Student Connection

This website's Main Pages (click to go there)   Home 主页    Current Update 当前更新    Resources 学习资源    Photos 影集 

  Links 友情链接    Things We've Written 我的文集   Special Features 本站特色    Site Map 本站导航    Real World 英语写作 

I've stopped updating this website, though it's pages will remain for a while. See "current update" for details.

Visit instead: wp.krigline.com and EFLsuccess.com

A starting place for my current students, and all English learners

Sub-pages are explained below; click on underlined terms to go to those pages.  ◘  点击下划线的项目便可进入相关网页

Sub-pages:   Home Up Learner Links XMU-Materials Syllabus-XMU American Ways XMU-Grades Exam Preview How to Improve English Better Study Methods Resources-previous Test Your Skill Better Writing Guide Using MUCH Using Articles Which or That? Types of Writing Don't Copy--Write! Welcome to My Class Correction Key Interest Survey Current Students

(▲ Links to this page's sub-pages. If you can't see the label, put your mouse over a button and look at the bottom of your browser.)

Click "refresh" (刷新) in your browser to be sure that you load the most recent version of this page; I often change things during the term.

Look below for our "Quote of the Week"

 Click here for "Learner Links" to other helpful websites

Click here for English-learner "Movie Study Guides"

Current students (Xiamen University):

 

Always look first for class materials or links to them at EFLsuccess.com. But since it's pages load very slowly in China, you may also be able to find things linked to this (older) page/site at Krigline.com.

 

XMU students & English-learners--click here to:

One

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For my summer 2014 students (American Culture, Basic Business, Movie Appreciation) at Xiamen University): (be sure you click "refresh" (刷新) to get the most recent changes) 

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Welcome sheet (updated slightly at EFLsuccess.com; the one at Krigline.com is from fall 2012/spring 2013)

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Quiz/Midterm and Exam preview

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syllabus (also posted at eflsuccess.com/syllabus-su2014)

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links to Movie Study Guides (although these guides have been updated slightly at EFLsuccess.com): Paulie, Narnia, Rudy, Groundhog Day

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click here for directions to our Xiamen apartment, and help in knowing what to bring or expect.

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my Correction Key, to help you understanding the way I mark student mistakes and problems

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Thoughts on Choosing an English Name

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For handouts/materials for my 2013-14 Xiamen University "American Ways" class: 

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syllabus (spring 2014--American Ways)

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Vocabulary for our textbook: American Ways (by Datesman & Crandall) (be sure you click "refresh/刷新")  You'll also find a PDF "FINAL EXAM HINTS" on the American Ways page.

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other class materials (be sure you click "refresh/刷新")

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Link to the Movie Report assignment for either Unstoppable or Steel Magnolias.

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Quiz/Midterm and Exam preview

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links to Movie Study Guides (including things we use in class): Far and Away, Finding Forrester, Gua Sha, Snoopy's Christmas, The Flaw, Family Man, Unstoppable, Steel Magnolias

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see class photos here

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Christmas fun photo page

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Also see resources related to previous terms/students

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help for writing an academic paragraph (especially topic sentence, title and conclusion)

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my handout about plagiarism (in English and Chinese)

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information about my Advanced Writing textbook (now available in Xiamen--click for details)

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essays written by my students about China's medical history/practice (page 1 or page 2) or challenges that face China

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Great Ideas vocabulary and info about Great Ideas (a great textbook)

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see class photos here

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Find "learner links": website for on-line English practice (including where to get yourself an English name)

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Test your skill in recognizing common English mistakes (if you have trouble, the page is supposed to show how to get help--see the instructions on that page for more information)

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Learn how to overcome common English-learner problems by studying my "Better Writing Study Guide" (it can help your speaking, too) or the following pages:

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How to use much

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How to use articles (a, an, the)--lots of students have a lot of trouble using "the" correctly. Do you?

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Choose between which or that

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Learn about useful Types of Writing, with links to pages with examples and to further information such as how to write Research PapersNotes and Essays

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See photos of my most recent students, or former students in Xiamen, Kunming, Xi'an, Shanghai and elsewhere (including a rare photo of me as a new teacher in 1987)

 

Other pages on this website include:

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Resources for students and English teachers, including things related to my book Successful Writing for the Real World  

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An index of articles we have written, including:

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What are Grades?  

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Thoughts on Choosing an English Name

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How to Improve Your English

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How to Improve Your Study Methods

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An index of Movie Study Guides, including great films like:

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The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Secondhand Lions, Family Man, Far and Away, and many more

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A TEFL Discussion Index (guides you can use for English Corner or other times for group conversation)

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Information about Western Holidays

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A colleague's "English Corner Tip of the Month"

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Essays from my present and former students

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Photos of various university campuses, including Kunming Medical College (old campus), Kunming Teachers' Jr. College, Yunnan Normal University, YNU Business School, and Northwestern Polytechnical University (Xi'an)

This map shows our location in SE China's coastal Fujian Province. "A" is the old Xiamen University Campus. Click here for a bigger map and description.

TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language 

Dear Students and Friends:                                (November 2013)

     This academic year is my third year on the faculty at Xiamen University, though I've taught in China since 2000. For the past three years, the university has kept changing my job. The first year, I taught sophomore oral English on the Zhang Zhou campus; last year, I taught freshmen on the Hai Yun campus. I don't miss the ferry we had to take from Zhang Zhou (see the map below), but I DO miss the convenience of riding a bike to the Hai Yun campus from our apartment! Fortunately, Vivian and I can still enjoy some of the great relationships that started in my first two years, because all of those students are now on the main campus, and they know they can join us any Friday for lunch in the Fu Rong student caferteria.

     This year, I'm not only teaching new, older students (juniors and seniors), but I'm also teaching a new course: The American Ways, an introduction to US history and culture. The textbook is great, but I'm finding it difficult to keep up with my own high standards for class preparation. Nonetheless, the students seem to be enjoying the content and discussions. This course will continue next semester, and hopefully I'll be able to repeat it next year.

      During my first two years, my students majored in International Economics and Trade; this year, my juniors have this major, but my seniors come from many departments. Our goal is not only to help them understand western culture, but also to have a broader understanding of their own culture and greater comprehension of important intercultural concepts. Along the way, I'm also helping them make progress in Oral English--a tool that they will hopefully use often in their future careers.

      I love being back at Xiamen University (especially since I'm on the OTHER side of the desk!). In 2011, moving back to Xiamen was like "coming home" to me, because this was the first Chinese city I ever lived in. But little remains of the spots that were so familiar to me back in 1985-87, when I studied Chinese at the main Xiamen University campus (you can see a few photos here and here). Vivian and I visited this beautiful city twice in the past decade, so it was not difficult to convince her to allow me to accept this teaching position!

     If you are new to krigline.com, look around! There is plenty to see, even if some (many?) of the 150+ pages are out of date! For example, I have a page listing many of the resources available for students and teachers. On the left of the Student Connections page (this page), my students (or any English-learner) can find links to helpful resources. You might also look at our articles index or FAQ section (Frequently Asked Questions). Our photo album and movie study guides are also popular. The site map has a handy list of most pages. I expect to switch to a different server early in 2014, so that may disrupt Krigline.com (not krigline.com.cn). My son and I are also trying to completely update the look of the site, but we are both too busy to make quick progress! In the meantime, I dare not delete old pages, because I've found that many are useful to English-learners and teachers far and wide.

     If you live in Xiamen and want to hear about special opportunities to use English, please write to us (see below).

     People often ask what I do in my spare time. I spend a lot of time preparing or "perfecting" class materials, and we frequently invite students or friends over to see a film or do other things in English. (Vivian and I especially like "old movies" and films about "true stories". Vivian's main hobby is electronic scrapbooking.) We now have two kids and two grandkids to keep up with in the US, so that has become a "hobby." I also play the guitar a bit, and we like helping out at church and at The Bridge (in nearby Zeng Cuo An) in various ways. Unfortunately, I do not have time for private students or time to edit things written outside of my class requirements. Vivian tutors a few people, but her schedule is pretty full--but if you are a college student who wants help with pronunciation, she might be able to fit you in (she taught pronunciation at Northwestern Polytechnical University)--ask us if you want to know the details. (Click to see more "frequently asked questions.")

     Another question people often ask is: "How can I improve my English?" My usual answer is “USE your English as much as possible!” (Click here for a longer answer!) Reading is very helpful, and if you want to write better, then write! (My textbook can also help.) You should also take advantage of informal gatherings (like the "English Corners" in many areas, like The Bridge). If you are a foreign student in the US, join a hobby or interest-based club and/or attend a church--you'll find lots of friendly people with whom to practice your English. I also have Chinese friends (with great English) who says their secret is watching movies in English! Do whatever works for you, but your English won’t get better unless you DO something!

     To help, I have provided a "learner links page" just for students, and my former students have written descriptions for a number of their favorite English-leaning websites. I’ve also posted my own Study Guide. In addition, you can find good examples of short student essays; check them out! On our "resources" page, a friend and former colleague shares some more advice in his "English Corner tip of the month." Finally, click in the box on the bottom of every page of this website; it can take you to our most popular pages.

     Do you know about other helpful English- or Chinese-language learning websites? Please tell me about them! Also visit my website often to see what's new!

More about me and this website:

      I wear two "university pins"--one for Xiamen University and the other for the University of Akron in Ohio (where I taught in 2011, where my parents taught until retirement, and where our son attends college now). Though I try to always use English around my students, I speak some Chinese too, and "learning Chinese" is a life-long process. I have formally studied Chinese for three years (at Xiamen University, Yunnan Normal University and Kunming College). I also invested five years writing Successful Writing for the Real World, an advanced writing textbook for use in China (published March 2008 by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press; you can find out more about the book by clicking here).

     While I was writing my book, I neglected the daunting task of attending to the 150+ pages of this website (and I've never quite caught up!). Now, Microsoft no longer supports FrontPage software (which this site was created with), so I'm thinking of trying to convert the whole thing to a different format, like Joomla (but of course this will take a huge amount of time, so if you know someone interested in helping, please write me!).

     As you can see, I'm kind of busy, so don't expect a lot of regular changes to this website. But I'll try to keep it working, for the sake of my own students and the many who "surf here" to improve their English or learn more about China.

Michael Krigline, M.A.

Xiamen University, International Economics and Trade Department

(November 2013)

 

Our email address is on the bottom of our Home page, as well as on our "Current Update" page.

 

"Quote of the Week"

 

 

Note: A quote's original source is not always known, and authenticity has not been verified.

To find out about an author, type the name into the Google search box on my home page.

One of my favorite websites is: www.quotationspage.com

Click in the boxes below to go to some of our most popular pages. If you get lost, just click "Home."

(There is a "search" box on the home page)

HOME

Site map (To search within any page, type "ctrl + f")

Current Update

& how to contact us

Resources  for students & teachers

Links for English Learners

EFL Movie Study Guides

Better Writing Study Guide

Our Students photos

Photo Index

South Carolina & USA photos

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Favorite Links

Things We've Written (articles)

Introduction to China

Life in China photos

Music Page & mp3 downloads

Archive Index

Real World Writing (my textbook)

See our Policy regarding the use of materials available at Krigline.com or Krigline.com.cn

Visitors to this page since January 2007 (".cn" site only):