The learning process also made me feel more confident. I look forward to it, and it also feels very unknown. I hope I can enjoy it.

In the next 15 weeks, I want to learn the ability to think critically and independently, which is something I lack. Meanwhile, I hope that improve my listening and writing skills before the end of the course. This means I need to input and output a lot of English.

The first plane, which I made, had a sharp, pointed front, and it flew really high and far at home. I was impressed by how smooth it looked in the air. However, after the first flight, the tip got damaged when it landed. It led to the next few flights being less stable and harder to control.

Therefore, for my second plane, I changed the plane nose to a flat shape. This made it stronger and able to sustain more crashes. It flew more times, but the direction wasn’t very stable. For example, it often turned or lost balance.

What I learned is the importance of testing and making improvements. It reminded me that design is a process of trying, failing, and trying again. I also learned how useful to ask questions and reflect during the design. This thinking can also help in my other courses. I think that I need to keep practicing.

To make my outcome look more professional, I haven't been afraid to try many different ways. Every attempt helps me understand more and brings me a step closer to a better result.

I think the most interesting part of this project is that I can choose anything from many meaningful things to represent my own identity. I enjoy thinking deeply about emotions and my connection with the world. I also like exploring unknown topics and finding something about myself. This project feels both challenging and meaningful to me.

However, I know that I will need to face one difficult problem: finding my own identity. In our society, it’s easier to become the person others expect us to be, rather than who we are. So while exploring my identity, I need to ask myself: What is the real part of who I am? And what is just someone else's expectation of me? This is a big question I need to reflect it.

In my next step, I need to choose an object or something that is connected with my personality and background. I also need to ask myself more individual questions, which can help me understand more about my identity. Currently, I don’t have any big questions about this project. Instead, I believe it's a good challenge. I’m excited to learn more about who I am through this journey.

I like his work because he was not afraid to change. For instance, he created the character Ziggy Stardust, a space alien rock star. Through Ziggy, David Bowie explored issues of gender, fame, and loneliness. This shows how he used performance to express different parts of his identity. His music and image turned into art that challenged what people thought was normal.

I see identity in his ideas because he played with different characters. He showed that a person can have many sides, and we don’t always have to be just one. His work is full of emotions and creativity.

This connects to my own identity because I also feel like I have many characters. Sometimes I’m quiet, sometimes emotional, and sometimes I want to be bold. Like David Bowie, I want to understand who I am by trying different ideas. He inspires me to be honest and creative in how I express myself.

The woman is talking about how it is important to build relationships with young people in a space and think about how to maximize the opportunities for young people to lead with their own identity, not bury them, it let they lead.

2. Comment on what you learned from her talk.

Building connections and relationships with others in a development space will give young people the motivation to express themselves, whether in school, the community or at home. Try to build a trusted environment and space.

I believe that this course is not just about improving my English. It’s also made me know about “sink or swim”. I must adapt to a new learning environment and think more independently. Sometimes the tasks are heavy and need more time to reflect, while I understand that is part of my master's study. I think I need to manage my time better. For example, to be more efficient when studying alone, and to balance rest and learning time so I don’t struggle with stress and anxiety.

Next time, I'd like to be more active in class discussions and speak more confidently. I will also give myself space to think without rushing. I hope to find a healthy balance between study and rest, so I can enjoy the process while improving my language and my self-awareness.

1. Mike made up fake answers in his project, not using real data.

2. It is kind of cheating, which shows dishonesty and breaks Academic Integrity.

3. He could fail the project and the trust of his tutor.

4. Even if the result isn't perfect, we should always show real research. If we have any problems, we should ask for help rather than lying.

5. Honesty is more important than getting high marks.

Task 2 – Lisa & Tom

1. They worked together on the individual assignment, however, they should have done it alone.

2. It means they didn’t do their own work. This is unfair to other students and breaks Academic Integrity.

3. They could get a lower grade or do the work again. This behavior might be called collusion.

4. We need to read the assignment instructions carefully and do individual work by ourselves.

5. It’s okay to discuss ideas, but they should write their own answers.

Task 3 – Reflection

1. I learned that working too closely with my friend or classmates on an individual task can be dishonest.

2. I was surprised by Lisa and Tom’s example because I thought teamwork was good. However, I see sometimes it's not allowed, need to be careful.

3. I'll make sure to follow the rules clearly and ask my tutor if I’m not sure what is allowed.

Ryuichi Sakamoto is one of the most important artists of our time, not only an electro pop singer, but also an Oscar-winning film composer. Moreover, he has branched out into the movie world, such as Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

Personal connection

Whether it's his film soundtracks or singles, I'm always unconsciously attracted to his creative process. In the video, he said that the world was full of sound, which touched me deeply. As a creator, I think it is a natural flow of creative energy and a connection to "something deeper."

Reflection

How did he express his emotions and transform them into music? Can I also express my identity that cannot be described in words through my creation?

I realised that I feel more confident when there is no pressure to be correct, and I can relax and share my opinion because it feels like a normal conversation, and I enjoy it. However, when the activity is more formal, like a presentation or interview, I become nervous and overthink. I worry about not being clear or organised enough. In addition, I also noticed a common problem in my speaking: sometimes I mix up tenses. For example, I might talk about the past using the present tense. This is a bad habit I've always had. Because I cannot change tenses in time when speaking, I tend to use the present simple tense. I really want to improve this habit.

Next time, I want to push myself to speak more in public settings because I believe the way to improve is by trying, making mistakes, and learning from them. Therefore, for the academic tasks such as presentations or interviews, I will try to organise my ideas first and write down keywords and the main points beforehand. Also, in any situation, I shouldn't rush to answer. Trying to quickly think about how to use the correct tenses and content when speaking. This will help me sound clearer and feel more confident.

In the first place, identity helps artists and designers create original and personal work. For example, when an artist uses their cultural background or life experience in their artwork, it becomes more meaningful and different from others. This makes their work more special.

Secondly, audiences connect with those who tell a real story or show a personal message. When people see more emotions or culture in artwork, they will feel closer to the creator. For instance, many people admire Frida Kahlo because she shared her pain and identity through her art.

Finally, understanding identity can inspire strong messages in creation. When artists know who they are, they can speak about more distinctive topics like race, culture, or equality. Because of this, their creative works become more powerful and memorable.

In conclusion, I completely agree that identity is very important for artists and designers. It helps them express themselves, create original ideas, and connect with the audience on a deeper level.

I think my photos worked well because they showed both the traditional and modern life. However, one thing I feel a bit disappointed about is that the recording didn’t play very clearly, so my classmates couldn’t experience the people talking and the vibrant atmosphere of the street.

I really liked some of the other friend's presents, carefully described sounds, and connected them to the mood of the place, which made me feel relaxed while listening to the recording. I also enjoyed how they included shapes, smells, and colours in their presentations. It helped me build a more complete image of their city.

I enjoyed hearing that my story was touching and easy to understand. It was nice when someone said I was brave, it warmed my heart. Nevertheless, I think I need to improve my time management. Next time, I’ll try to practise more so I can control the timing better and not feel rushed.

I also commented on other friends’ Padlets. I liked their presentations because they showed honest feelings and strong personal stories.

At the beginning, I felt confused and a bit stuck. I didn't know how to begin or how to structure my idea. However, I looked at the essay models and guidance from the PPT, and broke the topic into small parts to think about, I felt more confident. Nevertheless, another challenge is when I already had the idea in mind, my typing was difficult because my typing speed is too slow to keep up with my thinking. I need to stop and think about how to spell words and how to write sentences. It felt frustrating and made the process take a long time. When I write by hand, I can rely on muscle memory, but on the computer, I sometimes forget the spelling.

This typing challenge affected how I organised my thoughts. Even when I had a good structure in my mind, the slow typing made me lose focus. However, the good thing is that the five-paragraph structure is like a hamburger structure. It gave me a clear direction to follow. I also felt proud when I finished my essays, even though it was hard.

I realised that my main difficulty is not just writing in English, but writing it on the computer. Because I used to rely on handwriting, I need to practise typing more often. I also discovered that if I spend too much time thinking about spelling or typing, I forget what I wanted to say. This shows me how important it is to build both language and technical skills at the same time.

In these 4 weeks' writing, I became more aware of my weakness, but also showed myself that I can overcome step by step. I have learned that having a strong idea is not enough, I also need the skills to express it quickly and clearly.

Next time, I will try to take notes on my computer during class instead of writing by hand. I also want to start using my computer to record my daily thoughts or simple conversations.

The article explores the process of Eastern and Western cultures from conflict to understanding in the film, especially the different concepts of honor and loyalty.

Although Japanese culture is popular in modern society, it was completely different during WWII. For example, they believe that it was a shame for soldiers to become prisoners because they didn't die for their beliefs on the battlefield.

This also slowly brings out the emotional and identity struggles between the characters in the film.

Why it’s relevant

Taiwan was a Japanese colony during World War II and still retains Japanese influence in many subtle ways. My great-grandmother worked for a Japanese family. Although she rarely talked about that time, I could feel the echo of that era in her manner, posture, and even temperament. It occupied a corner of my childhood.

This is an interview-style article in which Ryuichi Sakamoto shares the changes in his creative thinking and musical style as he gets older, especially after being diagnosed with cancer.

Why it’s relevant

By his creative process, I can better understand his musical expression in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", especially the obvious differences in his performance of this song at each period. At the same time, I see myself in his music, such as space, clarity, water, and wabi-sabi (the beauty of imperfection and the beauty of change in nature)

This article shares more about the image of Yonoi as a typical Japanese officer who is deeply influenced by Bushido. His strict self-discipline, emotional restraint, and inner struggle are compared with Dostoyevsky's themes.

Why it’s relevant

Ryuichi Sakamoto's Yonoi and music are important entry points for me to understand "emotional repression and the expression of energy under sadness."

Until this week's lesson, I practised some short presentations in class. I need to speak for at least 2 to 5 minutes and share my identity project, and explain the research journey so far. This project was using some simple slides or posts on my Padlet. It was a chance to test my speaking, organisation, and my confidence.

Feelings

At first, I felt very nervous. Before I started presenting, my hands and voice were shaking, and I was afraid that I would forget my words or lose my thinking structure. Although I told myself it's normal to speak with the wrong grammar, I know I couldn't always ignore it. However, when I started speaking, I felt more comfortable, because it was just like talking to myself, especially when I finished, some of my classmates gave me good feedback.

Evaluation

One positive part of my experience was that I didn't completely stop practicing. I found it really fascinating because I managed to finish what I prepared, and that gave me a sense of achievement. However, I also noticed some problems. In the presentation, sometimes I spoke too fast, and I forgot to make eye contact with my audience. It wasn't as easy as it looked because I was focusing on my poster and thinking about my structure. I also used too many filler words, such as "so" and "and", which made my message sound less confident. These small habits made me sound more nervous than I actually was.

Analysis

I realised that my nervousness doesn't just come from speaking English, it also comes from how I sound or look in front of my audiences. I tried to organise my thinking structure when I was speaking, so when I forgot one line, it made me panic. It shows me that I need to focus more on understanding my topic deeply and speaking, not just reciting. Another thing I noticed is that when I practise alone, I don't feel nervous, but in front of others, I avoid others' eyes. It means I need to practice more in front of people, and try to speak more English with them, not just by myself.

Conclusion

Overall, I’ve improved a little in speaking skills in public, but I still need more practice to reduce my nerves. I understand that this feeling is normal, but I want to look more confident.

Action Plan

From now on, I will try to practise my speech with my friend or record myself speaking. It can review how I sound. I will also prepare small notes with keywords. Lastly, I’ll try to practise breathing slowly before I start speaking to help me stay calm.

In today’s class, I experienced a mock presentation as part of my final presentation for the final assignment next week. Before I started, I felt quite nervous; my hand, my body, and my voice were shaking, especially because I was worried about my timing and thinking structure. However, once I began speaking, I felt more focused. I tried my best to make eye contact and speak slowly and clearly, although I was still unsure whether my points were clear or not.

So what?

My tutor, Jamie, noticed us trying to use the signposting language in our presentation. While preparing my poster and presentation, I realized how important signposting language is. At first, I wasn’t familiar with how to use it. But then I noticed that it not only guided the audience through my poster, but it also supported my speaking structure. It gave my presentation more order and made it easier for listeners to understand and follow. I also realised that when I used signposting as a way of thinking, it helped me design my poster more logically and clearly.

Now what?

I was really pleased with the result because it made me more confident with my poster and my presentation. Next times, I will practice using it naturally to support my explanationain. It will help me improve my overall performance in the final assignment.