Any advice please for a situation when neither Tomatoes or Madman, Architect, Carpenter & Judge techniques work and English is not your native language?

Hi again Keenbean,
Just replied to your other post and saw this one. I guess I am taking my belated advice back. What if she is indeed mentally unwell and the only thing you can do in this situation is to safeguard your own sanity. And get through the viva. And say good - bye to her. And move on with your life? Don't allow at all costs this situations to lead to a breakdown on the eve of the viva...
Cheers,
Rina

Hi Keanbean
Good luck with preparation for submission! Your decision to prioritise your PhD over the fellowship application seems to be a common sense one. Once you have your PhD, may other opportunities come your way.  However, to be completely  honest,  provided the kind of supervisor you have, and what you have went through and achieved while working towards this PhD, it just seemed from outside that you have been through similar hurdles in the past and you somehow managed to overcome them. So, my belated advice would have been quoting the Roosevelt's words - 'the only thing you have to fear is fear itself'. 
Wishing you the best of all in submission and viva. (up)
Rina

Thank you so much Hazyjane and Catalynbond! After posting I just took a walk around the block because could not think straight about this thing, and when I came back I found your replies! (gift) How nice is that!!! Advice from you both make me want to keep going ;-) I have only one missing value of participant's age - I'll just exclude him. Right...I don't know how to set up excel calculation headache is gone:-)(up)(up) Nighty - night, Rina

Sorry - reposting again with minor corrections
Changes: 04 Jul 2011 21:58:21
Right...I know this may sound pretty basic...but can anyone please tell me how to calculate the sample mean of participants' (children) exact age in years and months. One cannot use decimal points, like 0.7 - it does not equal 7 months, right? What format is it better to use? Using just months seems cumbersome, as some children are aged 15 years. Also when calculating standard deviation of the age how to account for missing values - some participants did not disclose their age.
Many thanks in advance, Rina

Right...I know this may sound pretty basic...but can anyone please tell me how to calculate the sample mean of participants' (children) exact age in years and months. One cannot use decimal points, like 0.7 does not equals7 months, right? What format then it is better to use? Using just months seems cumbersome, as some children are aged 15 years. Also when calculating standard deviation of the age how to account for missing values - some participants did not disclose their age.

Many thanks for your thoughts in advance. Rina

Maybe it is just my particular case when the supervisor is very formal about the record keeping, I am just wondering how important is in others' experiences of passing the PhD the official record of supervision, besides it managerial and planning utility... Is this something that is submitted for/asked/discussed during viva at all? As a reflection of the progress in one's research and one' communication with the supervisor, how much does this record influences the chances of being admitted to/passing the viva? Will be most grateful for your feedback on this issue - I sound like my supervisor:(

Hi guys,

So glad you brought up this topic. I will be also using IPA in my study, and I am facing the same problem of finding a cost and time - efficient training(s) in this approach.

Dear Keanbean,
Is there any chance to have a copy of the IPA reference you mentioned?

Many thanks and all the best of luck with your studies!
Rina

Awhh, Plju and Strawberrygirl, thank you indeed for your advice (up) - just what the doctor prescribed :-)! I feel less fret and and demoralised, mostly, as you, guys, mentioned, the whole thing could be just a formal process of securing funding for research (@ Strawberrygirl: this will be a studentship for somebody else as I already have one) and partly because it is not in my power to change the course of this particular thing. As long as the thing does not sound outright appalling, as you guys confirmed, I can wait and see what happens...and will try to talk to sups, gently, as you advised ;-). xxx, rina

Good time of the day to everyone,

Today browsing my uni web for a course syllabus that I will do TA, anyway, just by occasion, I came across information that my supervisors are announcing a studentship, the same one I am having with them, on the same topic, and even the idea and words describing the proposed area of research looks to be taken from my research proposal! I was speechless when I saw this, and keep thinking about it whole day. I don't' understand what is going on. Are they recruiting another student to work on PhD in the same area, because they think I am not doing well? So, in a way, they already think of getting rid of me? Or they are genuinely interested in the area and would like to explore it more? But then why they are copying my ideas and words in the announcement? Knowing them, I doubt their lack of creativity to come up with at least their own text of announcement? Am I being paranoid? Should I bring it up with them? Especially the copying part.. I am just lost in my thoughts. I cannot concentrate on work at the moment. Anyone, please help me to get my peace back!

Thanks a lot indeed, guys!

Hi guys,
Sorry for raising this question again, I am a complete novice to this area and I guess I did not phrase my question right in the first time (very good teaching qualities). Anyway, I understand that when someone is assigned to a total of x amount of hours of teaching per year, that x amount includes time for preparation, assessment and support of learning. Could anyone please clarify for me how and by whom the amount of time spent on preparation, assessment and support of learning is usually calculated? And also how one is usually assessed on the quality of one's teaching?
Most gratefully,
R

Hi,
Just an idea, though it is a bit late for your today's meal. But maybe for tomorrow or any other day, you could try tomato and basil soup (my fav, quick and cheap one). Recipe is at: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9311/tomato-and-basil-soup Instead of tinned tomatoes I use the real ones and boiled water instead of stock.
Hope it helps.

Thank you all!
Looks like I am stuck with my sup and doomed to teach. Please welcome me to depressed PhD students group. I am sure you will see me around soon...
Best,
Rina

Hello everyone,
I just finished my 1st year and need a piece of advice, actually a few, if you don't mind:
1. Change of supervisor: I was wondering if I can change of supervisor if I am on a studentship linked to his area of research? Do I loose the funding in this case?
2. Teaching: 100 of teaching - is it a lot or not? How these hours are usually calculated per semester or academic year, i.e. how many hours per preparation and per actual teaching?
Apologies if my questions may seem basic, but this is the only venue where I can ask without repercussions.
Many thanks, Rina