Hi, class

So, we have almost finished our mid-term test with the presentations and the role plays. In my opinion, we have made some mistakes but we also gained many successes and experiences.

First of all,about the failure of presentation, I personally think that the presentation is not as interesting as I had hoped. We just reorganized what we had studied without many interesting activities. Some body talked and the others listened, somtimes answered some questions but I think that's not enough. G7 group really did better than the other groups with the video clips which were actually attractive and interactive. In general, we wrote too much the expressions but we didn't have the collerative illustrations, for example a case that we had to use some expressions which had been presented.We just use some single questions and feed backs, which couldn't show our understanding of the usages of the expression. Besides, we still talked a little bit softly and I sometimes couldn't catch what you were saying. I think they are some reasons made our presentation not very successful. Therefore, I think that the next time we present, we should focus more on the activities and try to speak as clearly as possible.However, we also show our attempt in reading and organizing the lessons as the way we understand them so as to we can learn them again, more actively. Moreover, there were some groups adding some more extra expressions which weren't provided in the lessons,which is pretty good. And this also help us in reviewing for the coming final test.

Next, the role plays were really different from the presentations. We still made some mistakes but we attract the viewers better and we could show our pronunciation, our understanding of the expressions. And I personally think that's much better than what we had perfomed in the presentations. We all prepared very carefully for our plays with clothes, music, acting skills and some expressions. The class were really attracted by a variety of plays performed. We had fun and we also both the casts and the viewers learned how to use some expressions correctly . It's more funny ,exciting and usefull to review our lesson by this way because we apply the expressions for the specific cases, which requires the ability to understand the expressions we learned.Everyone has chance to speak before class and improve our speaking skills, and our confidence as well. Nevertheless, I think we may have focused too much on our acting to make the audience to pay as much attention to our performance as possible but we didn't notice on the expressions, or sometimes, we were so nervous and forgot the expressions we had to say or we spoke too softly, which partly made our plays less perfect.So, when making a play, we need to practice many times to get accustomed to the dialogues, to speak as loudly and clearly as well. Then, the audience can follow our play more easily.
These are all what we think about two parts of our mid term test. May be we didn't make a very good job but we tried our best and we got experience. I hope that we will get better results for the final test! Good luck to all of us! ^-^

" ROLE PLAY "

As you know, Role play is one part of our midterm test and I personally think that it's a difficult part. Role play requires us to attempt so much with the script, the casts and the instruments.
First of all,we need to write the script which not only apply the expressions we studied but also should be suitable for the members in our group to act. You have to choose the content of the story or the situation and the expression you could use, then, combine them to make a complete script. To imagine your own story is not easy but a story which you can use what you study naturally is more difficult.In addition, all of you have to take part in the role play, so, the characters should close to each of you so that you can act more easily.
Next, after you've got the script, you start practising the play. In my opinion, it's much more difficult to transform your idea into the performance because we are not professional. We don't know how to perform naturally so as to the play will not be boring. When practising, you may perform well but when being on stage, you might not make it easy as you think. I myself think that when you rehearse, you just act together, which means all of you concentrate on the play and know what is going on. But when you act before the audience, you have to try more to get their attention. Once they lose their attention to your performance, they may get bored. I know one small tip to help you to interact well with your audience. When acting, you should stay in the centre of the stage, say loudly and have a face to face interaction to the audience, not just whisper together. When you speak to them, they will listen to you more attendtively than when you speak to your partners. Practise and be confident may help you succeed.
Finally, you may need some instruments for your play, such as the music, the costume and the scenery to make your play more attractive and impressive. You may spend some time on looking for the music, the costume and making the scenery. However, they're worthy because thay will make your play more successful.
In my point of view, making a role play is difficult but "you can win if you want". I hope that all of us will have an amazing play. Try our best and get what we want. ^ ^

The second semester is coming nearer and nearer , it will take us a lot of time to study to pass this exam . Afterthat we no longer meet together everyday for vacation days. A schoolyear ends fast , doesn't it? Athough 9 months isn't a long time , it is enough time to see together partly about everyone . Mostly , we have ever quarrelled together and it is great . Do you think so ? Many people suppose that studying together in class is called destiny . How do you think about that? In my opinion , i don't believe in that much . We really had a lot of fun in class time especally speaking class because we can speak anything we want . It is funny to speak an English saying which appear some words in Vietnamese ^-^. We smiled a lots when we enjoyed role play we composed and acted . I'm sure i won't never forget this happy time and i'll keep this great thing during 4 years in university in my heart forever due to a simple reason :studying time is always the most memorable time in one's life

Why Did We Choose Our Blog's Name Four-leaf Clover

Looking up in dictionaries,we know that clover is a small plant with three leaves on each stem,and purple,pink or white flowers but four-leaf clover is a rare type of clover with four leaves,thought to bring good luck to anyone who finds it.
Speaking of the luck,there is a saying like this:"An ounce of luck is better than a pound of wisdom".So,luck is an essential condition to achieve success in life.However,very few people know that luck is not happenstance and we must try our best to find it.
Having understood the full meanings of luck,we are aware of the goal of our life is to do our best to enjoy the life because everyday is a present of nature.
Posted by Phuong.
The image is from http://lost-paradigms.deviantart.com/art/The-Clover-38153326

The Clover

This image is from the website http://technews.gr/modules/xcgal/displayimage.php?pid=3657

Posted by Phuong.

^ - ^ PLAY AND FUN.....

Today, i want to share to you some games which is very useful for our speaking. I learn these games from my old English teacher. I think it's really intersestin!!! ^ _ ^

The first game: help us to improve our pronounciation and our memory

We will work in pair. The teacher will prepare 2 or 3 stories ( depends on the number of the classs) which is written on the sheet of paper. Next, the teacher will stick them on the blackboard. Then, each student will run in turn to the board, try to remember what is written on the papers as much as possible. After that, one returns and rereads to their parner who has to write down what is heard. Each pair do it again and again until the story is completed. In the end, which pair finishes the story perfectly first will be the winner!

The second game: improve our speaking

The class will be devided into 2 groups or more. Next, each group has to send a person who will stand face to face with the restfgo to the blackboard. Then, the teacher will write one word on the board which all the rest of each group try to explain in English (of course, body language is forbidden ^ _ ^ ), which makes that guy know what the word is. Which group has the correct answer first will be the winner!

The third game: practice speaking

Students will work in pair, too. Two students will seat face to face. There will be a picture on the blackboard. One has to speak as easy and clearly as possible to help the other draw the picture. The winner will be the pair complete the picture first ( After that, we can change the position for the next picture). It's funny!!!!!

That is some ways to relax and study speaking. Our group hope that you can find out something new and interesting after reading this journal.

PRACTICE ^ ! ^

It is said that one studies without practicing is worthless. Therefore, i have spoken with my sister when we're free. We use English in our daily activities. I used to speak a lots but paid no attention to my pronunciation. Thanks for speaking class, whenever i say anything, i have to correct my pronounciation^-^. However, that makes me unconfortable because it's very difficult to speak correctly and fluently. Yet, it's so interesting when your voice becomes as beautiful as foreigners.

In my class, there are some students who speak English very well. It's easy to hear and understand. I might ask them to speak English when we're in class. This may help us have progress in English. The more we practice, the more we develop my speaking skill!