臺師大圖書館讀書會: Spring 2024 Groups

Hello everyone, and welcome to the NTNU Library English Reading Group! I'm Sonya Fan, your workshop leader and a full-time teacher at the Center for Academic Literacy. Today, we'll be diving into the world of critical reasoning with our class, "Critical Reasoning for Beginners."

Do you ever find yourself wondering if you can reason clearly? Are you confident in your ability to persuade others to see your point of view? Do you often wish you had the skills to confidently evaluate arguments you encounter in newspapers, on television, or in conversations at the pub?

Throughout this six-part course, we'll explore the intricacies of arguments: how to spot them, how to assess their validity, and most importantly, how to distinguish between good and bad arguments. These skills are invaluable for anyone who cares about the truth of their beliefs and the strength of their arguments.

I'm excited to embark on this journey with all of you, and I look forward to meeting you in our upcoming sessions!

Whenever I meet new people here in Taiwan, obviously being a 外國人, I am asked these questions: Why Taiwan? Taiwan is such a small country, why didn’t you go to America? Are you sure you didn’t want to go to China?

When it comes to university, some people would ask me: Why did you choose 師大 over 台大?

Every person has their own goal and their own path. In Spanish, we say: “cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato” “everyone knows where the shoes is tight” [everyone knows their own weakness]. This is to sum up that we cannot live on others’ expectations.

This is very often because of a lack of communication skills and knowledge of the world, based on stereotypes that we were told and that sometimes are not the truth.

In my club, I want to get people to open their minds and hearts in order to speak up for their true selves.

I’m a linguist and language teacher. Majored in Spanish Department, and International Relations. MA candidate in Linguistics in the English Department in 師大. I have almost ten years of experience teaching English and Spanish, as well as literature. I’m willing to get people comfortable speaking a foreign language and reach their goals from my own experience as a student.

Are you curious about European culture? Interested in travelling there some day for vacation, or perhaps for your studies or work? Do you like stories? Then this is the group for you!

In this group, we will talk about stories from Europe (ranging from the Viking myths of Scandinavia to the fairytales collected by The Brothers Grimm), and use them to discover different European cultures.

There are around 50 countries in Europe, so it’s safe to say we won’t be able to cover every country in just 5 sessions. Instead, we will focus on whichever countries the members want to talk about in particular. For the first session, we will talk about stories from the United Kingdom (i.e. Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland), which has, in the past, been a favourite of group members. But after that, members will be invited to suggest countries they’d like to learn more about through stories!

We will have a reading each session, discussing at least one story from a particular European country. Members won’t be expected to read everything beforehand— but do expect to discuss the article in question during the session.

Logistical details, such as time and place of the sessions, can be discussed and modified as we go along :)

Is a painting of a black square "art"? How about a banana taped to the wall? Can anything be art, if we say it is?

Those are some questions that might be asked in my reading group: Visual Arts. Even if you aren't a drawer or painter, you can still learn a lot just by joining this group, where we'll talk and think about different art pieces.

We will have discussions around shocking art pieces, such as the "Black Square" - a simple looking painting that's worth millions of dollars (some say a child could've made it). We'll also look at some artworks important to history. We won't only talk about traditional art, such as paintings and sculptures, but we'll also talk about animation, film, and graffiti.

I want to make part of the class flexible and target your interests. If the majority of the group, for example, is really interested in Studio Ghibli animation, then we can spend more time discussing it.

Come share your favorite artists, comics, art styles, and controversial opinions on art. Whether you’re new or familiar to the world of visual arts, I’m sure we can all learn something from each other!

Have you ever thought about how we actually define and perceive beauty? Why is one picture better than another? Or one color matches better with another? Where do the aesthetics come from? And do the aesthetics differ between people, culture and time period?

Taking photos and #aesthetics seem to be a huge trend these days but the term aesthetics definitely exist in more places than you can imagine. It can of course be a style of photoshoot, a fashion style. It originates from the serious arts, but now it is a concept could be applied almost anywhere. There is even a philosophical concept named Aesthetics of the Everyday.

Do you have any preference towards a certain type of aesthetics? Or even your own aesthetics? Can’t wait to hear more sharing from you!

Welcome to my reading group focused on exploring emotions through lyrics and poetry! In this space, we embark on a journey through human expression, delving into the intricate feelings as captured by words set to song lyrics and poetry. From the tender melodies of love to the rhythms of despair, we seek to unravel different emotions that resonate within us all. Through discussions, this group aim to cultivate a deeper understanding of our emotional in the lines of our chosen texts and songs. Whether it's the raw honesty of a poet's confession or the evocative imagery of a songwriter's ballad, each piece serves as a gateway to explore the depths of our own emotional landscapes. Also, you will learn how to appreciate poetry and even create one of your own. Together, let us traverse the boundless realm of human sentiment, finding solace, inspiration, and connection in the power of lyrics and poetry to articulate the feeling from our heart.

This is a reading club for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This well-loved old English romance novel contrasts with the many social-media hyped celebrity romances in being conservative and traditional. For book lovers who have read this novel before, or watched the screenplay, this reading group will offer the opportunity to share thoughts on reading with other group members, as well as any parallels that might be happening in real life.

Through this reading club, members will have the opportunity to practice English conversation and express their views and opinions, and share their own stories with other like-minded students in English. This group will also perform a skit at the final English party drawing from a selection of plots in the novel.

This is a reading club for those who are into classic English novels, old romance stories, and who would like to participate in an English skit memorizing lines from the novel. For difficult language, such as vocabulary and sentence structures, the group also provides a means for members to share their resources and ways of understanding such text.

Are you passionate about literature and eager to engage in thought-provoking discussions? Look no further! I am thrilled to invite you to my English Reading Group, where we will be delving into some of the most iconic American short stories of all time.

In this group, we are not just reading stories but embarking on an exciting journey of literary exploration. My goal is to provide you with an introductory-level literary analysis experience, inviting you to read critically, think clearly, and enhance your English skills along the way.

Throughout our sessions, we will explore these captivating tales in detail, uncovering the layers of meaning within and delving into the rich themes they explore. We will explore these following stories (selected readings are not final, I am open to your suggestion and preferences):

"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

"A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor

"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

"Barn Burning" by William Faulkner

"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

We will approach these discussions with open minds and a spirit of inquiry. Through close reading, critical analysis, and friendly discourse, we will explore themes such as the complexities of human nature, the struggle between tradition and change, the consequences of societal norms, and the search for identity and meaning in a chaotic world. By joining the reading group, you will not only deepen your understanding of literature but also gain valuable insights into the human condition. It is an opportunity to connect with fellow book lovers, expand your literary horizons, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of American storytelling.

So, if you are ready to embark on an adventure through these timeless classics and improve your English skills along the way, I would love to have you join me!

The English Learning Group focuses on helping the students become knowledgeable and acquire business skills on how to start a business using the English language. It will expose students to some business terms and activities that are currently happening when starting a business. My learning group will give the students some tips, ideas, and practical tips on how to successfully start a small but sustaining business. In order to sustain a business, it requires good communication with all the stakeholders or people behind it, such as future customers, staff, suppliers, and retailers. Knowing the English language will be a bridge for the students to be able to connect and be confident with what is happening in any type of business. The leader will guide, mentor, and coach the students on how to read and understand some business terminologies that are very common for some business owners. This will also be an avenue where their sales skills will be developed with the use of the English language so that they will be more competitive among the rest. This group will be the avenue for students to have openness and will be able to feel support from other group members. The title of the reading group is Business Made Easy because I will make the understanding of getting their own business as easy as I can and as simple as one is expecting. This will show them the practical ways to do business and expose some business tricks and strategies that they won't find elsewhere. At the end of all the sessions, surely the students will have something that they can bring and be proud of.