WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1955 THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,1955 THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE Laboratory Contains Language Recordings Center Serves To Improve Students' Reading Abilities By RUTH WEISS Buenas dias, Guten tag, Good. day, Bon jour! Walk into the language labora- tory in Mason Hall, pick out a rec- ord, play it on the recorder, put on the earphones and the student is likely to be greeted in any one of 18 different languages: German, Latin, Polish, Korean, Thai, Turk- ish, Persian, Portuguese, Swedish, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japan- ese, Greek, English, Russian, Ar- abic or Italian. About six and a half years ago Prof. Lawrence Kiddle, Prof. Charles Staubach and Prof. Ernst Pulgram, of the Romance - lan- guage Department, planned the laboratory project and obtained permission to start it. Six to 100 They began with six pieces of Plan Offered For Bettering Study Habits Chief of the Reading Improve- ment Service, Donald E. Smith, has a plan for studying efficiently and a method for writing essay exams. Smith explained that the plan set-up has proven effective in in- creasing exam scores by about 50 percent. One should begin with a survey of the material to be studied. This includes thinking what the title means, reading the introduction, summary and main heads or first sentences in each paragraph to decide what you are attempting to find out. Make-Up Questions From this, Smith suggests, make-up questions to be answered as you study. Upon completion of the read- ing, recite by answering the ques- tion and making very brief notes, consisting of key words and list- ings only. Long notes, Smith stated, create a fear of having too much to learn. Students can increase retention and cut last minute studying by 90 per cent by using an immediate review plan. Inefficient Reading Smith explained that repeated reading is inefficient, since tests have proved that 70 percent of what 18 first read is retained and only an additional one-half per- cent is gained on re-reading. In taking an essay type exam, a time schedule should be set up whereby the student allows about fifteen minutes at the end for completing answers and correcting. Read the questions through thoroughly, jotting down key words to the answers to reduce "clutching." "Put the question in your own'words," said Smith, "and compare your version with the test to be sure you are answering the right question." machinery. Today this number has increased to 100 pieces which are used for recording and listening to records. The laboratory is supervised by Thomas Bradley, whose primary interest is the electrical equip- ment. He is assisted by Dennis Greene, graduate student in the foreign language department and William Baird, graduate student in linguistics. The University was one of the first to use this method of study for foreign languages now adopted by many other colleges. Serves All Departments This inter-departmental labora- tory serves all the language de- partments as well as the English Language Institute. It is administered by an inter- departmental committee w i t h Prof. Otto Graf, of the German Department, serving as chair- man. Students studying a foreign lan- guage learn the language by hear- ing it on records and repeating and memorizing it. Recordings are made of material supplementing classroom work. 70 Booths The 70 listening booths are used approximately 3,500 times a week including repeat sessions. Teach- ers often use it to review vocabu- lary. Students planning trips to for- eign countries use it to acquaint themselves with the language. A section of the laboratory is re- served from 9-11 p.m. every morn- ing for.foreign students studying English. BON JOUR-The language laboratory in Mason Hall contains 70 listening booths, where students may play recordingls in 18 different languages. The records serve to enable students to hear foreign words and to repeat and memorize them, supplementing regular class work. 'Big Sister' Program Ai s Freshmen Coeds By PEG DAVIS Deep among the shadows in the basement of the University Ele- mentary School lies the Reading Improvement Center. This service started in 1954, is one of four branches of the Bureau of Psychological Service sponsored by the Institute for Human Ad- justment. It is supported in part by the University and in part by philanthropic funds. Several attempts had been made before 1952 to start such a serv- ice, but enrollment was more than could be handled so the project was dropped. Service Established Finally representatives from the School of Education and College of Literature, Science and the Arts met with E. Lowell Kelly, direc- tor of the Bureau, and the read- ing service was established. The courses at the Center are non-credit and require no tui- tion. A desire to become a better reader is the only necessary quali- f ication. Led by Donald E. P. Smith, chief of the Reading Improvement Serv- ice and his graduate student as- sistants, the Center instructs more than 800 students a year. How to read faster with better comprehen- sion, study methods, preparations for exams and the development of a better vocabulary are stressed during the course. Four Classes A Year There is a series of four classes a year, two a semester, lasting seven weeks each. Meeting twice a week for an hour, the students also practice one hour in-between classes. "Reading speed is increased with the help of a machine in which the book is placed," a student com- mented. "A timer is set and a shade comes down over the page at a set speed. To obtain the information we must keep ahead of the shade," she continued. "A test is taken af- ter the reading has been completed so that we can test our compre- hension." Smith declared that after exten- sive tests ne has found that stu- dents who have taken the course usually have a better over-all grade average than those who have not been exposed to the reading technique. fl 5 locations for Your conyvenience: MAIN OFFICE CORNER OF MAIN & HURON STREETS BRANCHES 330 SOUTH STATE STREET 1108 SOUTH UNIVERSITY PACKARD AT BROCKMAN (With drive-in and Parking Facilities)' 9571 N. Main Street Whitmore Lake, Mich. ANN ARBOR BANK First on Campus! JUMBO HAMBURGER -30c - LUMBARD'S UNIVERSITY DRUG 1225 South University By ELAINE EDMONDS "I don't know what I would have done without her!" These words are often repeated by freshmen and transfer women as they describe their "big sis- ters." CALORIE CONSCIOUS? Dr. Margaret Bell Gives * Advise on Balanced Dieting By BARB HECHT Counting calories is a favorite pastime for students, whether they are underweight, overweight or average weight. In considering the problem of losing, gaining, or maintaining the same weight, one should always remember that a well balanced di- et is extremely important. This advice comes from Dr. Mar- garet Bell, chairman of the Wo- men's Physical Education Program and Health Service physician. Balanced Meals The well balanced dinner should contain as many proteins as pos- sible, a low amount of carbohy- drates and as little fats as possible. Dr. Bell also stressed the idea that metabolic rates of an indi- vidual must be kept in mind when considering a diet. "Individuals vary in the amount of food they burn or utilize for their daily energy. Variation also occurs in the rate at which the food is burned up for energy," she said. A balanced diet is one of the first prerequisites to vigorous health. Foods including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, wa- ter, and vitamins are utilized by our bodies for growth, energy, regulation of body functions and building and replacing worn-out tissues. If the causes of being under- weight are found to be dietary, two general principles should be followed. The underweight per- son should eat more food, particu- larly those of high calorie value, including fats and carbohydrates. In addition, the person should rest more in order to use up less energy. Dietary control of food intake is the most effective method of controlling obesity. The main prin- ciple involves keeping the energy. intake below the energy expendi- ture, of the body. The difference is made up by the utilization of body fats, since your extra tissue is burned for energy. The "big sister" program spon- sored by Assembly Association is a sy'stem whereby each new stu- dent living in a dormitory has an upperclass "big sisiter." Writes Letters The "big sister's" duties start about a month before school opens in the fall. At this time she intro- duces herself by writing letters to her "little sisters." The "big sister" gives hints on a coed's University life and attempts to answer any questions which the new student may ask. On the whole her duty is to smooth the bumps out of a freshman or transfer stu- dent's first few months on cam- pus. The League Big Sister Commit- tee, headed by Judy Leib, is com- posed of 17 representatives, one from each dormitory. Orients Freshmen The main function of the,-com- mittee is to orient freshmen and transfers to dormitory and Uni- versity life. The committee at- tempts to remove some of the im- personal atmosphere from dormi- tory life. k t present because of the in- creased enrollmenteach "big sis- ter" has up to four "little sisters" while in former years each "big sister" had only two "little sis- ters." One of the principle duties of the Big Sister Committee is the planning of the picnic suppers which are given for all freshmen and transfer women on the first Sunday of orientation week. Invitations to the spring picnic were sent by the committee to all the new students before they ar- rived at the University. League Coffee Hour There will be a coffee hour for freshmen and transfer stu- dents on Thursday, Sept. 22, to acquaint them with the mem- bers of the various League com- mittees. They will have an opportunity at this time to ask questions about the many League activi- ties and learn of its relationship to other campus organizations. Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. 1IL- _.,.,n .n: ":.>f,. 1. ":: Y:.1 r. A~:..->v ::"::f: A"s"""c"" Look as Smart as .You flre[ 1; Buy Names You Know! LO E Visit COLLINS when you arrive in Ann Arbor this fall. We hope to be moved into this, our new home at State and Liberty. * Jonathan Logan " Bobbie Brooks * Dalton of America * Johnny Herbert * Petti * Joan Miller * Canterbury " Rosecrest * Ship 'n' Shore * Rose Marie Reid * Natlyn Jrs. * Emma Domb (,1 I , p. 00 r . s e Jerry Gilden * Junior House * Jane Irvill * Roswin * Betty Jean ! Betty Rose * Strooke 0 Rockland * Rainshedder * Henry Rosenfeld * Sporteen * St. Marys BttlA A Hal Mar We are anxiously looking forward to welcoming you to a store of the newest in design and style, with the best merchandise obtainable and the same friendly atmosphere . n ._ .0 _ _ * -.-7 f