EFS 688/688V - STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Listening and Discussion - Section 3

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EFS 688/688V

Listening & Discussion 3

Notes Week 1.2

I. Warmup - How is discussion different from other types of conversation?

    A. What kinds of discussions are you having/do you anticipate having?

    B. What have your biggest problems been? What do you anticipate your problems to be?

II. Basics of small group discussions

            A. Recognizing the objectives

§       Preparing appropriately (if possible - some discussions are spontaneous)

§       Identifying and clarifying objectives, including new/unexpected ones

B. Following the content

§       Keeping track of points and speakers producing them

§       Letting others' points influence your thinking (discussion is usually not a competition)

§       Handling unprepared, fast, disfluent speech

§       Requesting clarification and expansion

C. Presenting your views

§       Making suggestions; presenting possible ideas (+hedging)

§       Commenting on others' points

§       Getting your turn: getting the floor, interrupting 

§       Relating your ideas to others

§       Being persuasive: stating your position clearly, providing support, countering alternatives

III. Test on Fred Hillier's lecture on game theory: www.stanford.edu/dept/lc/efs/2003/summer/FHSLecture2.html

A. Using your notes, answer the test questions

B. Discuss your answers in pairs

C. Think about what questions you missed (if any) and why? Add

IV. Preparation for listening

A. Small group discussion--what are some things you can do to prepare to listen to a lecture before the speaker starts talking to make your comprehension and retention more effective?

 

1) Before the class: Get ready for the lecture by reviewing related material ahead of time. If the course has readings, do the reading and try to anticipate the parts you think will be covered in the lecture. Review your notes from the previous class. Or just think about the topic for the day. Note that this is not just good planning--experiments show that if you have activated existing knowledge prior to listening, you will both understand and remember the information better. Be sure to get enough sleep so you’re alert.

2) On arrival: Get to the class a few minutes early. Try to sit toward the front of the class because the closer you are to the professor, the easier it is to hear, maintain attention, watch gestures and facial expressions, and read the board or slides. Take out the materials you are going to need and start thinking about the topic for the day. Contrary to common practice at Stanford, this is not a good time to read the paper or sleep.

B. Preparation for today's lecture: Dan Klein - What is Improv?

1. What is improv? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improv_(theatre)

2. 2009 Lecture: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/lc/efs/2009/summer/CSSLecture3: start at ~10:00

V. Preparation for Tuesday's lecture: Effects of Recent Earthquakes

1. What do you think this will be about?

2. Example of the speaker: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiSL-PvTj6Q

3. Discussion questions: What are the challenges to countries in earthquake zones" What should developing countries do with their limited resources? What is the responsibility of developed countries toward them?

4. Some possible vocabulary: seismic, temblor, magnitude, building codes, rupture, collapse, Loma Prieta earthquake, fatalities, start from scratch,

VI. Back to www.esl-lab.com. Discussion of homework.

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HOMEWORK

1) Try two more exercises at www.esl-lab.com at the level you think is best for you and come to class Tuesday prepared to discuss your experience.  Use the following table and fill it out for this assignment--bring a printed copy to class.

2) Take notes during Tuesday's lecture on earthquakes. Bring them to class and use them as support during our follow-up discussion.