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