Capstone Course and Critical Thinking

I am back again! I spent a lot of time doing my keystone class and ski class the last couple of months. PLU is a great school to learn about all kinds of classes. My
Chinese friends and I took the same ski class last J-term. It was so fun to
take that course. We all do not have any chances to learn anything about skiing
in China. At PLU, we caught this chance and we went to the summit mountain to
learn something about skiing. Each time I fell down from the top of the mountain
to the ground. Although I was hurt so many times, I always laughed. It is because in
my mind I enjoyed that process.

This semester I am taking a Capstone class, and for students who take a Capstone class means that they are graduating. It is the last class that students need to take before graduation. However, I still did not finish my minor courses, so this Capstone course is not my last class at PLU.

But I want to tell something about Capstone course this time. For my communication major, my Capstone course asked me to talk about how I met ILOs (integrated learning objectives). The PLU ILOs, or Pacific Lutheran University integrated learning objectives, are values and abilities that PLU wishes to teach all their students. More specifically, it was about how I met Critical Reflective Thinking,
Expression, Interaction, Valuing, and Multiple Frameworks. I will be giving some
examples that prove I met each part. I would show my previous homework papers, presentations, and videos to prove those elements. From this point of view, we could know PLU takes the responsibility to know what students leaned though several years study. And for students, it is a good evaluation method for ourselves to know what we leaned those years. In order to let you have something to say in your Capstone course, please study well throughout your time at PLU.

-Meng

Memory of my 2011 summer holiday

Hello everyone, I am back. It was so fun to spend my summer holiday with my parents and friends. It was so fun to meet with my PLU professor Vidya Thirumurthy in Beijing. I was so glad to introduce Chinese culture and history to foreigners, especially someone I know. My parents were very excited to see my professor even they could not communicate in English -  it is a Chinese tradition that parents prefer to talk with teachers in order to know on a deeper level the situation of their kids in school. Even though they could not talk, they felt very good to sit together, and I could tell by their facial appearance that they were pleased.

I also went to lots of places to hang out with my boyfriend's family. I learned a lot from my summer trip. My dad would often tell me it would be a waste your time and money if you did not learn anything when you are traveling. So I try to search information before I go to each place. I try to know its past history and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I very enjoyed my 2011 summer holiday. Let me share my happy moments with you guys.

Keep a grateful heart forever!

I am so excited that I will back Beijing next month. I did not go back home for about 2 years. I miss my parents and friends. I will tell them my story of PLU. The story I will tell them is totally different from my first time back home. I remember I told them PLU is tiny with an old building style campus. It was not what I imaged. I hated to stay here for longer. The food was unsavory. I hated local students who didn't want with me in a group. Even right now I am laughing at myself about what I said before. Those were my initial emotions about PLU. Everything changed during these two years. Though PLU has a tiny campus, it warms me so much. It includes all the facilities that students need.

First, the writing center is a good place for international student to revise their paper errors. It helped me on different homework papers. Then the Academic Assistance Center, it is good place to find a tutor help you resolve problems you have. I am using my Psy tutor to help me prepare the exam each time. The library is a very nice place to study. Students are very nice and have a high quality. I've previously lost a flash drive, mouse, wallet, student ID in the library. Every time I could find them from the Help Desk in the lib. I love lib so much.

Even though the food is not my favorite, the snacks of the old market in the University Cafeteria are good. They sell some instant noodles and Yogurt. I also have a few local friends that make happy. On my birthday, all of them said happy birthday to me. Even there are few words, but I felt very warm at that moment. I can not stop talking my professor over here, all of my communication professors are so nice, they do care about international students such as myself. They gave me extra time to take quizzes or exams. I can not name every professor because of all of them are nice.

My advisor Abigail is also a nice person for me - she cares my life and study. She helped me to register what classes I need to take each semester. One of my education 205 professors always let me talk every class time. She knew I need to practise to speak in class. Each time she just called my name and let me talk. That class is the most that I have talked so far. My literature 213 professor read my papers before I turned them in. All the professor I have met at PLU are the best professors.  Thanks for all my professors who have taught me and will teach me. I learned a lot not only in my study but also in my life. Keep a grateful heart forever! LOVE PLU!

Coffee Experience

One day, my dad called me and asked, "do you think you are involved in American culture already? I didn't know how to answer him at that moment. On that day, my friend and I went to Starbucks and ordered my favorite Vanilla Latte.  I was sitting at the counter at the cafe and was still thinking about that question. My friend wanted to know what I was thinking and asked me, "why don't you drink tea at home instead of drinking coffee here?"

Suddenly, I knew how to answer my dad. Yes, I was involved. I like drinking coffee right now.  I still remember a few weeks after I went to school I saw lots of classmates liked drinking coffee in class. I wanted to try it, but I didn't know how to order,  so I ended up just following one person and repeating what she said. To this day, I don't know what kind of coffee I drank that day.

Small things make me have a big idea of life. I really know what "Do in Rome as Romans do" means right now.

By Meng

Spring Break

Spring Break : wow, exciting! This is my first sense of this holiday. It is time to relax a while and hang out with my friends. I already planned where I go before spring break. I might just have 3 times to spend spring break in the United States so I cherish this time very much. I try to travel to some places around here. This spring break I will probably go to Woodburn (not sure). It is located in Oregon. I went there several times before. It is a big shopping place. The main reason I love to go there is NO TAX! Before summer holiday is the greatest time to go shopping there. I will be back China this June so I need to buy some gifts for my family members and friends. It is a cool place to go! I'll show you the picture which I took before. One last thing I need to say "Pray for Japan"!!!

-Meng

Mid-term is coming

Mid-term is coming. It is a busy time for every student. We need to prepare for papers, exams and presentations. As a non-English speaker, I will need much more time than other students to work hard. This semester I am taking Psychology 101 and English 213 - both  for general university requirement (GUR). When I heard the name "Psychology" I was so afraid of this class, but it is for GUR. English 213 is a literature class. For this class I need to read English novels, and it is hard to read one-hundred pages in one day but it is a way to improve my English. Two other classes are requirements for my major: Advertising and writing class. I feel fine in both of these classes. However, I really felt I learned something after each course. It is a hard process, but caused sweet results!!! Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind on it!


Meng

Autobiography - Meng

Hi, I am Meng, I came to PLU in 2008 from Beijing, China. My major is Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations.I have two main goals at PLU. One is the most important for me is to learn English well, because I hope I can speak English as a native speaker. Second, I want to learn more communication skills and knowledge. I consider the United States as my second mother land.

-Meng