2008 m. gruodžio 1 d., pirmadienis

END-OF-ESP COURSE SELF ASSESSMENT (CONTRIBUTIONS TO WEBLOGS)


Writing (a summary): I had some difficulties, when I had to find the main points of the text. Generally, I understand the structure of the analytical and restatements summaries, but however I can not avoid spelling and grammar mistakes. Nevertheless, my performance is not bad and I will try to do my best in my English exam.

Writing ESP vocabulary tests: I have learned a lot of new information, new definitions. I am happy about my performance, because I have spent quite a lot of time for learning the material. This year it is quite difficult to learn all information from e.g. five modules together, but it is very useful for our future exam, when we will have to remember all information from all modules.

Writing class dictations (comprehension questions before the listening practice): my performance was not very good at this task, it was difficult to remember whole sentence and write it without mistakes. I did grammar and spelling mistakes, especially in new words, also often I lost some words.

Listening comprehension in class: sometimes it was quite easy to understand the text, but when speaker talked very quickly it was hard to understand the text and avoid mistakes. When we heard the record twice it was easier to understand and change some answers if necessary. However I am happy about my performance, because I am in progress.

Listening to peers’ power point presentations: I performed well in this task, because I could understand more a less all information. However, it was difficult to understand specific words, but I could understand the whole.

Making power point presentations: It was the most interesting task for me, because the theme was very interesting. It was interesting to make some practice, but difficult to translate the practical material from Lithuanian language into English. But I have not other choice, because the game was described only in Lithuanian books. I am happy about my performance, because my hard work was evaluated.

Speaking on ESP themes in class: This task was not difficult. It was always interesting to make a discussion, when you could say your opinion. I was quite active and I am happy about my performance.

2008 m. lapkričio 5 d., trečiadienis

KLEPTOMANIA



Kleptomania - an impulse-control disorder characterized by repeated stealing of objects not needed for personal use or for their intrinsic value, with emotional tension before the commission of a theft, followed by pleasure, gratification, or relief after its completion, the behavior being generally experienced as ego-dystonic. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O87-kleptomania.html)


These patients have an irresistible inclination to steal. Often they throw away the stolen goods, as they are mostly interested in the stealing itself. Kleptomania is distinguished from shoplifting because shoplifters plan stealing of objects and usually steal because they do not have money to purchase the items. Occasionally the individual may hoard the stolen objects or surreptitiously return them. Although someone with this disorder will generally avoid stealing when immediate arrest is probable (such as in full view of a police officer), they usually do not plan the thefts or fully take into account the chances of apprehension. The stealing is done without collaboration with others.


Signs of kleptomania include:
· Recurrent failure to resist stealing impulses unrelated to personal use or financial need
· Feeling increased tension right before the theft
· Thefts are not committed in response to delusions, hallucinations or as expressions of revenge or anger
· Feeling pleasure, gratification or relief at the time of the theft
· Thefts cannot be better explained by Antisocial Personality Disorder, Conduct Disorder or a Manic Episode
(http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/klepto.html)


Kleptomania is more often in females that in males. It is difficult to document the precise number of people with this problem. Often people with this disorder have another psychiatric disorder. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders are common in individuals with kleptomania. Treatment is different. It can be in group, or one-on-one setting. To overcome kleptomania therapist can use behavior modification therapy, family therapy. Some medications that are used for people diagnosed with kleptomania are
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mood stabilizers and opiate antagonists
.

2008 m. gegužės 12 d., pirmadienis

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF ESP LEARNING

WRITING SKILLS
I think that my writing skills are quite good, my preparation is not as perfect as possible, but I think it is better than last term. On my view, my summaries are better than last term because I have spent much time for preparing for it. For me this task is quite difficult, because it is a bit difficult to remember the material. Self-designed tests are the most interesting tasks and for me it is the best way to repeat the material. Next, dictations are quite difficult for me, and I can not avoid spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Finally, contributions to weblogs are both interesting and quite difficult, because it is quite difficult to avoid any errors however the preparation is very interesting.

SPEAKING SKILLS
In my opinion, my speaking skills are good, but I can not avoid all pronunciation errors, I can understand the whole, but particular words for me are unknown. Participation in class discussions and speaking in pairs help me to expand my vocabulary, to understand other people. Presentations are good way to repeat modules, to know new information. I hope that this term my preparation is better, because this work need a lot of work.

LISTENING SKILLS
I think, that it is the most difficult tasks of all. Some listening activities in class are quite successful, but some of them are not as successful as I want. Listening to podcast was not the easiest task, but it was successful for me. I understand that I need to improve my listening skill and do more listening activities outside the class.

READING SKILLS
In my opinion, my reading skills are quite good. While I am reading I can understand the whole, but to understand reading tasks exactly I always need vocabulary. It involves all tasks: home reading, class reading, reading comprehension exercises, computer tasks. Reading is very good way to improve not only vocabulary skills, but also writing skills and speaking skills.

Artificial Intelligence

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence was invented to help people in daily life, however it has not only positive, but also negative influence.


It is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the area of computer science focusing on creating machines that can engage on behaviors that humans consider intelligent. The ability to create intelligent machines has intrigued humans since ancient times, and today with the advent of the computer and 50 years of research into AI programming techniques, the dream of smart machines is becoming a reality. Researchers are creating systems which can mimic human thought, understand speech, beat the best human chess-player, and countless other feats never before possible. AI have some advantages and disadvantages. AI is a new step that is very helpful to the society. Machines can do jobs that require detailed instructions followed and mental alertness. AI with its learning capabilities can accomplish those tasks but only if the worlds conservatives are ready to change and allow this to be a possibility. The more use we get out of the machines the less work is required by us. In turn less injuries and stress to human beings. Human beings are a species that learn by trying, and we must be prepared to give AI a chance seeing AI as a blessing, not an inhibition. Finally, we need to be prepared for the worst of AI. AI have many kinks to work out. There is always that fear that if AI learning is based, will machines learn that being rich and successful is a good thing, then wage war against economic powers and famous people? There are so many things that can go wrong with a new system so we must be as prepared as we can be for this new technology.

It is not my aim to suprise or shock you--but the simplest way I can summarize is to say that there are now in the world machines that can think, that can learn and that can create. Moreover, their ability to do these things is going to increase rapidly until--in a visible future--the range of problems they can handle will be coextensive with the range to which the human mind has been applied. --Herbert Simon

References:

http://library.thinkquest.org/2705/

http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/whatisai/node1.html

2008 m. kovo 19 d., trečiadienis

BODY LANGUAGE








Body language is an important part of communication which can constitute 50% or more of what we are communicating. If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you can (and cannot) use your body to say what you mean.
Body language comes in
clusters of signals and postures, depending on the internal emotions and mental states. Recognizing a whole cluster is thus far more reliable than trying to interpret individual elements.

Aggressive body language: Showing physical threat.
Attentive body language: Showing real interest.
Bored body language: Just not being interested.
Closed body language: Many reasons are closed.
Deceptive body language: Seeking to cover up lying or other deception.
Defensive body language: Protecting self from attack.
Dominant body language: Dominating others.
Emotional body language: Identifying feelings.
Evaluating body language: Judging and deciding about something.
Greeting body language: Meeting rituals.
Open body language: Many reasons for being open.
Power body language: Demonstrating one's power.
Ready body language: Wanting to act and waiting for the trigger.
Relaxed body language: Comfortable and unstressed.
Romantic body language: Showing attraction to others.
Submissive body language: Showing you are prepared to give in.

Signals can be sent by the individual parts of the body. For me very interesting part is face, because face is so expressive and can say a lot of information about people, about their feelings, emotions and so on. There are some examples:

Anxiety -
Eyes damp; eyebrows slightly pushed together; trembling lower lip; chin possibly wrinkled; head slightly tilted down.
Fear -
Eyes wide, closed or pointing down; raised eyebrows; mouth open or corners turned down; chin pulled in; head down, white face.
Anger -
Eyes wide and staring; eyebrows pulled down (especially in middle); wrinkled forehead; flared nostrils; mouth flattened or clenched teeth bared; jutting chin, red face.
Happiness -
Mouth smiling (open or closed); possible laughter; crows-feet wrinkles at sides of sparkling eyes; slightly raised eyebrows; head level.
Sadness -
Eyes cast down and possibly damp or tearful; head down; lips pinched; head down or to the side.
Envy -
Eyes staring; mouth corners turned down; nose turned in sneer; chin jutting.
Desire -
Eyes wide open with dilated pupils; slightly raised eyebrows; lips slightly parted or puckered or smiling; head tilted forward.
Interest - Steady gaze of
eyes at item of interest (may be squinting); slightly raised eyebrows; lips slightly pressed together; head erect or pushed forward.
Boredom -
Eyes looking away; face generally immobile; corners of mouth turned down or lips pulled to the side; head propped up with hand.
Surprise -
Eyes wide open; eyebrows raised high; mouth dropped wide open with consequent lowered chin; head held back or tilted to side.
Relief -
Eyebrows tilted outwards (lowered outer edges); mouth either tilted down or smiling; head tilted.
Disgust -
Eyes and head turned away; nostrils flared; nose twisted in sneer; mouth closed, possibly with tongue protruding; chin jutting.
Shame -
Eyes and head turned down; eyebrows held low; skin blushing red.
Pity -
Eyes in extended gaze and possibly damp; eyebrows slightly pulled together in middle or downwards at edges; mouth turned down at corners; head tilted to side.

References:
http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/body_language.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language

2007 m. gruodžio 11 d., antradienis

Chimps beat humans in memory test


Restatement summary


Chimpanzees have an extraordinary photographic memory that is far superior to human.


First of all, chimps outperformed university students in menory test devised by Japanese scientists. Furthermore, chimpanzees at the age of five have a better performance in a memory task than humans. Researchers believe that young chimps have a photographic memory. This menmory allows them to memorise a complex scene or pattern at a glance. However Dr. Lisa Parr described research as "ground - breaking"


To sum up, the studies show that elaborate short - term memory skills may have had a much more salient function in early humans than is present in modern human.

2007 m. lapkričio 21 d., trečiadienis

Sleep