Speaking Portfolio_2_ ASB Bank

Date: 22 April, 2010

Time: 10am 15 - 20 minutes

Place: ASB Bank
1484D Dominion Road Extn., Mt. Roskill

Main topic:
- credit card: late payment
- tertiary account: extended the expiry date


Systematic, right/authority and initiative

When I went to the Bank, I did some normal transactions with the cashier first and told her that I would do a few extra things on last Thursday. Firstly, I showed her that I received a friendly reminder from ASB Bank on my cell phone to say, "You may have forgotten to pay your credit card. An overdue fee of $25 will apply in two days. Thank you!" Because it was the first time I received from bank and I didn't go to the bank on that day, so I was quite worried about that I would be punished. Then I swiped my card immediately, she said, "Don't swipe the card when I'm doing on the computer!" I realized that I am impatient again that I forgot what had happened in my last blogger before- impatient. After she finished all transaction step by step, she smiled and said, "Would you want me to staple the receipt on your statement!" "Yes, please!"I said. "The credit card payment is settled, don't worry!"
After that, I showed . I showed some document from study-link. The procedure was taking a long time that she checked all my document. I said that I was very sorry that to let other people who were waiting for a long time. She replied, "It's your right, don't feel sorry or worry for them!"
When nearly finishing all transactions, she admired my hat too.
I felt warm, comfortable and her initiative helps.
The people on queue were alright and patience since the cashier let the manageress to arrange another two more cashiers to work with them. In my country, I will be very embarrassed that they would be look angry with me. There are difference culture aspects between European and Asian. I am quite enjoy for these impressive culture here.


When the cashier finished all my transaction and she had a badge on her uniform and printed : Sri. I said, "Thank you for your help! May I know that how to pronounce your name?"
S:"Sri. . . same as three!"
A: Oh 'three'. It's quite interesting. Where are you come from?
I thought she was not quite clear what I was asking, I changed it to ask
"Where is your hometown?"
S: My home country is India!
A: Thanks a lot! Bye.
I used a wrong word that it should be home country not home town. No matter she told me the name of her hometown, I supposed still didn't know where it was unless it was a big city.


When she admired my hat, I told her that I was easily to have headache when it was windy. So I wore hat during autumn and summer. She told me that she had the same problem and she had 'dark circle'. I was quite wonder why she explained like that. She showed me that she was allergy of windy and got 'dark circle' around her eyes. I learned a new meaning of 'dark circle', it's not only to describe people who haven't enough sleep.


When I received the letter regarding for the tertiary account, I went to the bank before and I showed them my student ID. But it's not enough evidence to proof because there didn't show the expiry date. So, this time I prepared some letters from study-link to proof it. It means that I try to well prepare as I can. Let me to have some more details for my conversation. And this time, I try to speak a little bit slower than before, she also spoke slow to me and let me to understand easily too.
Sri gave me a brochure for the other kind bank account service, let me to consider later.


Generally, I try to use some more lexical and interactive features.
When I was thinking to receive the brochure from Sre, I used some chunks like "you know . . ." "I agree...".when I was thinking to receive to not because I am still a full time student at the moment. And try to use some minimal encourages eg. nah, Um, Ah, Yeah and Well to make the conversation smooth.

I hope I will do it better in next time!

Speaking Portfolio_1_ Mediterranean Resort

1. About the context of the conversation.
On 12 April, I went to Tauranga and had 3 days 2 nights trip with my church people. I talked with Gunter, the host of the Mediterranean Resort, about information of booking and cash back.

2. Culture aspects or cultural differences
On Monday, when I checked in, I wanted to ask him immediately that how much we would be cash back. Because while we were booking, he had mentioned about cash back $30.00, but he didn't say the details - one night, 2 nights, one bedroom or 2 bedrooms . . . I had many questions in my mind. If it was happened in my culture, I would ask him immediately. But he was quite leisure and enjoy to do things step by step and asked me to fill my details and signature. Finally, he issued a cheque and made a copy of that. Then I realized that European is quite systematic that they do it one by one. In Asian culture, we try to do at least 2 things together. When I work in Hong Kong, we always instructed/communicated our colleagues while we were speaking on the phone with our clients. I was impatient to wait and felt I was always in a hurry. Now, I must learn more about patient.

4. Vocabulary features
After finished the check in schedule, he asked me something I couldn't catch it, such as lotto. I responded that I was not interested of that. "Do you know Saturday lotto team?" he asked. I answered that I knew what it was lotto but I didn't interest and didn't buy this before. He explained that it was so easy to do it.

5. Specific strategies to overcome any language problems
When I wondered for what was 'Saturday lotto team', because I was not quite clear of every words of his conversation at that moment, I only guessed what was the meaning. He took out a 'powerball' form and someone had filled at the first column, Gunter taught me how to mark and chose how many no. and counted how many no. I had chose - 3, 4, 5 and 6. He made me feel comfortable to do a new thing.

6. Conversation flow 7. Fillers or hesitation
The conversation flow was OK. Gunter was so gentle that he spoke a little bit slow while I did not understand. When I was hesitation, I used some fillers, such as Um, Ah, for thinking instead of 'dead air'. It was quite good that Gunter had a chance to convince me or continue the conversation.

3. Conversant begin and how did it end.
8. Caused problem and focus on next conversation
When we nearly ended our conversation, I introduced, "you know my name is Alice, Alice in the wonderland! What's your name?" He smiled and pronounced his name, but it was very difficult for me to recognized "Guiler???' and asked him how to spell - Gunter.
It's hard for me to learn new name which it is not used common. But I found that the people were quite happy to spell and felt that I exactly wanted to know how to remember their name and pronounce it. If something happens which are out of my mind, I will hard understand and my mind seem freeze at that moment.

Listening blog 8_CALL software – EASE

*Source: EASE Unit 4 - Functions 2 in LLC at UNITEC library.


I went to the Language learning Center at Unitec library to practice English through Call software. I choose the topic on ‘Language (Unit 4)’, because it sounded more interesting than the other choices and the teacher highly recommended this unit too.

*Strategies:
1) Concentrate on Phonological & fillers: Pause, stress & use of schwa
2) Repetition

*Evaluation
I chose two topics, such as referring to sources and evaluating sources.
a) Referring:
There are a few speakers, each one has their characters to send their presentation
Clip 3 Dr Stanley Ireland: "it's not /just a biography . . .it's a / extra dimension . . ."
Clip 5 Dr Stanley Ireland: 'we /don't focus in . . .'
He paused before the stress, such as 'just, extra, don't', let us to concentrate and for the strong meaning-(strong: bold, /: pause)
Clip 6 Dr. Michael Luck: "How many people /haven't?"
He paused or nearly stopped before he said 'haven't', let everyone seems look and listen to him to wait for the next word. He suddenly speaks strong and power 'haven't". Make everyone noticed what he mentioned before and also expresses his unhappy feeling.
b) Evaluating sources
Clip 9 Prof. Jack Cohen: I recommended you read the book . . . published in 1970 (schwa in year), he / got the keyword
Clip 10 Dr. Helen Dennis: she always look at paper and small action, such as touched her hair per 2-3 seconds and up and down for her head, make me can't concentrate what she said.

* Reflection
It's the first time to concentrate for different speakers for their interactive features and phonological features. Before that, I think if I speak in fluent in English, I should speak without stop. Therefore, I always speak quite fast and let people don't find out any grammatical mistake or other errors. But now, definitely it's not! No matter native speakers, they always use to pause or nearly stop to draw people attention to listen their coming next words instead of to speak every word in strong.
And if we have any public speaking, we should not have any small action to confuse listeners' concentration.

It's a good practise for me, and I should try to change my speaking habit to let people few more comfortable during our conversation!

Listening blog 7 _Music: Nat King Cole: It's only a paper moon

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgNef0mgOeI

Strategies:
Focus on overall sentences
Keywords
Guess the meaning
Take notes
Repetition

Evaluation:
When I try to choose a song for this blog, hard to believe that my daughter introduced this one. It was not only an old song and also a Black & white youTube that teenager suppose will not like this. They loved new technology and colourful. She described Nat King owned a warm, soft baritone voice. Some people said that he smoked a lot because he wanted to have a soft attractive voice.
Firstly, I listened this song 4 times without any notes taking or repetition which let me to do the strategies of guess the meaning and focus on overall sentences.
Secondly, try to take notes like dictation that stop by every sentences and repetition to type lyrics back in italic. Finally, check with the original lyrics.
When I took the first half of lyrics, the other half was the same and I can catch what he sang.

Reflection:
It was the first time I did it in song except in classroom. It's only 1.40 minutes., however I felt long to understand every lines for the whole song. Although Nat King was black American, he sang the song very clear. He was quite enhancing the "ve" sound to bit his lip. Since it was the first time I did it in song, but it was quite helpful to understand and write down the lyric. Finally, these strategies help me to listen clearly and make use the meaning step by step (guess first, dictation-note taking, read the lyric and correct at last). Information from wikipedia describe that he was the first black American to host a television variety show.

Take notes(lyrics)
It's only a paper moon, hanging over a cardboard sea.
but it wouldn't be make if you believed it in me.
It's only a canvas in sky, hanging over a muslin tree
but it won't be make believe if you believed in me
Without your love, its a honky-tonk parade.
Without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade.
It's Barnum and Bailey world,
Just as phony as it can be,
but it wouldn't be make believe, if you believed in me.
Without your love, it's a honky-tonk parade.
Without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade.
It's a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it can be,
but it won't be make believe if you believed in me

Listening blog 6 _Communication with NS: a phone message and face to face

Source: ASB Bank Ltd.
1484D Dominion Road Extn., Mt. Roskill
Ms Pradnya Rege, Customer Service Specialist
Date: 23 March, 2010 10.00am

Strategies:
*notice body language/gesture
*concentrate
*focus on overall sentences

Evaluation:
Firstly, I received a phone call from my bank-ASB last week.
The manageress wanted to do some survey to improve their customer service. After that, she invited me to go to her office and gave some more details for her.
In the phone message, I tried to concentrate and focus on overall sentences to answer all the questions, such as service, efficient, waiting time . . . to give grading from 1 to 5. Sometimes, I was not quite understood the words or sentences, I ask her to repeat and slow down. Finally, I finish that survey.
In the office, I noticed with the body language/gesture, I could understand more than before the phone call before. And try to have eye-contact and felt easier. Before we finished the conversion, I asked her business card too. She was quite happy that I took the promise to her office.

Reflection:
It is quite good strategies for me. Although sometimes I was not sure for the whole sentence, I use my own words and asked the same question to confirm the meaning. Compare with the phone message and face to face with the same person, I realized that notice body language/gesture, concentrate, and focus on overall sentences are very important and helpful for listening skill.
And I found the paragraph which I got from this class is quite useful too:
Conversations are visual too. Be aware of body language. Make good eye-contact and at appropriate points nod supportively - even if you disagree. A friendly smile and tactful humour help conversation to flow.

Listening blog 5_ TV: Movie: Diamond are forever

This is a movie to describe about James Bond from Sean Connery. I chose this movie in TV because I want to use the strategies of notice body language or gesture. Although I can' t completely understand what they said in the movie, push me to guest their meaning from their gesture. Moreover, I can' t stop to ask for repetition when it was running in TV live programme.

Source: TVNZ 1 20 March, 2010 at 8.30pm

Strategies:
* knowing vocab.
* notice body language/gesture
* keywords

Evaluation:
I did still keep on writing some new words while I was watching. I used the subtitle function on the TV set. Try to guest their meaning from their gesture first: smuggler, thrilled sake, phony diamond, scrap, bath sub, both chuckle . . . and found from dictionary when its in commercial break in the first few sections. I found out the meaning of those words. In the middle section of the movie, I gave up checking up in the dictionary, and concentrate to the movie, and didn't watch too much in the subtitle, I found more relax to watch and exactly to guest the meaning from the actors and actresses. I think that it's what the exactly guest strategies???

Reflection:
According from last listening blog, I am not good at to do two things at the same time, such as watching and listening. So I need to be more input in this area. From this listening blog, I feel much better but still need to improve as much as I can. Some conversation is too fast to follow, but try to get from their action and expression. Like in the beginning, I didn't know some words: smuggler, thrilled... until check from dictionary. I also learned some phases. It's a good preparation for the coming blog to get interview with people that I need to grasp their keywords, gesture and repetition if I do not understand.

Try to understand in the first time!

There are no second chances in life!!!
Ash to Ash! Dust to Dust! (From the movie)

Listening blog 4_ TV-News: Cyclone-hit Fiji begins clean up

Source : http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/cyclone-hit-fiji-begins-clean-up-3419532

Strategies:
* learn some vocab.
* take notes
* guest the meaning


Evaluation:
I choose this news because I think I am not always tough this kinds of vocab.
Finally, I feel hard again.
I used the strategies of learn vocab., take notes, guest the meaning. I still use take notes as one of the strategies that I feel its quite helpful for me to understand more and more. I can fill the missing words after the 1 listening time. I listen and watch the video together while I take notes on the first listening time, I feel the speaker speak too fast for me to take note. I let it go until it finish. After I have gotten the whole picture of the new in listening, I listen it again and again to fill in the blank in italic for the missing or wrong words. One stupid thing for me that I heard the sound of a word, but I am not sure, such as 'tree', I must know this easy word. In the beginning, I am not quite catch it until I watch a trunk was lying on the road, then I suddenly remember.
And I also learn the new words in on-line dictionary. Unfortunately, the script is not same ast eh video that I still miss some new words

Reflection :
According these few strategies, I think I can't do well watching and listening at the same time. On the other hand, it is quite helpful to give some more hits to understand.
Although it is the first time to watch the video as part of my listening skills, I think it is quite helpful for natural speaking in daily life that we speak with eye-contact to guess the meaning in the sentence.

Take notes:
cyclone damage hit Fiji weather better - had cleared
cleaner - clean up destroyed
damages unclear
craft fm NZ - need some more supplies areo???ssment
the disaster management
communication with pe??gy
looking for - more shelters and north division 4000 falls ???with their home
and trees creating hazal??? in Fuji
unfitted by storm ???thousands left homes
interrupt report NZ help Fiji

New words
Chainsaw: a tool used for cutting wood, consisting of a circular chain with ten which is driven by a motor.
Shovels: a tool with a rounded blade and a long handle used for moving earth, stones = spade
Gusts: sudden strong movement of wind, air, rain etc.
Cyclone: a very strong wind that moves very fast in a circle (hurricane, typhoon)
jetties: a wide wall or flat area built out into the water, used for getting on and off boa (pier)