Wednesday 10 November 2010
WRITING A BRIEF ESSAY
My dear students, you have until next Wednesday to write your final assignment. This time you have to write an essay.
Possible Essay Topics. Choose one of them:
1. Your experience learning English at the university / A general reflection
2. The use of technologies within the different subjects you've studied this year (Review/opinion)
3. Chile 2010: What are your views on Chile's bicentennial year?
Essay Structure:
- Introduction (about 80 words)
- Body: 2 or 3 paragraphs (about 200 words)
- Conclusion: (about 70 words)
Useful Links & Tips to write your essay:
- Basic guide to essay writing
- How to write a brief essay
- Practical tips to write a brief essay
Good luck :)
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Unforgettable...
After struggling all day to deliver my baby, the possibility of a natural birth was very little since the baby’s head was not in the best position and it could be quite dangerous to force the baby out by induced labor, it could leave both of us (me or the baby) with afterbirth problems … I’d never undergone this type of surgery before …
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Light but sound.
I read this book for the first time when I was 16, a time of your life where your mind and soul struggle to find answers for the meaning of life. In “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” I found the dichotomy of lightness versus weight while I was trying to answer such existential questions myself. There are a number of interesting themes in the book, such as politics and sexuality. In general, most of the books written by Kundera have left an impression on me. I really love his work. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with a sensitive soul and a curious mind. Someone like you, maybe.
Now, write about a book that impressed you. You should say:
- What it was about
- Why it impressed you
- If any other books have impressed you the same way
And say what kind of person you would recommend that book to, and why
Remember to write at least 200 words and comment on three of your classmates’ blogs
Tuesday 19 October 2010
How green are you?
- Have you incorported recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?
Number of words: 300
Don't forget to make comments on at least 2 of your classmates posts.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Study Links Bedtime Rules to Better Skills in Preschool Children
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Movies!!
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Things to do, places to go.
I have always liked partying. I will give you that. However, I’m not really into going out that much. I’m much happier when we all meet up and party at our own places these days. Anyways, if I were to recommend good fun places to go in Santiago, I’d probably go for any of the bars you can find in Barrio Lastarria, although my favorite one is Berri (Rosal 300) because of its beautiful baroque (I guess) style and reasonable prices. It is actually very easy to get there. You can take the subway and get off at Bellas Artes or Universidad Católica station, both ways you’re going to have to walk for about 5 minutes to get there. When you are there, try to find a table on the second floor because that is the most picturesque part of the building. The music is fantastic, old records from the 50’s and 60’s, lots of Elvis and the like and the volume is just fine, you can actually listen to the person in front of you! What to order? Well, I really like the stout beer they have, they serve these never-ending glasses and they also have a very tasty hamburger with some really good pickles. I’m quite traditional in this sense, so if I like something it is very likely that I order the same all the time. I would definitely recommend this place because I’m happy every time I go there, that has to mean something, right?
Describe what (fun) things there are to do in Santiago and the places you can go.
You should say:
- · where it is
- · how to get there
- · what there is to do when you are there
And explain why you would recommend this place.
Don’t forget to:
- Write 200 words
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
Tuesday 14 September 2010
In love with RH!!!
My favourite band ever – and I mean it – is Radiohead. I started listening to their records back in the 90’s and haven’t stopped since then. As opposed to most people, I don’t associate their music to being down or anything like that. There are songs of course that literally hurt but that fact only shows that you are alive and, in my opinion, that is a great feeling and one that most brilliant musicians are able to convey with their music.
By the year 2000, a friend and I had created a sort of community for Chilean fans supported by the recording label EMI. Some years later we didn’t have time to take care of that anymore and we eventually gave up on that idea.
Last year was probably the high point of the whole story since Radiohead finally landed on Chilean soil, I went to the airport and saw them from the distance, then I went to the hotel where they were staying and met Thom Yorke, the lead singer and Ed O’Brien, the guitar player. I talked to them and they signed my records, words can’t express my feelings.
During the following days I attended both their concerts, saw them first row and cried when they played my favourite song “How to disappear”. I know it’s probably one of those songs that make you cry, but whatever… I just love it.
Ps: I took that picture myself, lovely, isn't it???
Now you tell me, what is your favourite band / singer?
You should write about:
- when you first heard them
- how they became your favourite band / singer
- what your favorite song is and why
Don't forget to
- Write 200 words
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
Monday 30 August 2010
Fly away…
I probably started learning English because I’ve always been a little bit obsessed with the British band Radiohead, at the time I thought that British people and their culture were the best. As I grew older I realized that it was the guys from Radiohead the ones I worshipped and that basically nothing compares to your home country. Although I am constantly disappointed by the political choices people make in Chile, most of the time I feel proud of being part of such a warm people.
However, nowadays I feel the urge of going away somewhere and I would really like to live in England for some time, I’m quite acquainted with the British history because I had to learn about it. Besides, I see the relationship between language and culture as a close one, so learning about such things was a must for me. I would like to do a Master’s degree in York, a city in the north of the United Kingdom, because it’s the one of the few places where I could pursue the program I want and I mean a teacher of English studying in England! I kind of deserve, don’t I? I’ll keep my fingers crossed and let you know how that goes. Now you tell me:
- Which country would you like to go to? Why?
- What do you know about it?
- What would you like to do there?
- Would you like to study/work/live there? Explain.
- Write 200 words
- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts
Tuesday 17 August 2010
2010 so far...
A very strange year in my opinion, 2010 has been a year where tragedy has struck our country. It’s very hard to step aside and try to think about yourself, especially when you know a huge number of people have had it a lot worse than you.
This year, I started studying again, it’s been a good couple of years since I finished my undergraduate studies, so I decided to pursue further education and learn about the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language. To my surprise, I found out that teaching Spanish is so much harder than teaching English and I hope I don’t have to do that for a living…. ever.
Pursuing further studies and new career opportunities also means that you don’t really get to spend much time with your family and my five-year-old daughter probably resents it the most. So I try to convince myself that the “quality over quantity” cliché is a truth I should believe in.
A really good thing that happened this year is that I moved from an apartment to a house. I’ve been living there for three weeks now and we’ve had barbecues more often than not and September is just around the corner so… beware.
Now you have to write about your experiences during the first term of 2010.
- the relevant things you learned/studied
- the sports and free time activities you did
- the challenges you had to face
- Others (family, friends, etc..)
- Write about: 200 words
- Include a photo or video.