Semester 2 Introduction

Eric DuffySanda University

2013

Undergraduate degree from Bentley University, Waltham MA (B.S. Finance) in 2004

Master’s degree from Newcastle University in the U.K. (M.A. International Politics (Critical Geopolitics) in 2013

Spent 3 years in South Korea, 1 year in Japan, and 1 year in the U.K.

Eric Duffy Bio/CV

I have worked in ESL for nearly 7 years and I have also worked in the Academic world for 1 and a half years and in the accounting sector for 1 year.

This is my first year in Shanghai and at Sanda.

Hobbies/Interest: All sports (playing and watching), reading, politics, international relations, sleeping

Eric Duffy Bio/CV

You will come to class prepared◦ Book, notebook, pen/pencil, homework completed, not dying

of thirst or hunger You will participate in class

◦ This means you will be active in class Taking part in class activities Offering to speak to the teacher and to other class mates

Paying attention (NOT texting your boyfriend/girlfriend or playing a stupid game on your cell phone)

This class is not the typical Chinese class. I encourage (and you need to) take an active part in each class. SPEAK, ASK QUESTIONS, BE CURIOUS

Class Expectations

You will be on time to class You will speak English, not Chinese Your cell phone will not be seen or used

◦ Despite what you think, you are not good at hiding your cell phone use

◦ I am not as stupid as you think I am

Class Expectations

If you have a problem, a question, or an issue you can contact me

Email: eduffy25@hotmail.com Office: Building 10, office 302 Furthermore, I encourage you to make an

appointment with me to speak to me in my office. To do so, either email me or ask me before/after class

Each class I will come prepared with a lesson which I hope and believe you will find interesting and useful

However, I am open to all suggestions and if you have any ideas on how to improve the class or different ideas for lessons, please tell me

This class works best when we work together to make the best possible class

Class Procedure:

When every class starts, I encourage any and all students to ask me any questions about ALMOST anything◦ America, American Culture, My thoughts on any subject,

etc.◦ Also if you have anything interesting you want to share, I

encourage you to do so

At the end of each class there will be time for review or for you to ask questions about anything you do not understand or need more clarification on

Class Procedure

All homework and classroom assignments will be posted on my Sanda University webpage:

http://ericduffysanda.wikispaces.com/ Thus, you must go to this website at least

twice a week. Once after class to get the homework and once before class to be prepared for the next class.

Class Webpage

I know how Chinese students are. Even if you want to talk or participate you won’t because of the large class. DON’T DO THIS. It will only hurt your grade, make the class less interesting, and frustrate me.

This class is here for you. The more you participate not only will you get a better grade, you will learn more and you will have more fun

According to University rules◦ 60% of your final grade will come from class◦ 40% of final grade will be the final exam

In class, grades will come from quizzes, homework, and most importantly PARTICIPATION◦ In each class I will grade every student on their

participation◦ For every question, comment, or statement a student

makes that student gets a check◦ For every negative instance, the student will receive an x◦ The amount of checks (or Xs) per class equals your grade

for that class.

Class Grades

To make the point, here is an example from last semester:

Student A’s final exam grade was 70% Student B’s final exam grade was 70% Student A’s final grade was 58% Student B’s final grade was 92% Student B talked in class, asked questions, and

was constantly active in class Student A talked to her boyfriend through her

cell phone more than she talked to me in class

Participation

Last semester 10% of my students failed Due completely to their lack of participation

and negative attitude in class You don’t want to fail? All you have to do is participate!

Participation

Do not cheat, do not copy, do not take credit for anyone else’s work. I place a high regard on honesty and integrity in and out of the classroom. If you are caught copying, cheating, or plagiarizing you will fail with no exceptions

Do not disturb or distract any student during class. Just because you are don’t care about learning doesn’t mean others feel the same.

DON’TS

Do not answer questions with blanketed statements that mean nothing.

For example, “China has 5,000 years of culture and history.”

This means nothing and is not an acceptable answer

Do not use the same words every other student uses◦ “Fine.” “Besides.” “Every coin has two sides.”

“Failure is the mother of success.” “On the other hand.” etc.

DON’TS

Don’t piss me off. You are university students and are mature enough to know how to act inside a classroom. I expect a certain level of maturity and respect in the classroom and you should too.

DON’TS

Go to the webpage http://ericduffysanda.wikispaces.com/

Check the class’s webpage and fill out the survey

Check the class homework and do it. You have no excuse to not know the

homework or what is expected of you

After Class