Winners of the last week

The last week's class on edupunk was  really interesting and fun filled with a healthy competitive air that let the learners get an extra interest in understanding the different slang words and idiom used in American English .The class design was simple and attendees were asked to answer the MCQ like structured power point items .There were questions which none of them answered and there were items which most of the students delightfully shot in to the chat box !Yet the timing was difficult for certain attendees as there was a difference in one hour for the class from usual /regular timings . The certificates were awarded for the winners by the end of the session and The prizes were received by the following members :
 First Prize : Zainab
Second Prize :Mimi
Third Prize : Anusha Priyamal
To see the certificates awarded for last week's winners  C LICK HERE  or HERE

Teaching Idioms Effectively with Web 2.0 Tools

Teaching Idioms Effectively with Web 2.0 Tools

Uploaded by Connecting Online Conferences on WizIQ Tutorials

http://goanimate.com/videos/0t3v8_OjYOXc/1

The ‘ Class -Title hunt ’@ Edupunk Casual English

The ‘ Class -Title hunt ’ 

       I had been in search of a name that would be consistent with the class description .What I wanted was to avoid the misconceptions and avoidance behaviour that may arise in the passive learner by seeing the name of the class .If the ‘title’ was simple ,it would ensure the attendance of both the active and passive learner. It is sure that, passive learners would flee away from the classes having technical jargons and complex words. 

            I never wanted people to feel uneasy and tensed after attending my class. The sole purpose behind these classes were to give a relaxing atmosphere that support the learner. And at the end of the day (class) the learner MUST feel that he or she has acquired some knowledge or information and that too without strain. This is the main motto of today’s educational reforms as such! We all know what and how much the concerned authorities (especially those in the field of curriculum constructions) do work for this.

                At least some of you might get distracted by the term ‘Edupunk’ but the core idea of the channel was to create a midway between education and edutainment .I’m sure that a small percentage of our readers may (at some point of time) have got confused by reading the articles on fun and games ,that there is no demarcation between Edupunk and Edumacation !!!! If it is so, then it is absolutely incorrect. We do aim at professional standards with propos ethics in the channel. 

                  Nevertheless, ‘Fun’ is the basic ingredient in all our classes.‘Fun’ doesn’t mean absence of ‘Professionalism’ or ‘Academic nature’ .By ‘Fun’ we dream about a class design that will trigger maximum learning through ‘fun-filled’ games that has the capacity catch the attention of the adult learner(as for man) but we do forget all age groups. So I will be able to bring interest in the learner to learn. At it is said that ‘interest’ is the mother of ‘attention’, once we are able to catch the attention of the learner, the next thing is to maintain it and to ensure that ‘learning’ takes place with much ease.

              Back again, to the ‘class – title hunt’. So these were the reasons which made me go in search of another title for the classes. Finally I felt like adding a casual touch to my class. So went forth to add title .This I believe will not chase away the weakest and least interested learner. I hope there is much in the ‘titles’ that can create a first impression about the class even before getting to know about the class details .

          In fact, most of the online learners never like to be in a place where there is strict academic discipline and highly complex learning content. We never wish to get out of our comfort zones wherever it be online or offline. So it’s highly necessary to take this into mind before creating a class design.

Edupunk; From Slangdango to Casual English

My journey with Edupunk by Balqis Thaahaveettil[/caption] My Punking Lessons @Edupunk Polite American slangs and idioms. I really enjoyed the sessions because of the warm acceptance of my classes among regular wiziq.com visitors. By and by people added up and my regular attendees on my Psychology classes were really inspiring and encouraging me to. They were always by my side to help me around in the class.
                                                    Since two years I had been conducting classes and was constantly reinforced by the support I got from these classes. Whenever I got stuck to any of the typical traditional designs of classroom teaching, I was been relentlessly pushed by George’s punking to device newer game designs. I sometimes even doubted the need for following his rule (Keep it simple and stupid )

                                      My early classes were total experimentation I had tried the idea of coming up with a totally informal stuff that would entertain the learners and ensure the edutaining values of our Edupunk movement .It was named as ‘Slangdango’ by George himself. These classes were focused on Polite American Slang words which most non-native speakers and even some native (group slangs) were totally unaware of .There was great acceptance for my classes on slang words.The main reason I could fathom for this was the innate interest of people to know the secret codes and vernacular sayings .
                     The preparation and presentation of such a class for a non-native like me was really tiring because I had to cross check each and every word. But I am extremely thankful for my American friends who always came to help. Later on when the popular demand of the slang –words-class was reaching its peak, some of the European and American attendees started requesting me to give up the term ‘dang’ which refers to ‘damn’ a kind of ‘swearing’ word which normally really polite people dislike to teach their kids even though ‘moms and dads’ used them whenever needed .So the class titles were changed.
                         As the preparation for such classes were too much time consuming. I was advised by George to give up that lengthy preparation by adopting something which was easy and fun involving. So I had to quit that too in the long run and as there was a chance of dividing people and the communities on the basis of the common slang words they used, I had to be serious while playing those games in class.

Casual English by Balqis @Edupunk

Casual English by Balqis Thaahaveettil at Edupunk Channel

Hello dear readers ,

I'm happy to provide you the collection of my past classes which includes interesting games and quizzes based on a variety of vocabulary ideas comprising of American idioms and polite slang words to general English idioms  based on British English which may be highly helpful for the TOEFL and IELTS students around the world . At present  I'm giving classes on Edupunk Channel's organizational account on wiziq.com and not on my own account .You may get the tutorials of the classes on my profile .Click here to get them .You can get my recorded classes on Edupunk Channel by clicking HERE . 

Learn English for Free

Learn English for Free

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Learn English And Enjoy Cooking

Learn English And Enjoy Cooking

Las Vegas Part 2 Conversation

 

Key Words
like a kid in the candy store: to be very excited about something
run into a lot of temptation: to have a lot of things that you would want to do
hangin’ out: casually passing time
caught up in the moment: to become completely involved in something
hittin’ the ATM: to take money out of the bank
threw their lives away: destroyed (or ruined) their lives
a little bit: a small amount
the/that kind of money: a lot of money
I got you: I understand
lose their cool: to get angry or upset
flip out: to get angry or upset; same as lose your cool
would have killed me: would have been very angry at me
break down and cry: to cry
bang out: to do quickly
when in Rome: behaving the same way as a certain group of people
(a)round the clock: all the time
lose track of time: to forget what time it is
game over: the end; to be finished
get hitched: to get married
tyin’ the knot: getting married
a pretty big deal: very important

Fish Are Everywhere

Fish Are Everywhere

A: The ocean is so big.
B: You can’t see the end of it.
A: It goes on and on forever.
B: And it’s deep, too.
A: I think it’s five miles deep.
B: Are there fish at the bottom?
A: There are fish at the top and the bottom.
B: Are there more fish or more people?
A: I think there are more fish.
B: I hope so. I love to eat fish.


          

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Best Lectures to Listen and improve your Language

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Best Lectures to Listen and improve your Language  

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MSt English Langage

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• English Faculty
• Humanities Division
• The Campaign
• Welcome to the University

Oxford’s English Faculty will offer students the opportunity to undertake a Master’s in English Language for the first time from October 2012. Learn more about this brand new course and gain an insight into the area from some of Oxford’s experts, including one of the conveners of the new course Professor Deborah Cameron. Find out more about the course at the English Faculty’s website: http://www.english.ox.ac.uk/ Photograph taken by Joseph Caruana, DPhil Astrophysics (Christ Church) as part of a students’ photography competition.

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#		Episode Title	Description	Duration	People	Date
1	Creative Commons	Shakespeare and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)	Professor Charlotte Brewer introduces the methodology behind the creation of the OED and how current activity to update the Dictionary may reveal new evidence about Shakespeare's impact on the English Language.	0:13:23	Charlotte Brewer	08 Nov 2011
2	Creative Commons	English and Gender	Professor Deborah Cameron explores some of the key theories surrounding the use of language by women and men. Are we really so different?	0:16:15	Deborah Cameron	21 Oct 2011
3	Creative Commons	Introduction to the MSt in English Language	Professor Deborah Cameron introduces the new Master's course in English Language offered by the University of Oxford.	0:03:43	Deborah Cameron	21 Oct 2011

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Ruskin Art Show

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Recent graduates of the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford talk about their Final Year Projects.

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#		Episode Title	Description	Duration	People	Date
1	Creative Commons	Rebecca Logan	Rebecca Logan describes her Belfast influenced pieces piece at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:57	Rebecca Logan	25 Jun 2010
2	Creative Commons	Priyesh Mistry	Priyesh Mistry describes his square hole piece at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:03:11	Priyesh Mistry	25 Jun 2010
3	Creative Commons	Natasha LaForce	Natasha LaForce decribes her screen projection and two overlapping images at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:19	Natasha LaForce	25 Jun 2010
4	Creative Commons	Joseph Fuller	Joseph Fuller describes his video projection at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:19	Joseph Fuller	25 Jun 2010
5	Creative Commons	Jocelyn McGregor	Jocelyn McGregor describes her glass resin piece and bent metal at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:22	Jocelyn McGregor	25 Jun 2010
6	Creative Commons	Heather Bignall	Heather Bignall describes her adult sized replica rocking duck at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:45	Heather Bignall	25 Jun 2010
7	Creative Commons	Flo Ray	Flo Ray describes her flat pack aluminium composite lectern at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:28	Flo Ray	25 Jun 2010
8	Creative Commons	Claire Poulter	Claire Poulter describes her ski lift projection at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:18	Claire Poulter	25 Jun 2010
9	Creative Commons	Ali McInnes	Ali McInnes describes his installation at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:18	Ali McInnes	25 Jun 2010
10		Introduction to the 2009 Degree Show	Final Year students discuss the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:03:56	Oliver Beer, Jasmine Robinson, Andrew Gillespie	27 Jul 2009
11		Oliver Beer	2009 Ruskin Art School graduates Oliver Beer and Jasmine Robinson talk about Oliver Beer’s work at the Ruskin Degree show.	0:02:00	Oliver Beer, Jasmine Robinson	27 Jul 2009
12		Andrew Gillespie	2009 final year student Andrew Gillespie talks about his artwork with Oliver Beer and Jasmine Robinson at the Ruskin Degree Show	0:02:25	Andrew Gillespie, Oliver Beer, Jasmine Robinson	27 Jul 2009
13		Min-Young Kwon	2009 final year student Min-Young Kwon talks about her artwork submitted for the Ruskin Degree Show	0:02:01	Min-Young Kwon	27 Jul 2009
14		Hannah Meszaros-Martin	2009 Final year student Hannah Meszaros-Martin talks about her artwork submitted for the Ruskin Degree Show	0:02:38	Hannah Mezsaros-Martin	27 Jul 2009
15		Jasmine Robinson	2009 Final year student Jasmine Robinson talks with other final year students Oliver Beer and Andrew Gillespie about her artwork submitted for the Ruskin Degree Show	0:01:45	Jasmine Robinson, Oliver Beer, Andrew Gillespie	27 Jul 2009
16		Natalia Rodionova	2009 Final year student Natalia Rodionova talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show and her work in general	0:01:57	Natalia Rodionova	27 Jul 2009
17		Emily Vicary	2009 Final year student Emily Vicary talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show.	0:02:11	Emily Vicary	27 Jul 2009
18		Jacob Wolff	2009 Final year student Jacob Wolff talks about his artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:01:29	Jacob Wolff	27 Jul 2009
19		Richard Wentworth in Conversation	Ruskin Master Richard Wentworth in conversation with 2008 graduates	0:11:40	Richard Wentworth, Tiff Chan, Tom Hardiman, Helen Marten	12 Sep 2008
20		Tom Hardiman	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:44	Tom Hardiman	12 Sep 2008
21		Konstanty Czartoryski	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:00:32	Konstanty Czartoryski	12 Sep 2008
22		Jon Aye	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:51	Jon Aye	12 Sep 2008
23		Jim Allchin	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:02:11	Jim Allchin	12 Sep 2008
24		Helen Marten	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:08	Helen Marten	12 Sep 2008
25		Grace Exley	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:12	Grace Exley	12 Sep 2008
26		Amy Jackson	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:02:15	Amy Jackson	12 Sep 2008

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#		Episode Title	Description	Duration	People	Date
1	Creative Commons	Rebecca Logan	Rebecca Logan describes her Belfast influenced pieces piece at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:57	Rebecca Logan	25 Jun 2010
2	Creative Commons	Priyesh Mistry	Priyesh Mistry describes his square hole piece at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:03:11	Priyesh Mistry	25 Jun 2010
3	Creative Commons	Natasha LaForce	Natasha LaForce decribes her screen projection and two overlapping images at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:19	Natasha LaForce	25 Jun 2010
4	Creative Commons	Joseph Fuller	Joseph Fuller describes his video projection at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:19	Joseph Fuller	25 Jun 2010
5	Creative Commons	Jocelyn McGregor	Jocelyn McGregor describes her glass resin piece and bent metal at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:22	Jocelyn McGregor	25 Jun 2010
6	Creative Commons	Heather Bignall	Heather Bignall describes her adult sized replica rocking duck at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:45	Heather Bignall	25 Jun 2010
7	Creative Commons	Flo Ray	Flo Ray describes her flat pack aluminium composite lectern at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:01:28	Flo Ray	25 Jun 2010
8	Creative Commons	Claire Poulter	Claire Poulter describes her ski lift projection at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:18	Claire Poulter	25 Jun 2010
9	Creative Commons	Ali McInnes	Ali McInnes describes his installation at the Ruskin Degree Show 2010.	0:02:18	Ali McInnes	25 Jun 2010
10		Oliver Beer	2009 Ruskin Art School graduates Oliver Beer and Jasmine Robinson talk about Oliver Beer’s work at the Ruskin Degree show.	0:02:45	Oliver Beer, Jasmine Robinson	27 Jul 2009
11		Min-Young Kwon	2009 final year student Min-Young Kwon talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:02:14	Min-Young Kwon	27 Jul 2009
12		Hannah Meszaros-Martin	2009 Final year student Hannah Meszaros-Martin talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:01:27	Hannah Mezsaros-Martin	27 Jul 2009
13		Natalia Rodionova	2009 Final year student Natalia Rodionova talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show and her work in general	0:02:12	Natalia Rodionova	27 Jul 2009
14		Emily Vicary	2009 Final year student Emily Vicary talks about her artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:04:35	Emily Vicary	27 Jul 2009
15		Jacob Wolff	2009 Final year student Jacob Wolff talks about his artwork submitted for the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:01:46	Jacob Wolff	27 Jul 2009
16		Introduction to the 2009 Degree Show	Final Year students discuss the 2009 Ruskin Degree Show	0:04:12	Oliver Beer, Jasmine Robinson, Andrew Gillespie	27 Jul 2009
17		Richard Wentworth in Conversation	Ruskin Master Richard Wentworth in conversation with 2008 graduates	0:11:40	Richard Wentworth, Tiff Chan, Tom Hardiman, Helen Marten	12 Sep 2008
18		Tom Hardiman	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:44	Tom Hardiman	12 Sep 2008
19		Konstanty Czartoryski	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:00:32	Konstanty Czartoryski	12 Sep 2008
20		Jon Aye	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:51	Jon Aye	12 Sep 2008
21		Jim Allchin	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:02:11	Jim Allchin	12 Sep 2008
22		Helen Marten	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:08	Helen Marten	12 Sep 2008
23		Grace Exley	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:01:12	Grace Exley	12 Sep 2008
24		Amy Jackson	2008 Graduates of the Oxford University Ruskin School of Art discuss their final year projects	0:02:15	Amy Jackson	12 Sep 2008