This document outlines an agenda for an academic interactions class. It includes conversation starters on various topics for students to discuss in small groups. There are prompts about issues like country independence, veterinary medicine, weighing oneself daily, controlling children's weight, using antibiotics or not, and fishing regulations. It also previews an upcoming TED talk about cloning that students will watch and discuss. They are instructed to prepare 1-minute summaries and reactions to the talk and class videos to present next week. Homework includes registering for an online conversation session, submitting video responses, and completing language learning goals.

1. Academic Interactions
Fall 2015, Nikki Mattson, IECP

2. Agenda
• Conversation Starters
• Pathways, Chapter 2
• World In Conversation reminders +
practice

3. Conversation Starter 130A
• A lot of territories are seeking
independence; many are doing this for
economic reasons. However, when
countries meet all of the conditions for
independence, they often still face political
obstacles like the formal recognition of a
new country. Do you think that is a
problem, why/why not?
• (Faisal Zaila/Law)

4. Conversation Starter 130A
• Veterinary Medicine is major for taking
care of animals. For example they give
medicine, shots, surgery and advice to pet
owners. Do you think it is easier to take
care of adult animals or babies? why?
• (Hameed Alsharari - Veterinary Medicine)

5. Conversation Starter 130A
• How often do you weigh yourself? In Korea, many
people weigh themselves every day because they really
want to lose weight like TV actors. According to "Medical
magazine", this situation can be dangerous to one’s
body, mind, and health. What do you think about this
situation? Is it okay to weigh yourself every day? How
might that impact your life?
(Nursing, Bora Lee)

6. Conversation Starter 130B
• A statistical study from 2010 shows that more
than 34% of U.S. adults are overweight. Nearly
32% of children and adolescents are either
overweight or obese. Maintaining ideal weight
could be a big problem for many people
especially children. In you opinion, how do
adults affect children and can weight be
controlled? Also, with fast food and other kinds
of restaurants, how we could control children’s
weight and eating behaviors?
• (Shaikha, Statistic)

7. Conversation Starter 130B
• In the human body, the leukocytes (white blood
cells) defend the body from viruses and exotic
organisms that are harmful, but nowadays,
people take antibiotics during illness, which
leads to decreased functioning of white blood
cells. Do you prefer to give a chance to the
natural functions of the body such as the
function of white blood cells or are you one of
people who prefers to take medicines to heal
faster? And why?! (Bayan Alem, Biology
Science)

8. Conversation Starter 130B
• Some European countries have
established legislative provisions to
encourage fish reproduction. Do you think
it is necessary to limit the amount of fish
which may be caught by fisherman?
Are there any laws made by the
environmental administration in your
country to protect the small sized fish that
are caught? (Guanrong Chen, Law)

9. Pathways – listening and
vocabulary
• Pg. 24 – listening +B
• Pg. 25 – A,B, and C

10. TED Talk: Cloning
• 1) Listen and take notes on important
information
• 2) Group Quiz
• 3) Cloning Discussion

11. TED Talk
• Video

12. Group Quiz

13. Group Quiz
• 1. What is the main purpose/idea of the talk?
• To discuss the use of cloning and stem cells to resurrect life.
• 2. What are the two ways to ways to make copies of cells and organisms?
• cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer) and cell reprogramming
• 3. About how many species have been cloned so far?
• 2 dozen (24)
• 4. Which animal was the first to be cloned?
• a frog
• 5. What are the two types of cloning that are mentioned?
• interspecies and intraspecies
• 6. What was the first endangered species to be cloned?
• a gaur
• 7. What happened with the gaur that was born?
• It was born successfully, but it died two days later.
• 8. Which animal from the San Diego Zoo was cloned?
• A banteng

14. Discussion
• What are your thoughts about the video
that you saw?
• What do you think happened with the
banteng that was born?
• What do you think about the idea of
cloning to save endangered species or
even to bring back extinct species?

15. World In Conversations
Presentations
Come to Friday’s class prepared with…
•1-minute summary (objective) of IECP Winc
Conversation OR class video
•1-minute reaction (subjective)
•IECP Winc Conversation OR class video
•Bring your device charged + with enough
memory to record your 2-minute
presentation – you will need the recording
for an upcoming grammar project

16. WinC Practice
•Video
•Watch the video
•Prepare summaries + reactions

17. HW
• Register for a World In Conversation session for next week (Conversations
begin on the 28th
)
• World In Conversation OR Sociology video Summary and Reaction 1 due
9/24 by midnight (BOX)
• World in Conversation 2-minute presentation = Due in class on Friday
• PSU Observation Presentation = DUE 10/2 by midnight (BOX)
• English Central Goal 3 = DUE Sunday by 8:00