Knight and Day

Plot

June Havens finds her everyday life tangled with that of a secret agent who has realized he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn that all they can count on is each other. (for a longer description see wikipedia )

Review

It's watchable but only once (if you feel bored).The plot is very simple. No “BIG” surprises. Anyway, you can make your opinion here. I don't want to say much cos it's an average movie (in my point of view)...

Watch

Beijing Language and Culture University - BLCU - 北京语言大学

For those of you who don’t know or haven't heard about this University here is a brief description on wikidepida.org. I am too lazy to write about it :p Anyway, in one sentence BLCU is one of the most popular University in China, that offers Chinese Language and Culture to foreign students (or overseas Chinese).

Since China is becoming more and more open to the world in the recent years many people are fascinated by its fabulous and amazing history and culture as well as in the language (Mandarin). However, learning Mandarin is much more time intensive than learning any western languages. And the best way to learn a language is to learn it in that country, where it is used. Therefore, many people choose the BLCU as their first choice when they decided to learn Mandarin in China. 

Nevertheless, the homepage of BLCU is not that satisfied that you can find all your answers there in the FAQ (at least I couldn’t find the answers where I was looking for). Therefore, I tried to find it elsewhere on the internet. And that’s what I have found so far. If you know other links related to living and studying etc. at BLCU please post it here. And of course also your own experience at BLUC. Was it worth? Would you do this again? What was good what bad etc.? 

Homepage of BLCU 

• The BLCU Experience - A semi-regularly updated journal
• BLCU Information and my experience
• My Days at BLCU
• My 12 week experience in Beijing (at BLCU) Sep-Dec 2005
• SnapShots in Time BLCU  

• Beijing Dorm Accommodation For Exchange Students at BLCU

• FAQ concerning the Double Degree Agreement between Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and TU Berlin (TUB)

• Abschlussbericht ueber meinen Studienaufenthalt an der BLCU

• Erfahrungsbericht BLCU
• BLCU Beijing Diary
• Chinese Forums
• BLCU.info
• Chinaunipath
• China in my Pocket
•  

to be continued hopefully with your guys help :)

Addition: Besides BLCU there are also other universities in China with high reputation that offer Madarin courses for "foreigner" (:

Courses in China's University and College

Best University - where can I study Chinese?

Asian Movies and TV Series Reviews, Photos and News

Found this website and I thought that it might be interesting to share it here. http://www.spcnet.tv/ Guess it’s a pretty useful Link for those who are interested in Asia Drama but unfortunately don’t understand any of these languages. There you can find all the latest updates about your “star” and reviews of Dramas and Movies in English ~~

Asian Poses

Last time I made a post about “How to pose for the camera” but I forgot to post the cute Asia poses >_< They are really easy to imitate. You can find them here http://asianposes.com/category/pose/ However, if you prefer more to watch them instead of reading here is a selection which I find on YouTube. Enjoy \(^_^)/

Video

Extreme Speed of Love - 李雅微

Another song which I discover by chance and totally like it! Especially the first two sentences, but also the rest of the song. Even though the English sentences aren’t rich in content. However, combines with the music it just suits perfect well together; and fits the beginning / opening scene of this drama “My Lucky Star” (放羊的星星) so well as well ^_^ Shivia Lee (李雅) sings this theme song. I don’t know the artist before. It seems that she only contribute for the OST of this drama since I couldn’t find any other songs of her expect those on the album.

Oracle Octopus Paul

Yesterday was the semi-final world cup 2010 between Germany and Spain. Long before the games had started, an octopus named Paul, could already tell which team were supposed to win the game. Was it just a coincidence? Seems not, because according to this article http://de.news.yahoo.com/2/20100708/ten-orakel-krake-paul-behaelt-bei-wm-wei-4ffd8ef.html , this wasn’t his first prediction. He was right in all his forecasts! A bit scary don’t you think?

However, tomorrow Paul is going to predict which team (Netherland or Spain) will win the world cup (automatically, who is going to be the second best team in the world) as well as who is become the third best team (Germany or Uruguay).

Do you think that's possible that a fish can predict such thing or does/ did all these really happen by chance??
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update:

Even the last two predictions by Paul were right! Germany won the bronze medal and Spain their first world cup in their history! The whole thing reminds me somehow of the movie “Final Destination”. Ok, one might think now why I compare a “horror movie” with Paul. Well, it just seems to me that everything what we do, when we do, no matter how hard we try, we can’t escape from “destiny”. The result is already written down somewhere. It’s just a question of time.

Like in the movie, it says who is going to “die” and no matter what the characters in the film do they can’t escape from it. It’s only a “fictional” movie which doesn’t or shouldn’t exist in reality. However, I just have to think of it when I heard that Paul was right with everything. No matter how good the other teams are at the end they will still lost... Anywany, congrats to Spain ~~

Open Thread #1: Bad habits

Summer break is coming soon and with that the exams >_< every semester I have the same problem. Before even starting with learning I had to collect, search and print out the missing sheets. Why is it always like this? I can really cry since it costs so much damn time (NO JOKE) which I can use for learning instead. AHHH. I really really try to change this every time – every semester but how comes I fail? Is it really that difficult to change ones bad habit?

As the title of this post already said, it’s an open thread. My idea is that we can help here each-other by sharing our tips of how we can change our “bad habits” or “tic”. Maybe we can’t change it because it’s a part of us… Perhaps, anyone here has an interesting story to share?

QTube

Today, I will share with you QTube. This program is amazing. Plus it is very friendly and easy to use. As one can maybe associate the name sounds pretty similar to YouTube. Yes, it’s for YouTube videos or to be precise for the music played on YouTube. Either it’s the music itself, where you know exactly the artist and the song name. Or sometime some users use music for his/ her video and you totally love this piece of song but don’t know the title or the artist who sing it. What happen? QTube is the solution :)) Just cope the URL on YouTube to QTube than click on MP3 (where you can save it as a MP3 file ^_^), MP4, AVI (the whole video) or as a FLV file. Next you will see the button “Download starten” click on it and after a few seconds you will have the music or the video on your computer!

• http://www.qtube.de/
• http://www.youtube.com/

How to pose for the camera

When I feel “bored”, I like to watch old photos of me and my friends and family which are store on my Laptop. It feels very relaxing and you easily forgot things around you since old and beautiful memories come back with those pictures. And you realize how time flies. Year by year, month by month. It is those photos that keep our memories alive. However, after watching them I felt that most of my pose hadn’t chance only the background *lol* if you know what I mean. And I want to change this… Here are some “how to pose for the camera” advise which I found on the internet. If you have more or better tips/ links share it here by leaving a comment for instance so that we can all profit for our next camera pose :p

Video

Pose like a Model standing



Pose like a Model sitting



Josie Maran: How to pose like a model



Model Posing 101 and Tips



"UP" The posing technique that always works



Erin Manning's Top 5 Posing and Directing Photography Tips



Photography Posing Secrets

Inside my Heart - 你在我心上

By chance I found this Chinese music on YouTube. Artist: Huang Xiao Ming (黄晓), who also plays the (second) lead in the new Taiwanese Drama Summer’s Desire (泡沫之) as Luo Xi. (Btw. one of my favorite Drama of 2010 so far. Here is the Link but be warned you can get easily hook up with it http://silentknow-cdrama.blogspot.com/2010/05/summers-desire.html) ~~ Anyway, his voice is amazing. Very soft and full of emotion! ;p

Twilight - Eclipse

I am a huge Twilight Fan! However, unfortunately like most of us who live outside the US we have to wait. Even its a few days but it still too long! Don’t you agree :p Therefore, I’ve just found a link where you can watch it online. Be fast, before the link is going to be deleted. The quality is not so good (but it’s in English) and you can still watch it twice (in cinema – when it’s finally reach your country) until then ENJOY :)

Movie

IELTS

If you are applying for a University which offers programms taught in English, when you can be 100% for sure that they want to see your English Level through Language Certificate like IELTS or TOEFL. Since I did an IELTS test most of the links here are focus on this (: Good Luck with your preparations! If you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment...

• IELTS Exam Preparation (Writing): http://www.ielts-exam.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=346&Itemid=64
• IELTS Exam Preparation (Speaking): http://www.ielts-exam.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234&Itemid=41
• Exam English: http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/IELTS_writing.htm
• Online English: http://www.onlinenglish.net/IELTS/Writing/Reports/free_task_1.html
• Self Access: http://www.selfaccess.com/ielts_writing.php
• Pass IELTS Online: http://www.passieltsonline.com/
• UK Gate: http://www.ukgate.com/Lessons.aspx?ID=103
• Describing graphs: http://www.eslflow.com/describinggraphstables.html
• Models for EAP and IELTS academic essays: http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/resources/essays.html
• IELTS Blog (Speaking samples): http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-speaking-samples/
• IELTS Blog Moodle: http://ielts-blog.com/moodle/
• IELTS Writing Task 1 - Graph Part: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3049082/IELTS-Writing-Task-1-Graph-Part-II
• IELTS Writing Task 2 - Essay Part: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3114300/ielts-writing-task-2-essay-400-plus-essay
• HOLD's Blog: http://my.opera.com/holdvn/blog/index.dml/tag/IELTS (Most Useful Site in my Opinion)
• Free IELTS Academic Writing Test: http://www.ieltshelpnow.com/academic_writing_test_2.html
• Writing/ Speaking Tips: http://www.writefix.com/
  
• ...

Video Tips for IELTS preparation

IELTS Writing Achieve 6.5 - Example 5 Describing a line graph



IELTS How to write an argument essay outline (Part 1/2)



IELTS How to write an argument essay outline (Part 2/2)



Learn English with Steve Ford - IELTS Listening

Academic Vocabulary

• Topnotchelinks Vocabulary: http://www.topnotchelinks.com/Vocabulary/vocabulary.html
• Academic Vocabulary List: http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/multicultural/ESOLCurriculumDocs/All/academicvocabulary2.pdf 
• Academic Vocabulary - Word Lists: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~alzsh3/acvocab/wordlists.htm
• ...

What will happen if I don't get the expected test results

Don't worry. If you "Failed" you can still apply! If the University likes your application profil then it will offer you a conditional offer, which means in some cases you have to take a language pre-sessional course. The lenght of this course vary from 4/6 weeks up to 6 months (no Joke!) depend on your result and the University...

• The Student Room: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=674941
• IELTS 6.0 is too High for a UK Student Visa: http://www.adviceforyou.org.uk/blog/uk-student-visa/ielts-is-too-high-for-a-uk-student-visa/
• ...

Statement of Purpose

Writing a SoP for university might be an easy task for some people but for some others it's rather difficult (like me (^_^)") Therefore, I did a lot of researches on the internet... Here are some (in my opinion) helpful sites

• SoP Tips: http://soptips.blogspot.com/
• Berkeley University of California: Career Center: https://career.berkeley.edu/grad/GradStatement.stm
• Oppapers: http://www.oppapers.com/search_results.php?action=search&query=statement+of+purpose 
• Natalia Lukina's homepage: http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~natalia/studyinus/guide/statement/samples.htm
• 
  
• ...

Video

What makes a good personal statement from the University of Birmingham

Choosing a university

Once you have decided to study in a foreign country, the next step is to choose a university which offers your desired subject. It’s not easy. Here are some good websites (with focus on business), which helped me with my decisions (:

In General

• Study Business Masters: http://www.studybusinessmasters.com/editorial/masters_in_international_business/ 
• Top universities: http://www.topuniversities.com/universities
• Ranking Business Schools: http://www.applyq.de/Studium___Business_Schools/Ranking_Business_Schools/body_ranking_business_schools.html 
•  University courses, University reviews: http://www.whatuni.com/degrees/home.html

For UK

• Union View: http://www.unionview.com/Home
• Hotcourses: http://www.hotcourses.com/community/homePage.jsp?x=16180339&y=&a=0 
• E-Follows: http://www.e-fellows.net/wiki/index.php/Studieren_in_Gro%C3%9Fbritannien
• Arasis: http://www.arasis.de/auslandsstudium/country.tcl?iso=uk
• Bafög-Aktuell: http://www.bafoeg-aktuell.de/cms/studium/auslandsstudium/grossbritanien.html 
•