Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Video — Gangnam Style (Cover by Jayesslee on YouTube)

We watched Jayesslee's (Janice & Sonia Lee) cover of Psy's Gangnam Style. They are a talented pair of Korean-Australian women from Sydney. Enjoy it again below:




Monday, April 29, 2019

Lesson 03 – Informative Speeches

Informative Speech Feedback Forms
For each speaker, give feedback using the form link below.

Feedback Form

Here are some things to consider when giving feedback:

Posture:
  1. Feet
    Does the speaker set their feet properly? For men, shoulder-width apart and pointing straight forward. For women, feet pointing out in each direction with one foot a little in front of the other.
  2. Hands
    Does the speaker pause before setting hands? Does the speaker set their hands properly? One hand should rest in the "hook" of the other hand's fingers.
  3. Look
    Does the speaker pause before beginning to look? Does the speaker look from one side of the room to the other and back to the middle? Does the speaker look slowly?
  4. Voice
    Does the speaker pause before beginning to speak? Does the speaker take a breath? Does the speaker use a loud enough voice?
  5. Parts
    Does the speaker introduce the topic? Does the speaker talk about each of see, do, eat, getting around? Does the speaker review the points at the end?
  6. Images
    Are the images interesting? Are the images full size? Do the images suit the message?
  7. Eye contact
    Does the speaker make eye contact with individuals? Did the speaker make eye contact with you? Does the speaker keep eye contact for about 3 seconds or one sentence?

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Video — Cello Wars (Star Wars parody by The Piano Guys on YouTube)

The Piano Guys are my favorite YouTube artists. They have great music AND great videos. This one is a parody of my favorite movie from my childhood, Star Wars. Now people call it Episode IV (4) or A New Hope, but it was Star Wars to us when it came out. It wasn't until the stupid prequels (Episodes I, II & III) years later that those names were used.

The ideas of lightsabers, fighting ships flying across the screen, laser guns and The Force were all new and very cool. Star Wars was the first real blockbuster movie. If you wanted to see it when it came out, you might have had to wait hours and there were no reserved seats back then. It stayed in the cinemas for over a year.

I have included a modern trailer of the movie below the Piano Guys video. The original trailer was not very good. Enjoy!





Monday, April 22, 2019

Lesson 2 – Eye Contact

Speaking of Speech
We also look at the Speaking of Speech textbook and learned about the Visual Message and about bad postures to avoid. Finally, we looked at a model Informative Speech on the DVD. Next week you will give an Informative Speech about your hometown or any city. You will need to use  Google Slides  for your presentation. See the steps below.




Presentation Slides

You need to share your slides with me before you come to class next week.
  1. Go to Google Drive.
  2. From the New button on the top left, choose Google Slides.
  3. Give the title your full name + 19S EP + Informative Speech (eg. Taro Suzuki 19S EP Informative Speech).
  4. Click the Share button and write my Rikkyo address. (You can continue to make changes after you share.)
  5. Finish your slides before class and be ready to present. Due 4/28 23:59. You can share your slides now and continue working on them until the class.
  6. Practice, practice, practice!
Your slides should be full slide photographs of your city. The best photographs are your own photographs from your camera or smartphone. If you cannot get your photos yourself, get large photos from Google Images.


Your slideshow should have at least 8 slides:
  • A title slide with the name of your hometown and your name. (1 slide)
  • An overview slide with your four points (text). (1 slide)
  • One (or more) slides for each point. (4 or more slides)
  • Summary slide with your four points (images). (1 slide)
  • Title slide as your final slide. (1 slide)


Watch Lisa Suzuki's Informative Speech on the DVD again. Practice with your slides many times to be smooth at it. Practice makes perfect! 

If you do not want to bring a computer to class next week, download the Google Slides app for your smartphone and log in.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Social Media Links

You can add me as a friend or follow me by clicking the links below:


GTB on Facebook






GTB on Twitter






GTB on Instagram





You can also follow my wife on Instagram to see her daily illustrations of Carrie, our golden retreiver.

@yumikobeck on Instagram



Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Video – Tom Sawyer by Rush

As I told you in my self-introduction, the Canadian rock trio, Rush, is my favorite band. Geddy Lee, the bass player, is also the singer and keyboardist; Alex Lifeson is the guitar player; Neil Peart is the drummer and lyricist (writer of the words).

Rush's best-known song is Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer is the name of a famous character is American literature. Mark Twain wrote a few novels with Tom as a character who observes human nature. Tom was a boy and had a friend named Huckleberry (Huck) Finn. Huck had his own novel in which he made a raft (small flat boat) and traveled down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave.

In the introduction part of the video there is an animation with characters from South Park (a popular TV show). The characters have their own rock group called Lil' Rush. They start to play Tom Sawyer, but stop to have an argument. It's because the singer confuses Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

In this song, Peart (the writer) thinks of himself as a "modern-day Tom Sawyer". So, this song is really about himself. I have included the lyrics (words) below the video if you would like to read them. Enjoy!






Tom Sawyer
Words: Peart    Music: Lee & Lifeson

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
He reserves the quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any God or government
Always hopeful yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets by on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Lesson 1 – Welcome!

Welcome to English Presentations with GTB!

Today, I introduced myself and you gave a short introduction speech and learned about presentation posture. 




Next week: First Speech

Next week, you will give your first speech. In a short simple speech, talk about the following:

  • Name
  • Major
  • Hometown
  • Interests/Hobbies

Begin with "Hello" or "Good morning/afternoon!" and end with "Thank you!" Be sure to use good speech posture.