End of Term Survey

Dear Visitors,

We have come to the end of this term. Hoping that you have benefited from this website, we kindly ask you to fill in the End of Term Survey, please click View Survey on the right hand side. If you can't see it properly, you can also find it in the following link. We wish all the best for you, and we hope you pass the exam.

Thanks.

The link for the survey: http://www.polldaddy.com/s/3BB87E3A93211DA8/

A Note for C16

Hi Folks,

Here are some requests for our last meeting:

1. I kindly ask you to give me a set of photocopy of your second drafts. If you don’t have the second draft of a work, first draft is also acceptable.
2. I beg you to come on Thursday; please do come.
3. If you have not written Work 12 yet, please choose one of the subjects below and write it for Thursday as the last work of the portfolio.
a. The effects of smile
b. The causes of test anxiety
c. The effects of test anxiety

Thanks

Discussion Subject of the Week 20th - 23th of May

Causes OR Effects of Test Anxiety

Information about Test Anxiety
From: http://istudy.psu.edu/FirstYearModules/TestTaking/TestInformation.html

What causes test anxiety?
Anxiety is created by expectations or thoughts about what is likely to happen. If you say negative things to yourself about your abilities, it produces a corresponding negative emotional reaction: anxiety. If you believe you are not smart, don't know the information well enough, or aren't capable of performing well on exams, then your expectations will be for failure. Negative expectations then create anxiety, and the anxiety will disable you from actually doing well.
Therefore, if you believe in yourself and your abilities, and have positive expectations for how you will perform on the exam, you will be better able to cope with the anxiety. (A small amount of anxiety can be helpful for performing well.)

Students may blame test anxiety for poor performance on exams. This poor performance may actually be a lack of preparedness for a test (which causes anxiety), rather than classic test anxiety. Be sure to be well prepared. If your anxiety is a direct result of lack of preparation, consider anxiety a normal, rational reaction. Lack of preparation is indicated by the following:
- cramming the night before the exam
- poor time management
- failure to organize course information
- poor study habits
- worrying about past performance on exams and how friends and other students are doing in comparison to you

However, if you are adequately prepared but still panic, "blank out," and/or overreact, your reaction is not rational. In either case, it is helpful to know how to overcome the effects of test anxiety.

What can you do about test anxiety?
Brian:
Man, I've got a test next week and I'm scared!
Jose:
Why are you scared? Haven't you studied for it?
Brian:
Of course I've studied, especially during the last few days. The test is in English, the course I failed last semester. Last night I couldn't even sleep.
Deena:
Geez, Brian. Sounds like you've got a bad case of text anxiety.
Sage:
It sounds like you're scared because you failed the course last semester and so you think you're going to fail it again this semester.
Brian:
Yeah, I guess that's it . . .
Lori:
You know what they say: if you think it's so, it's so.
Deena:
Lighten up Lori.
Lori:
Sorry Brian. You know, a lot of students suffer from text anxiety at some point. I know some things you can do that might help. Would you like to work on them?
Deena:
I'll be glad to share some of the techniques I've learned.
Brian:
That'd be great!
Jose:
I could use some of those techniques myself.
Sage:
Me too!
Deena:
Ok, let's get started. When I get anxious about a test, I try to figure out why I'm worried. For me, feeling like I'm prepared is the key. If I don't feel prepared, then I get worried.
Lori:
Me too, Deena. And it's perfectly normal to feel anxious if you know you aren't prepared.
Brian:
But I've been studying, and I'm still worried.
Lori:
Ok. Let's see HOW you've been studying. Sometimes that can make a difference.
Brian:
OK.
Deena:
So, tell me about how and when you studied for this exam.
Brian:
Well, I started making study notes a couple of weeks ago. Once I finished compiling them, I started studying . . . probably last week.
Lori:
So . . . you really started studying for your final about 3 weeks before??
Brian:
Yeah, I guess so. But I did take notes in class and read before class.
Deena:
Lack of preparation is one of the main causes of text anxiety.
Jose:
He said he studied, so why would you say he wasn't prepared?
Lori:
I got this one Deena. It's not enough to study, you need to develop good study habits.
Brian:
I see. So you're saying I need a study strategy.
Deena:
Exactly!
Lori:
And, you need to make sure you are managing and organizing your time!
Jose:
And make sure you stick to whatever schedule you create.
Brian:
Ok, I'm understanding this now. So my study strategy should include scheduling time for studying. What else should I do to avoid feeling anxious at test time?
Lori:
Well, you've got to take care of yourself too. Sometimes I get so busy, I forget to eat. It's important to eat right, get enough sleep, and take a break for yourself!
Deena:
When I get anxious, I practice some relaxation techniques.
Brian:
Really? Like what?
Deena:
Well, like breathing slowly and deeply for a few minutes. This helps me calm down and clear my head.
Lori:
That sounds like a good one, Deena. I'll try that one day. One technique I use is to keep "negative" thoughts about the test out of my head. I tell myself I'm going to pass the test and if I don't pass this one, I'll do better next time. Sounds silly I know, but it works for me.
Jose:
I like that one Lori.

You can control test anxiety so that your performance on a test reflects your real standing in that course. Start by trying the techniques described in this module. However, if levels of test anxiety that interfere with your academic success persist, talk to a counselor for some specialized help.
There are three main areas students can work on to reduce test anxiety when it begins to interfere with test performance:
Preparation
Self care
Relaxation
Preparation
Mental preparation is of primary concern in dealing with test anxiety. Be well prepared for the test.
At the beginning of the semester:
Plan your study strategy so that you will know the material well enough at exam time that you can recall it even when you are under stress.
Organize your time (see the module on Time Management) and stick closely to your schedule. When you are to study, study. Learn and practice good time management and avoid:
laziness
procrastination
daydreaming
Form a study group where you can review notes, reading assignments, and homework with a few classmates (see the module on Cooperative Learning for tips on forming a study group ).

Activity 3:
Check to see if you remember what you just read by taking this short quiz (ANGEL Quiz).
Read these tip sheets on how to prepare for the various phases of taking an exam:
During the semester, pay attention to your attitude
Several days before the exam

Activity 4:
Time for a quick review. Complete this short quiz (ANGEL Quiz).
The night before the exam
The day of the exam
When you arrive at the location of the exam and begin the exam
During the exam
After the Exam
When the exam is over, reward yourself. If you don't have any other commitments, maybe you can go to a movie, go out to eat, or visit with friends. If you have to study for other exams, you may have to postpone a larger break, but a brief break can be the pickup that you need.
Activity 6:
Time for another quick review. Complete this short quiz (ANGEL Quiz).

Self Care
In addition to developing good study habits and techniques, it's important to remember that good nutrition, exercise, some personal "down time," a reasonable amount of social interaction, adequate food, and adequate rest are also important parts of any study program, especially before an exam. When people are tired and run down, they become frustrated more easily and experience more anxiety.
Students preparing for tests often neglect basic biological, emotional, and social needs. To do your best, you must attend to these needs. Think of yourself as a total person -- not just a test taker. Remember to:
Establish the habits of good nutrition and exercise as well as recreational pursuits and social activities -- all contribute to your emotional and physical well-being.
Follow a moderate pace when studying; vary your work when possible and take breaks when needed.
Get plenty of sleep the night before the test -- when you are overly tired you will not function at your absolute best.
Avoid alcohol and other drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol and drugs can increase anxiety and interfere with your ability to do your best.

Relaxation
Relaxation techniques are another way you can reduce anxiety. When used with mental and physical preparation, relaxation before and during an exam can aid retention and improve test performance. Here are several techniques for you to try:
Technique 1
Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and feel your stomach (not your chest) extend. Hold for a few seconds. Pull in your stomach, forcing the air out and think "relax." Repeat two or three times. Practice this procedure.
Next, let your body relax, put your arms at your sides, close your eyes, and let your mind go blank.
Now, beginning with your head, first tense the muscles in the forehead and scalp for about ten seconds. Then let them relax completely. Think about the difference and concentrate on making those muscles relax more and more.
After about thirty seconds, repeat the process with the muscles of your face and jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, etc., until you reach your toes.
While continuing to relax, imagine those situations where you feel most tense and anxious. If you become anxious, stop imagining and relax again. Repeat the process of relaxation and imagining until you feel no anxiety while imagining.
Practice relaxing at times when you feel anxious--while studying, reviewing, or actually taking the exam (if time permits). This will reduce tension and help clear your mind.

Technique 2
It is possible for students to learn how to relax on cue, so that anxiety can be controlled during the exam. Learning how to relax is fairly simple, but if you want to be able to do so during your next exam, you will have to practice it beforehand. Follow these steps:
Get comfortable in your chair--slouch down if that helps.
Tighten, then relax different muscle groups of your body, one group at a time. Start with your feet, then move up your body to your neck and face.
Begin breathing slowly and deeply.
Focus your attention on your breath going in and out.
Each time you breathe out, say, "relax," to yourself.

Technique 3
Another approach focuses on reducing the negative and worrisome thoughts that provoke the anxiety. Students who are anxious about tests tend to say things to themselves that are negative or exaggerated. Research shows that test anxiety can be reduced if these negative thoughts can be replaced by constructive thoughts. In order to do this, you must first become aware of your own thoughts, and then replace them with constructive thoughts. For example, replace a thought such as "If I do badly on the test, I'm a failure" with a thought such as "Yes, this is a difficult test. I am going to do the best I can. If I get a low grade, I will do what it takes to perform better next time."

Discussion Subject of the Week 12th - 16th of May

THE EFFECTS OF SMILE!

From: http://www.thercg.org/youth/articles/0101-s.html

You have a very powerful tool of persuasion. This tool can make others feel liked, and can disarm others in times of conflict. Continue reading to learn how to better use this tool—your SMILE!

Philip has a very big problem. Whenever he enters a room, everyone ignores him! Every time he gets on the bus to go to school, the bus driver simply nods and looks away. Most of Philip's peers almost never have conversations with him, and the impression around school is that he is a grump who gets mad at just about anything. Even his teachers are edgy with him, and tell him that he has a "chip on his shoulder."

"Why does this always happen to me?" Philip asks himself. "Why does everyone treat me this way?"

Unaware that he is the source of the problem, Philip is unable to understand why others view him in an unpleasant manner. While he always has a lot to say, Philip's communication skills are lacking because he never learned to use one of the most powerful methods of communicating thoughts, moods, feelings and emotions.

Philip simply never smiles!

A Powerful Means of Communication
Most people understand that communication can be transmitted through written word and speech. Books, magazines, letters, satellite, television, videos, computers, radio, the Internet, email and cell phones are vital tools used to relay such communications.

However, the smile is one of the strongest communication tools, and many spend their entire lives not knowing how to properly use it.
Does this include you? Are you missing out on sharing your smile with family, friends and schoolmates, and, in turn, causing friction in your relationships with them?
If so, by practicing this one simple gesture, you can improve your communication skills, and begin helping others around you feel appreciated.
The desire to be liked actually drives many young people to do things they would not normally do. This sometimes causes them to give in to negative influences-peer pressure-often resulting in hurt feelings and emotions. However, it is natural for people to want others to care for them. Simply stated, everyone wants to be accepted-and a smile will help you help others feel this way.
A smile expresses joy, happiness and friendliness, and offers insight to the inner workings of the mind, such as intentions, emotions, feelings and attitudes, as well as demonstrating warmth, empathy and cooperation.

Smile-Everyone Is Watching!
Think back to all the miserable faces you see on the way to school or work each day. These hollow stares and "sour-puss" faces reflect dissatisfaction and unhappiness, almost as if they were headed to a torture chamber! These expressions reflect a negative and rebellious attitude, and many teens are trapped in this mentality!
Yet, when smiled at, these same people will often smile in return.

Notice the following facts about smiling:
• 72% of people think of those who smile frequently as being more confident and successful.
• 86% of people say that they are more likely to strike up conversations with strangers if they are smiling.
• Bosses are 12% more likely to promote people who smile a lot.
• Research shows that 65% of communication is non-verbal (many claim an even higher percentage).
• Non-verbal communication comprises facial expressions, eye movement, gestures, posture, and all other bodily signs-primarily facial expressions.
• The effects of a smile are so powerful that even a smile on the telephone produces positive results.
• When someone comes into a room, people are automatically drawn to their face, and a smile provides a warm greeting.
• Studies show that happiness is a by-product of smiling, not the other way around as most people assume.
• Research shows that when two people in conversation use the same kind of body movements and gestures (such as smiling), they will experience greater empathy for each other, which they may not even consciously notice.

The Value of Your Smile
Has anyone ever unexpectedly smiled at you when you were having a bad day or weren't in the best of moods? How did it make you feel? Didn't it make you feel better?
The following are a few points on why you should do the same, and share your smile with others:
(1) A picture is worth a thousand words. So also does a smile convey more emotion than words can.
(2) Smiling makes others feel welcome, special and appreciated.
(3) You can brighten up someone's day.
(4) A smile has the power of melting away insecurities and troubles people may have.
Try it out and see for yourself! You will find that almost every person you smile at will return the gesture. The hardest part is usually being the first person to smile.
Dale Carnegie, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, best summed up the lasting impacts of a smile: "It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

"None are so rich or mighty that they can get along without it, and none are so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away.
"Some people are too tired to give you a smile, may we ask that you leave them one of yours? For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!"
With this knowledge, begin putting your smile to work! Make it a project to seek out at least one person who seems to be having a bad day and smile at him. The next day, smile at two individuals, then three, and so on. Learn to effectively use this communication tool. It will dramatically improve your relationship with others.
King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote, "…he that wins souls is wise". Smiling will no doubt move you toward practicing the words of this wise king-and will help you win the affection and friendship of others!