lunes, 14 de septiembre de 2009
Writing in my journal
What is a journal? Why do I have to write in a journal for? Can his help me improve my English? These are some of the questions you may be having. As an English teacher I can answer you these most common questions you may have. First of all as we speak in class, to know English is not only to talk or read it but also to write it correctly. Most of the students have good understanding by reading it but not too many can express their thoughts the correct way. English has a different sintaxis ( order in the sentence). In Spanish words are written in a longer text and are also read from back to front.For instance take this example: Pedro tiene dolor de cabeza muy fuerte-- if you translate in the same order it would be read like this:Peter has pain of headache very heavy (this is wrong order) The correct written text would be : Peter's headache is very painful. As you see, not only there is a change in the text order but also using vivid verbs that enhance the text meaning. Writing in a journal will help you develope more writing skills; the more you practice, the better it will be. Writing in a journal will let your mind go free, to start developing your written thoughts. It is like talking with your pencil. Maybe if you are a shy person, through the written text you will express feelings, thoughts that other way you wouldn't dare to share. So cheer up! Begin with a short paragraph, and show everybody your new skills in the journal.
LA BAMBA -by Gary Soto
This is the story about Manuel who wanted to perform in a school Talent Show to impress his family, friends and most of all Petra Lopez, the girl he liked most. The story develops on the main character as the first person narrator the unexpected outcome in his moment of truth. Very funny and refreshing story that will remain in your memory from the lyrics - "para bailar la Bamba". Yes, you read correctly. Your mind will be repeating "para bailar la Bamba" over and over again. Just enjoy as we all learn to recognize similes and make some predictions in this story made just for you!
domingo, 23 de agosto de 2009
Seven Common Dining Mistakes
While reading this list, you may find that you've been a sinner in the past without ever realizing it. Don't worry. Redemption is at hand. And you certainly aren't alone. The sins detailed in the following list made the top 10 list only because so many people have committed them so often in the past.
Faux Pas
According to G.R.M. Devereux in Etiquette for Women, published in 1901, after you pick up a piece of cutlery, it should never touch the table again—advice that applies today as well.
1.Cutlery. Don't hold your fork like a cello or your knife like Lady Macbeth's dagger. Also, don't wave your cutlery triumphantly in the air to emphasize a point and don't put silverware partly on the table and partly on the plate. After you pick up a piece of cutlery, it should never touch the table again. Knives go on the plate, blade facing in and touching the inside of the plate. Only the handle should rest on the rim of the plate.
2.Napkins. Don't blot or rub the lower half of your face. Dab delicately. Don't flap your napkin to unfold it and don't wave it around like a flag. It belongs unfolded on your lap. If you leave the table, place your napkin on the chair and push the chair back under the table. Gently. Watch the upholstery. Don't refold your napkin at the end of the meal because an unknowing server might give it to another diner. Pick up the napkin from the center and place it loosely on the table to the left of your plate.
3.Chewing. Never chew with your mouth open. Also, no matter how urgently you want to inject the perfect kernel of wit and wisdom at just the right moment, don't do it with food in your mouth. And don't gulp and blurt. Finish chewing, swallow, and smile philosophically, content in the knowledge that you could have said just the right thing, but had too much class to speak with food in your mouth.
4.Appearance. Remember what your mother said: Sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table. If you have any doubt about where your hands belong, put them in your lap.
5.Breaking bread. Here is a real bread-and-butter tip. Tear bread into bite-size pieces and butter each piece just before you eat it. Don't butter the entire slice of bread or the entire roll to get it ready for occasional bites during the course of the meal.
6.Speed. Take it easy. Whether you're at the Ritz Carlton or Gertie's Grease Pit, gulping down food is not only unhealthy but also unattractive, and it can cross the line into rudeness when dining with others. Dining partners should have the same number of courses and start and finish each one at about the same time. Don't be huddling over your soup while others are salivating for dessert or vice versa.
7.Don't pick! If you have something trapped between your teeth, don't pick at it while you are at the table. If it's really driving you nuts, excuse yourself, go to the restroom, and pick to your heart's content
Faux Pas
According to G.R.M. Devereux in Etiquette for Women, published in 1901, after you pick up a piece of cutlery, it should never touch the table again—advice that applies today as well.
1.Cutlery. Don't hold your fork like a cello or your knife like Lady Macbeth's dagger. Also, don't wave your cutlery triumphantly in the air to emphasize a point and don't put silverware partly on the table and partly on the plate. After you pick up a piece of cutlery, it should never touch the table again. Knives go on the plate, blade facing in and touching the inside of the plate. Only the handle should rest on the rim of the plate.
2.Napkins. Don't blot or rub the lower half of your face. Dab delicately. Don't flap your napkin to unfold it and don't wave it around like a flag. It belongs unfolded on your lap. If you leave the table, place your napkin on the chair and push the chair back under the table. Gently. Watch the upholstery. Don't refold your napkin at the end of the meal because an unknowing server might give it to another diner. Pick up the napkin from the center and place it loosely on the table to the left of your plate.
3.Chewing. Never chew with your mouth open. Also, no matter how urgently you want to inject the perfect kernel of wit and wisdom at just the right moment, don't do it with food in your mouth. And don't gulp and blurt. Finish chewing, swallow, and smile philosophically, content in the knowledge that you could have said just the right thing, but had too much class to speak with food in your mouth.
4.Appearance. Remember what your mother said: Sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table. If you have any doubt about where your hands belong, put them in your lap.
5.Breaking bread. Here is a real bread-and-butter tip. Tear bread into bite-size pieces and butter each piece just before you eat it. Don't butter the entire slice of bread or the entire roll to get it ready for occasional bites during the course of the meal.
6.Speed. Take it easy. Whether you're at the Ritz Carlton or Gertie's Grease Pit, gulping down food is not only unhealthy but also unattractive, and it can cross the line into rudeness when dining with others. Dining partners should have the same number of courses and start and finish each one at about the same time. Don't be huddling over your soup while others are salivating for dessert or vice versa.
7.Don't pick! If you have something trapped between your teeth, don't pick at it while you are at the table. If it's really driving you nuts, excuse yourself, go to the restroom, and pick to your heart's content
lunes, 17 de agosto de 2009
Moments of Truth Collage
This Special Assignment will help you gather pictures, illustrations from magazines or your personal photos to make a collage from any person or yourself. Student will share with the class his or her Moment of Truth person. Total score will be 100. Make sure to hand it on time!
Materials needed: half of a cardboard.
Funny letters (foamy, paper or scrapbook)
glue (rubber cement)
photos or illustrations
Write the Title: Moments of Truth (on the top of the cardboard)
Your name, group and English Class at the bottom right
Due date: Friday, August 28
sábado, 15 de agosto de 2009
sábado, 8 de agosto de 2009
Starting with the right foot
English as a second languague can help us gain confidence en ourselfs. Since English has become world universal languague, everywhere we travel, this is the languague you can comunicate. This attitude repeling English is in the mind of those who have never thought why English is so important to communicate in this global world.
Take this example, as I share in class, this past summer vacations I was traveling with a missionary group to Canada and Alabama. In the Church Center we were staying there is an alarm system so sensitive you could activate only by passing next to the door sensors. We had about three nights with the alarm going on and off, police comming into the building with guns and worried for us because of the alarms. At the time they came in, none of the people could talk and understand the police so they searched me. I could explain why we were there, when we arrived, who was encharged etc, so police could help us end this nightmare of alarms. Next day I spoke to a pastor who works in the building on how we could solve the problem. He gave us the secret code to make the alarms recognize people were in, and the best desicion taken was to eliminate alarm activation 'till the day we were gone. Thanks that I knew English , there was a good communication that solved a problem. One of the younsters in the trip mentioned that when he arrived to Puerto Rico he wanted to learn more English because he wanted to go back to Canada and talk freely to anyone. He said it didn't matter if he had to take one hour a day to learn English but the sacrifice was worth it. Maybe you think you're never going to need to learn , speak or read English in your life and maybe you think it won't be necessary, but trust me when I say it can happen to you as well.
Take this example, as I share in class, this past summer vacations I was traveling with a missionary group to Canada and Alabama. In the Church Center we were staying there is an alarm system so sensitive you could activate only by passing next to the door sensors. We had about three nights with the alarm going on and off, police comming into the building with guns and worried for us because of the alarms. At the time they came in, none of the people could talk and understand the police so they searched me. I could explain why we were there, when we arrived, who was encharged etc, so police could help us end this nightmare of alarms. Next day I spoke to a pastor who works in the building on how we could solve the problem. He gave us the secret code to make the alarms recognize people were in, and the best desicion taken was to eliminate alarm activation 'till the day we were gone. Thanks that I knew English , there was a good communication that solved a problem. One of the younsters in the trip mentioned that when he arrived to Puerto Rico he wanted to learn more English because he wanted to go back to Canada and talk freely to anyone. He said it didn't matter if he had to take one hour a day to learn English but the sacrifice was worth it. Maybe you think you're never going to need to learn , speak or read English in your life and maybe you think it won't be necessary, but trust me when I say it can happen to you as well.
Start with the right foot this year means to make yourself available learnning English. The positive attitude to learn is yours. As you open your door to facilitate knowledge in the most important task: learn to communicate and enjoy English as you learn!
Back to School
Un saludos a los estudiantes y padres del septimo grado en este nuevo Año Escolar 2009-2010.
Me place comunicarles que esta página nueva de Blogger estará disponible para ustedes, tanto como para recibir información sobre tareas, asignaciones, proyectos como también para tener una comunicación mas efectiva. Siempre he creído que cuando hay una buena comunicación entre los padres/ estudiantes/ maestros logramos tener mejores resultados en la labor académica.
Este nuevo año escolar nos brinda la oportunidad de crecer, mejorar, enmendar errores pasados y armonizar los talentos, inquietudes, destrezas y oportunidades que nos permitirá desarrollar y forrtalecer nuestro caracter
.
Como padres les agradezco que si tienen duda de las tareas o asignaciones, me lo hagan saber. No queremos que tengan dificultades pero si estas se presentan como ausencias por enfermedades o situaciones familiares, le pedimos que tengan a bien informarme y a la vez tomar ventaja en esta página que estaré publicando para su beneficio .
Siempre tenemos espacio para crecer; puede sugerir ideas al igual que dar su opinión sobre posibles temas.
Me place comunicarles que esta página nueva de Blogger estará disponible para ustedes, tanto como para recibir información sobre tareas, asignaciones, proyectos como también para tener una comunicación mas efectiva. Siempre he creído que cuando hay una buena comunicación entre los padres/ estudiantes/ maestros logramos tener mejores resultados en la labor académica.
Este nuevo año escolar nos brinda la oportunidad de crecer, mejorar, enmendar errores pasados y armonizar los talentos, inquietudes, destrezas y oportunidades que nos permitirá desarrollar y forrtalecer nuestro caracter
.Como padres les agradezco que si tienen duda de las tareas o asignaciones, me lo hagan saber. No queremos que tengan dificultades pero si estas se presentan como ausencias por enfermedades o situaciones familiares, le pedimos que tengan a bien informarme y a la vez tomar ventaja en esta página que estaré publicando para su beneficio .
Siempre tenemos espacio para crecer; puede sugerir ideas al igual que dar su opinión sobre posibles temas.
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