Happy Holidays!!

This week at Conversational English Hour! Holiday Party!
When: Thursday, December 9th from 6pm-9ish.
Where: The CCE (under Gordon Commons)

Join GUTS and DSQUAD as we meet for the last time this semester! We’ll be building gingerbread houses (check out this website: http://ultimategingerbread.com/), and watching the movie, Elf, at about 7:30pm! If you’ve never heard of this movie, please check out the trailer at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtmsqyOkhc

GUTS Study Day!
When: Thursday, December 16th from noon-12am!
Where: The Drop-In center on the first floor of College Library!
Have last minute questions you’d like answered? Need some last minute study skills advice? Then stop by the College library and get your questions answered by our volunteer tutors!!

Tutor Appreciation Day!
When: Wednesday, December 15th from 3-6pm.
Where: The Multipurpose Room located on the 3rd floor of the SAC!
Here at GUTS, we’d like to thank you for all of your hard work this semester! So please stop by for a bit and enjoy some yummy snacks and pick up your gift!! Great job everyone and we hope to see all of you next semester!!

Winter is here!

The cold has finally caught up to us, but don't let that keep you from joining our fun events!

This week at CE Hour: Come join us for our special guests: LGBTQ Diversity Squad and the LGBTQ Campus Center!
One of their goals is to educate the campus about issues of gender identity and sexual orientation. So, we'll open up the hour for some conversation about the topics and symbols surrounding LGBTQ in order to promote this goal! This will also be a great chance to ask any questions you may have involving this topic! So come join us for some great discussion and enjoy some free pasta!

Activity idea of the week: Ice skating at the Shell!

Recreational skating hours:
Monday and Wednesday: 6:15-7:15p
Saturday: 1:45-3:00pm, 7:00-8:30pm
Sunday: 1:45-3:15pm

For UW students, it only costs $5 to go ice skating!! For other prices and times, check out their website at: http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/shell/icerink.htm

Stay warm!
Kristan, Tong, Amy, and Zach

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello All!

First off, I hope that everyone has awesome plans for the break!! Make sure to eat lots of turkey and stuffing!

Next, NO CE HOUR THIS WEEK!

Idiom of the week: “To Make One’s Mouth Water”
Meaning: the smell or the sight of food makes your mouth water; it makes you want to eat it.
Example sentence: “That turkey is making my mouth water, it looks so delicious!”

Tutor Appreciation Day: Recommend Your Tutor!
If you have a tutor who was awesome and helped you out a lot this semester, please email us and let us know! We’re looking for the top tutors for our Tutor Appreciation Day and we need your help to find those top tutors!

Have a great break!
Kristan, Amy, Tong, and Zach

CE This Week!

Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay now that that's out of my system, here's what's going on this week!

Event of the week: Dance Party
Saturday, November 20th starting at 9:30pm in the Great Hall, Memorial Union
Held by the Lao and Cambodian Student Association!

It’s free, fun, and a great break from studying! Come hang out with your friends and dance all of your stresses away!
Check it out at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=165509770149026&index=1

Thanksgiving CE Hour!
Thursday, November 18th from 6-8pm.

We’ll be exploring transformations and adaptations that people have had to make in response to moving to Madison! Also, because Thanksgiving is one of the few religious holidays we’d like to explore what roles religion might play in one’s life and how a holiday like Thanksgiving differs from one’s like Christmas or Easter!

Place of the week: Chazen Art Museum
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday 9 am - 5 pm, Saturday – Sunday 11 am - 5 pm

Take a break from studying and check out their current: Andy Warhol Photographic Studies exhibition with your CE partner!

Have a great week!!
Kristan, Zach, Amy, and Tong

What is a fish with no eyes called?

A fsh! Haha.

This week at CE Hour:
BRIDGE PROM!
Thursday, November 11th from 7-9pm.

If you want your pictures taken, come to the CCE from 6:30-7pm!
Come join us for a fun night of dancing, hanging with friends, and great party music! There will also be a free ballroom dancing lesson for those of us who have two left feet! So dress up, bring some friends and come learn what PROM is all about!!

Idiom of the week: To have two left feet.
Means: To be very awkward or clumsy with one's feet. (Often refers to awkwardness at dancing.)
Example sentence: “I’ll never get the hang of this dance because I have two left feet!”

Place of the Week!

Need a new place to meet? We recommend Dobra Tea! They offer a variety of fun teas, and nice social environment! It’s the perfect place to chat with your partner!

Finally, please send us any pictures that we can include in our Tutor Appreciation Slide show, and don’t forget to refer your friends to our program for the chance to be entered into our raffle!

Hope to see you at the dance Thursday!
Zach, Amy, Kristan, and Tong

Tutor tips and Tutor Appreciation Day!

We are looking for pictures for Tutor Appreciation Day! So if you have any great photos or fun photos with your CE partner, please send them our way then so we can put them in a slide show!! Let's all thank our tutors for their hard work and dedication!!

This week's event idea:

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the movie "Inception" is playing at the Memorial Union! So if you haven't seen it yet, take advantage of this opportunity to see a great movie! Then after watching it, try watching the South Park version of this movie for a great laugh!

Next week: Bridge Prom! November 11th from 6-9pm.

Dress up, come down and have some fun at the prom!! There will be performances throughout the night, free food, and lots of dancing and fun!! So come with someone special or some friends and have an unforgettable time!

Hope to see you there!

Kristan, Amy, Tong, and Zach

CE Halloween Party!
Thursday, October 28th from 6-whenever

Join us for our annual Halloween party this year! We’ll be having a costume contest for those interested in participating, fun food, games, and at 7:30pm we’ll be watching the movie Hocus Pocus! Bring your friends, take a break from studying, and come have some fun!

Tutor Tips
Halloween is just around the corner, and so there are lots of fun activities going on around campus that you could do with your tutee! Hoofer’s is holding a haunted house at Memorial Union tomorrow, CE has a Halloween party on Thursday, and Freak Fest is on Saturday! Another great activity would be watching scary movies!!! Or if you’re like me and scare easily, how about watching something like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Ghostbusters?”

Tutor Appreciation Day!
We are looking for pictures to put in our slide show! So if you have any great photos of you and your tutee/tutor please send them our way!

Finally…
CE is short of tutors, so if you’d like to help out another student please let us know!

Thanks for all of your hard work!

Kristan, Tong, Zach, and Amy

Need help with study skills? Know lots of people?

The GUTS study skills department is looking to do a couple more workshops this semester. If you have a student org, a study group, or just a few friends that could all use help with the way you study, we can help!

We ask that you have at least 15 confirmed attendees but otherwise, we do our best to accommodate you. We can address time management, stress, organization, study methods, study groups, note taking and reading strategies, or any other ideas that you can come up with.

The format of our workshops is also flexible. Some groups prefer small group discussions, while others prefer a dynamic, interactive lecture. We can do both or any kind of combination. We have worked with groups from 15 people to 100 people and can find a style that fits your group.

Through our workshops you can help a large number of people at once, or just introduce them to services that GUTS study skills can provide. So get your friends together, head over to our website and register. Hope to hear from you soon.

CE this week!

CE this week!
First off, we’d like to thank everyone for their hard work so far!! The CE program is still looking for tutors though, so encourage your friends to become a CE tutor!

CE Hour this week!
Thursday, October 21st from 6-8pm
Join us this week for some fun conversation and board games! Come meet some international students and enjoy some puppy chow!

And what you’ve all been waiting for….TUTOR TIPS of the week!
Need a good activity idea this week? How about carving pumpkins with your tutee! You can easily pick out some pumpkins at the farmer’s market and then after carving them, you can bake the pumpkin seeds for a yummy treat!
Next, if you are having any problems with your tutee or need any assistance feel free to email us or stop by the office! We are always available to answer questions and/or give advice!

Next week!
Halloween Party!
Thursday, October 28th from 6-8pm at the CCE!
Come enjoy some snacks, fun, and at 7:30p watch a Halloween movie!
Think you’ve got a cool costume? Then wear it to the party and participate in our costume contest to win cool prizes!

Thanks!
The CE staff

CE Happenings.

CE This Week!

CE Hour w/ALPS:

Thursday, October 14th from 6-8pm

This week ALPS will be coming to CE Hour for some fun group-building activities! So bring your friends and join us for a night of fun!

Tutor Tip of the week:

American football can be an elusive topic for many International students. So why not try explaining the rules and watch a game together? Then they'll be able to understand the culture surrounding football!

Tutor Appreciation Day!

We are looking for pictures for our slide show! If you have any fun pictures of you and your tutee please send them our way! We'd love to incorporate them into our slide show!

Next week: Thursday, October 21st join us for our special guests: China's Champions at CE Hour!

Attention International Students!! Don't forget about CE's English Lesson! If you are having problems with or want to learn idioms or slang, then join one of our 4 free lessons! They are all led by great instructors and you're guaranteed to have a blast! You can sign up at the GUTS office!

Here come midterms!

The first round of midterms is here. They seem to be popping up all over the place. People are stressed, meetings are missed and extra-curriculars are taking a back seat. Just remember, don't let tests take over everything in your life. Have a plan early on and try to fit in studying around whatever else you need to do. Some things may have to fall by the wayside, but make a conscious decision about what your priorities are this week.

The week after midterms tend to be our busiest here in the GUTS office. If you sign up for a tutor or a study skills appointment next week, expect a little bit of a wait. We will do our best to match you as quickly as possible. Thanks for the patience.

Good luck this week, don't let tests get you down, and hang on it will be over soon.

Fall is finally here!

Not only are we already in the third week of school, but the weather has actually started to be a little chilly. ALL of GUTS's programs are up and running and ready to serve you. Drop-In centers opened last week, over one hundred people have been matched with academic tutors, 120 international students have been matched with English tutors, and our study skills advisers have started their individual meetings.

Don't wait until you fall behind to get a tutor, start early, meet often and be successful this semester! If you need a volunteer opportunity, we're looking for tutors in Psych, Spanish, French, Econ, Bio, Math and Chem. We also need native speakers of Korean, Japanese, German and French for our Foreign Language Learners program. Come help out, have some fun and be there for your fellow students.

Good luck to all this semester. Whether you tutor, get tutored, volunteer or have ever used our services before, we hope we get the chance to hang out with you sometime this semester.

The Best Things I did in Madison!

I promise I'm not stealing Abby's idea...I'm only inspired by it ;)
Well it's been a good five years but I am over-due to graduate and move on with my life. I can't wait to end my undergraduate career and move to Taiwan! The only homework I want to do for the next year or two is Chinese language homework!

Anyways, as a way of organizing and collecting the thoughts in my head my last blog entry will be about the best things I did in Madison (according to me)!

5) Took interesting classes - I don't know if my classes were easier than my contemporaries or not, but I never really felt burdened with my workload the past five years. I don't think they were easier but rather I just really loved them. I've had some amazing professors and some of the topics I am very passionate about. I may forget a lot of what I've learned but nonetheless I loved learning it all in the process. I think I could count the number of times I intentionally skipped class in the past five years with just one hand!

4) Learned to sail - My grandpa could build his own sailboats, so I think I should at least be able to sail them! I've spent two summers out sailin' Lake Mendota and even though it cost me a pair of sunglasses and a few bruises (and almost a concussion!) it was one of my favorite campus pastimes. There's something exhilarating about being out in the middle of the lake, just you, the boat, and the elements. It was freedom! I hope I can buy my own sailboat in the future...

3) Became a Conversational English Tutor - Becoming a tutor for CE gave me new friends, a job, teaching experience, and even taught me about my own language. I still keep in touch with three of my tutees and hopefully I'll be able to keep in touch with the GUTS staff as well!

2) Stayed in touch with old friends, made new ones - I think there's a sort of tension when you graduate high school between your high school friends and the desire to make new friends in college. Some people go to the extreme and either struggle to make new friends or completely dump their old friends for the sake of new ones. Looking back I'm happy to say I took a middle road. Well, almost. Most of my best friends are still from my high school, but many of them were not best friends back then--they only became so in the past five years. Despite that my lifestyle and their lifestyles have diverged into separate directions, we haven't lose our original connection. But I've also made many new friends, many of whom I am very close to. I just don't believe it is proper to tear out the sutures of perfectly good stitching! I've always favored a few close friends over a plethora of casual friends anyways, but I've keep an open mind to making new friends all five years as well.

1) Learned who I am - If today I was still the lame boring loser I was back in high school, the University of Madison would have been pointless for me, regardless of the value of the actual education. My philosophy has always been to continuously fight to improve myself. Therefore I spent the past five years experimenting with who I am, without compromising what I believed in. I tried to improve some of my skills (failures: I still suck at soccer and at playing the harmonica) and fine-tuned my morals while addressing my vices. I was a tinkerer, if you will. And it was worth every second...I am about 200% more optimistic than I was back in my Freshman year. Huzzah.

Okay now someone please show me the door. I gotta bust lose from this place!

...But I still love ya Madtown!

-Michael

My top ten favorite places in Madison!

Over the past four years Madison has earned a special place in my heart. These are my top ten favorite places and every one should visit them in their time here.

10. The Chocolate Shoppe
9. Monona Terrace
8. The view of Madison driving on John Nolen
7. Lakeshore path
6. The UW Arboretum in any season
5. Student section of Hockey games
4. Farmer's Market on Saturdays
3. The Union Terrace
2. The McBurney Office
1. The GUTS Office!!



Love,
Abby

The Wheels on the Bus.

A music video with a kids song and funny photos. Hank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYcw3n_PdGY&feature=youtube_gdata

Need a Study Break?

As we all know, the end of the semester often signifies long hours spent in the classroom, in the library, or in professors' office hours. With summer only a few weeks away, these final preparations can be especially challenging. To keep things in perspective, a change of scenery never hurts. Here are five of my favorite spots on campus to go "just to get away".

1. Chazen Museum of Art
-Spend ten minutes or 2 hours- easily!

2. Allen Centennial Gardens
-Located just off of Observatory Drive, the gardens provide 2.5 acres of natural beauty.

3. The 19th Floor of Van Hise
-The top floor of the 241 ft. tall Van Hise allows observers to see for miles.

4. Howard Temin Lakeshore Path
-Perfect for running, walking, biking, and just relaxing.

5. Bascom Hill
-Few things capture spring at the UW better than strolling barefoot on Bascom Hill.




Enjoy!
-Emily

Spring!?!?!

This is always such a difficult time for me. I have really terrible seasonal allergies, so despite the beautiful weather, I have always held a certain resentment towards this time of year. And as glad as I am that it is nearing the end of the semester, this part is always the hardest, precisely because it is getting so near the end. It's just such a conlict-laden time of year.

In light of this, the only thing I have to say is that, hopefully, its worth the struggle every time. Soon enough you will be able to breath again and you won't have to go to class anymore. But on the other hand, look at how much you've learned this semester, even in this last few difficult weeks. Remember that you are here for something and it's in your best interest to get something out of your time here. So take advantage of the money you've spent and the time you've put in and suck it up. This terrible season is almost over!

-M

My Favorite Foreign Films

Today (which should have been last week) I'm going to blog about my favorite foreign films, limiting them to one per country.

The United Kingdom: Hot Fuzz
This is a British action comedy that parodies or spoofs many cop movies from the ages (inculding Bad Boys I & II, Point Break, etc.). The film's creators, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost also made another great movie, Shaun of the Dead, which spoofs zombie movies. While filled with a distincly British sense of humor, the movie also targets movie nerds everywhere, of whom I count myself amongst.

France: Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain )
This Romantic Comedy starring the extremly gorgeous Audrey Tautou is one of the few Romantic Comedies that I enjoyed. About a young girl who lives alone but stumbles upon love during one of her quirky missions, the movie's characters are all so quirky and strange that the movie is down right hilarious. Albeit a little fantastical and a little TOO loved by the Indie scene, it's still one of the cutest movies I've ever seen.

Japan: Departures (おくりびと, Okuribito)
This Japanese movie tells the story of a cellist in a Tokyo orchestra who loses his job and moves to a smaller Japanese city. Here he gets a job working at a morgue (which is a taboo in traditional Japanese society). The movie mixes serious story telling with humor very well, and the soundtrack is one of the best in a movie that I've heard in a long time--but then again I am a sucker for the cello.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joepLZtiFyM&feature=related

China: Hero (英雄, Yīngxióng)
This martial arts movie (the genre is known more specifically as wuxia) not only has some awesome fight scenes with great choreography, but also has amazing cinematography. The set is extremely colorful, and the colors change based on who is telling the narrative (the movie is split between different people telling different versions of the same story). The movie may have some subtle political undertones that I disagree with, but it's still a fun movie.

South Korea: Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (태극기 휘날리며)
A movie about the Korean War will automatically catch my attention. Known as the "Forgotten War", there are radically few movies about it in the US. Because of my interest in the war and the modern histories of the US, Korea, and China, I sought out this movie and watched it. It's basically South Korea's "Saving Private Ryan"...only even bloodier. It's gory--really gory, but it is not biased as one may expect. The movie shows the horrors done by both sides during the war. Not for the faint of heart and a little cliche but definitely good for those who like novel war films.

-Michael

Some Jokes.

"Waiter!"
"Yes, sir."
"What's this?"
"It's bean soup, sir."
"No matter what it's been. What is it now?"

---
"Do you love me, dear?"
"Dearly, sweetheart."
"Would you die for me?"
"No, my pet. Mine is an undying love."

---
"My wife kisses me evenings when I get home."
"Affection?"
"No; investigation."

---
"Did any of your family ever make a brilliant marriage?"
"Only my wife."

---
"How is your little brother, Johnny?"
"Sick abed. He hurt himself."
"That's too bad. How did he do it?"
"We were playing who could lean furthest out of the window, and he won."

---
A pretty little girl of seven entered a store in a small town and said:
"I want some cloth to make my dolly a dress."

The merchant selected a remnant and handed the child the package.

"How much is it?" she asked.
"Just one kiss," was the reply.
"All right," said the child, as she turned to go.
"Grandma said to tell you she would pay you when she came in tomorrow."

---
Judge--"It seems to me that I have seen you before."
Prisoner--"You have, your Honor; I gave your daughter singing lessons."
Judge--"Thirty years."

---
From 10,000 Jokes, Toasts and Stories

Make a Study and Learning Skills appointment before FINALS!

Welcome back from Spring Break. It is hard to believe it...but...Finals are just around the corner, so NOW is a great time to brush up on your study skills. Make a study and learning skills appointment to create a study schedule for your final exams before it is too late. We are available for appointments Monday-Thursday afternoons as well as Tuesday and Thursday mornings. You can call the McBurney front desk at 608-263-2741 to make your appointment. Or feel free to email us with any questions (guts-slss@rso.wisc.edu). We will look forward to meeting with you!

Abby and Emily
Study and Learning Skills Specialist

Life Lesson #243

You know what's really funny? Laughter is a natural medicine that can reduce stress, fight infection, and reduce pain. It can also help you stay healthy in multiple other ways and make life more enjoyable. So why have I labeled this post "Life Lesson #243"? Well I'll tell you. We live in a culture that values hard work, idealizes stress, and emphasizes negativity. Advice that should come before all else, is brushed off and devalued. I'm going to change that right now: Laugh, joke around, don't take everything so seriously.

I know life can be tough at times. I also know that "stress" is nearly synonymous with "college". But guess what, before you know it, the books, exams, papers, and drama will come to an end. Stop worrying about the little things. When you're feeling down, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Watch a funny video clip, listen to some stand up comedy, or simply do something you love to do! Laughter releases anger, stress, guilt, and anxiety...it boosts the immune system and stimulates endorphins that cause positive brain chemistry.

For the rest of this semester, keep working hard, but let go of the little things that bring you down. Smile at strangers, don't be afraid to laugh. And most of all, celebrate the joy in life!

All good things,
Kasandra Brown
Study Skills Coordinator

Drop-In Update

Hey Students,

I hope everyone had an awesome Spring Break and you were able to forget that there even was a school to come back to. But now that were back don't let things pile up, come get help at your closest Drop-In center. All the tutors are back and rested and ready to help. So feel free to stop by the SAC or College Library and get help in all the most common subjects.

your friendly neighborhood Drop-In coordinator,
Lee

Read Before: SPRING BREAK 2010

Well well.. college students. It's break time yet again.. Spring Break time.
I would like to offer some advice to ease into your vacation.

If you are headed out to a far away hotel hittin' up with Carson Daly and your new peeka-boo swimsuit- Remember this there are a lot of creeps crawlin' in dark corners so be cautious. Whatever you do don't open the door to this guy NO MATTER WHAT!



OR

Perhaps you are traveling to go sight seeing. In that case expect the unexpected. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled at all times! You never know what you will see! Take me for example, the following photograph I took on my last vacation! You think I was expecting THIS.....




OR

Maybe during spring break you will be with the family. Remember to love each other like my favorite on camera family...



OR

Perhaps you are going to stay home and do nothing. Here is my advice for you then. Do not get bored and start doing crazy things. No one thinks a cat dressed up in a clown suit is funny! Trust me I know from personal experience- you could be reported for animal cruelty!





Whatever you are doing this break be sure to rest and rejuvenate so you can hit the ground running when school starts again.

Try and be cool!

Kelly- your favorite office manager!

Food for Thought

There are few situations to be in as a university scholar that are worse than completely blanking on a midterm that is worth a large percentage of a final grade. There are many factors that contribute to "going blank", but it is likely that all of us have experienced the feeling at one point or another. How can this situation be avoided? Some tend to think some assistance can be found in your fridge.

An article published on selfgrowth.com has highlighted the categories of the best foods to improve memory. The following all have a direct impact on brain function:

BUILD:
-Healthy Omega-3 fats found in eggs, walnuts, salmon, and soybeans.

PROTECT:
-Antioxidants in foods such as blueberries, green tea, tomatoes, broccoli, soy, and carrots.

ENERGIZE:
-Neurotransmitter building foods like seafood, soy, and eggs.

REGULATE:
-Fiber controls sugar absorbtion and is found in foods such as raisins, apricots, peas, broccoli, lima beans, seeds, apples, avocados, brown rice, and whole grains.

HYDRATE:
-The brain is 80% water. 3-4 liters per day is recommended!

To discuss this and other creative ways to prepare for exams, schedule an study skills appointment at the GUTS office! As for me, I'm going to go make a salmon raisin blueberry lima bean sandwich. If anyone has any better recipes, let me know.

Emily

Wanna take a breather?

Hey,

I was informed of these excellent free sites for music and shows:

1) Pandora:

Pandora: Internet Radio

Recommendation: Jim Crose

2) Hulu:

Hulu: Watch your favorites Anytime

Recommendation: Saturday Night Live

Check them out in your "free" time!! ^_^

Hank

Adventures in Study Skills

The weather has been getting warmer, the days getting longer and my bike getting anxious. Spring break is coming, trees are budding and yes, my homework is no longer getting done. It is a simple and true fact that the nicer the weather gets, the more time we want to spend outside. I feel like it's my duty as a study skills coordinator to instruct all of you to fight the urge to blow off your work. I should be encouraging you to set goals and manage your time and so forth. Honestly though, I would feel guilty. I know that we have decided to be here, we're paying money to be here so school is what we should focus on. But what are we missing while we buckle down?

I'm missing bike rides around the lake. I'm missing lazy afternoons on the deck with a cup of tea and book that I haven't been told to read. I'm missing walks at midnight in a quiet part of town. I have been making choices lately to forgo these opportunities for a little enjoyment in hopes of academic success and I don't know how I feel about that.

I doubt that I will really make the choice anytime soon to start ignoring my work and spend more time doing nothing but,crap, it sounds appealing right about now. As much as I want to change direction and encourage all of you to say, "screw this, I'm going to have picnic today" I know that I probably won't and therefor can't really advise you to either. I guess Ill just refer to the cliche and remind us all that we need to strike a balance....blah blah blah... but I don't want a balance, I just want to go for a walk outside. The spring sun is calling my name...

M

Speaking More Better!

Having spent a considerable amount of my time teaching English and learning Chinese, language (and the studying or learning of) is almost always on my mind. I find myself trying to think in Chinese or thinking about my own language in new and challenging ways when asked a good question about English (I’m surprised how often we know so little about our own languages because we rarely stop to think about them).

I would love the opportunity to study Irish (Gaelic), Persian (Farsi), Japanese, and Latin but I doubt I’ll have the chance to even nibble at any of them in my life time. But languages fascinate me--I think they should be pushed harder in the US curriculum. My accomplishments in the field are few and small: a few summers ago I became fluent in Pig Latin... And get this: my twin brother and I spoke our own exclusive language as toddlers before the outside world came in and tore it away from us, forcing us to switch to English. Because of my last name, we often jokingly refer to it as “O’Connish.” Even today, my friends refer to the peculiar way that my twin and I speak English as “O’Connish accents.” We have a tendency to speak very fast and slur our words together, and sometimes even pronounce words in our own unique ways. When we are very comfortable or excited we often switch to this fast-paced English and our friends often complain. Some of the friends we’ve had for a long time even claim to “understand O’Connish.” But I digress. Although the “original” O’Connish has been lost, some names remain: Doogan and Dogan, which were our names for each other; Nahna – my older brother Marty, and Gahk – my oldest brother Erik. I wish more of this “language” could have been recorded!

Anyways I think this blog post is supposed to have some sort of point, something for the reader to take away, so I’ll argue something: the most important thing to practice when learning a language is speaking, speaking, and speaking! What good is mastering the grammar of a language when you lack the confidence or ability to speak it (well it’s good for research and academics I suppose)? I would rather be comfortable speaking a language even if my grammar was subpar than be a master at writing or reading it while being a lackluster speaker. However, speaking a language is also the hardest part—it takes practice, patience, and courage. But as Nike says, swoosh. Oops I mean just do it.

-Michael O’Connor

A blog about blogs

While beginning to type another blog about what exciting new anecdotes I have learning about study skills in the past month, the thought struck me that I know very little about the activity I am doing right now, blogging. So in leui of continuing to divulge my study skills secret I decided to teach you (and myself) some information about blogs. I hear about blogs almost everyday, and I read a recipe blog almost everyday. However, when I google searched "history of blogs" and was taken the Wikipedia paged titled "History of blogging timeline" I might as well have been reading a Portugese newspaper (and my Portugese skills are...well...non existent). Blogging has become such a part of our everyday life, that it is almost assumed that everyone knows what a blog is and how to work them. Well I have had a small amount of practice with GUTS blog (and by a small amount of practice I mean approximately 4 entries), but I am by no means comfortable with my blogging skills. So for any other uneasy blog writers/readers here is a short crash course in the history and the present of blogging.

1. Justin Hall, is considered to be one of the first bloggers. He blogged about happenings in his personal life while a student at Swarthmore College. He began in 1994.

2. The word blog is short for "weblog" which was coined by Jorn Barger in 1997.

3. Technorati is a search engine dedicated to BLOGS. They have an index of over 112.8 million blogs.

3. Technorati shows that the most popular blog today is the Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com). They update their top ten list daily.

4. You can read the "State of the Blogosphere" on Technorati.

5. There are many types of blogs: personal, business, entertainment, news, politics, diaries......

Well I'm a little blogged out, but I'll share more at a later date. Until next time...keep blogging!

Abby

Drop-In Update

Hey there,

Drop-In is up and running smoothly at both College Library and The Student Activity Center, so come on by. The schedule is posted at the centers as well as online at our GUTS website http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/Drop-In%20Schedule%20Page.html In addition to all the most common subjects (Math, Chemistry, Physics, Econ) we now offer Political Science Tutoring from the Political Science Honor Society, just another reason to check the schedule or stop by.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know at:
guts-di@rso.wisc.edu

thanks,

Lee

letter found at guts, mystery ensues

madison, wi - contacts at the guts office told the media today that there were a number of staplers missing. on february 27th, it is rumored, one of guts' smallest employees awoke to a noise and asked the intruder why he is taking the staplers. the intruder was quite clever and made up a story, gave the smallest of employees a glass of water, a pat on the head, and sent her to bed. the staplers were reported stolen on february 28th around 4:30pm. when asked how this will affect the day-to-day activities of guts, officials stated, "the consequences of the dastardly theft of our staplers have yet to be fully realized." thus far there are no leads. however, a letter was found at the crime scene:

Dear GUTS,
A bunch of our staplers work like crap, and I can't Find any tools here. So I took them home to fix. I will bring them back next time I'm in the office. the 2 blue ones are fine.

The authorities are looking for a green, bearded man. If you have any information, please contact guts at guts@rso.wisc.edu.

Monday March First.

I must say, there are not many calendrical events that I like more than when the first of the month is also the beginning of a new week. It feels like I've been presented with a clean slate on which to start fresh and improve myself. This morning, I was drinking my Tahitian Vanilla Hazelnut Tea and thinking about my goals for March. Suddenly I noticed the quote printed on the little piece of paper at the end of my tea bag. It told me to "unite with your own higher self and create a friendship."
The insight of this quote propelled me to consider the relationship I have with myself. I asked, "Self, am I friends with you?" And before you start to think I'm crazy and like to have conversations with my self-I should point out that I am indeed a bit crazy, but then, who isn't? Back to my point, I challenge you to ask your own self this question. Do you treat yourself like you would a friend? Do you encourage yourself in times of sadness, hardship, and/or stress? Do you celebrate your successes and find joy in spending time with yourself?
I found that in general, me and myself are pretty tight. But there are aspects of our friendship that I want to improve. Sometimes I'm too hard on myself, I take my own limitations for granted and don't do enough encouraging. We all have a strong inner spirit, this month, I challenge you to befriend this spirit and love yourself as you do the other people in your life.
With academic stress building around midterms and the countless other engagements you probably have, there will never be a better time to get to know yourself and always remember the advice Ralph Waldo Emerson gives us, "insist upon yourself. Be original."

Have a beautiful month of March, enjoy the coming Springtime weather, and try to strengthen that bond between you and you.

Kasandra Brown
Study Skills Coordinator

Reminder- GUTS Applications for 2010-2011 are due Friday, Feb. 26th!

Just a reminder that applications for any of the GUTS 2010-2011 positions are due this Friday, February 26th!

All positions pay $9.19/hr and require a time commitment of 12-20 hours per week, with the exception of the Webmaster ($13/hr.). This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge, work with a motivated group of individuals, gain leadership experience, assist your UW peers, and build your resume.

For more information please visit:
http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/frontpage_hiringannouncement.htm

To apply:
Review the program job descriptions posted on the site and consider applying for all, some, or one position. Please send the following to guts@rso.wisc.edu:
1) Letter of Application / Cover Letter.
2) Resume: please include the names, titles, and phone numbers of three references.

APPLY TODAY!

Sharing the Fun!

Last week, we had a blast at CE events! To start off, we had a great CE English lesson with our volunteer tutor, Kenny. At the lesson, CE participants read over a news article, learning new terms and expressions introduced in the article. There was also some time for discussion.

On Wednesday, the conversation hour was themed around the Winter Olympics currently happening in Vancouver. Quite a few of us gathered around to have English conversation over some snacks and tea!

After the conversation hour, a few of us walked over to the ISS Taste of India. The presentation was full of facts about India, demonstrations of dance, and some snippets of Indian song. One of our very own CE participants even danced for us! To top it off, we all got to have a free meal! It was delicious- chicken masala, samozas, and a carrot desert. I'm so glad I brought a travel container to campus that day- there was so much food left over I was able to grab some for lunch the next day!

Hope to see some more faces joining us for the fun!
~Amy

The week is ending and another about to begin...

It's that time of the semester again, when many of us are beginning to realize it's already the sixth week (!) of classes and deadlines are right around the corner. I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! Don't they always say, "Time flies when you're having fun?" Although I am enjoying my semester, it surprises me that this entire school year seems to be passing by faster than the 11 fun filled weeks I spent in Laos last summer.

I've been realizing that the reason why time seems to go so fast during the school year is because I am always thinking about which assignments are due when, where will I be over the summer, where will I live next year, and sometimes wondering how I can best prepare for a future career. As students, we are constantly forced to think of what is ahead. But as we push ourselves to get through the week to reach the weekend, we forget to enjoy so many of our days.

This week, I challenge you to live each day for today and not tomorrow. Take some time to slow down, and try to make the journey as important as the destination.

enjoy~
Amy

Just some thoughts.

-Idea

What are the most important study skills in your mind? From a holistic educational perspective, the answers are probably in your body: eat well, sleep on time, and exercise regularly! After all, a hungry tired stressed scholar can hardly focus on his/her studies.

-Website

http://www.origami-club.com/en/

Interested in some hands-on experience with origami? This website is awesome! It has the diagram and animation for each origami. Come try out this lovely site!

-Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK4_ui_aTb0

It's all about the industrialization of agriculture. In a series of video clips, Howard Lyman presents the inside story on why cows are no longer vegetarians these days.

Hank Shengpeng Wu

Spotlight on...The 2010 Winter Olympics

So how about the winter Olympics? Regrettably I must say that I have not been able to devote as much attention to them lately as I’d like…although deciding between phonology homework and the speed skating finals is pretty darn tough. I am a fan of the Olympic Games for the same reason many other people are, international unanimity attained by celebrating the triumphs and lamenting the disappointments some of the world’s finest men and women athletes. In case anyone is interested, here are the current medal standings for the top 5 countries as of 02/17/10:

Germany: 3 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze = 9 Total

United States: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze = 8 Total

France: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze = 7 Total

Canada: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze = 5 Total

Korea: 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze = 4 Total

Now we all like to get excited about figure skating, hockey, snowboarding and downhill skiing, but what about the other 11 events? I’d like to take the time to highlight the top 5 (in my opinion) under-recognized events of the Winter Olympics:

5. Skeleton: To start, a skeleton slider grasps the handles on either side of the sled, runs as fast as possible, then dives head first onto the sled. Sliders lie on their stomachs and steer by shifting their bodies very slightly.

4. Bobsleigh: To start, the racers push off as fast as they can for approximately 50 meters, then jump into the bobsleigh for a seated descent down the track. The driver steers down the track, while, at the end of the run, the brakeman stops the sled.

3. Biathlon: When the athletes ski into the shooting range, they must put down their ski poles and take five shots at a metal target. The hit area size changes depending on whether the athlete is shooting in a prone or standing position. A missed shot means either one minute of added time or skiing a 150-metre penalty loop.

2. Nordic Combined: The jumping portion occurs first followed by a free technique cross-country race. The break between the races can be as little as 35 minutes, or as long as a few hours. The winner of the Nordic combined event is the first athlete across the cross-country finish line.

1. Curling: The game is played on ice, and the two teams take turns pushing stones towards a series of concentric rings or circles. The object is to get the stones as close to the center of the rings as possible. Team members sweep the ice clean in front of each stone to control the stone’s direction and speed. The team with the most points — more stones closer to the center of the rings — is the winner.

Happy watching!

Emily

photo courtesy of: http://642blog.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2010-torch.jpg

CE Events!!

CE English Lesson

• Every Wednesday 6:30pm-7:30pm
• Caucus Room(4024), 4th floor of student activity center (same floor as Guts office)
• This week: Article Discussion -- World Texting Champion
• We're having our first English Lesson this week. Join our new tutor Kenny who knows five language and you'll have a spectacular, intense and fun learning experience!Our new English lesson will have 3 different formats (Idiom, Article and Discussion,Humor) and we will rotate them every 3 weeks.
• Check out here to know more details about the lessons and what Kenny wants to tell you: http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/CE%20English%20Lesson.html
  

Conversation Hour

• Every Thursday 4pm-5pm
• The Satellite (a room in Gordon Commons, located at 717 W Johnson Street. Enter the building from under the bridge connecting Gordon Commons and the Witte Dormitory. )
• Topic this week: Winter Olympics
• This is a great opportunity for tutees to practice their English with more people and for tutors to meet more international students. Tea and snacks will be provided! Hope to see you there!

***After the Conversation Hour, you are invited to walk over to the ISS Taste of India with us!***

ISS Taste of India

• Thursday February 18th at 6:00pm, come join the CE table at 5:45pm inside! (Look for the yellow GUTS shirts)
• Red Gym (On Wisconsin Room) Join the CE Program as we learn about the culture and customs of India while enjoying FREE Indian food.

---Coming Soon---

CE-PSA Politics Forum

• February 24th (next Wednesday ) 6:30pm
• 4th floor Caucus Room Student Activity Center
• Conversational English is partnering with Pi Sigma Alpha (the Political Science Honors organization) to bring you a special event! At the CE-PSA Forum, CE Participants are invited to come ask the PSA members any (and we mean ANY!) questions you have about American politics (domestic or foreign policy). Although we invite you to ask any question you may have, we ask that you please remember to respect the opinions of others! This is a good opportunity for international students to have any questions they might have about American politics looked at, but also to learn what ideas are popular amongst young Wisconsinites!

Kelly the Office Manager Here!!!

I can't believe it's time again to expand the GUTS team. Over the last year I have been working at GUTS I have seen an organization come together in an attempt to truly better student life on campus. Now it is your chance to join the team and I encourage all to do so. Apply Apply Apply and come to the info session tonight- you may never have the chance again to make THIS much of a difference on campus and get paid!
Here's what you need to know!

GUTS is in the process of hiring 11 new people for next semester.
An informational session is being held tonight at 6:30pm and 7:30pm at the GUTS office, SAC #4413, 4th floor, 333 E Campus Mall.

This is the time to learn more about GUTS and the positions we are hiring for next year.
See you there!

and remember...

All applications are due by February 22nd! Please follow the link to the Student Job Center to read about each job and apply if interested:

http://jobcenter.wisc.edu/Home.aspx
or visit
http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/

Thank you! Stay Cool

We need Study Skills Advisers!

In our ever-present desire to expand, the Study Skills department has reached a conclusion. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE!!!

Shocking, I know.

We are looking for 3-4 for people to join our team of amazing (and reliable) Study Skills advisers. Advisers are paired with students that have come to us for for help in any number of different arenas. From a holistic viewpoint, we address issues of time management, stress, motivation, concentration, note-taking, reading strategies, test preparation, speed reading etc, etc...

We also hold monthly training for our advisers to inform, discuss, get feedback and share experience. They're pretty fun.

If you may be interested in joining the team, hop on over to the GUTS website and email us. We'll be in touch and get you advising!

CE Events recently

Next Wednesday CE English Lesson is coming back.

Our new tutor Kenny knows five language and is going to teach international student in 3 formats (idiom, article and discussion, humor).

More information about English Lesson is available on Guts website.

First Lesson: Article Discussion - World Texting Champion
Time: Feb 17th, Wednesday, 6:30-7:30
Place: Caucus Room(4024), 4th floor of student activity center

We are also going to have our political event soon on Feb 24th. We'll have discussion about the heated political events and answer any questions about politics.

Last but not least, our conversation hour is Every Thursday 4p-5p. It's a great chance to practice English and meet new friend.

Violet

A Valentine Haiku for YOU!

GUTS how I love you
Will you be my Valentine,
And make my day great?

-A squared

Academic Match

Hello all!

The Academic Match program is currently in the process of matching students into small tutoring groups. We have over 30 groups formed already, with many more to go! Feel free to stop by the office, give us a call, or send us an email if you have any questions about how AM works. We are ALWAYS in need of tutors, so sign up ASAP if you are interested! Tutors for all courses are welcome! Thanks!

-Nicole and Alex

Welcome to February.

Hello everyone, happy February!

I'd like to start this post off with a quote from author and syndicated cartoonist Ashleigh Brilliant who says, "My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot." Have you ever wondered about life's purpose? Or about what the whole point is? I would like to argue that the answer to these questions doesn't really matter, and the more time we spend trying to find the solution, the more of life we let pass us by.

Coming to college is a huge life experience. No matter what stage you're at in your academic career, chances are you're still trying to figure out exactly what you want out of life and your future. You're probably still trying to find yourself and at times worry about how others view you. The University is so extremely large and the number of activites, sports, and various opportunities for you to immerse yourself in are innumerable. Sometimes, in the process of trying to find yourself, you lose yourself. I want to stress how important it is for all of us to be true to who we are. Fill your time with self-reflection, physical activity, studying, and that superb cast that accepts you for the wonderful person you are. As cheesy as it may sound, let your inner light shine-it'll make the world a brighter place.

Peace, happiness, and...warmth,
Kasandra Brown

Study Skills Coordinator

Hey everyone,

Drop-In is looking for new tutors for the Spring semester of this brand new year 2010. Many tutors are returning which only reinforces how good of a program Drop-In is, and how much you can get out of it. Last semester we helped 703 students, and this semester we hope to strive just as much. If you would like to become a Drop-In tutor or even find out more information, come into the GUTS office on the 3rd floor, 4413 in the Student Activity Center or email me at guts-di@rso.wisc.edu. I will be putting together a schedule over the next week and a half and hosting orientations as well, so hurry up. For those of you that have already signed up, you will be receiving an email very soon.

Drop-In will open its doors on Sunday February 7th at the newly renovated College Library Drop-In Center, and at its satellite center at 4413 Student Activity Center on Tuesday February 9th. Check the GUTS website for the published schedule grid to get updated tutor information as the date approaches. http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/

my best

Lee Jastrow
Drop-In Coordinator

Onward Bound

So here I am...I am in my last semester at the UW of Madison. I will soon graduate and be on my merry little way. In other words, I've almost succeeded in climbing out of the boiling pot and into the red-hot fire of El Diablo. Worrying about what to do after we graduate is something that eats at most of us. I, for one, am in dire need of finding a job this summer. Some of us dread leaving what may be the best years of our lives and might try to cling to any semi-advernturous opportunity that comes our way. But we still need to make money, right?

However, I've discovered a sly little loophole in the whole "get a job" thing after college. My answer for those who still don't know what they want but want to do something new? Teach English abroad. And somewhere different than here (i.e. not Western Europe). South America, Asia, etc. Although it's not necessarily or always easy to qualify for such a position, it's certainly obtainable if you put effort towards it...especially in less picky schools in China. In some places you can make a solid income compared to the locals around you. It'll be different than what you're used to but that's the point. Break your confort zone...it'll be healthy for you. Do it for a year, enjoy the local culture, and daddle a little into the local language. Develop your skills well enough and you create resume gold. Successfully surviving this sort of experience builds confidence and a more open mind. Most importantly for me, it forces us to become more independent.

The path (or loophole) that I personally am seeking involves not teaching English abroad but studying a foreign language (Mandarin Chinese) through a scholarship that allows me to enrichen my coffers, not drain them. I'm a sly dog like that. However, that kind of opportunity is not guaranteed so my Plan B is to do as I perscribed above. Spending 1-2 years in China or Taiwan? Yes please.

Until next time,
Michael

It's a new semester...a chance to start over with a clean plate. While it is easy to fill your plate with class, study time, your favorite tv shows, and friends, make sure to leave room for "brain food". This article from Live Science, http://www.livescience.com/health/090107-brain-food.html, explores the best foods to eat to ensure your brain is prepared for all the other activities taking up room on your plate.

Still in Winter Break mode? Make a Study and Learning Skills appointment at the McBurney Disability Resource Center to get back into the swing of things. Call 608-263-2741 to make a one-on-one appointment. We can help with topics such as time management, test anxiety, procrastination, reading comprehension, and more!

Hope to see you soon!
Abby
-Study and Learning Skills Specialist