Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions about WinK, writing, vocabulary, reading, learning, browsing or blogging, please check this list for possible answers. Scan the Table of Contents or search for key words, for example, “post” or “URL“. And of course you may ask us questions any time.
If you ask questions in class or email questions to your instructors, we may add the questions and answers to this list. Then other students can use this list to find answers to their own or related questions.
If you want to contribute to this list directly, please talk to your teacher.
Reading
I am taking a writing course. Why do I have to read English books, too?
To improve your writing, of course you need writing practice and training, but we don’t think that is enough. You also need to build up your basic knowledge of English by reading as much English as possible. You don’t have to read difficult books. Please choose books that suit your English level and that you enjoy reading.
What's the difference between a leveled reader and a graded reader?
Graded readers are books written especially for foreign learners of English, such as most Japanese students. Leveled readers are books written mainly for children in English-speaking countries. The “Big 3” of graded readers are Oxford Bookworms, Cambridge English Readers, and Penguin Readers. Some famous leveled readers series are Oxford Reading Tree, Usborne Young Reading (part of the Usborne Reading Programme), I Can Read, Step Into Reading, and All Aboard Reading.
In the catalogue at the back of your Orange Books, the graded readers come first and are arranged by level. These are followed by leveled readers, arranged by series.
Vocabulary
Other
Gobbledygook
What is gobbledygook?
Garbled text, unreadable characters - often caused by combination of non-alphanumeric keyboard input and programs, servers or systems that do not display non-alphanumeric content properly, for example: Japanese characters and punctuation marks, or cellphone emoticons. Below is a screenshot of some gobbledygook.
What happens when you don’t use alphanumeric input?
Source: 1st period FeedBlendr list (May 9, 2007)
Click here to see more examples.
* Note: Access to Kenkyuto 410 requires Mr. T’s password; it’s the same as the beginning of his gmail address.
