Tag: linguistics

Done… Finally

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
I took my final.  I am officially done with my two classes.  I believe I’m getting an A in both classes which is thoroughly shocking.  I thought for sure I would only squeak out a B in my linguistics class. 
Now it is on to writing.  I have one more full day of work and then I’m done for eleven days.  I cannot wait until I am done tomorrow.  Friday through Sunday will be family time.  After that I’ll be working on writing, submission packages, figuring out self-publishing on the kindle for writing.  I have three books I want to read while I’m off. Then, of course, I have a few crafting things to do as well.  I am going to have to be very focused and diligent to keep on task. 
Vicki got a Wii for Christmas.  I’ll have to take some down time to play with her.  However, I’ll have to make sure it isn’t too big of a distraction, even though it is quite fun. 
I got my new netbook.  My faculty gave me a wonderful Amazon card for the holidays towards this purchase.  I have it so I have to figure it out before I come back to school.  I have to check out how my documents on my flash drive will work on it.  I also want to see how all the features work out.  Cool electronics to play with!!! 

Check Things Off

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

It is a day for checking things off.  I finish my Creative Writing class, now I just have to wait on my grade.  I finished my quiz and chapter for Linguistics.  I got the recall petition ready to be mailed (just has to go to the mail box). 

Next I’m going to work on curtains I think.  I bought some fun material for both the kitchen and office and plan to make curtains for both.  I think café curtain with valance for the kitchen and just straight curtains in the office. 

After that it is anyone’s guess the type of mischief I’ll get up to.  I could work on quilts (don’t get your hopes up girls) or crocheting or organizing some of my writing stuff.  I’m keeping my options open.

Home Stretch

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
My formal project is done.  In my linguistics class I have whatever quizzes he throws at us and the final.  For my creative writing class I have finished my journal and the rough draft of the final short story.  I only need to polish the short story and turn it in and I’m done. 

I’m disappointed with my classes this semester.  I thought I’d learn a lot and enjoy the process but it has not been a good process for me this semester.  In my one class no one participates and the professor looks out on a sea of blank faces.  In my other class, the writing assignments have been tedious and not stretched my skills at all, plus there’s been little peer critique.  I would have liked to spend more time on that.  Also for the last month no one has really been participating online. 

I hope to be taking two writing classes next semester and hope that I enjoy them more.  I thought I was all settled but I got an email today that one of my classes may be cancelled.  This means that I’ll have to find a second class to be in and one that hopefully doesn’t disrupt my schedule too much.  I will hopefully know by Tuesday – I definitely don’t like the added stress of this.  There is one class that is offered and required at the same time as the class that is being cancelled but it is full already.  That means asking the professor and / or waiting to see if anyone drops it.  More stress – I don’t like stress…

And the results are…

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I took the test.  Spent just over an hour working through all the questions and was nervous because people walked out at 20 minutes.  Was I taking too long? 

The class average was between 63-64%.  I got (drum roll please) 78%.  This puts me at just below a B in the class.  I hope I understand the rest of the chapters so I can make my grade come up.  I’ll have to put in a lot of time on the lovely Formal Project now. 
I’m disappointed in myself.  Part of me wants to say – yes I did better than average and in fact most of the class but in reality all I really care about is how well I’m doing.  I don’t think I’m doing that well.  I will have to work harder on this and hope that I can bring that grade up.

Midterm today

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Today is my midterm in Language Studies and I’m nervous.  Did I study enough?  Should I have been more diligent about my studying?  What will it be like?  My nerves are on edge and I just want it over with.

I’ve read through my notes.  I’ve rewritten almost all of them onto a different summary sheet for the class.  I feel like if I look at it anymore I’ll be overdoing but I don’t know as I’ve only taken quizzes by this professor. 
So the plan this morning is to play a bit to relax.  Eat a good breakfast.  Arrive early and at that point review my notes and refine whatever else needs it… then take the exam. 

With any luck by 10 today I’ll know how good or bad I did….

Midterm

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
My midterm got pushed back.  I’m really stressed out about this one so I don’t know if this is a good thing or not.  On one hand I just want to get the thing over with so I can know how bad I did.  On the other hand it will be nice to have another weekend to sort of focus all my studying on it. 
Lucky for me, I got another good score on my quiz.  I was surprised to see a 9.5 out of 10 on this one.  The class average was up as well.  Hopefully people just get this section.  I know I understand syntax better than pragmatics and semantics. 
This weekend will be piled deep with studying for the midterm and reading material for the formal project.  Hopefully by the time I’m done I understand more of it all.  Don’t worry.  I’m not holding my breath. 
I think I could like linguistics if I understood more of it.  I find the topic fascinating but at the same time part of it I think is just a lot of guessing and making general statements about things that don’t fit nicely into a tidy little box.

WOO HOO!!!

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I got my first 10 out of 10 quiz in my Language Studies class.  I’ve gotten everything from a 2 to an 8.  For me to get a 10 is AMAZING!!!  I’m so excited!!!

It may seem ridiculous to be so happy over a 10 point quiz but I’ve struggled in this class.  It is a tough one.  I don’t know that the topic is that difficult.  I think the book sucks.  I also think that the professor is teaching above what most students understand in an intro class. 

The fact that I did well is a relief.  Now the question is will I continue to do well.  I’ve got to make note cards / flash cards so I can study for my midterm tomorrow.  He gave us a project that a student did in a previous semester and I’m going to start with that.  Then anything from her notes I don’t understand I’ll add to with my own notes. 

I don’t know if the test will be in the classroom or on the computer.  I’m hoping for computer but I think that might be too much to hope for. 

For now though, I’m just thrilled with my perfect score!!!!  It very well could be the only one I get in this class.

School

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

This week has been a disaster.  I’ve worked a ton of overtime to work on a huge project which is really only about half done.  I’ll be continuing to work on it this next week and I’m not sure how much overtime I’ll be putting in. 

There’s also been a bit of drama with school.  In my linguistics class I’ve been arguing with my professor about some of the answers on quizzes.  It isn’t really getting me anywhere but I at least want to make a good argument.  I’ve decided to step it up and start actually asking for points back because the subtle approach has not been working. 

Several of the students in my linguistics class have decided the professor is trying to fail everyone so they are taking it to the dean.  I’m not sure that is the right approach.  I’m sitting back and waiting.

I sent off three questions to my creative writing teacher.  One was for clarification on the comments she made on my paper – not saying she was wrong just looking for clarification.  One was asking about her grading scale.  One was a question on the next assignment.  Now I will concede that these were all in one day but I tend to ask things when I come across them.  It just so happened that I came across all of them at once. 

The professor was quite snarky about my questions.  Her attitude seemed to be “don’t question me”.  She insulted my ability to write which was very hurtful to me.  I know I’m a good writer and a good editor but for someone in that position to be so condescending it does make me question. 

I felt slapped.  I know that may sound harsh but if I can’t ask questions – particularly on the comments on my papers – then how am I going to learn?  I don’t know.  I guess then it just becomes her opinion which I can quite easily dismiss if I don’t agree with her. 

I’m disappointed with my creative writing class.  I was looking forward to some new and fun projects to expand my thinking and my abilities but I’ve got three books that don’t really help.  One of them I had to buy so now it is mine which after this class I will never open again. 

To me if you are teaching a writing class then the writing should be out there for discussion.  Here is my sample of work – how can it be made better.  We had a sample poem we had to edit but she never commented on the editing we did.  My question (which I’m not allowed to ask) is did I edit it the way she wanted?  What was she actually looking for?  There were some general comments but she couldn’t be bothered to comment on all the postings. 

I guess I’ll chalk this up to experience and make sure I do not take any more classes that she teaches.  I’ll also think twice before I take more classes.  If the teachers here aren’t able to help me grow then I need to go elsewhere so that I can expand my knowledge and my abilities.

Feeling Frustrated

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I know what you are all going to say to me.  Hang in there it is just the first week.  However, I can’t help how I feel at this point in time.  Let me preface this with a quick outline of my day…

Grocery shopping at 8:30, nearly 11 by the time it was all done and taken care of; lunch and then settling in to study.  I had three chapters to read and some writing to do.  I got my stuff together and decided I would submit some poetry as I could get extra credit for submitting to a couple of publications for my creative writing class.  After lunch I sit at my computer and get a half dozen submissions done.  Then I tackle my language studies book.  I’ve got just one chapter to read a little over twenty pages so should be a breeze right?  WRONG!!!

I’m researching terms on the internet because they aren’t clear in the book.  I’m looking in a dictionary.  I’m whining so much Vicki reads what I’ve read and tries to help.  I’ve only covered about ten pages and it is HOURS later.  I’m feeling frustrated that I’m just not getting it. 

I give up on the one section.  I get most of it and I’m hoping class discussion will clarify it for me.  I move on to the next section which does make more sense to me.  Still I’m tired and frustrated.  I know I’m not learning a damn thing.  I close my book and give up. 

Vicki being a librarian has kindly gone to the library to reserve books to explain my book to me.  Great more reading… I know I’m old and it’s been a long while since I studied grammar but I think I need a refresher course of sorts.  The terminology is killing me.  I think I understand the underlying theory but the terms are throwing me off.

Then I go to my computer to get some down time with relaxing fun emails and games.  In my emails I have two rejections.  Go ahead universe just kick me when I’m down. 

Okay I’m done whining.  I’m going to bed and tomorrow when I get up I’m going to tackle the last ten pages in that book, finish off the two chapters in the other two books and do the damn writing assignment.  Then I’m going to look at the next week of assignments and see what I have to tackle for that. 

I may be down (i.e. damn exhausted, frustrated and annoyed with myself) but I sure as hell am not out.