Until Next Time

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Congratulations to those of you who are moving to LINC 8 classes in April. Well done!! I hope you continue to have a useful and rewarding experience in VCC's LINC department.

It's been a real pleasure teaching all of you, and I've learned a lot from you! Thank you.

Here's the link to the documentary "Human," half of which we watched today in class.

Best wishes to all of you in your future endeavors!

With warmth,
Doug

Age gaps in romance

Hello LINC 7 Students!

Today we discussed the age gap in relationships through the scenario in "Love Birds Loose in LINC."

Here's the link to an article (and video) on the best age gap between men and women.

A survey of 2000 found that people still think a man should be older --about  four years older than the woman!

What do you think?!?

Using the Subjunctive

Hi Everyone,

Today, we touched on using the Subjunctive mood, which is a special form in English -- but not a verb tense!

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions, including verbs like recommend, require, propose, suggest, request, and insist.

The form is      S +  Subjunctive Verb + that + S2 + V2...
For example:   I insist that you come to my party.
                      Sam suggested that Jane wear a black dress to the party.
                      Margaret proposed that she send out the invitations for the party.

Here's a useful link with some exercises that you can do online.




Also, please watch this video on interviewing skills and take notes on the key points.

What are 5 important things that Katie recommends when you are interviewing someone?

Mission Statements

Hi Everyone,

Today, we touched on mission statements in class.  What is a company's mission statement?

A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company, organization or person, its reason for existing. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making.

For example, here's the VCC mission statement:

"Vancouver Community College serves a diverse urban community by providing excellent programs and services that prepare learners for ongoing education, direct entry into employment, career advancement, and greater participation in the community."

Here's the mission statement of the VCC Learning Centre (in the library):

"The Vancouver Community College Learning Centre is committed to supporting students in becoming strong, independent learners in a positive, respectful environment. Our professional tutors provide VCC students with individualized assistance and comprehensive, quality resources. The Learning Centre team helps students develop the skills and strategies they need to achieve their learning goals in their current VCC coursework."

Here's the current Apple mission statement:

"Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad."

This is radically different from Steve Jobs' original ideals, which are summed up in his mission statement: "To make a contribution to the world by making tools for the mind that advance humankind." This reflects Jobs' ethos and statements from his family members after his death – that what satisfied him most was watching kids use Apple products in the classroom.

Here's the Starbucks mission statement:

"Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time."

Here's the McDonald's mission statement:

“McDonald's brand mission is to be our customers' favorite place and way to eat and drink. Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience – People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion."

What's your personal "mission statement" in life?!

Here's the link to the Food Network promo for the series about the BC town of Mission going on the 100 Mile Diet.

Happy Easter Weekend! 
 

Homework for Wednesday

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Your homework is to go the the PDF of "Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide".

Scan the document and answer the questions on the handout that I gave you in class. Bring the completed handout to class on Wednesday.

Tomorrow is a short class: 8:50 - 10:30 am only.

Homework for Monday

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Here's the link to a five minute video you can watch in order to complete the homework sheet

Various British speakers describe their experiences with crime, the law, and legal/social issues of concern.

Watch the video and write notes on the main details. You don't need to write in full sentences.

Practise taking good notes!

Average Life Spans in Canada

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Today we were discussing population trends. Here's the link to a CBC article on average life spans in Canada.

According the data, the average life expectancy for males born in 2012 is 80 and for females it's 84. Yes, people in Canada are clearly living longer every year!

I personally know a lady who is 102. Her name is Margaret and she is sharp as a tack mentally! My friend Franka made a short video about Margaret, who is planning to her home to a Syrian family this year!!

Bee Crisis or No Crisis?

Hi Everyone,

We were discussing the issue of "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD) in class today.

Here a link to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website, which says "The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the USDA's internal research agency, is leading several efforts into possible CCD causes and striving to enhance overall honey bee health."

Here's the link to a Globe and Mail article that says there is no bee crisis in Canada!

Columnist Margaret Wente writes: "This year the environmental lobby scored a major victory by persuading the Ontario government to sharply restrict the use of a class of insecticide known as neonics, which have been widely blamed for the recent bee collapse."

Who should we believe?!?

Healthy food in schools!

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Here's a link to an article and video on British chef Jamie Oliver. It describes how leaders in the food industry really don't like what Jamie has to say!

Jamie produced a documentary called "Sugar Rush," showing how teenagers and children are consuming more sugar than is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The single largest source of sugar is sugary, sweetened drinks -- like Coke and Pepsi! 

The potential danger is childhood diabetes. And a lifetime of health concerns!

Editorials

Hi Everyone,

Here's an editorial from The Vancouver Sun about the new laws on "doctor-assisted suicide" or euthanasia. This editorial gives the newspaper's opinion about this controversial topic.

I have changed some wording in order to make this easier to read for LINC 7 students:

Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould was right to be cautious over last week’s report from the parliamentary committee studying physician-assisted suicide. The group offers the broadest possible interpretation of when assisted dying should be legally permitted, while offering little guidance on how to confront some of the tougher dilemmas involved. Not surprisingly, on one of the deepest moral questions of our time, the committee of MPs and senators did not reach complete agreement. But that didn’t stop the majority from providing 21 recommendations.

As hoped, it laid out safeguards to ensure that any person who requests assisted death gives their clear consent. This will work for mentally competent adults. But there is the question of under-18s (minors). The committee heard that “suffering is suffering regardless of age.” It asked whether a “mature minor" (someone younger than 18 but mature in attitude and behavior) could make a life-ending decision about herself. It then recommended a two-stage legislative process in which only adults could consent to their own deaths, but there would be more study of the “moral, medical and legal issues” around minors.

The fact that we are discussing non-adults at all so early in the new world of assisted death is worrisome.

By also including the mentally ill among those who may request an assisted death, the committee stumbles further into an unclear moral area.

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