This is what happens when there is an 8-day Holiday and then you are the teacher for the 8:00am morning classπ Break time – they start to crash!
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#Teaching Humor ~ #Holiday Misses
30 SepThat moment when you are supposed to have 93 students in class, but the school re-scheduled your class for the Saturday before a week long National Holiday. . . . and so only 9 students arrive. Then you go to your 65 student class and have exactly ONE poor boy come alone. Oh well, extra credit handed out and movie party/class about aligning incentives correctly went on like planned π€£π
Teaching Confusion. . . .
24 SepI have more than 600 students this semester between all three classes I teach (I teach the entire junior and sophomore years – – all majors). But there is always that magic moment when a student adds me on Wechat with the profile image of a random (though adorable) bunny, the username “RainbowsareCuteπΊ” and the clarifying statement “Teacher, I am your student. What chapter is for the next class?. . . . . .
Β
Well, that’s a VERY good question. If I knew how I knew you, I could possible know the answer π€£ππ Let us now ponder the mystery together!
#Teaching Joys #1
16 Sepβ€ Ran into my student at the Starbucks today. She came up and said hi. Then she told me that she’s seen me there once before – but she was too scared to say hello. She was so proud of herself today! Kept giggling with her friends behind the counter. Took us a bit, but we figured out her major and her class. I love my students so much. Watching them blossom, grow braver, and just mature is such a wonderful blessing. #thegoodlife #iloveteaching
Inside Voice, Outside Voice, #Teaching Voice
12 SepRoger (the totally awesome IT guy) came to class today to install a new microphone. He asked if I needed one. I said “No, I’m pretty loud without it.” Girl in the back of a room of roughly 96 students — “Oh yes, we can hear very good.” Me: π€£π. . . Roger: Oh. I think you do not need this. It’s okay. Me: LOL. I thought not.
#Ivacy VPN 2017
7 AugIvacy VPN
If you pay any attention to my blog, you’ll know that for the last 3 years I have been living abroad and traveling to many countries including China, Korea, Japan, US. Β All truly beautiful countries, you should try reading some of my other posts to see my adventures!
As always, I want to start by saying I do NOT support using a VPN to avoid legal blocks (like the Great Firewall), accomplish illegal or illicit activities, or do anything that the government would not approve of. Β Those things are illegal – if you don’t want to follow their local laws, find a different country to live or travel in.Β
So if you aren’t looking to break firewalls and get into sites you shouldn’t be getting into, why would you want a VPN? Β You can find my list of the pros and cons of a VPN here. In general,Β IΒ like the security a VPN provides to me, whether at home or abroad. I still use myΒ VPNs in the US, especially if at a public location to avoid the same hacks, viruses, and trojans I worry about while traveling. Β A VPN can help keep you fast and safe. Sometimes. Depending on which VPN you choose. Β Also, it sometimes helps me bypass technical issues in the system. For example, my university uses Blackboard, but it does have random glitches that drop it a lot. Β About 25% of the time, it only works if the teachers use aΒ VPN. Β When other teachers are down and out, those with a VPN can still get on.
To be honest, I actually go back and forth between several VPNs right now including Astrill and VyprVPN.Β You can read my reviews for them here and here. Β But I recently Β IvacyΒ offered me the chance to test them out – kind of a new VPN on the shelf. Here’s my experience so far!
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Managerial #Economics ~ Understanding #MRTS the Fun Way!
12 JunAs always, this lesson isΒ not intended to be professional advice. This is simply lesson materialΒ for ESL students in a Managerial Economics and Finance class. Posted here for their use or for helping other students.
PART 1 – Key Words
- Quantity (ι) ~ How many productsΒ =Β Q (# ofΒ π)
- Labor (εε·₯) ~Β The Number of Workers =Β L (π±)
- Capital (θ΅ι) ~ The Money ($$) we need =Β K (π²)
- Change (εε) ~Β How much did the # change? =Β Ξ(πΊ)
- Marginal (θΎΉι ζζ¬) ~Β Result if you add ONE MORE (+1) Q
- Rate (ζ―η) ~ Ratio
- Substitution (ε代) ~ XK = 1L (Substitution asks “what is X?”)
- Input (θΎε
₯) ~Β All the resources you put into a product.Β
- Ice Cream π¦has many inputs:
- Milkπ₯
- Eggsπ³
- Sugar
- Ice
- Salt
- Chocolate Sauce
- Ice Cream π¦has many inputs:
- Output (δΊ§ι) ~Β The product you createΒ
- Ice Cream π¨π¦is the output!
Part 2 – The Relationship Between L, K, and Q
Every product (δΊ§ι) can have lots of inputs (θΎε ₯), just like theΒ Ice Cream π¦Β or a Car π. Β
Input + Input + Input + Input = Output (π)
But in our class, we focus on TWO inputs: LaborΒ (π±) and Money (π²)
π±+π²=π
Labor (π±) + Money (π²) = Quantity (π)
L (π±)+ K (π²)= Q(π)
Example:Β
Justin sells 200 cars πevery day. Not 201 cars. Not 199 cars. He sells EXACTLY 200 cars πevery day.Β
L (π±) + K (π²) = 200 cars (π)
Justin knows that inΒ ONE DAYπ:
- 1 worker π±Β can create 50% of a car π~ 2 workers π±π±can create 100% of a car π(one car)
- 1L = 0.5QΒ π
- 2L = 1QΒ π
- $5 π²Β can pay for 20% of a car π~ $25 π²can pay for 100% of a car π(one car)
- 1K = 0.2QΒ π
- 5K = 1QΒ π
Rule #1 ~ If L β¬ and KΒ β¬, then the # ofΒ πΒ cars will alsoΒ β¬
Rule #2 ~ If L β¬ and KΒ β¬, then the # of πΒ cars will alsoΒ β¬
Rule #3 ~ If LΒ β¬Β and the # ofΒ πΒ cars is still 200 (stay the same), K mustΒ β¬
Rule #4 ~ IfΒ KΒ β¬Β and the # ofΒ πΒ cars is still 200 (stay the same), L mustΒ β¬
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, Justin looks π€at his Money π²and is NOT happyπ. He thinks he spends TOO MUCH moneyπ‘! Β He wants to buy a new bicycleπ², so he decides to SAVE $100 π²
This means today:
π±L + (π²K – π²100K) = ? Qπ
WHAT IS THE NEW Q (number of carsπ) that Justin Makes Today?
Day 1 (Yesterday): π±L + π²K = π200Q
Day 2 (Today): π±L + (π²K – π²100K) = π200Q – all the πcars $100K would pay for.Β
Remember! Β π²1K = π0.20Q (one dollar pays for 0.20 cars in a day)
If Justin does not spend $100 today, he will lose the money for 20 cars!Β
1K = 0.20 cars
π²-100K = -20 carsππππππππππππππππππππ
ANSWER: Justin makes 180 cars today!
L + (K – 100K) = 200 cars – 20 carsΒ
= 180 carsπ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK?!?π€
NO!!! Β π‘Remember –> “Justin sells 200 cars πevery day. Not 201 cars. Not 199 cars. He sells EXACTLY 200 cars every day. ” Β
PROBLEM: Β How can Justin still make and sell 200 cars tomorrow if he still saves the $100 (-100K) as today.
Rule #4 ~ If π²KΒ β¬Β and the # of πΒ cars is 200 (the same), π±L mustΒ β¬
QUESTION: HOW MUCH should π±L Β go up (β¬)? Β
- Step 1 ~ How many extra cars πdoes Justin need to make? ~Β Justin can make 180 cars right now if he saves $100 (-100K) but L stays the same as yesterday. Β
200 π – 180 π= 20π
Justin needs to make π±LΒ β¬Β enough to make 20 extra carsπ tomorrow.
- Step 2 ~ How much L does Justin have to add (+) to make 20 more cars tomorrow?
?L + (K – 100K) = 200Q
Remember,
π±1L = 0.5QΒ π | π±π±2L = 1QΒ π
20Q π= 40L
ANSWER: Justin will have to hire 40 workers (+40L) in order to make 20 more cars tomorrow.
π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«π«
FINAL SOLUTION
*Substitution = Adding L to Decrease K
(π±L + π±40L) + (π²K – π²100K) = 200 Q (π)
Part 3 ~ MRTS
MRTS = Marginal Rate of Technical Substitution
Β 
Go Back to Part 2.
- πΊKπ²
- Yesterday, Justin had Kπ²
- Tomorrow, Justin has -100Kπ²
- πΊK = -100Kπ²
- πΊLπ±
- Yesterday, Justin had Lπ±
- Tomorrow, Justin has +40Lπ±
- πΊL = +40Lπ±
MRTS = 5K : 2L |5π² : 2π«
This just tells us:
- For every 2 π«workers Justin has, he spends $5π²π²π²π²π².
- For every 1 π±worker Just has, he spends $2.50π²π²Β½
- If Justin wants to hire 1 worker (+1L) , he will save $2.50 (-2.50K)
- I Justin wants to save $40 (-40K), he must hire 16 workers (+16L)
MRTS shows how much Lπ± can be a substitute for Kπ²!
#Emoji Economics
10 Jun
Lol – explaining MRTS and upper level economics theories to a student via emoji and wechat messenger. π
The ways we adapt to the ESL academic class!
#Business in #China ~ #Contracts
4 JunOne of the problems I repeatedly encounter in China is the fact that they view contracts as “guidelines rather than actual rules.” The American business system and legal system interprets a contract as law — If you agreed to it, you MUST do it. The Chinese professionals I have worked with interpret contracts as “this is what we think might work, but it’s always open to reinterpretation and change later.” One year I was actually told (after completing all of the required work) “Oh, well, what we said was really just too excessive so we’ve decided not to pay you that.”
This is a VERY big problem and a huge source of discord between the Chinese and foreign workers. Americans are expecting things by the book, but in China you need adaptability. On the other hand, the Chinese are promising more than they deliver and breaking promises. If you are considering working in an American-Chinese business or teaching atmosphere, I highly recommend you discuss this issue before signing contracts. Talk to the other side and verify how they view a contract — law or general guideline. Find a way to agree on what will be included and then keep the promises you do agree to.
βShe was free in her wildness. She was a wanderess, a drop of free water. She belonged to no man and to no cityβ ~ Roman Payne
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