Reflection Of Chatting And Video

About Chatting

1.Read the transcripts of Chats regarding the Simpsons. What did you do very well?

→ Onetime, I was a leader with Tea Yoon, so I prepared material to give my classmate topics. Usually, I just showed my opinion with my specific example.

2.What do you think you should have improved more to participate in this chat better than you actually did.

→ The word order and tense. Some question was changed the order like subject and verb with question mark. The tense is the most problem for my speaking because I like to use present tense. So when I have to use past tense, I made mistake easily. As a leader, some times I missed answer to my classmates. I should have to concentrate more their opinion and give direct answer.

3.What did you learn about learning English after participating in this chat and reading the transcripts?

→ When I get some interesting subject, I talked a lot but if some topic is not interested in, I do not want to show my opinions. It will be same with everyone but I have to practice to show my participation. However, I have a lot of spelling errors which are usually I did. I made some sentences which is different from my normal speaking. I mean it is close the writing.

About Video

1.Watch the video regarding the Simpsons. What did you do very well?

→ My participation is good in this discussion. I tell my opinion fully and I heard my classmates’ opinion.

2.What do you think you should have improved more to participate in this inclass discussion better than you actually did.

→ Sometimes, my speaking too slow and I skipped the ending of words. Also, I should use past tense but I am just use present tense. It did not notice about that well so I will concentrate about my tense. Also, my intonation is not natural and when I was talking two sentences I did not use various conjunction and transition word. Thus, sometimes, it makes my opinion not clear and understanding. However, I talked a lot inclass discussion better then my daily life and I got many feedbacks form this.

3.What did you learn about learning English after participating in this discussions and watching the video again?

→ To speak a lot is difficult for me because I always want to say perfectly so I thought a lot before I talk something. However, in this case, I had time limitation and some topic is so interested to me. Thus I tried to talk a lot quickly. However, sometimes, to show my opinion is difficult but I tried to say something and it makes me learned because when I say something, my other classmates usually gave me feedback.

Compareing Chatting And Video

1. Let’s compare the two different communication media, face-to-face discussions and online-instant discussions. Which one made you feel confident in your communication skills? Why?

→ Although to write is easier to me then speaking, through those two styles, I found I can do speaking more confidently.

2. Let’s compare the two different communication media, face-to-face discussions and online-instant discussions. Which one better helped you complete your research papers regarding the Simpsons? Why?

→ To compare two different communication media, I got a more information through speaking. When I was talking, I could reorganize my themes faster then chatting. Because I can get and give feedback my classmates at the same time, I can make my themes clearly.

3. In the future, if you were given the two choices, between chat and face-to-face discussion as part of your class work, which one will you choose? Why?

→ I think both of them is good for international students because students will have some evidence about discussion through video and transcript. It will help them to revise their speaking skill and give some feedback themselves. Through the video they will try to speak like native speakers with their intonations and pronunciations. Also, the chatting gives them some confidence to speak and organize their idea.

Second Draft

Who Can Be Real Audiences of the Simpsons?


1. Introduction

The Simpsons is one of the successful and popular animations in the world and so, the Simpsons movie will open in sixty-four countries on July 27 (simpsonsmovie.com. 2007). The reason for its popularity is the Simpsons deals with not only very fun topics and various stories and characters but also has a broad range of audiences. Nowadays, many adults like to see TV animations. Walker points out the reasons of which adults like Simpsons that “it is a cartoon but it is not just for kids; it is very humorous to adults as well” (newnet.org.uk). Actually, according to Desowitz (2002), a third of animation’s audiences are adults and many parents are watching TV animations with their kids to get fun because they just want to feel like kids.

It becomes that the animations’ directors have wanted to be satisfied with a broad range of audiences such as men and women and preschoolers, teenagers, and adults. Thus, the most subject matter of joke is not easy to understand for kids and so adults and kids laugh differently about the scenes.

Children cannot understand the Simpsons fully and sometimes they are influenced badly by mimic without judgment. Thus, the Simpsons is not proper for children. For example, everyone includes adults will laugh some simply fun or ludicrous acts but adults will only laugh at some sarcastic stories. Furthermore, sometimes, parents will realize that some of topics of the Simpsons are not fit for their kids and they worried about the influence of TV animations because of sexuality, violence, impoliteness, and wrong prejudice. However, the time schedule of the Simpsons is six thirty to seven thirty P.M. through Mon. to Fri. in FOX television broadcast and the rating of the Simpsons is TV-PG, TV Parental Guidelines, which means children need their parents’ guidelines when they watch TV (tvguidelines.org). However, it is wondering how many children have watched the Simpsons with their parents every weekday and children should be allowed watching the Simpsons.


2. The Bad Influence On Children Behavior And Eating Habit

The Simpsons has mainly five characters, father Homer, mother Marge, son Bart, daughter Lisa, and youngest kid Maggie and those typical characters expected to observe in ordinary American families. Among the characters Bart always makes some trouble in his elementary school with uncommon behaviors and says negative way for example, he starts to answer with “I will not…”(worldwide-web.com). Thus, Bart is awkward not a good model character for kids because Bart’s behaviors are described violently and abnormally. For example, in the episode “Please Homer Don't Hammer'Em,” Bart jeers at and fights with his principal Skinner by attacking Skinner’s allergy and in the beginning of episode “Jazzy and the Pussycats,” Bart goes a funeral service but Bart plays with beam and ball without seriousness. Those scenes will give children wrong ideas about respect elder people. However, children will be looking this character carefully because Bart has similar age, habits, and lifestyle with them. Although those scenes exist to give people humor, children adapt different way and they will act directly in their real lives. As they have seen several times, they gradually adapt and imitate those behaviors unconsciously. About this problem, Drake (2002) points out “Parents who aren't careful will find … Bart Simpson… as the role models chosen by their children.” and even teenagers learn secondary characteristics such as clothing behaviors and mannerisms from television.

The other problem is food diet for children. Homer is explained like “comic heroes like doughnut loving Homer” (Myers, 2005). It implies that children have followed eating doughnuts like Homer. Actually, in British parents afraid of the effect of unhealthy food habits in cartoon heroes to their children and 59 percent of parents thought the character Homer Simpson promoted to viewers unhealthy lifestyle (Myers, 2005). Obviously, in the scenes in episode “Ice Cream of Margie,” Homer likes ice creams and he has a new job that is selling ice creams with ice cream truck. Homer knew the ice creams are harmful for children but Homer does not stop to sell rather than exacts to eat ice creams to children. The other episode “Moe 'N' A Lisa” show Homer drives with shipping alcohol when Homer is going to literary conference with his family and Moe. Thus, Homer does going and stopping his car depending on the shipping and stopping alcohol. It is just a source of humor but it is dangerous to educate children. According to Cochran(2004) “The Simpsons has the ability to open the table up for discussion on a wide range of issues revolving around the Food and Drug Administration, and has done so over the past fifteen years with humor and style.” However, children cannot understand those deep meaning of the stories and they just misunderstand and accept visual scenes. Thus, the Simpsons is not kids’ monopolies.


3. Why Many Adults Like To Watch the Simpson?

How many adults are watching The Simpsons? According to West (2006) the Simpson is the favorite cartoon to parents as 23 percent because parenting skill, slapstick comedy and the hidden meaning. It is that the Simpsons not only just give people humor but also has some massage. Furthermore, the massages are only comprehended parents because the Simpsons is mimic live-action representation so they can relate to the characters and the story lines with their real lives (people.co.uk). Some funny scenes also have sarcastic stories. Sometimes, it solves their problem and relieves their lives through the Simpsons. For example, in the episode “Ice Cream of Marge,” Homer has changing his job to ice cream seller because he likes ice cream. It makes to rethink about role of fathers especially responsibility of family. Every father would think about leaving or changing their job when they face some trouble but it is difficult to leave or change their jobs in the real world because of their family. However, Homer can do instead of them in the cartoon. Otherwise, the other episode “Homer Don't Hammer'Em” and “Ice Cream of Margie” shows Marge realized her talent and struggles with her environment. It makes to remind what the position of women’s lives is as mothers. Some of women will have their own job and they will have similar experience in their workspaces. Others will stay at home to care their family but they will dream to become having their jobs instead of housework like Marge. Likewise, parents sympathize fully with several issues as compare their real lives. The Simpsons connects with their audiences, adults and it is the one of the successful reason.


4. The Simpsons Is No More For Children

Usually, children possessed the TV animations but recently TV animations rediscovered. Especially, the Simpsons is no more for children’s exclusive possession because the Simpsons describes American’s daily episodes with realistic family and the social issues with humorous happenings. Thus, when adults watch the Simpsons, they will realize the Simpsons reflects their lives using the different images. In order to having a fun, the behaviors of characters look silly and sarcastic social issues describe violently, foolishly, and simply, but not all understands the hidden joke and the whole meaning of stories. Thus, it is possible that this elements and expression make children misunderstand and give bad influences such as food diet and behaviors of character. Otherwise, adults, the real audiences, can enjoy the obvious jokes and the visual sight gags like kids. They also can solve their stress from their society and get a challenge from the Simpsons. In fact, Lisa already said about who the real audiences of cartoons are in the episode "Krusty Gets Busted"(1989); "If cartoons were meant for adults, they'd put them on in prime time." In addition, Horowitz (2000) explained about that “Its ability to connect to its audience - mostly “adults,” as Lisa so astutely pointed out. “The Simpsons” is a sitcom meant for adults. It's meant for the educated, the intellectual, the pop culture-conscious.”



References

Cochran, J. D. (2004, April 27). “Mmmm... Pistol Whip”: An Exploration of Food, Drugs, and Medical Devices in The Simpsons. Retrieved. June 11, 2007, from http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/652/Cochran_redacted.html

Desowitz, B. (2002). Age Rage: Who’s Really Watching TV Animation? Animation Magazine 16 no4, 24-32, 36, 40

Drake, S. (2002, June 7). Psychologist Warns of TV's Negative Influence. Retrieved June 9,2007,
from http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_75258.html

Horowitz, J. (2000, April 21). A study of the audience of "The Simpsons." Retrieved June 9, 2007, from http://www.snpp.com/other/papers/jh.paper.html

Kogen, J. & Wolodarsky, W.(Writer), Bird, B.(Director).(1989) Krusty Gets Busted [Television series episode]. In Sakai. R (Producer), First Series. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Myers, J. (2005, Aug 14). TV Heroes Need A Health Make-over, Even They Influence Children's Diet. Retrieved June 9, 2007, from http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/3797.html

Walker, K. Why Are The Simpsons So Successful. http://www.newnet.org.uk/karlw/simpsons.html.

Warburton, M. (Writer) & Kirkland. M. (Director). (2006). Ice Cream and Marge [Television series episode]. In Greaney. D (Producer), Eighteenth Series. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Warburton, M. (Writer), & Kirkland, M. (Director). (2006). Please Homer Don't Hammer 'Em [Television series episode]. In Greaney. D (Producer), Eighteenth Series. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Warburton, M. (Writer), & Kirkland, M. (Director). (2006). Moe 'N' A Lisa [Television series episode]. In Greaney. D (Producer), Eighteenth Series. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Warburton, M. (Writer), & Kirkland, M. (Director). (2006). Jazzy and The Pussycats [Television series episode]. In Greaney. D (Producer), Eighteenth Series. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

West, A. (2006, July 2). Simpsons Is Parents’ Favourite. Retrieved June 9, 2007, from
http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17321663&method=full&siteid=93463&headline=simpsons-is-parents--favourite--name_page.html

Retrieved June 9, 2007, from http:// www.simpsonsmovie.com

Retrieved June 9, 2007, from http:// http://www.newnet.org.uk/

Retrieved June 9, 2007, from http:// www.tvguidelines.org

Retrieved June 11, 2007, from
http://www.worldwide-web.com/JeffreyBabad/Simpsons/Bart/index.html

The transition words

After Reading an Article About Transition Words

The Simpsons Discussion

"Please Homer Don't Hammer 'Em"

Episode of the Simpsons

After Watch "Ice Cream of Marge"

1. Role Of Wife and Husband

Sunday, 27 May 2007, 09:44 PM

In this story show Marge realized her life boring, which she does all house chores without being recognized for her talents. Suddenly she found her talent in creating sculptures by using hard bars. Do you think this episode wants to tell us that housewives should be released from house chores to pursue their dreams and profession? Or nonetheless, they should keep their homes for their family. What evidence can you provide to support your ideas in this episode?



2. The Meaning Of Having a Job

Sunday, 27 May 2007, 09:46 PM

Homer Simpson found a new job which was interesting for him after he got fired. After he changed his work from a nuclear plant inspector to an ice-cream seller, he really enjoyed his work. By watching this episode, viewers may conclude that this cartoon emphasizes that people have to get a job that they really like. What do you think about this argument?

Snapshot of the future

Who is Phillippe Kahn? Why is he important?
- A tech industry maverick, other pioneering efforts.

What was his wife doing while he invented his invention?
- His wife was giving birth to their daughter.

Who is Sophie? How old is she now?
- Their daughter, 10 years old

Who was the first person whose picture was taken by the camera phone?
- Their daughter, Sophie.

Do you think Phillippe could foresee how his invention would impact our daily life when he invented it?
- In 1997, The power at the fingertips of the massive.

As of 2007, how many American households have the camera phone?
- 41 percent.

What does the number (Question 6) mean?
- Most people are using the camera phones.

How can you describe your country with the same invention?
- Most of people use camera phone and they enjoy using camera phone.

Paraphrase the following sentence::”You can hardly find a phone without a camera anymore.” said analyst Michale Cai.

- Most of cell phones have camera.

Job Interview

Part 1.

I learnd two different things in two articles.

Tuesday, 15 May 2007, 05:23 PM

How can I do successful job interview? I learned two different things from two articles because two articles have different concept. “ The dreaded job interview ” explains about general information for all people but “ Bright speech, murky future ” points out specific and experimental information for engineers. Thus, in the first article, I can learn about how I can speak about my background to show confidence in interview. It is to speak positive way with eye contact. In the second, Calatrava, who is famous engineer and artist, gives the key words that are “ beauty ” and “ sublime ” for students in Columbia University . Further more in his saying “ The primary reason of the vocation is public service. ” It shows his thinking about work is truthful. In addition, he gives confidence students because they know his future works in New York even though he did not talk about that. I think his life and works show how he get job successfully.

Part 2.

Jae Sung's Definitions of Good & Successful Architects

by Jae Sung Lee - Friday, 18 May 2007, 11:04 AM

Role of Architect

Have you ever thought about Architect? I'd mentioned about architect before. I am considering architect as a student who is in architecture department and I 've been studying for a long time. Now I 'd like to talk about 'Good architect' and 'Famous architect'.

Basically they should meet their customer as a salesman. What does that mean? I think that architecture is also one of the most important goods as other stuff for people. They should work for their customer and provides something with them. In terms of that there are a lot of kind of people and have bunch of different circumstances. The major factor is buget.

It is really hard to define between what is good architect and what is famous architet. As you know, Famous architect is able to have a chace to being a good archituect. I mean they have more possiblities to be good than another one.

What do you think guys? Anyway let's talk

Part 3.

This subject is not only for architects.
Sunday, 20 May 2007, 10:58 PM

This subject is not only for architects because everybody wants to be good or/and famous people in their field. Thus, some can be good people but nobody can sure that they will become famous.

Two words, “Good” and “Famous,” look like similar but they are different. The act and result are no big difference to be good or famous because everybody will do the best way and get money depending on a scale of their work. Also, the budget can not give big difference because they will use their customers’ money. If a good architect wants to help poor people, he/she has to solve financial problem because he/she is an architect not a philanthropist.

The biggest difference is their motive to be good architects so they can be good architects themselves. However, nobody can sure that they will be famous architects because famous architects are made by other people as admit.