Bonjour! Comment allez-vous? Je vais tres bien, merci.
I have really been enjoying learning the French language. My pronunciation is not very good (my daughter keeps correcting me, she said I sound like I'm speaking German) but I can read it and write it pretty well.
My professor has assigned a paper for us to write. The topic is our choice, but it has to be related to France in some way (obviously). That is a pretty broad spectrum from which to choose from, don't you think?
To help us narrow it down, she said we can choose to write about something that is related to our field of study. I'm sure she has no idea that my academic plans are to go to seminary.
So do you know who I chose to write about?
John Calvin.
Did you know he was Frenchman? I didn't realize he was. As I was researching about a topic, his name came up. I just started my research, and there are many ways in which I can write this paper, so I'll keep you posted on it's development. Maybe I'll even post it when I'm done?
I just think it is so cool that in every class I've taken so far in college, I have had an opportunity to present the gospel, whether it been in word (papers I've written) or deeds (helping others).
Au revior
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Wish I had this button to push yesterday while I was taking my algebra I final.I just found out that I failed the course. Totally bombed the final.
I am so frustrated (and tearful) because I really, really tried my best. Only to find out that my best produced failure. Talk about humiliation.
However, I will not give up. I remain determined. Though I feel beaten down right now, I know that character is built through perseverance, so persevere I must.
So, I am retaking the class starting tomorrow. In the providence of God, there was another class available in the same time slot as my other class that still had seats open. This is such a blessing because I don't have to re-arrange my family's schedule. How cool is that?
Friday, October 12, 2007
9th Grade Flashback...
is how I would describe my experience in my current Algebra class. I just don't get the concept of algebra. It is just so abstract.
That same feeling of panic washed over me as I sat in class. You know, that feeling that jogs your memory of a past, painful experience and makes you feel it all over again? I felt like I was the only one who didn't get it, again. Doesn't make me feel good.
The only thing I remember about 9th grade math was how I never understood it. My kids ask me how I got through high school without understanding math and all I can say is that I don't know. I have math amnesia.
It has been a very humbling experience. But I will persevere...
...even if I am the oldest person in class. Yes, just adding more to the humility.
That same feeling of panic washed over me as I sat in class. You know, that feeling that jogs your memory of a past, painful experience and makes you feel it all over again? I felt like I was the only one who didn't get it, again. Doesn't make me feel good.
The only thing I remember about 9th grade math was how I never understood it. My kids ask me how I got through high school without understanding math and all I can say is that I don't know. I have math amnesia.
It has been a very humbling experience. But I will persevere...
...even if I am the oldest person in class. Yes, just adding more to the humility.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
My Textbooks are $300!!
And I'm only taking two classes!
I need one for my intro to French class and one for my algebra class.
I probably won't buy them from the college bookstore because they tend to cost the most there. Last semester, I bought a textbook on-line at a discount, but it still cost me a considerable amount.
I just don't know why they have to cost so much!
I am looking forward to starting school though. My first day of class is Thursday, September 6. I hope I will be able to manage two classes this semester. I'll have to be at school two days a week. It's not so much the class time as it is the homework time that tends to overwhelm me.
Being that this will be my third year of school (I'm on the slow track) I've pretty much gotten the routine down. My husband and my three girls are very supportive, which helps tremendously.
I hope my professors are competent and kind. I looked up their profiles on www.ratemyprofessors.com and they got some pretty favorable reviews. So we'll see.
Enjoy these last waning days of summer!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Got My Grades...
My G.P.A. is 3.8. Yeah baby!
I got an "A" in history and a "B" in math.
Now before I get too excited...I have only accumulated 21 credits toward the 60 I need for my
Associates degree so I am a long way away. But every three credits counts, right?
I just registered today for the fall semester. I am taking French I and Algebra I.
Math is NOT my favorite subject, but the Lord is very gracious and is showing me that math reveals an aspect of His character that I did not see before. Before I was a Christian I thought I could get by in life without really understanding math, but now that I see that since He is a God of order and logic and it makes more sense to me than ever before. I guess you could say that God has redeemed math for me which I never thought could be possible.
Just another area of ignorance confronted; Thank you Lord.
I got an "A" in history and a "B" in math.
Now before I get too excited...I have only accumulated 21 credits toward the 60 I need for my
Associates degree so I am a long way away. But every three credits counts, right?
I just registered today for the fall semester. I am taking French I and Algebra I.
Math is NOT my favorite subject, but the Lord is very gracious and is showing me that math reveals an aspect of His character that I did not see before. Before I was a Christian I thought I could get by in life without really understanding math, but now that I see that since He is a God of order and logic and it makes more sense to me than ever before. I guess you could say that God has redeemed math for me which I never thought could be possible.
Just another area of ignorance confronted; Thank you Lord.
Friday, April 27, 2007
History?
One of the education goals I've set for myself is to get a college degree. I did not have the opportunity to get a college education when I graduated from high school. Various reasons as to why. Needless to say, the Lord has opened up the opportunity for me now to go, when I'm 44 years old and raising a family.
Go figure.
Right now I am working toward an associates degree in Liberal Arts at a local community college. So far I have 18 credits, woo-hoo! I am thorougly enjoying the education process. I am not,unlike so many others I encounter in school, necessarily working toward getting a career; no, I am working toward being educated. I say all this to set up what I'm actually being taught.
One class I have this semester is World Civ I, the study of ancient civilization from the stone age until the 16th century. It's really a survey course because how can you cram all that in 8 weeks? I have always been fascinated with history. I took this class for fun because unfortunately I had to take math-my least favorite subject, so I thought I would balance it with something I am more interested in.
This is what my professor said recently to our class:"That all we know of history is just an historian's interpretation of the facts". You get that? That historical fact is open to interpretation. Facts are not really facts, they are opinions. That we need to question everything that we have been taught because every historian had a point of view that needs to be challenged. He basically called into question the whole education system.
Which led me to ask, then how do you know a fact is really a fact? How can we really know anything? If fact is just opinion, then what are we doing here? Why study history if it is just opinion? I jokingly said that we should just go home and save our money. I was not disrespecting him, we were having an open discussion on the nature of education.
He then went on to paint a picture of what education really is: it is the de-education of everything we've been taught, from grade school through high school. None of it was accurate. He said you'll find that in whatever field of study you choose. He said that what you learn is that you really didn't know anything and that you cannot trust anything to be true. That's what you find out when you get to college and beyond. Now he didn't actually use the word "de-education" but that is how I would summarize it.
In my experience, higher education has become deconstructionism. Deconstruction is defined as the analytic examination of something (as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy. That's what I've encountered in college. Is it any wonder that graduates leave their universities and colleges with such a pessimistic world-view? Or better yet, they leave their colleges having no solid educational foundation on which to stand upon.
Isn't that great? Makes me wonder if the money my husband and I are saving toward our three daughters college education will be money well spent. On second thought, as I wonder why the Lord has opened this door for my education at this time, I think he must be in the process of opening my eyes to what they will encounter when they get to college. I will be better equipped to help them navigate through the dark waters of decontruction.
Go figure.
Right now I am working toward an associates degree in Liberal Arts at a local community college. So far I have 18 credits, woo-hoo! I am thorougly enjoying the education process. I am not,unlike so many others I encounter in school, necessarily working toward getting a career; no, I am working toward being educated. I say all this to set up what I'm actually being taught.
One class I have this semester is World Civ I, the study of ancient civilization from the stone age until the 16th century. It's really a survey course because how can you cram all that in 8 weeks? I have always been fascinated with history. I took this class for fun because unfortunately I had to take math-my least favorite subject, so I thought I would balance it with something I am more interested in.
This is what my professor said recently to our class:"That all we know of history is just an historian's interpretation of the facts". You get that? That historical fact is open to interpretation. Facts are not really facts, they are opinions. That we need to question everything that we have been taught because every historian had a point of view that needs to be challenged. He basically called into question the whole education system.
Which led me to ask, then how do you know a fact is really a fact? How can we really know anything? If fact is just opinion, then what are we doing here? Why study history if it is just opinion? I jokingly said that we should just go home and save our money. I was not disrespecting him, we were having an open discussion on the nature of education.
He then went on to paint a picture of what education really is: it is the de-education of everything we've been taught, from grade school through high school. None of it was accurate. He said you'll find that in whatever field of study you choose. He said that what you learn is that you really didn't know anything and that you cannot trust anything to be true. That's what you find out when you get to college and beyond. Now he didn't actually use the word "de-education" but that is how I would summarize it.
In my experience, higher education has become deconstructionism. Deconstruction is defined as the analytic examination of something (as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy. That's what I've encountered in college. Is it any wonder that graduates leave their universities and colleges with such a pessimistic world-view? Or better yet, they leave their colleges having no solid educational foundation on which to stand upon.
Isn't that great? Makes me wonder if the money my husband and I are saving toward our three daughters college education will be money well spent. On second thought, as I wonder why the Lord has opened this door for my education at this time, I think he must be in the process of opening my eyes to what they will encounter when they get to college. I will be better equipped to help them navigate through the dark waters of decontruction.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Welcome to my blog
"A well-trained mind is the result of application, not inborn genius"
Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-Educated Mind.
"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge"
Proverbs 23:12.
This blog is my personal journey to self-education. My little corner of the blogosphere where I plan to share what I am learning and thinking about.
Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-Educated Mind.
"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge"
Proverbs 23:12.
This blog is my personal journey to self-education. My little corner of the blogosphere where I plan to share what I am learning and thinking about.
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