercises students did on the internet.
• Then the students write the gists of 50 words of their partner’s presentation.
• The seminar continues with the students presenting the articles they have chosen for the lecturer.
• Work in groups – the students get the article and start reading it, discussing it and then prepare the slide show containing 15 slides and choose and make a list of 10 collocations (Assignment 6). The slideshow and collocations are sent to the lecturer’s e-mail by the end of the class.

Homework:
To prepare to present the slideshow at the next class.
To prepare 5 questions to be asked after the presentation.
To do corrections of the mistakes in the gist
To start reading individual articles and getting familiar with their vocabulary

Assignment for UKU VIISUT:
You have to read and translate Article 2 (About climate changes – can be found on ÕIS), make a list of 15 collocations and present them to the lecturer by 20.02.2012 and prepare a presentation of the article (the slide show should be approximately 15 slides long) At the next class you will be presenting your article to the class. Please be sure to prepare 5 questions to the audience to be asked after the presentation.

Seminar 2

The seminar started with the discussion of the mistakes in the test that students did last time. For the next class the students are recommended to do the online exercises the links to which can be found on ÕIS and at the next seminar ask the lecturer about the points that they still fail to understand. This assignment is crucial as far as grammar exercises on the revision of the tenses will be included into the test.

The seminar went on with the discussion of the text “How to identify a “good” journal”?

The summary of the discussion:

Wiki should be a starting point of the search for a good journal thank to a substantial number of references its articles contain. However, it should be treated with a reasonable degree of scepticism. A researcher should avoid clicking down on too many links as every next link lowers the degree of reliability.

A long history and a good reputation of the journal is essential. A researcher may ask for advice from the specialists in the field.

The fact that the journal is peer-reviewed certainly adds credibility but the reputation and publication history of the reviewers is still important.

If we deal with an online journal then the number of followers may help in understanding the trustworthiness of the journal

The availability of the printed version adds to the journal’s quality

The length of the articles that are included into the journal and the number of authors for each article gives young researcher information about the quality of the journal. Good scientific articles are at least 5 pages long and have at least 2 authors. The title of the article should not be too short and should comprise at least 5 words.

In general, a researcher should consider all the information with a certain degree of scepticism.

At the end of the seminar, the strategies for gist writing were discussed. The text about gist writing can be found on ÕIS.

The seminar finished with pair work, where students presented their slideshows.

Assignment 3: find 3 scientific articles on a certain topic related to the speciality – 16.02.2012

Homework: 3 get familiar with three scientific articles for the group work at the next class and do tense revision exercises

Seminar 2

The seminar started with the discussion of the mistakes in the test that students did last time. For the next class the students are recommended to do the online exercises the links to which can be found on ÕIS and at the next seminar ask the lecturer about the points that they still fail to understand. This assignment is crucial as far as grammar exercises on the revision of the tenses will be included into the test.

The seminar went on with the discussion of the text “How to identify a “good” journal”?

The summary of the discussion:

Wiki should be a starting point of the search for a good journal thank to a substantial number of references its articles contain. However, it should be treated with a reasonable degree of scepticism. A researcher should avoid clicking down on too many links as every next link lowers the degree of reliability.

A long history and a good reputation of the journal is essential. A researcher may ask for advice from the specialists in the field.

The fact that the journal is peer-reviewed certainly adds credibility but the reputation and publication history of the reviewers is still important.

If we deal with an online journal then the number of followers may help in understanding the trustworthiness of the journal

The availability of the printed version adds to the journal’s quality

The length of the articles that are included into the journal and the number of authors for each article gives young researcher information about the quality of the journal. Good scientific articles are at least 5 pages long and have at least 2 authors. The title of the article should not be too short and should comprise at least 5 words.

In general, a researcher should consider all the information with a certain degree of scepticism.

At the end of the seminar, the strategies for gist writing were discussed. The text about gist writing can be found on ÕIS.

The seminar finished with pair work, where students presented their slideshows.

Assignment 3: find 3 scientific articles on a certain topic related to the speciality – 16.02.2012

Homework: 3 get familiar with three scientific articles for the group work at the next class and do tense revision exercises

1. ablation zone- voolu erosiooni tsoon
2. marginal zone- ääretsoon
3. averaged albedo- keskmine peegeldusvõime
4. cryoconite holes- vaheldumisi külmuvad ja üles soojenevad jääst kujunenud külma augud
5. powder diffractometer- pulber difraktomeeter (kiirte murdumisnäitaja mõõtur)

Assignment 2.

1. eradication-likvideerimine

2. impairment-kahjustus, rikkumine

3. intracellular-rakusisene

4. intravenous-veenisisene

5. malignancy-pahaloomuline kasvaja

Assignment 2

Five most complicated words from my presentation:

1) Direct surface runoff- otsene pindmine äravool
2) Water monitoring- veeseire
3) Water storage pond- veemahutite tiik
4) Water solubility- lahustuvus vees
5) Surface tension- pindpinevus

Seminar 1

During the first seminar the requirements, syllabus and evaluation criteria of the spring term were introduced. For more information see the course syllabus in ÕIS in the folder "Irina Koksharova RHB spring 2012" the name of the file "KE.0027 part 2 spring 2012".

That was followed by a group discussion: “What do I expect from this course” (groups of 4-5) and compiling a list of 4 expectations supported by an argument. The expectaions were presented to the class.

Finally, also in groups, the students did some exercises of the revision of the Tenses in the English language. The link to the exercise can also be found in ÕIS, in the same folder.

Assignment 1: Each group of 4 or 5 posts 4 expectations for the course on the blog – 05.02.2012

Assignment 2: 5 most complicated collocations from your presentations, the collocation should be translated into Estonian and posted on the blog AND sent to the lecturer’s e-mail – 06.02.2012

Homework: prepare to make the presentation of the article (every second student should have a laptop with them for the next class)

Assignment 2

1. Atopic dermatitis- nahahaigus
2. Bacteriophage- bakterite viirused
3. late ripening- hilja valmiv(sort)
4. root exudate- juure eritis
5. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis- kopsuhaigus


Sorry for the late post.

Assignment 2

1. annual flow yield – aastase äravoolu hulk
2. dissolved substances – lahustunud ained
3. hydraulic conductivity – veejuhtivus
4. the quasi-determinism theory – harmoonilise võnkumise tingituse teooria
5. pressure head wave – hüdrostaatiline rõhk laine

Assignment 2

1. An alluvial aquifer – vettkandev pinnasekiht, mis on moodustunud jooksvas vees olevatest pinnasematerjalidest (savi, liiv, kruus vms)
2. Aquifer of the basin – jõgikonna vettkandev pinnasekiht (kivist, liivast või kruusast), mis on võimeline vett läbi laskma/imama
3. Arid climate – kuiv kliima
4. Coarse grain materials – jämeda tekstuuriga (pinnase)materjal
5. Porosity of aquifer – vettkandva pinnasekihi poorsus

Assignment 1

1. To improve working in a group: because groupwork is more efficient.
2. To review and improve grammar: in order to speak and write correctly, so everyone can understand.
3. To improve public speaking (in specialized English): because it is an important skill and is needed everywhere.
4. To make decent summaries (based on scientific texts): in order to understand (scientific) articles and to share information more quickly. 

Assignment 2

Five most complicated words from my presentation:

1)Relative abundance- sugulasküllus

2)Surface outflow- pindmine äravool

3)Braided river- põimitud jõgi

4)Acid-sensitive minnow- happe-tundlik lepamaim

5)Brook stickleback- oja ogalik

1. We would like to improve our specific english vocabulary, related to hydrobiologi, in order to undersand all the articles and works about hydrobiology.

2. Secondly we want to improve team/groupwork, because good ideas always come within groups, and working as a group is great way to study.

3. Thirdly it would be great to be able to write and article. These skills are great, because then we can publish our own scientific works.

4. Lastly I would like to improve presentation making, and preforming it to audience with confidence.
You may never know, when you have to be in front of the audience with your presentation.
And confidence is key to everything.

Assingment 1

4 expectations for the course:

1) Get new words and collocations. It is important to develop vocabulary.
2)To be able to summarise scientific papers. It is necessary to understand the text thoroughly.
3)Make presentations in english.  It is essential to practice oral english.
4)To participate in discussions and in group works. Working together for the solution is more effective than working alone.

Tanika Ojasild, Reelika Raig