Blog 10, last post. Evaluation of your Blog Experience

Level 3 >> Post 10 (week 15) Evaluation of your Blogging Experience

Write about your experience using blogs in the English class.

Say:

> What you think about the experience in general

> How much you feel your writing skills have developed

> What you would like to include in the future

> What else you would like to write about

Wordcount: 200

Make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts.

_________________________________________________________________________

Evaluation of My Experience With Students:

As I have always said, when being here in front of a group of people in a class, I feel lucky to have the chance of being able to be their teacher, and I take very seriously and passionately the fact that the work I can make may change History someday – No one knows for sure if some of the people you were teacher’s to, might grow to become a future senator or the future president.

Having said that is time to reflect upon the practices and understand the ways in which the experience of the process of teaching and learning has enriched one’s life. It is time to assess one’s motivations, one’s teaching practice and the learning gained from the students.

By doing the self-analysis exercise, I realize that by being related to the academic affairs of a wide diversity of students from several faculties and majors, this term as well as the former ones, I have learnt and deepened in areas which were unknown to me and so I have learnt about the world of Dentistry and the different functions of the different organs involved in teething. Furthermore I have explored the world of cinema and the many dimensions to it and that are not always displayed for the mere spectator; I have enriched my understanding of the current national affairs just by listening to my journalism students and the discussions they have in the hallways or when just having a coffee with their peers.

From the interaction with my students –n English most of the time, I always insist - I have seen art in a way that was distant to me, I could finally appreciate artistic forms that before seemed sterile to me and needless say that as a whole, when reflecting upon the learning I have obtained from my students, I understand how wonderful my profession is and that from that nourishing feedback we both, teacher and students, receive from each other,  I believe we may endue the world with ways to stop inequity and contribute for citizens to overcome deprivation.

In the future I aim at opening up more to look over students learning styles, to take their ideas and try to include them in class activities that are even more profitable and beneficial not only for the academic endeavor but furthermore for the pursue of happiness. 

Blog 9; Themes Post, TV Series

Dear all: today is a free topic, we will start with Childhood Series.

You have to structure a text telling us about the programmes you used to watch, as a child. 

- Comment on your teacher's post and also make a comment on 3 of your classmates' posts
- Word Count for this post : 140 words 

Childhood Series

Believe it or not, when I was a child there weren't many series on TV, besides, I used to live in the 8th region, in a lost town in the middle of nowhere and we did not receive much technology nor state of the art cinema, theatre, cultural venues, etc.

It was the late 80's and national TV was the only option available, and consequently, the very limited programming they offered.

The series that you could see were quite classical, the typical Disney style, with Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and my favourite: Goofy.

I cannot tell you that I really remember their adventures on screen, because I was less than 5 years old, but I do remember having felt very proud after receiving positive appraisal from my parents when I was able to properly pronounce Goofy's spanish name, which was hard for someone mastering language in his early years. 

 

As years went by, things changed in my life and in the country, and in the year 1995, there was a new service arriving into the region, it was CABLE TV!!!!!

The first couple of months, and since it was a real novelty, not many people seemed to have hired the service, and the channels were not all yet given in Spanish. It was then when I discovered Nickelodeon, and also Scooby Doo.

I remember I really Really REALLY loved not understanding it all but I was happy when I realized Scooby and his gang had solved a mystery, I was happy just by understanding even only the gist of the episode.

Later in my life, I changed my likes from cartoons to soap operas and series, series with human beings and with more adult-like topics. My favourite has always been Friends and Seinfeld, and still nowadays I prefer series rather than cartoon, although to be honest, after letting my self be stimulated by my current students, I am developing a crave for anime series and movies.

Blog 8: Themed Post. Consequences of Terrorist Attacks in Chile

Dear all:

As decided in class, this post is free and therefore you have to write freely about the consequences you can predict from the terrorist attacks in Paris a couple of weeks ago.

As we have been discussing, the concrete consequences of such actions can not be characterized in such a short period, however there might be consequences in the migration to our country land and also an economic breakdown due to the markets being moved from the very core.

On the one hand, with the hectic scenario that Europe is undergoing at the moment, i.e. huge migration rates from Siria, big nations sunk in deep economic crisis such as the case of Greece, and the attacks to the european lifestyle, it might happen that from now to 10 years' time the migration rates from both European and Middle East countries might increase importantly, especially if we consider the fact that already we have received nearly half a million migrants from different countries and still we do not know how massive could this migration wave be in the near future. Already we are hosting several people from eastern european countries such Belarus and Ukraine, also a stong migration from Spain, etc. and yet there are not a good migration policy, for which it could be argued that in the near future the consequences of the terrorist attacks could be that of receiving many foreign people.

On the other hand, ecomically, the attaks in Paris have caused a massive decrease in several bursary markets, the Nikkei and Dollar have gone down quite impresively and being Chile on the countries that in the world receives more foreign investment, in the near future the companies which bring money to the country might have to stop this for several reasons and therefore it will deeply influence our growth rate. Though still it is hard to say for sure.

Many of the consequences of the Terrorist Attacks in Paris could be outlined, however, being that the events happened so recently, it is still uncertain what the effects in our country will be. Anyhow, Chile nowadays is not anymore isolated from the rest of the worls, upholding several international economical agreements and treaties, so the consequences now will be clearer and more evident that maybe, any time bofore.

Comunicado: Suspensión clase Lunes 23 de Noviembre

Estimados:

Junto con extender mis saludos, me comunico para informales que debido asuntos de último minuto debo suspender nuestra clase del Lunes 23 de Noviembre. Las clases se retomarán el Lunes 30 del mes en curso. Esta sesión la recuperaremos una vez que organicemos en conjunto un horario y fecha para dicho efecto.

Les extiendo mis saludos cordiales y les agradezco vuestra comprensión.

Atentamente:

Prof. Masías .

Clase del Lunes 23 de Noviembre

Estimados:

Producto de un examen de competencias que debo rendir el Lunes 23 en el horario de nuestra clase, estoy buscando una solución para no tener que re-agendar la sesión. Sin embargo aún no he podido resolverlo y lo sabré dentro de esta tarde, por lo que les rogaría estar atentos a cualquier información que se envíe ya sea para confirmar o cancelar la clase del próximo lunes 23, entre 10:15-13:30 hrs.

Saludos y POR FAVOR ESTAR ATENTOS A VUESTROS MAILS.

Prof. Masías.

pd. Correr la voz.

Post 7: An Expert on Your Field.

Instructions

Who is a person/expert on your field that you admire?

Say:

-Who she/he is. (short biography)
-What she/he has done. (examples of their work)
-Why you like her/him.
-Include his/her image

> About 170 words
>Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

_____________________________________________________________________________

Example: 

The man in the picture is Noam Chomsky, He is a very well known and widely respected Language Scientist. He is american and all his life, he has done research in the areas of grammar and language development among others. The core of his theory lies on that the principles underlying the structure of language are biologically determined in the mind and therefore it is genetically transmitted, in other words, we are born with an innate capability for language development.

He changed my perspectives of why people learn a language, on how people learn it and how can that proces be reproduced in an adult "learning", or moreover, as he says, "acquiring" a foreign language.

He is considered the Father of Modern Linguistics and because of his extensive research, many new methodologies to language study, and also many new areas have been open up, an example of this, is the applications of his language theory into Neuroscience and IT. And still, nowadays, he is a must-study, for every linguistics or language-related-area-student.

Blog 6. Themed Post: My Pet .

I have recently adopted Dulce at an “Adoption Session” sponsored by Garras y Patas Foundation, there I found Dulce, a very beautiful, two-year-old, female dog. She is a mixed dog and before we came across with each other, she had been given for adoption because her previous owner had got very ill and

could no longer take care of her. Luckily, she didn’t spent too much time waiting for someone to take care her!

She is an old dog but paradoxically full of energy. She was not trained as a puppy and despite she has some bad habits she has never spoilt it badly inside the flat, the only very big issue with her is that she pulls on the leash! she’s always pulling and barking at cats in the streets which is dangerous because a fierce cat could attack her. Another thing is that she doesn’t have the best fur quality, she always losing it and I have to brush her twice a day, also I walk her three times a day and feed her also three times a day.

I look after her the best way I to have her in the best possible shape, after all she is my companion and at times I see her as my family, she is not very independent as any other dog so I have to arrange my schedule to have time to see her that’s why we spend quite a lot together and little by little we have become a small but very loving, human-dog pack.

BLOG 5: The Story of a Picture.

Today: The Story of a Picture.

Hi people:

·       Today:

-        Write about a photograph you like.

·       Say:

• ·       Who took it
• What it shows
•   When it was taken
• Why you like it
•  Upload it too
•  Include any other information you'd like to mention.
•   Write at least 150 words.
• Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

The story of a picture ...

               

This might look a bit naive but , let me tell you, it is alcohol!, it was taken at a pub in Paris, in a bar accross from Place Vendome. I was with friends and we wanted to see the non-romantic and alternative side of the city.

This picture is a portrait  in memory my best holiday ever, and even though I haven’t had many superb holidays, because most of time I prefer visiting my family more tan anything else, I have had some memorable ones.

It was the year 2008, if I don’t remember incorrectly; and I was under big stress because I had had several problems at my job. Anyway, to make a long story short, I dropped by the place I used to work for and they told me: “here you are”… it was a NICE, FAT Christmas bonus.

That day, I was with a friend of mine who was leaving on a tour that same afternoon, and after hearing that I had received my present, she shouted at me, from the entrance: “Man!!!! Let’s go together!!!”….

Two hours later, we were travelling around 2 countries, we meant to tour as much as posible, getting to see idilic landscapes and also, both being teachers, we wanted to share with the locals and not visiting the typical touristic places.

The toured over Amsterdam (red district and all), Brussels (nice beer!) and finally Paris, where the picture was taken. we spent nearly 3 weeks travelling, and from that improvised adventure, there are many stories we can tell, and another thousand anecdotes, I cannot let you know in this blog entry’s extension.

WEBQUEST. TASK 1. GRADED

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/23p7nekbkwrr475/AAABDIvF0_-_o5u6O5NsQoV3a?oref=e&n=320095180

Post 4: Themed Post: MY LIFE IN MOVIES AND BOOKS

The bOOKS aNd Films of MY LIFE

It was the year 2000, the storm that month were  chasing town constantly and my thoughts were  completely immersed into the smooth reading of Herman Hesse’s Demian which I had found by chance when looking into the old shelves of the local public library. The family was going  through hard times because I was quite sick, I had a tumour in my head and they had to operate it, and given I had plenty of time to rest and get bored I started reading a lot and with it, getting ready for surgery.  Demian bewitched my deep thoughts and made me grow more mature and see this operation as a step into a new life.

With years I continued reading and I developed the taste for cinema, it all started when I discovered Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being  and then life started bombing me with many more books, movies and other displays of human creativity. I remember I was at university when I watched “Hombre Mirando al Sudeste” and “Magnolia”, both films that made me realize I wanted to write a movie some day.

Also I like music, and the boost and spice it gives to films, one of my favourite soundtracks is the one from the film The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I think the music is fantastic and also, the characters of the movie represent me in many ways, even in the way both lead actors have a strange relationship, in the emotionality they have and the romanticism they display, as well.

Nowadays, my preferences in cinema have changed and I try to watch more off-stream cinema and I don’t read as many books as before now, the time I have for reading I spend it reading documents and papers for work, scientific magazines, reviews, etc. Very little Literature. That is why I am watching more movies than reading, last week I gave myself a Chilean Home-Cinema Festival and I watched “Valparaiso Mon Amour”, “Caluga o Menta” and “Johnny 100 pesos”. I loved all of them and I am sure my hunger for fiction will make me continue finding the time to watch a good film. 

MY FAVOURITE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY

*Write about your favourite piece of technology

Say:

What it is.
When you got it.
How you use it.
How often you use it.
Why you like it.
What life would be like without it.




- 130 words minimum.
- Include a picture. 
- Comment on at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs.

______________________________________________________

The Apple Without The Worm 

For some time I had been quite disconnected from all society, I had already spent 6 months without a mobile.
Back then I had started working for a telecommunications company and I had to be on the phone mostly all day long, and that's why I decided, in the end, to get rid of the #cell-phone".

Time went by and some day I had an urgency, I had to hand in a very, very importan document, but with the rush, I left it over my desk at home, and the only way to get it was to call my friend and ask him to drop by and bring it along.
Having thought so, I rushed out the underground to get a pay-phone but guess what, ALL of them were not working, and after several tries, and a big anguish, I managed to contact my friend and get my papers...but it was already a bit late, and the only way I could get in touch was by borrowing a co-worker's mobile!

After that I got a mobile phone, in the 2011, after nearly a year without it. After a while I learnt there were new models, and new apps and the inclusion of 3G, I finally changed to iphone!!!... I use it for everything: to make a call, a free-call, to use wasap, teaching apps, grading apps, ppt creation and many more tools that I have come accross with.

I love my new mobile because of its functionality and the freedom it gives me, because I do not longer need to be behind the desk to do all of the tasks my profession requires. I also love it because it helps me being updated on everything I need updating on, and furthermore, because I might have lots to do, and even though I am very forgetful, with my iphone, I can always be aware of it all!.

Without it, life would be rather the same, perhaps, with the difference that I would be forced to spend less time behind the mobile, but at the same time, forced to spend longer hours behind the desk. If I did not have it, I would be even busier, not being able to work on the run. That's why I now love and use my mobile.

EXPECTATIONS FOR A NEW SEMESTER

 

Expectations for a new semester (110 words)

Hi guys!  Nice to have around again.

Today we have to write about the expectations we have for this new term.

To start with, this, at least for me, has been a very hectic and rushed year, it started off with a huge interpreting project which took all my time, and now, starting my second semester at "La Chile", it is facing me with many new challenges, and I guess this will continue throughout both terms.

I hope I can meet all the requirements life is imposing this year, I wish I can do my best at classes, I expect to have only very keen and eager to learn students, also, I would like them to learn from me as  much as possible, and beyond all of it, I really dream my teaching will help them for their lives.

In the personal, short-run outcomes, I really hope I can continue learning more, both from my students and from life, I wish I become wiser every day and furthermore, more importantly, I expect my work can be of good use for the new leaders of this country, all of them, fortunately, are my students.

Cheers!

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Hi all!!

Today:

You have to write your auto biographies. You have to include:

- Birth info
- Studies info (elementary/high school/ univ)
- Family Info
- Hobbies
- Others...

> Number of words: 100 (minimum)
> Make comments on three of your classmates posts

__________________________________________

SAMPLE:

I was born far south, well, not so far, just 510 km south from the capital.

My home city used to be Concepción, where in 1985 I was born; but when I was 5 years old my Father got a job in another city so we had to move to Los Angeles.

Los Ángeles is a small city, at about 180 km from Concepción, it's a service and pulp-industry town, and it is also the capital city of the Bio-Bio Province.

The city is sourrounded by very green landscapes and because of the pulp industry, the sorroundings nowadays, is nearly covered with pine trees and eucalyptus, which are used for the production of the raw material used to make paper.

My father, who is an engineer, and my mother, who is a housewife, took us all with them and I ended up being raised in this new town. I also went to school there. I spent all my life, from 1st primary to 4th high school in catholic institutions.

My hobbies were not many, I used to play volleyball, I took guitar lessons, but finally, I think the most enjoyable hobby was to learn new languages, and because there were not many options, I studied English.

After graduation I went college and finally I got to Santiago where I have been living for the past 5 years.

I hope my future helps me keep my southern roots and perhaps, I will come back to the south....one day. 

Blog Syllabus

WELCOME

Welcome to your English 3 Course.


My name is Jordán Masías, I am going to be yout Teacher of English this term.


Instructions:

1- go to www.plataforma.uchile.cl and register. In this website you will find lots of activities, as well as the relevant information for the course.

2- go to http://www.plataforma.uchile.cl/lapetus/2009/1/ingles/curso_2011.php?id=295 and do the activities of unit 1.

3- Post here so I can add you to my contact list for this blog.

N.B. this blog will be the means by which I will be giving you instructions and information.

Let¿s have fun!