Blog 10     English language challenge

•  What comments can you make about your experience learning English at university? What about the use of blogs?
•  What aspects of your English need to be improved and how do you plan to do this?
• Outside the English class, how much are you using English these days? What for?

- Wordcount: 260
- Make comments on 3 of your partners' posts and on your teacher's post

Learning a foreign language takes time and dedication, and the  process is almost the same as learning to speak your native language. Think about the time it takes a child to speak and then, 5 years later, to learn how to read and write! When we become aware of this fact, we understand how difficult this learning process is.  Luckily, there are strategies to make the process more effective.

The first strategy is to integrate the four skills because listening, speaking, reading and writing are interrelated aspects of the language that complement each other. The second important plan of action is to integrate grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. This is seen in individual words that include all these aspects. For example, the verb to read is pronounced in a different way in the present and in the past and because of this, it belongs to the class of irregular verbs. The final important aspect is to observe how the components of the language behave and incorporate this behavior to our active communication process.  In my opinion, the activity of blog helps students to use English to communicate with their classmates and make the process more authentic.

Another crucial characteristic is to identify the areas that need improvement and to design a realistic plan that works for us and monitor it.  Fortunately, the development of technology allows us to be in contact with authentic material in many ways, and learners can adapt all these technological improvements to their learning styles in order to optimize the process. For example, if you are an auditory learning, listening to music or to TED talks will help you a lot, but if you are a visual learner, writing down words will help you remember them.

Here I paste this link for you to discover your learning style and think about your best way to learn.

Overview of learning styles - Learning Styles Online.com

https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/

Blog 9  CHANGES TO MY STUDY PROGRAMME

• Write about some changes that could be made to your study programme (career)
• Among others, think about:

> The curriculum (the subjects you have to study)
> Workload and length of studies
> Faculty facilities (buildings and infrastructure)
> Use of technology
> Teaching methods



- Word Count: 250
- Leave comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts and your teacher's post.

Nowadays graduate education has become a must for professionals who graduate from an undergraduate program in any part of the world. When I graduated from university this was not the case. Has this modern trend brought benefits to professionals and society?  Like everything in life, this tendency has benefits and drawbacks.

The positive side is that it allows students to be better prepared for the competitive work market that they have to face once they graduate. Therefore, the greatest challenge is the choice between national and international educational institutions and the quality of the programs that they offer, which include the curriculum, the length of studies, the facilities, the state-of-the-art technology and teaching methods.  All these aspects have to be carefully evaluated according to their prospective job profile.

The negative side is the stress that all the application process generates. For example, if the choice is a foreign university, the first nightmare is the score required by the standardized English test in case the student selects an English-speaking university. The second, and not less important aspect, is to finance the project and the application for a scholarship and all the paperwork implied.

But returning to the brighter side, this healthy competition in the job market makes more qualified professionals and benefits companies and society in general. One of the areas of attention is the new technology that is constantly appearing and the need to keep updated with its use and application.   One final benefit is that due to these technological developments, some of these courses can be done online, which gives students more flexibility and independence to achieve their goals.

Blog 8  SUMMER HOLIDAYS

• ·         Plans or ideas for the summer holidays
• ·         Places they are going to /would like to visit
• ·         People they are going to / would like to be with
• ·         Activities they are thinking of being part of

Make comments on 3 of your partner’s posts and my post.

Word count 250 words.

Hemingway's Museum in Cuba

Summer is a season that has traditionally been connected to vacations, and vacations, in turn, are connected to traveling. But the dilemma starts with choosing a destination, especially if you have family in different parts of the world.

This year my summer vacations start with a trip to Cuba to welcome the year  2018. The end of year is a season when we start to make a balance of the year that ends and to make resolutions for the new year. Do you ever make new year’s resolutions? I think it is important to make a stop and reevaluate your choices and introduce changes in your lifestyle and stick to them. Here I paste a link to 50 New Year’s Resolutions, and most importantly, how to keep them.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/50-new-years-resolution-ideas-and-how-achieve-each-them.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2016/12/26/7-secrets-of-people-who-keep-their-new-years-resolutions/#4d58eb7f7098

This trip will give me the opportunity to be with my Cuban son and grandchildren and with my brother and sister. In terms of the weather, this is the best time of the year because it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter in Cuba is very mild, and for us, the ones who live in Chile, Cuban winter is like Chilean summer.

 And, of course, my second destination will be Miami in March to see my American grandson. It is also a wonderful time for the weather because it will not be as  hot as it usually is.

  Although it is hard to have the family spread throughout the continent, I have found the way to reconcile with this situation, and the best way is to think about quality time. This concept is the only choice to minimize the anxiety and sadness  that distance produces and look at it with optimism, so I try to enjoy the moments we spend together and visit places that give us the possibility to feel satisfaction, such as Hemngway's house in Cuba.

I am thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to share what I do with my grandson from the USA. I wish I could have done the same with the  ones who live in Cuba.

Now I am interested in knowing about your plans, your end-of-the-year balance and your New Year’s resolutions.

Blog 7 Themed Post:   Sports in our lives

• The role of sports in our lives
• Childhood memories
• Favorite sports
• Skills needed to do sports

- Remember to make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts + a comment on your teacher's post.

- Word Count: 230 words.

Doing sports plays a decisive role in people’s lives, but unfortunately, not much attention is paid to this relevant aspect of our healthy lifestyle.  First of all, this habit is not universally accepted as a health issue; therefore, individuals and institutions do not create conditions for this helpful activity. However,  staying  physically active can enhance  the functional capacity among older people, and can help to maintain quality of life and independence. In addition, a number of studies have shown that exercise may play a therapeutic role in addressing a number of psychological disorders, including depression.

When I was a child doing sports was not a priority, and it was not even considered within the regular subjects at school, but when I started high school I had to play volleyball as part of  my school subjects. Obviously, it was not a habit and it was obligatory, so I did not enjoy playing it. Then, I changed to basketball, but it was even worse because I think this sport requires more skills such as speed and alertness.  It is hard to talk about the skills needed to do sports, and I wonder whether these skills are genetically inherited or developed through practice. Maybe there is a combination of both. I would have loved to have the necessary skills to do sports  because I think that people who do sports are happier and more adventurous.

One final point about the importance of sports is how this  activity should be used to reduce social injustice, so governments should develop more programs and projects in poorer areas   to improve the health and well-being of these communities.  And one final point is that governments should  also promote the use of active modes of transport, such as cycling and walking.

Now I look forward to reading your experiences as sports players. I am sure I will enjoy reading them.

Blog Session 6   Postgradute Studies

Write about a postgraduate course that you would consider taking in the future.

When I graduated from university in 1978, the idea was that I had acquired all the knowledge that was needed to be a prestigious profesional. However, a few years later, postgraduate courses became the latest fashion, and I think this was an excellent way to update professionals in their fields because knowledge is in a  constant state of development. It is not a finished product.

Nowadays, graduate students have a world of opportunities in all the  Master’s Degrees or PhDs they can apply for, which will allow them to expand their knowledge, to  have  better communication skills and worldwide recognition.

If I had the opportunity to take a postgraduate course, it would definitely be a postgraduate course in world literature. Through literature we can learn to connect with the world in an authentic  way and link all the spheres of human interaction, ranging from facing wars, fighting against poverty and developing endurance in the face of adversity. My most motivating story is The Old Man and the Sea, which was written by Ernest Hemingway. No history or social science  book can describe the life of this old fisherman and let the reader identify with his daily struggle, which is the struggle of poor people in many parts of the world.

My dream would be to sudy at an international university in a foreign country, and obviously, I would like to receive funding from a government institution that would require me to return my services to society once I graduate.

One of the contributions that I would like to make is to encourage people from all ages to  read more, to enjoy simple things without the need to spend huge amounts of money and to use their free time efficiently. This can take young people away  from drugs and delinquency and help older people to do brain gym and keep their minds active.

What about you?  What are your interests?

https://www.findamasters.com/masters-degrees/languages-literature-and-culture/?10g5 

Include:

- Reasons to do the course

- Subject(s) you would like to study

- Where you would like to study  (Chile or abroad)

- How you would like to study   (distance learning, blended system, part-time course, etc)

- Any other relevant ideas

- Remember to make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts + a comment on your teacher's post.

- Word Count: 220 words.

Blog  5   My future job 

• What kind of job would you like to have? How do you imagine it?
•  Outdoors /indoors?
• Would you like to travel a lot in your job?
•  What about the salary?
• What major are you studying / are you thinking of taking?    Explain why
• Add any other related ideas.

- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts + a comment on your teacher's post.

- Word Count: 210 words

 Teaching has been my passion since I was a child,  and I feel very proud of having chosen this path which has allowed me to help many students to  live fuller lives.  Another fulfilling aspect of my  career as a university professor has been exchanging experiences.  My first trip to Canada in 1970 was like a dream for me because at that time traveling was not common. I was chosen to work with an American brigade that helped in Cuba. Then, in 1985 I traveled to the Pedagogical Language Institute in Kiev, Ucraine. This was an even greater dream because I was selected to represent a Cuban Pedagogical Institute, and I had to prepare lectures and talks to exchange experiences with students from that country. But the best part is still to come. When I immigrated to Chile, I was given a scholarship to have a training course in San Diego State University. I woul have never imagined I was going to have such a reward in a foreign country.

 After all this long introduction you might think: What else would you like to do?  But I would love  to do something completely  different and experience what life is like in a non-academic environment. Therefore, I would love to become a yoga trainer.  This job will be in connection with my philosophy of guiding people to be more aware of the present moment and, therefore, be happier and healthier. People who are involved in yoga find inner peace and have less disturbed minds.

Obviously, the salary will not be a priority, but I have learned that money does not make happiness. Lately, I have been thinking of taking a yoga trainer course. Maybe my next step will be this holistic fitness package which includes  breathing techniques, meditation and flexible postures that will definitely energize our bodies and our minds.

Now it is your turn to talk about your future plans.

MUSIC

    

Music has always played a significant role in human activities, and, throughout the history of humanity, it has been used to encourage people to perform religious, social or political activities. An illustrative example is that every country has a national anthem that unites and identifies the members of that society.

   But music has also been used to satisfy individual needs, and I think that this is the most common use. In my case, I have a personal preference for John Lennon because I think he represents an epoch and has made a unique contribution to help humanity and to make the world a better place. Two of my farvorite songs are Imagine and Woman. I always remember the first time I listened to them and how they made me feel moved by their messages of love, peace and solidarity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTYbrFxDXJs  IMAGINE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9GNO-YQNq4  WOMAN

  Listening to music also has a psychological effect,that affects your mood and makes you feel happier or more energetic. In my case, I listen to music when I need to relax or when I feel nostalgic and want to connect with people I love by listening to the  music that reminds me of the moments we lived together. Now I mostly connect to my children and grandchildren through the  modern songs we have shared. Music helps us bridge the generation gap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD4H6ecTiG0   LA BICICLETA

Now it is your turn to tells us about your reletionship with music in about 200 words.

Your should say:

o   What your favorite type of music, singer or band is

o   When you listen to music

o   What the relationship between music and mood is

o   Any other aspect that

Remember to comment on 3 of your classmates' blogs and on your teacher's blog.

Write about your favorite movie

• Say when you saw it
• What genre it is 
• when the film was released and who starred it 
• why you like it

My Favorite Movie

Watching movies is one of my favorite pastimes.  Through movies I travel in time and space in a way that  feeds my soul and my imagination.

 Of all the films I have watched in my life, none of them has equaled the depth with which  Forest Gump has touched my heart. This is my all time favorite, and I have forgotten when I saw it for the first time, and how many times I have seen it after that moment and what is more, I never get bored watching it.

The film is a comedy-drama that was released in 1994 and was directed by Robert Zemericks, and starred by Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise.

I am passionate about this film for two reasons.  The first is that  it depicts the horrors of war from the  angle of Forrest’s eyes. Forrest is a young man who has an IQ below 75, but is extremely kind-hearted and loyal to his friends and family.   The second reason to love this film is the way Forrest connects with his mother, his girlfriend Jenny and his son, Forrest Gump Jr.  

One aspect to highlight is how his mother interacts with him and explains complex concepts to him in a simple way.  One of the best moments is when she has to explain to him that she is about to die and tells him the philosophical  and famous  quote,  ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.’” 

Now I cannot wait to read your posts.

Leave comments on three of your  classmates’ posts + your teacher’s

A place I have visited

If I had to choose a place in the world as the best, I would definitely choose New Orleans. This southern city is unique in its friendliness, respect to people and the environment and cultural activities.

I visited this beautiful city in June 2016, and I immediately fell in love with it because what I experienced there was completely different from what I had lived in other places. The first singular behavior I noticed was that people walked slowly, and this allowed them to look at other people and smile. In fact, people from New Orleans were very friendly to visitors and also to the environment.   This friendliness also means respect to me.

Another area where they show their respect and friendliness is the environment. The city has hardly any cars and people move around taking a tram or walking. This makes the city more silent and more full of green areas and parks, such as the Audubon Park, where you can see beautiful birds and butterflies. I had not seen so many butterflies since I was a child.

Last, but not least, is the cultural life of the city with its Mardi Grass, which is mentioned all-year-round and the number of museums such as the II World War Museum, with its vivid images and narrations that made me feel inside the battlefield. Also there are so many art museums that I did not have time to visit them! Therefore, I have a date with New Orleans in the near future!

New Orleans:

https://action.audubon.org/onlineactions/Caiv_BMt5EWxyZwiqKHwrg2?ms=digital-fund-ppc-google-x-20170000_google_paid_donate&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1JbPBRCrARIsAOKj2PlrYxFQER1AZZmzcXMUmr8a1J8SrzLJqnp2uXrcGlLJUcKzB0NsAKMaAo_5EALw_wcB

A COUNTRY I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT

If I had the possibility to visit a foreign country, I would definitely visit Australia.  The fact that this  country is also a continent has made me curious all my life, but this is not the main reason to visit this southern country.

The main reason is that I have heard how they speak English in films and the way they speak is not so easy to understand, and as I love languages and dialects, I would love to speak to Australians and see how well we can understand each other.

Another important reason is that I have watched documentaries about the exotic plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs that are unique to  Australia. For example, kangarous, koalas, dingos are animals that I have never had the opportunity t osee, and I think that the real experience of seeing them in their natural habitats would be wonderful.

In summary, although there are many other tourist destinations that I dream of visiting, the number one on my list would definitely be Australia due to its peculiar language and its exotic animals.