The thing I have excited in University of Essex is the big library.
When I was in Japan and go to Tsuda college, which is a small woman college in Tokyo, it was famous that the library of Tsuda college is one of the worst dreadful library in Japanese university and college. So I was very happy when I first visited the Albert Sloman Library and know that it opens 24 hours. However, there are too many people who use the library and it is crowded especially in the afternoon. Then, I decided to spend about an hour before my class starts and I do so almost every day.
Homework
1) Learning how to access the library’s online resources at CALL helped me so much. I could find the book easily because of checking classmark, title, and writer before. However, I didn’t borrow the book actually. It is because I already borrowed some books about East Asian economy from the library and I have to read and return them by this weekend! One of the books I am reading is “Asian States Beyond the developmental perspective” edited by Richard Boyd and Tak-Wing Ngo. Every time I read just a sentence, I have to look many words up in my dictionary.
2) As for searching an online article, I think it is very useful because if I have whole article in online such as a pdf file, I can read it anytime. In addition, it is possible to specify the time it was written, so I can read the latest academic journals.
To tell the truth, I prefer reading novels or books about world history to reading books about my subject, Economics. So I don’t want to use reading list and read books or academic journals about international economy as much as possible.
What an early bird you are, Tamami! Unfortunately, the Library is always noisy and crowded during the exam period. So I think it's a good idea to go there in early hours when it is nice and quiet.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you found the session on Library facilities useful. Also, to be able to note the year of publication is one of the skills required for your academic study.
Have you tried reading a whole paragraph first without stopping to look up new words in the dictionary? In most cases, the meaning of the new words is explained / illustrated / implied in the same sentence or in the next sentence(s). Words like 'and', 'or', 'for example' and/or 'that is' should give you the clue.
I really enjoy reading your blog posts, Tamami. You're clearly putting care and effort into your writing.
ReplyDeleteIs Tsuda college a private or public university? I don't think I completely understand the Japanese university system, because it's quite different to ours in the UK. My students at Yokohama City University seemed to think that all public universities had limited resources, but maybe they had nothing to compare their own experiences with.
Sandra, Thank you for your advice. The information about explained / illustrated / implied seems very helpful. I would like to read my books like extensive reading.
ReplyDeleteMark, Thank you for you comment. I'm very surprised that you taught at Yokohama City University! It is one of the very popular Universities in Japan. Actually, Tsuda college is a private college and it is a women college!