Wednesday, November 05, 2003

From 11 to 12, Neil's pronunciation workshop. For the first time in my life, I learn the meaning of intonation for questions. If you ask a question with a rising intonation (this is the way I learned in Japan), this means that you don't want to hear answers and give signs to the audience that you will continue speaking. It even gives an impression that you are superior to the audience because this way of asking a question is used by policemen and sergeants.

If you want to give a chance of answering to the audience, you should ask a question with a faling intonation. In Japan, I learned that this way of asking meant you didn't want to hear answers or you asked a rhetorical question...

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I prepare for teaching all day. One of this week's questions is really difficult to explain its answer, so I drop by Oriana's office to ask for help. I learn I shouldn't give the precisely correct answer to undergrads if it's too complicated. If students ask for it in class, it's okay to tell them. But on the answer sheet, I should refrain from explaining sophisticatedly. That's the way of teaching undergrads.

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After I come home, I set up a wireless LAN network with Netgear DG824M (all-in-one equipment--DSL modem, router, and access point-- for wireless networking), which we bought at Inmac, an online computer shop in UK. After setting up my own laptop, I try to help my two housemates' computer setup. But it doesn't work at all. Why not?