Seinfeld was an American TV sitcom which lasted 9 seasons (from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998) and was considered by several magazines the greatest Television series of all times. Its protagonist, Jerry Seinfeld, was at the same time one of its writers. In real life, Jerry is a comedian who can barely act but makes this lack of acting talent just what the character needs to make everything even funnier.
The show is pretty much about the life of neurotic stand-up comedian Jerry and his equally neurotic friends. It is considered to be postmodern and has been many times described as being “about nothing at all”. The characters are all selfish, egocentric people who go through life making others miserable and never learning from their mistakes. However, there’s no single episode in which you despise them or get, at least, a little “angry” at them. The series doesn’t make you feel sorry for anyone.
Apart from all the DVD collections with special scenes, explanations, anecdotes and so on and so forth, there is even a book called “Seinlanguage” which compiles all the catchphrases and terms which were almost invented by the sitcom, and became so popular that they are now used as everyday language, such as “close/low/high-talker” (referring to the distance and volume a talker uses), “slider” (referring to a person who can walk around without being heard), “double dip” (referring to the act of dipping twice) and many more.
The series was not only excellent, but also had the perfect ending it could have existed for it, which almost never happens which such good TV shows. The last episode enjoyed an audience estimated at 76 million viewers making it the third most watched finale in television history.
As many other successful TV shows, it is said to be a curse on its characters since none of the TV programmes they have starred in after “Seinfeld” was successful. The term “curse” is, of course, an exaggeration. Larry Davis, one of the show’s creator and writer, said the idea was even idiotic. But, the thing is that after seeing Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards play the most spectacular characters in the amazing context created by “Seinfeld”, it is very hard to watch them doing something else.
Sources:
Wikipedia
IMDb
Friday 5 November 2010
Thursday 4 November 2010
Are we getting closer again?
Even though I consider myself “off the market” right now, I would like to explore human relations as if I were an active member of the group involved.
There are those times in which a night out with friends can end up being the first step into a relationship. You are dancing as if nobody was watching and suddenly a boy approaches you and takes your hand as an invitation to dance together. Everything goes well, conversation is great, he is quite good-looking, and you see him as, at least, someone who you can have a good time with.
Now, what happens when the disco is closing? No, not that! I’m pretty naive and old fashioned so don’t go that way! Come follow my trend of thought: When the night at the disco comes to an end, you both wish to find a way to keep in touch with this new ex-stranger. How do you do that?
The generation before mine, would exchange phone numbers. My generation replaced them with e-mail addresses; cold, non-committal and impersonal e-mail addresses. The conversations held face to face at the disco would carry on through MSN, having no chance to express true emotions properly and giving too much space to misinterpretation.
Later on, e-mail addresses were replaced by cell phone numbers, which seem to be even colder than e-mails but are in fact, in my opinion, a step back to the old telephone numbers that allowed real interaction. Giving someone your cell phone number means so much more than giving out your e-mail address.
But that doesn’t stop there! The last trend is to tell people your facebook alias so that they can find you and add you as their “friend”. Now, of course you have the option of ignoring the request, but you will probably not do it cause you like the boy, remember? Have you noticed that by adding him as your friend you’re opening the door for him to see everything about you? Your family – whom he shouldn’t meet until at least 5 months – your friends – whom he shouldn’t meet until he is really in love with you so that he wouldn’t see some are hotter than you – and your idiotic likes, dislikes, games, posts and everything else that unravel your inner self – which he shouldn’t see until you are married and he has no way to escape.
So, I wonder: aren’t these new technologies drawing us too close as to sabotage love?
There are those times in which a night out with friends can end up being the first step into a relationship. You are dancing as if nobody was watching and suddenly a boy approaches you and takes your hand as an invitation to dance together. Everything goes well, conversation is great, he is quite good-looking, and you see him as, at least, someone who you can have a good time with.
Now, what happens when the disco is closing? No, not that! I’m pretty naive and old fashioned so don’t go that way! Come follow my trend of thought: When the night at the disco comes to an end, you both wish to find a way to keep in touch with this new ex-stranger. How do you do that?
The generation before mine, would exchange phone numbers. My generation replaced them with e-mail addresses; cold, non-committal and impersonal e-mail addresses. The conversations held face to face at the disco would carry on through MSN, having no chance to express true emotions properly and giving too much space to misinterpretation.
Later on, e-mail addresses were replaced by cell phone numbers, which seem to be even colder than e-mails but are in fact, in my opinion, a step back to the old telephone numbers that allowed real interaction. Giving someone your cell phone number means so much more than giving out your e-mail address.
But that doesn’t stop there! The last trend is to tell people your facebook alias so that they can find you and add you as their “friend”. Now, of course you have the option of ignoring the request, but you will probably not do it cause you like the boy, remember? Have you noticed that by adding him as your friend you’re opening the door for him to see everything about you? Your family – whom he shouldn’t meet until at least 5 months – your friends – whom he shouldn’t meet until he is really in love with you so that he wouldn’t see some are hotter than you – and your idiotic likes, dislikes, games, posts and everything else that unravel your inner self – which he shouldn’t see until you are married and he has no way to escape.
So, I wonder: aren’t these new technologies drawing us too close as to sabotage love?
Halloween – Possible in Argentina?
Halloween is celebrated in many countries, such us the USA, Ireland, Canada and Scotland. There, children wearing all sorts of fancy dresses go house by house trick-or-treating, normally accompanied by their parents if they are too young to wander the streets alone.
As a child, I would watch films or TV shows in which this tradition was portrayed and would dream about joining this ritual. As an adult I ask myself: would it be possible to imitate such a celebration in our country? How would that work in Argentina? Or, in fact, would it work at all?
Let’s start with the essential prop: the costume. Would Argentine mothers spend hours and hours cutting fabrics, sewing and embroidering? Or would they just say: “Listen honey, I have to clean the house, take care of you, go to work and still try to look at least presentable. I have no time for handicrafts”? Okay, so let’s rent a costume! “Oh, baby! We have to pay our huge bills, spend our savings to do the shopping that will last only for a month and pay the rent of our house! We barely have some money left to buy some new items of clothing every two or three months”.
Now what about the ritual itself? Would parents accompany their children? They probably don’t have time or are too tired because they have to work 24/7. So, would they let their children go alone? I don’t really think so, as it is worrying enough to let your child walk a block alone to buy some candies because of the unstoppable wave of insecurity. But supposing parents do accompany their children or do let them go alone, would people open the door of their houses to some stranger wearing masks? Yes, sure…
As a child, I would watch films or TV shows in which this tradition was portrayed and would dream about joining this ritual. As an adult I ask myself: would it be possible to imitate such a celebration in our country? How would that work in Argentina? Or, in fact, would it work at all?
Let’s start with the essential prop: the costume. Would Argentine mothers spend hours and hours cutting fabrics, sewing and embroidering? Or would they just say: “Listen honey, I have to clean the house, take care of you, go to work and still try to look at least presentable. I have no time for handicrafts”? Okay, so let’s rent a costume! “Oh, baby! We have to pay our huge bills, spend our savings to do the shopping that will last only for a month and pay the rent of our house! We barely have some money left to buy some new items of clothing every two or three months”.
Now what about the ritual itself? Would parents accompany their children? They probably don’t have time or are too tired because they have to work 24/7. So, would they let their children go alone? I don’t really think so, as it is worrying enough to let your child walk a block alone to buy some candies because of the unstoppable wave of insecurity. But supposing parents do accompany their children or do let them go alone, would people open the door of their houses to some stranger wearing masks? Yes, sure…
ESL Printables - you've got to try it!
Have you ever found the perfect book? That one in which the topics and grammar points are presented in the exact way you would teach them; that one which gives you loads of supplementary material so that you never have to prepare anything on your own and squeeze your brain trying to write sentences and texts in which they can practise everything you have just taught. Well, I haven’t.
I love giving my students exercises that are different from the ones they have in their books because I think they have to be ready for everything. It is undeniable that there are some grammar points that need far more practice than others, and unfortunately, no book author seems to bare that in mind. At least, that I know of.
Searching the internet for extra material, I’ve found what is, for me, the best site for teachers. ESL Printables is a site massively used by teachers from all over the world. What is the key for its success and excellence? Its perfect system. The site offers you an incredibly wide variety of flashcards, worksheets, lesson plans, powerpoints, online exercises and many more things. But not everyone has access to them. To download the files you want, you need points. How do you get them? You share with your colleagues some material you have created. Once you’ve uploaded something you’ve authored, people will start downloading it, and every time someone does so, you get one point. And that’s pretty much how it works.
And as if finding exactly what you need ready for printing was not enough, the site also gives you the fantastic sense of belonging. There are many people who leave comments thanking you for your contribution and saying great things about your work. The system which, in a way, obliges you to do your bit, is also teaching you how rewarding it is to share.
I love giving my students exercises that are different from the ones they have in their books because I think they have to be ready for everything. It is undeniable that there are some grammar points that need far more practice than others, and unfortunately, no book author seems to bare that in mind. At least, that I know of.
Searching the internet for extra material, I’ve found what is, for me, the best site for teachers. ESL Printables is a site massively used by teachers from all over the world. What is the key for its success and excellence? Its perfect system. The site offers you an incredibly wide variety of flashcards, worksheets, lesson plans, powerpoints, online exercises and many more things. But not everyone has access to them. To download the files you want, you need points. How do you get them? You share with your colleagues some material you have created. Once you’ve uploaded something you’ve authored, people will start downloading it, and every time someone does so, you get one point. And that’s pretty much how it works.
And as if finding exactly what you need ready for printing was not enough, the site also gives you the fantastic sense of belonging. There are many people who leave comments thanking you for your contribution and saying great things about your work. The system which, in a way, obliges you to do your bit, is also teaching you how rewarding it is to share.
Tuesday 2 November 2010
One of the most painful female rituals: Waxing
One of the many painful aspects of being a woman is the fact that we always have to be looking good. To achieve this we go through lots of processes among which we can find one that men cannot understand: waxing. They say “why do you give yourself so much pain just to remove some hairs?” The answer probably is “because it works”. It‘s probably one of the best ways to achieve hair removal. Proof of this is that it has been used for a very very long time.
Around 60 B.C Egyptian women like Cleopatra used a method called “sugaring” (which is still used today), similar to waxing but having oil and honey as its main ingredients. For the Egyptians, a hairless and smooth body was a symbol of beauty, youth and innocence.
Later, The Greeks took this idea of a smooth body and thought body hair was ugly. So, mostly the women in the upper class removed every single hair, except for the eyebrows (just like the Egyptians). This can be seen in the sculptures dating from that time.
The Romans shared these views and every woman used different means of depilation (tweezers called the "volsella" and a kind of depilatory cream, the "philotrum" or "dropax", the forerunner of the current depilatory creams!) Waxing was done with resin or pitch.
Then, the Turks considered it sinful for a woman to have hair in her private parts. So, as soon as she felt hair growing there, she had to hurry into public baths and remove it. There were, and still are, special rooms in public baths for women to do so.
However, in the 1550s, Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, forbade her ladies in waiting to remove their pubic hair. This strange prohibition made waxing fall out of fashion and also broke this link between classy women and hair removal.
Waxing was brought back into the game with the invention of the bikini. In the 1960s, smoothness was rediscovered, and in the late 1980s, two Brazilian sisters took their Brazilian waxes to New York City.
Sources:
Get Waxing
LiveStrong.Com
History Undressed
Hair Removal Forum
Around 60 B.C Egyptian women like Cleopatra used a method called “sugaring” (which is still used today), similar to waxing but having oil and honey as its main ingredients. For the Egyptians, a hairless and smooth body was a symbol of beauty, youth and innocence.
Later, The Greeks took this idea of a smooth body and thought body hair was ugly. So, mostly the women in the upper class removed every single hair, except for the eyebrows (just like the Egyptians). This can be seen in the sculptures dating from that time.
The Romans shared these views and every woman used different means of depilation (tweezers called the "volsella" and a kind of depilatory cream, the "philotrum" or "dropax", the forerunner of the current depilatory creams!) Waxing was done with resin or pitch.
Then, the Turks considered it sinful for a woman to have hair in her private parts. So, as soon as she felt hair growing there, she had to hurry into public baths and remove it. There were, and still are, special rooms in public baths for women to do so.
However, in the 1550s, Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, forbade her ladies in waiting to remove their pubic hair. This strange prohibition made waxing fall out of fashion and also broke this link between classy women and hair removal.
Waxing was brought back into the game with the invention of the bikini. In the 1960s, smoothness was rediscovered, and in the late 1980s, two Brazilian sisters took their Brazilian waxes to New York City.
Sources:
Get Waxing
LiveStrong.Com
History Undressed
Hair Removal Forum
Sunday 31 October 2010
Kill the talkers
Warning: this post may contain high levels of irony, sarcasm and anger against the world. If you are a happy laid-back person, you will not feel identified with it and may even find it offensive.
If you ARE one of these talkers, feel free to be offended. That’s the aim =)
I probably shouldn’t be writing this right now because, although I’m already an easily irritable person, I might be at my peak now. But anyway, my rage serves as my inspiration, my disgusting muse. Equally awful is the subject of my topic: the talker.
As teachers, we may easily focus on the talkers within our classroom – we probably have as much material as to write a book about it. They are annoying, yes; they disturb the peace we so eagerly try to find in our teaching atmosphere, yes; they spoil each and every wonderful activity we’ve so thoroughly planned, yes. And yet, to me, they are not the source of my anger. They are not even close to it.
There are two types of talkers that really get on my nerves. One of those is the cinema talker. The person who disturbs the peace and quiet of the whole theatre and can even make you miss some lines of the film. I’ve always wondered what the purpose of this hateful ritual is, but I don’t think there’s a proper answer to that. The reason is probably plain stupidity.
But the worst talker in the entire world is the concert talker, who is actually talker-singer. Where did these people come from? What kind of mind is able to believe that I pay money to listen to him/her singing while the real singer is doing so? This is frankly beyond my understanding. Even if they sing well, I want to listen to the artist on stage! Is that hard to understand?
If you ARE one of these talkers, feel free to be offended. That’s the aim =)
I probably shouldn’t be writing this right now because, although I’m already an easily irritable person, I might be at my peak now. But anyway, my rage serves as my inspiration, my disgusting muse. Equally awful is the subject of my topic: the talker.
As teachers, we may easily focus on the talkers within our classroom – we probably have as much material as to write a book about it. They are annoying, yes; they disturb the peace we so eagerly try to find in our teaching atmosphere, yes; they spoil each and every wonderful activity we’ve so thoroughly planned, yes. And yet, to me, they are not the source of my anger. They are not even close to it.
There are two types of talkers that really get on my nerves. One of those is the cinema talker. The person who disturbs the peace and quiet of the whole theatre and can even make you miss some lines of the film. I’ve always wondered what the purpose of this hateful ritual is, but I don’t think there’s a proper answer to that. The reason is probably plain stupidity.
But the worst talker in the entire world is the concert talker, who is actually talker-singer. Where did these people come from? What kind of mind is able to believe that I pay money to listen to him/her singing while the real singer is doing so? This is frankly beyond my understanding. Even if they sing well, I want to listen to the artist on stage! Is that hard to understand?
Tuesday 31 August 2010
The best performance ever
I know that we all have had that gorgeous experience of listening to a song that explains exactly what we feel. It’s amazing, I know. But what’s even more amazing is that a person can have the admirable capacity of putting such feelings into words and, moreover, into a song! We tend to think that one cannot go beyond that. And yet, some do. There are singers that can not only write incredibly touching songs, but also interpret them as if they were dying on stage!
Once upon a time Elvis Costello wrote a perfect song. A true work of art. A piece with so much feeling that, sung by him, was thought to be glorious and unbeatable. But one day, he invited Fiona Apple to sing it and she proved everyone wrong.
The song is called “I want you”. It tells the story of a boy who is deeply in love with a girl but she betrays him, and the boy’s love becomes an obsession. He uses the words “I want you” in order to hide his “I love you”, which causes him so much pain.
Luckily, I have never been in that situation, but Fiona surely has. Or maybe she’s the best actress in the whole world and knows like no one on earth how to play a character. I have never seen someone get so much into the song. Her angelical flawless face starts to transform and she ends up looking as a total psycho. When the song is over, she can’t even smile at the applause of the audience.
I would really like you to take a look at this amazing video and tell me what you think of it. I’m also sharing with you the lyrics in a google doc.
Enjoy!
Once upon a time Elvis Costello wrote a perfect song. A true work of art. A piece with so much feeling that, sung by him, was thought to be glorious and unbeatable. But one day, he invited Fiona Apple to sing it and she proved everyone wrong.
The song is called “I want you”. It tells the story of a boy who is deeply in love with a girl but she betrays him, and the boy’s love becomes an obsession. He uses the words “I want you” in order to hide his “I love you”, which causes him so much pain.
Luckily, I have never been in that situation, but Fiona surely has. Or maybe she’s the best actress in the whole world and knows like no one on earth how to play a character. I have never seen someone get so much into the song. Her angelical flawless face starts to transform and she ends up looking as a total psycho. When the song is over, she can’t even smile at the applause of the audience.
I would really like you to take a look at this amazing video and tell me what you think of it. I’m also sharing with you the lyrics in a google doc.
Enjoy!
Popcorn: Don’t you love it madly?
Last Friday I went to the cinema to watch “Inception” (kick-ass film!) and that got me to think about why is it that we eat popcorn when we watch movies. Personally, whenever I go to the cinema I buy popcorn. For me, eating it and watching the film go hand in hand. And, while searching the net to find information about this awesome “tradition”, I found a great description of such an experience: “Somehow the movie-going experience is incomplete without that tub of buttery, crunchy goodness getting all over your shirt as you munch away in the dark”.
It all started when street vendors pushed their carts near theatres and found there a very good source of income. Theatre owners hated popcorn because it made a mess all around, and also, because people would go out in the middle of the shows to buy it. This was so until they realized it could be them who would profit from this sweet marvel.
In 1925 the first electric popcorn machine was sold to movie theatre owners and it was definitely there to stay. During the Great Depression, buying popcorn was one of the very few “luxuries” people could afford. Theatre owners even lowered the price of movie tickets, so, the result was that going to the cinema was the most economic night out one could have. Movie tickets and popcorn were two of the very few products that raised their sales immensely during that rough time. During WWII, sugar was sent to American troops, so there was not much sugar left in the country to produce candy. As a consequence, people ate three times more popcorn than usual. And in the 1950's the amount of money made from popcorn exceeded the amount made from movies themselves.
Today, selling popcorn and other snacks are far more profitable for theatres than selling tickets. One reason for this is that theatres have to split in halves the money of the tickets with studios. And the other reason is probably that popcorn is so absolutely delicious you can never get enough, can you?
Sources:
A History of Popcorn and Movies
History and Legends of Popcorn, Cracker Jacks & Popcorn Balls
Wednesday 18 August 2010
What’s wrong about being alone?
I came across a video in which Canadian poet-songwriter-singer Tanya Davis performs and recites her poem “How to be alone”. And, after watching it and reading and re-reading every phrase in that genuine work of art, I couldn’t help but thinking deeply in this being-alone thing.
The poem can be said to summarize in more or less 50 lines what hundreds of self-help books have been trying to explain to people. It is like a simple manual to teach how to enjoy being by yourself, to see the positive side of being alone, to like your own company. The author shares with us a step-by-step guide to show ourselves alone to the world and be happy with it. Therefore, the piece is not only a combination of exquisite subtle rhymes, gorgeous ideas, and a realization of the hope of finding great modern poets, but also a group of words that go far beyond and may work as a life buoy when you feel you’re drowning.
There’s a part of the poem that says: “Society is afraid of alone though. Like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements. Like people must have problems if after a while nobody is dating them.” Isn’t this incredibly true? But why is that so? What is in being with someone that makes us more “normal”? Why do we all grow up with the idea of finding a partner? Do we really need it or is that what we are imposed? I’m not saying being with someone is not nice. I love being with my boyfriend as well as with my friends, family, partners, students, etc. But what’s wrong with me if I choose not to be with anybody?
Looking at some dictionary entries, I’ve found many different meanings of the word “loneliness”, and the one I prefer is:
“A feeling of depression resulting from being alone”
But I needed a word that shared the meaning of being alone, but expressed different feelings. So I thought about “solitude”, which means:
“When you are alone, especially when this is what you enjoy”
That’s why, I guess being alone is not the actual problem, but how we feel about is the crux of the matter.
I you have ten minutes to spare, do watch the video and read the poem. You never know if it can cheer you or a friend up.
The poem can be said to summarize in more or less 50 lines what hundreds of self-help books have been trying to explain to people. It is like a simple manual to teach how to enjoy being by yourself, to see the positive side of being alone, to like your own company. The author shares with us a step-by-step guide to show ourselves alone to the world and be happy with it. Therefore, the piece is not only a combination of exquisite subtle rhymes, gorgeous ideas, and a realization of the hope of finding great modern poets, but also a group of words that go far beyond and may work as a life buoy when you feel you’re drowning.
There’s a part of the poem that says: “Society is afraid of alone though. Like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements. Like people must have problems if after a while nobody is dating them.” Isn’t this incredibly true? But why is that so? What is in being with someone that makes us more “normal”? Why do we all grow up with the idea of finding a partner? Do we really need it or is that what we are imposed? I’m not saying being with someone is not nice. I love being with my boyfriend as well as with my friends, family, partners, students, etc. But what’s wrong with me if I choose not to be with anybody?
Looking at some dictionary entries, I’ve found many different meanings of the word “loneliness”, and the one I prefer is:
“A feeling of depression resulting from being alone”
But I needed a word that shared the meaning of being alone, but expressed different feelings. So I thought about “solitude”, which means:
“When you are alone, especially when this is what you enjoy”
That’s why, I guess being alone is not the actual problem, but how we feel about is the crux of the matter.
I you have ten minutes to spare, do watch the video and read the poem. You never know if it can cheer you or a friend up.
Thursday 12 August 2010
Cartoon Time
I have always admired the wit and the inventiveness of many cartoonists, but what I admire the most is their capacity to draw. I guess that’s an inborn talent that I wasn’t provided with, and just have to face it. It has its positive side too, though: my students roar with laughter whenever I draw something on the board. That’s how terrible I am at drawing.
This tool I’ve recently learned to use rid me of the main obstacle between me and the cartoonists’ world. And I’ve discovered that, when making a cartoon, one can criticize in a softer way. We all may have some opinions that we choose not to share because we are afraid they might hurt others’ feelings. But through drawings, almost everything can be said. It seems to me that this is a face-saving world, isn’t it?
My cartoon is mainly about chauvinism. Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about gay marriage, and prejudices against homosexuality have abounded. But what I hate the most is that men’s sheer hypocrisy to protest against gay couples, while they are immensely turned-on by lesbians. How come that girl-and-girl couples are hot, and boy-and-boy couples are disgusting? What is with that sick and incoherent way of thinking men have? How does that work? Well, I guess we will never know because even they cannot explain it. What they can do is to do us, and themselves, a favour and zip it when it comes to discussions on homosexuality.
Anyway, I hope you like my cartoon as much as I enjoyed making it.
Thanks for reading!
This tool I’ve recently learned to use rid me of the main obstacle between me and the cartoonists’ world. And I’ve discovered that, when making a cartoon, one can criticize in a softer way. We all may have some opinions that we choose not to share because we are afraid they might hurt others’ feelings. But through drawings, almost everything can be said. It seems to me that this is a face-saving world, isn’t it?
My cartoon is mainly about chauvinism. Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about gay marriage, and prejudices against homosexuality have abounded. But what I hate the most is that men’s sheer hypocrisy to protest against gay couples, while they are immensely turned-on by lesbians. How come that girl-and-girl couples are hot, and boy-and-boy couples are disgusting? What is with that sick and incoherent way of thinking men have? How does that work? Well, I guess we will never know because even they cannot explain it. What they can do is to do us, and themselves, a favour and zip it when it comes to discussions on homosexuality.
Anyway, I hope you like my cartoon as much as I enjoyed making it.
Thanks for reading!
Thursday 29 July 2010
Who do you prefer teaching?
This may be a tough question for you, but I’m pretty sure you all have a favourite. Or at least, at times, you do. The options are, of course: children, teenagers and adults; and even our course of studies draws a fundamental difference between the groups. If you ask me, in this one, just like in many other aspects of life, I always prefer learning about something, as well as observing it in action, before jumping to conclusions. And that’s what I’ve done. So now, I can say I’ve made up my mind… partially.
If there’s one thing that’s clear in my head is that the last place on my ranking is indisputably occupied by teenagers. There was one year in which both of the groups I was teaching to were 2nd Adol. I have to admit that I sometimes miss them (just a little bit) and think about what their lives may be like now, but I really don’t want to go back to them. It’s not that they were the most hateful human beings on earth; they were actually pretty nice people to surround yourself with. The problem there was me. I can’t help feeling close to students, and making them feel they can trust me and that we can even be friends. And I’m afraid that that’s a huge mistake to make around adolescents. Once they see you as their friend, you’re no longer the authority within the classroom.
Since last year, I’ve been in front of a group of adults, and let me tell you I’ve never felt more comfortable. I think that the main reason why I immensely enjoy working with them is because, in that context, I see the process of teaching as pure as it can be. I mean, I rack my brains trying to find the best way of making vocabulary memorable for them, and of leaving no doubts as regards a grammar topic. The obstacles are the difficulties the students may encounter when dealing with grammatical points. But that, for me, is natural, is implied in the literal meaning of “teaching”. The pragmatic aspect of the word shows us, teachers, having to ask our students to be quiet, pay attention, do the homework, and so on and so forth. Adults are part of our classes because they want to, or need to. If they don’t fulfill their responsibilities it’s their problem, not mine. So, when I’m teaching English to my adults, I don’t see myself as the authority; I let myself be and become a friend helping other friends to learn.
Children are, IMO, the most challenging students one can be faced with. I’ve also been working with the same group since last year, and I cannot beat the constant fear I have whenever I have to teach a tense. I’m so afraid of making one little mistake that can never be erased. Of course it is incredibly rewarding when I see them producing correct sentences, but I always feel I could have done more. The other negative aspect of teaching them is their misbehavior. But just when I think I can’t take it anymore, they make me laugh. Sometimes I find myself laughing so hard that I can’t even speak to scold them. It’s an amazing feeling.
To conclude, I’d like to share with you two forums (eslHQ, abrsm) I’ve found in which the question in the title is discussed. There are some very interesting opinions. And there was one phrase about children turning into adolescents that, I think, is great:
“Once they turn 13 or so, as the enthusiasm begins to lose out to self-consciousness, my interest begins to wane as well. Plus it's not longer funny if I act like a goof. ”
If there’s one thing that’s clear in my head is that the last place on my ranking is indisputably occupied by teenagers. There was one year in which both of the groups I was teaching to were 2nd Adol. I have to admit that I sometimes miss them (just a little bit) and think about what their lives may be like now, but I really don’t want to go back to them. It’s not that they were the most hateful human beings on earth; they were actually pretty nice people to surround yourself with. The problem there was me. I can’t help feeling close to students, and making them feel they can trust me and that we can even be friends. And I’m afraid that that’s a huge mistake to make around adolescents. Once they see you as their friend, you’re no longer the authority within the classroom.
Since last year, I’ve been in front of a group of adults, and let me tell you I’ve never felt more comfortable. I think that the main reason why I immensely enjoy working with them is because, in that context, I see the process of teaching as pure as it can be. I mean, I rack my brains trying to find the best way of making vocabulary memorable for them, and of leaving no doubts as regards a grammar topic. The obstacles are the difficulties the students may encounter when dealing with grammatical points. But that, for me, is natural, is implied in the literal meaning of “teaching”. The pragmatic aspect of the word shows us, teachers, having to ask our students to be quiet, pay attention, do the homework, and so on and so forth. Adults are part of our classes because they want to, or need to. If they don’t fulfill their responsibilities it’s their problem, not mine. So, when I’m teaching English to my adults, I don’t see myself as the authority; I let myself be and become a friend helping other friends to learn.
Children are, IMO, the most challenging students one can be faced with. I’ve also been working with the same group since last year, and I cannot beat the constant fear I have whenever I have to teach a tense. I’m so afraid of making one little mistake that can never be erased. Of course it is incredibly rewarding when I see them producing correct sentences, but I always feel I could have done more. The other negative aspect of teaching them is their misbehavior. But just when I think I can’t take it anymore, they make me laugh. Sometimes I find myself laughing so hard that I can’t even speak to scold them. It’s an amazing feeling.
To conclude, I’d like to share with you two forums (eslHQ, abrsm) I’ve found in which the question in the title is discussed. There are some very interesting opinions. And there was one phrase about children turning into adolescents that, I think, is great:
“Once they turn 13 or so, as the enthusiasm begins to lose out to self-consciousness, my interest begins to wane as well. Plus it's not longer funny if I act like a goof. ”
Tuesday 27 July 2010
General knowledge is the basis (Thank God EGB is gone!)
Throughout the years, we have seen innumerable attempts to improve the educational system. Every time school programmes are about to undergo a certain kind of change, the same question is raised: should students be instructed in a particular area according to what they want to work in, or should they be provided with knowledge about many different aspects of life so as to know a bit of everything? The latest modification carried out in the Argentinean curriculum (2006) restored the old system of primary school followed by secondary school (both compulsory, of course). So, the question is: why are we going back to an old system? And the answer would probably be that the last new idea (3 EGB + polymodal) was a complete failure and a huge educational mistake.
I suffered that EGB system, and for me seeing how many of my school mates dropped out of university on the first year they attended is more than enough to realize that the whole idea was sheer madness. It is incredibly hard for adolescents or young adults to make up their minds on what they want to do for a living. So, if they cannot make a decision at the end of high school, how would they possibly be able to do it at the beginning of it? During the validity of the EGB Law, the school programme forced students to choose one course of studies and then, when attending college, they discovered that was not what they liked. Therefore, they were left with no knowledge to start studying on a different field.
On the other hand, today companies seek people who can be useful in several areas. Job interviews unravel potential employees’ background knowledge and employers treasure those applicants who not only show aptitude for the post but also ability to learn, talk and give opinions about myriads topics of discussion.
To sum up, it is undeniable that at school a student should learn about everything. Then, at the time of making a decision, all the tools ha has been provided with will help him make the wisest choice. And no matter how everything may turn out, all the knowledge he has acquired will never be a burden.
Interesting to site to learn more about: Education in Argentina
I suffered that EGB system, and for me seeing how many of my school mates dropped out of university on the first year they attended is more than enough to realize that the whole idea was sheer madness. It is incredibly hard for adolescents or young adults to make up their minds on what they want to do for a living. So, if they cannot make a decision at the end of high school, how would they possibly be able to do it at the beginning of it? During the validity of the EGB Law, the school programme forced students to choose one course of studies and then, when attending college, they discovered that was not what they liked. Therefore, they were left with no knowledge to start studying on a different field.
On the other hand, today companies seek people who can be useful in several areas. Job interviews unravel potential employees’ background knowledge and employers treasure those applicants who not only show aptitude for the post but also ability to learn, talk and give opinions about myriads topics of discussion.
To sum up, it is undeniable that at school a student should learn about everything. Then, at the time of making a decision, all the tools ha has been provided with will help him make the wisest choice. And no matter how everything may turn out, all the knowledge he has acquired will never be a burden.
Interesting to site to learn more about: Education in Argentina
Thursday 22 July 2010
Salta, my love
During the last winter holidays I visited the gorgeous Salta. Never in my life would I have imagined what I was going to find. Salta is a place where everything is perfect: the places are all beautiful, all the food is delicious, the people –both the locals and the tourists- are incredibly nice and friendly, and the way in which the culture has been kept and is exhibited everywhere is enviable. I would like to go into detail as regards these aspects, because each one of them deserves a paragraph of its own.
As I was there for only four days I didn’t have the chance to visit many places, but the few I did see fascinated me. We went on three excursions: the first one took as to Jujuy, where we visited the amazing village called Purmamarca with its famous hill of seven colours, and, a bit further, the absolutely astonishing “Salinas” – mother nature: you’re a genius! The second one had Cafayate as its final destination, but the real attraction was to way there: the mountains, the colours, the rocks… everything was just breath taking. And the last one was to a small peaceful village called Cachi. The place is incredibly gorgeous and relaxing, and, on our way back we could even enjoy the snow!
As the saying goes “When in Rome, do as Romans do”, so I decided to eat Salta’s typical food, and I strongly recommend you that, if you ever go there, you give everything a try. You just can’t go wrong. Those flavored corn paste wrapped in corn leaves (called “humitas” in Spanish), tamales, desserts with goat cheese, and even those cute animals like lamas and little goats are really delicious, no matter in which way you eat them. And don’t get me started on the empanadas! (BTW, I found that they can be called “turnovers”) I tried one in each place I ate. They were all different and all unbelievably tasty. I don’t think I’ll ever it one at home again.
The inhabitants are as kind as anyone can be. No cab driver will secretly take you on a city tour so as to get more money from you, and no restaurant owner will overcharge you for food just because he has the only place to eat at the top of a hill. They are all eager to help and visibly happy to live in such a place. Tourists are warm and friendly people who make your excursions even better, and striking up a conversation with them is incredibly enriching.
I have to admit that before my trip I had never been much into our folk music, but as soon as I came back I started listening to lots of bands and singers of that genre because, in Salta, I fell in love with it. Everyone there has an amazing voice and sings those songs with such passion that is impossible not to like their performances. At “peñas”, young people ask for guitars and sing along with friends and whoever wants to join them. It is not possible to describe the brilliance of those spontaneous shows.
So, to sum up, my advice for you all is that you visit Salta whenever you have the chance. I know that we all can’t wait to go to Europe or all those places we have in mind, but sometimes visiting our country can also be an unforgettable experience.
I want to dedicate this post to two people I’ve met during my trip, who definitely put the cherry on my cake: Mariana and Ana.
As I was there for only four days I didn’t have the chance to visit many places, but the few I did see fascinated me. We went on three excursions: the first one took as to Jujuy, where we visited the amazing village called Purmamarca with its famous hill of seven colours, and, a bit further, the absolutely astonishing “Salinas” – mother nature: you’re a genius! The second one had Cafayate as its final destination, but the real attraction was to way there: the mountains, the colours, the rocks… everything was just breath taking. And the last one was to a small peaceful village called Cachi. The place is incredibly gorgeous and relaxing, and, on our way back we could even enjoy the snow!
As the saying goes “When in Rome, do as Romans do”, so I decided to eat Salta’s typical food, and I strongly recommend you that, if you ever go there, you give everything a try. You just can’t go wrong. Those flavored corn paste wrapped in corn leaves (called “humitas” in Spanish), tamales, desserts with goat cheese, and even those cute animals like lamas and little goats are really delicious, no matter in which way you eat them. And don’t get me started on the empanadas! (BTW, I found that they can be called “turnovers”) I tried one in each place I ate. They were all different and all unbelievably tasty. I don’t think I’ll ever it one at home again.
The inhabitants are as kind as anyone can be. No cab driver will secretly take you on a city tour so as to get more money from you, and no restaurant owner will overcharge you for food just because he has the only place to eat at the top of a hill. They are all eager to help and visibly happy to live in such a place. Tourists are warm and friendly people who make your excursions even better, and striking up a conversation with them is incredibly enriching.
I have to admit that before my trip I had never been much into our folk music, but as soon as I came back I started listening to lots of bands and singers of that genre because, in Salta, I fell in love with it. Everyone there has an amazing voice and sings those songs with such passion that is impossible not to like their performances. At “peñas”, young people ask for guitars and sing along with friends and whoever wants to join them. It is not possible to describe the brilliance of those spontaneous shows.
So, to sum up, my advice for you all is that you visit Salta whenever you have the chance. I know that we all can’t wait to go to Europe or all those places we have in mind, but sometimes visiting our country can also be an unforgettable experience.
I want to dedicate this post to two people I’ve met during my trip, who definitely put the cherry on my cake: Mariana and Ana.
Friday 2 July 2010
Why Become a Teacher?
I’ve always liked English. I’ve been in contact with the language since I was born. But, to be honest, I had never been completely sure about becoming a teacher. I sort of “inherited” the profession, so there were times in which I felt I was obliged to practise it, and therefore I became reluctant to do it. At the end of secondary school I considered other options: arts, foreign trade, musical therapy (I’m still very interested in this one), etc. But, I don’t know why, when it came the moment to make the final decision, all these different alternatives were out of the picture.
Nowadays, I think teaching is a heck of a job! And it’s even hard for me to understand why is it that not everybody wants to become a teacher. I mean, what’s not to like about it? I was searching the net and I found two great pages.
One of them gives us the top 10 reasons to become a teacher, together with explanations and links to other pages in which we can find useful tips. I would like now to quote such reasons, and talk about some of them in relation to my own experience.
Top 10 reasons to become a teacher:
1. Student Potential
2. Student Successes
3. Teaching a Subject Helps You Learn a Subject
4. Daily Humor
5. Affecting the Future
6. Staying Younger
7. Autonomy in the Classroom
8. Conducive to Family Life
9. Job Security
10. Summers Off
As it’s mentioned in the site, 1 and 2 are closely related. The feeling I get when I see my students have actually understood, learned and applied what I’ve just taught them is indescribable. Brilliant students always put a smile on our face. Slow students are a real challenge, and, at the same time it’s twice as difficult to teach them something, it’s twice as rewarding when they learn it.
Number 4 and 8 are especially true of me. As regards number 4, some weeks ago my adult students were telling me how much they admire (and couldn’t understand) how I’m always in a good mood. No matter what has happened to me before a class, I always enter the classroom smiling. When I have to teach, I forget about everything and I’m just happy. And number 8 is something I would have never believed if I hadn’t experienced it myself. Before teaching children, I was not sure I would ever want to be a mother. However, this is the second year I have the same group of little pseudo-angels-pseudo-demons and I want to take them home! I love them, and I always think about the great persons they can turn into and how great it would be to help a bit more in their upbringing.
The other site I’ve found provides us with a very brief and concise answer to the question "Why become a teacher?", and, of course, is the source where I took the heading from. This page also mentions the downsides of our chosen profession; the incessant struggle to satisfy the constantly changing demands of society. However, reading between the lines, we can see that this only adds to the pride of being a teacher.
Nowadays, I think teaching is a heck of a job! And it’s even hard for me to understand why is it that not everybody wants to become a teacher. I mean, what’s not to like about it? I was searching the net and I found two great pages.
One of them gives us the top 10 reasons to become a teacher, together with explanations and links to other pages in which we can find useful tips. I would like now to quote such reasons, and talk about some of them in relation to my own experience.
Top 10 reasons to become a teacher:
1. Student Potential
2. Student Successes
3. Teaching a Subject Helps You Learn a Subject
4. Daily Humor
5. Affecting the Future
6. Staying Younger
7. Autonomy in the Classroom
8. Conducive to Family Life
9. Job Security
10. Summers Off
As it’s mentioned in the site, 1 and 2 are closely related. The feeling I get when I see my students have actually understood, learned and applied what I’ve just taught them is indescribable. Brilliant students always put a smile on our face. Slow students are a real challenge, and, at the same time it’s twice as difficult to teach them something, it’s twice as rewarding when they learn it.
Number 4 and 8 are especially true of me. As regards number 4, some weeks ago my adult students were telling me how much they admire (and couldn’t understand) how I’m always in a good mood. No matter what has happened to me before a class, I always enter the classroom smiling. When I have to teach, I forget about everything and I’m just happy. And number 8 is something I would have never believed if I hadn’t experienced it myself. Before teaching children, I was not sure I would ever want to be a mother. However, this is the second year I have the same group of little pseudo-angels-pseudo-demons and I want to take them home! I love them, and I always think about the great persons they can turn into and how great it would be to help a bit more in their upbringing.
The other site I’ve found provides us with a very brief and concise answer to the question "Why become a teacher?", and, of course, is the source where I took the heading from. This page also mentions the downsides of our chosen profession; the incessant struggle to satisfy the constantly changing demands of society. However, reading between the lines, we can see that this only adds to the pride of being a teacher.
Thursday 1 July 2010
My Top 5 Concerts
As you may know, I consider music a very important part of me. I feel so passionate about it. I live and breathe music. And the best form of music is live music. Going to concerts is a surreal experience and there are bands and singers that have definitely been born to give you the chills. Unfortunately, there’s no way to put those feelings into words. The most I can do is share with you the 5 concerts that have rocked my world.
Positioned number 5 is Radiohead’s first and only concert in our country. It was last year in the “Campo de Polo Argentino”, which is the reason why this gig isn’t higher in the ranking. I hated having to be standing without even seeing the screens during the majority of their presentation. But when they played “Paranoid Android” they just made my day. There was no need for anything else. My boyfriend lifted me over his shoulders, and it was one of the most magical moments of my life.
Number 4: Fito Páez playing in my second home: El gigante de Arroyito. In December of 2003, there was a party at the stadium to celebrate Rosario Central’s 114th
Anniversary. My football team is one of my biggest (if not THE biggest) loves of my life, and Fito was, back then, among my favourite artists. He sang “Brillante sobre el mic” and sort of adapted the lyrics to the context; the lights were turned off and everybody waved their lighters and… my two passions were perfectly combined. I got shivers down my spine and tears in my eyes.
Place number 3 belongs to “The Police” in their last visit to Argentina, during their reunion tour. Undoubtedly, they hate each other but they are extraordinary musicians. They played all the hits. The sound was perfect and Sting... well, he’s just from another planet: magnificent singer even nearing his 60s, great bassist and too handsome for his age!
Near the top, in number 2, is Damien Rice’s absolutely flawless demonstration of how a charismatic man, his guitar and his beautiful songs are all that’s needed for an excellent show. The concert was just perfect. I even got on the stage to be part of a chorus of like 50 people in “Volcano”, and got the chance to thank him and give him a kiss. If you’ve never listened to him, please do! He’s not only an exquisite Irish composer of love songs, but he’s also a hottie!
And the 1st position is for the concert that ruined my life! It’s Roger Waters in River Plate’s stadium bringing his tour “The Dark Side of the Moon” 3 years ago. Pink Floyd’s front man, bassist and leading composer brought probably the show of the best record in the history of music. Everything there was more than perfect. There should be a word that’s better than “perfect” to be able to describe it. I was speechless and I still am. That concert took a part of me. I’m thankful for having been there, but I’m also regretful cause I know no concert will ever be even near as good as it was.
Positioned number 5 is Radiohead’s first and only concert in our country. It was last year in the “Campo de Polo Argentino”, which is the reason why this gig isn’t higher in the ranking. I hated having to be standing without even seeing the screens during the majority of their presentation. But when they played “Paranoid Android” they just made my day. There was no need for anything else. My boyfriend lifted me over his shoulders, and it was one of the most magical moments of my life.
Number 4: Fito Páez playing in my second home: El gigante de Arroyito. In December of 2003, there was a party at the stadium to celebrate Rosario Central’s 114th
Anniversary. My football team is one of my biggest (if not THE biggest) loves of my life, and Fito was, back then, among my favourite artists. He sang “Brillante sobre el mic” and sort of adapted the lyrics to the context; the lights were turned off and everybody waved their lighters and… my two passions were perfectly combined. I got shivers down my spine and tears in my eyes.
Place number 3 belongs to “The Police” in their last visit to Argentina, during their reunion tour. Undoubtedly, they hate each other but they are extraordinary musicians. They played all the hits. The sound was perfect and Sting... well, he’s just from another planet: magnificent singer even nearing his 60s, great bassist and too handsome for his age!
Near the top, in number 2, is Damien Rice’s absolutely flawless demonstration of how a charismatic man, his guitar and his beautiful songs are all that’s needed for an excellent show. The concert was just perfect. I even got on the stage to be part of a chorus of like 50 people in “Volcano”, and got the chance to thank him and give him a kiss. If you’ve never listened to him, please do! He’s not only an exquisite Irish composer of love songs, but he’s also a hottie!
And the 1st position is for the concert that ruined my life! It’s Roger Waters in River Plate’s stadium bringing his tour “The Dark Side of the Moon” 3 years ago. Pink Floyd’s front man, bassist and leading composer brought probably the show of the best record in the history of music. Everything there was more than perfect. There should be a word that’s better than “perfect” to be able to describe it. I was speechless and I still am. That concert took a part of me. I’m thankful for having been there, but I’m also regretful cause I know no concert will ever be even near as good as it was.
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Money (That's What I Want)
The title of this post is the title of a song written in 1959 by Barret Strong. However, the most popular version of it was recorded by The Beatles in 1963. But they were not the only ones who saw something in it that made them want to play it. The song has actually been covered by myriad artists, including John Lennon during his solo career, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Tina Turner, Scissor Sisters, and The Blues Brothers, among many many others. So, what is it that it has that has appealed to such a number of different bands and singers throughout the years? Is it cause it has a catchy rhythm? Is it cause it’s full of swing? I doubt it. I believe the main reason why this song is entrancing is because we all feel identified with it, whether we like it or not.
Taking the whole matter to an extent, Madonna once sang “Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl”, and she was not so wrong after all, was she? It’s not necessary to date rich people only because of their money to be called “materialistic beings”. The majority of us, if not all, are currently working. But how many of us REALLY need it? Luckily, there hasn’t been a moment in my life in which I have felt extreme hunger or lacked a roof. Yet, I sometimes say “I need to work”. And I do! Because there are many things I want to buy, many places I long to visit, many concerts I yearn to attend, and loads of other things that only money can get. I will work all my life to buy a house of my own, my dream car and a holiday in Europe, and, especially in our country in which everything seems so unattainable, I’m not positive I will ever achieve such goals.
Supposing that the day in which we obtain all we need eventually comes, do you think we’ll stop being greedy? Even The Beatles, who were incredibly wealthy but proclaimed themselves as hippies strongly opposed to capitalism, were very concerned about money and even had quarrels about it. And if you have ever watched the show called “Cribs”, on MTV, you surely know that the more they get, the more they want. But don’t you slobber over their possessions?
Some months ago, one of my friends in Flixster shared his review of “Avatar” with me and added the video of this song to it. James Cameron has proved to make films only for the sake of profits. “Titanic” is absolutely lame but earned him millions of dollars, just like “Avatar”, a movie in which the only people who really worked were the ones in charge of art direction, cinematography and visual effects. However, there’s something that money cannot buy: watching Cameron’s ex-wife win all the awards he was supposed to take home is absolutely priceless.
So, I’ll conclude by adding some verses from the song that ring true.
The best things in life are free
But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Your lovin' gives me a thrill
But your lovin' don't pay my bills
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Money don't get everything, it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Taking the whole matter to an extent, Madonna once sang “Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl”, and she was not so wrong after all, was she? It’s not necessary to date rich people only because of their money to be called “materialistic beings”. The majority of us, if not all, are currently working. But how many of us REALLY need it? Luckily, there hasn’t been a moment in my life in which I have felt extreme hunger or lacked a roof. Yet, I sometimes say “I need to work”. And I do! Because there are many things I want to buy, many places I long to visit, many concerts I yearn to attend, and loads of other things that only money can get. I will work all my life to buy a house of my own, my dream car and a holiday in Europe, and, especially in our country in which everything seems so unattainable, I’m not positive I will ever achieve such goals.
Supposing that the day in which we obtain all we need eventually comes, do you think we’ll stop being greedy? Even The Beatles, who were incredibly wealthy but proclaimed themselves as hippies strongly opposed to capitalism, were very concerned about money and even had quarrels about it. And if you have ever watched the show called “Cribs”, on MTV, you surely know that the more they get, the more they want. But don’t you slobber over their possessions?
Some months ago, one of my friends in Flixster shared his review of “Avatar” with me and added the video of this song to it. James Cameron has proved to make films only for the sake of profits. “Titanic” is absolutely lame but earned him millions of dollars, just like “Avatar”, a movie in which the only people who really worked were the ones in charge of art direction, cinematography and visual effects. However, there’s something that money cannot buy: watching Cameron’s ex-wife win all the awards he was supposed to take home is absolutely priceless.
So, I’ll conclude by adding some verses from the song that ring true.
The best things in life are free
But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Your lovin' gives me a thrill
But your lovin' don't pay my bills
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Money don't get everything, it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want), yeah
That's what I want
Thursday 24 June 2010
Working Online
In spite of certain arguments and occasional brake-ups in our relationship, I have to say that technology, and more specifically the computer, is definitely a friend of mine. I cannot even begin to describe how much easier my life is with it. It helps me to study, to be tidier, to work properly, to feel encouraged to do anything. And within the computer, a bigger love: the internet, oh l'internet!
The internet has given me the chance to learn as never before. Every single day I find something new to profit from. And I’m convinced that, if you know how to use it, it’s the most enriching invention ever come up with.
Lately, I’ve started to use it with my students, and although many are reluctant to work with it, when there’s at least one who can benefit from what you’ve posted, it makes your day. I’ve decided to work with wikis, since I find them nice and easy to handle. There’s one for my adults and one for my kids.
As you can see, the adults’ wiki is more concerned with theory and extra practice. I have some students that even prefer the summaries and explanations I write there than the ones that appear in the book. And, at the end of the year, when they have to study everything to pass the final exams, they feel more confident knowing they have everything there. There are some fantastic pages to copy grammar rules from, and which offer amazing online exercises.
The kids’ wiki aims more at entertaining, but there’s also undercover practice. Some games are incredibly cute! But of course some students would be like “They are soooo easy! We want something more difficult!” (in Spanish, of course), but well… you can never do it all right.
Both groups are difficult to encourage since some grown-ups are not at all interested in getting involved with anything related to technology advances, and some kids don’t have computers at home or don’t really know how to use them.
So, regarding this just like anything else, my motto is “Do your best but don’t expect much.”
The internet has given me the chance to learn as never before. Every single day I find something new to profit from. And I’m convinced that, if you know how to use it, it’s the most enriching invention ever come up with.
Lately, I’ve started to use it with my students, and although many are reluctant to work with it, when there’s at least one who can benefit from what you’ve posted, it makes your day. I’ve decided to work with wikis, since I find them nice and easy to handle. There’s one for my adults and one for my kids.
As you can see, the adults’ wiki is more concerned with theory and extra practice. I have some students that even prefer the summaries and explanations I write there than the ones that appear in the book. And, at the end of the year, when they have to study everything to pass the final exams, they feel more confident knowing they have everything there. There are some fantastic pages to copy grammar rules from, and which offer amazing online exercises.
The kids’ wiki aims more at entertaining, but there’s also undercover practice. Some games are incredibly cute! But of course some students would be like “They are soooo easy! We want something more difficult!” (in Spanish, of course), but well… you can never do it all right.
Both groups are difficult to encourage since some grown-ups are not at all interested in getting involved with anything related to technology advances, and some kids don’t have computers at home or don’t really know how to use them.
So, regarding this just like anything else, my motto is “Do your best but don’t expect much.”
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Great movies site
I’m a huge fan of movies, and one of the things I really hate about leading such a hectic life (you know, with school, work and everything) is not having so much time to see as many films as I would like to. However, I have to admit I’m quite picky and I absolutely loathe wasting my time with bad movies.
As probably all of us, I have some favourite directors and actors that I’m pretty sure will not disappoint me, so if I want to play safe, I turn directly to them. But there are always new people in the industry that may deserve a chance. So, how can I watch a film by a new director and with new actors without running the risk of going through, what can result in, a torturing experience?
Some years ago, I found the answer to that question: Flixster. Flixster is a site in which you can create an account, do a test as regards how much you have liked certain movies, and then compare your results with all the other users’. The site then tells you how compatible you are with them and in that way you can choose your friends. The rest can become a perfectly healthy and fruitful routine: after watching a film, you go to the computer, rate it, write a review (which can be a synopsis, a summary – be careful with the spoilers - or just your opinion) and share it with your friends. They will do the same, and, the next time you have to choose which movie to watch, you’ll know what you may expect from each and make a wise decision.
But of course this is not only about picking films. I’ve made many friends there. I enjoy talking to them about many things, practising my English and reading their reviews. There’s a guy from Canada (Larry) who turned out to be a fantastic writer! His way of using the language is so inspiring! When he has watched a bad film, you just can’t miss his comments. He’s a master of irony and will make you laugh your pants off. Here are two of his reviews.
So, if you sign up in flixster, you’ll not only know what movies are right or wrong for you, but you’ll also make friends, use your language, acquire new vocabulary and have a good time.
As probably all of us, I have some favourite directors and actors that I’m pretty sure will not disappoint me, so if I want to play safe, I turn directly to them. But there are always new people in the industry that may deserve a chance. So, how can I watch a film by a new director and with new actors without running the risk of going through, what can result in, a torturing experience?
Some years ago, I found the answer to that question: Flixster. Flixster is a site in which you can create an account, do a test as regards how much you have liked certain movies, and then compare your results with all the other users’. The site then tells you how compatible you are with them and in that way you can choose your friends. The rest can become a perfectly healthy and fruitful routine: after watching a film, you go to the computer, rate it, write a review (which can be a synopsis, a summary – be careful with the spoilers - or just your opinion) and share it with your friends. They will do the same, and, the next time you have to choose which movie to watch, you’ll know what you may expect from each and make a wise decision.
But of course this is not only about picking films. I’ve made many friends there. I enjoy talking to them about many things, practising my English and reading their reviews. There’s a guy from Canada (Larry) who turned out to be a fantastic writer! His way of using the language is so inspiring! When he has watched a bad film, you just can’t miss his comments. He’s a master of irony and will make you laugh your pants off. Here are two of his reviews.
So, if you sign up in flixster, you’ll not only know what movies are right or wrong for you, but you’ll also make friends, use your language, acquire new vocabulary and have a good time.
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