BLOG  6     VIDEO GAMES

Dear students,   this week  you will write about  a topic you selected: Video games.

Here are some of the points that we selected to write about:

video games

·          Genres

·          What they are about

·          How often you play them

·          Why you like them

-Write 160 words minimum.
- Include a picture. 
- Comment on at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

Dear students,

I am thrilled to write about video games because there is a generation gap among us, and also because video games  are not one of my priorities. But this is the wonderful challenge: I have to walk into unknown territory.

First, I had no idea there were different genres in video games, but thanks to your experience, and  to technology and Google, I discovered that there are many genres and, as in any typical taxonomy, there are principles for classification such as action, action-adventure, role-playing, simulation, and many others.

  If I have to choose one type, I will definitely choose simulation because I think this type can be used in learning.  And now I remember that when I was learning to drive, I and to practice in the simulator in order  to get control of the steering wheel, so I was playing video games!!!

Now I can see they can be very useful  and have a positive side.  And since I never play them, I have asked people why they like them. Here are some of their answer. They say they have fun. Others say they learn to compete with themselves and with other people. And many of them say they use video games to learn English.

Because I had to do a lot of research to write about video games, I want to share two useful sites where I found information. 

I look forward to reading what you will write.

http://www.raisesmartkid.com/3-to-6-years-old/4-articles/34-the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video-games

http://whatculture.com/gaming/10-video-games-that-actually-taught-us-something-useful.php

POST 5 (week 9) > 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.




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

My favorite piece of technology is undoubtedly my little netbook.  I like everything about it.

 First of all, because our encounter was like  love at first sight. I saw it, fell in love with it and bought it without thinking twice about the money I was going to spend. And I think I did the right thing.

Since the moment I bought it, I use it almost every day and for  many  activities. First, I keep all my memorable family pictures, and videos. Also, I listen to music and watch my favorite videos. Finally, besides these free time activities, I use this little miracle to record my students’ performance and evaluation, which facilitates my work and helps my students, too.

Why do I like it? Well the reasons are also difficult to list, but most of all because it is portable and I can take it  to many places easily. Also because of the way it looks. It is pink and looks so cute that I call it my little baby.

It is a little hard to imagine my life without it, but I think I will not die. Before computers existed,  people learned  a lot and did research and made important discoveriesand lived happily. So  I sometimes wonder, has technology made our lives more humane?

You are going to spend a week in London evaluating tourist locations for an end of year study trip.

Here is a list of things you want to do while you are there.  Follow the links and fill in the table.

Half Day Outings

London Eye

http://www.londoneye.com/
http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help-centre/about-travel-zones.html 

The British Museum

http://www.britishmuseum.org/

The Tower of London

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/ (including Crown Jewels)

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum

http://www.madametussauds.com/london/

The Natural History Museum

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/

The Tate Modern Art Gallery

http://www.tate.org.uk/

Full day

Kew Gardens

http://www.kew.org/

Camden Market

http://www.camden-market.org/

For each location say:

What day you will visit,

How much you will have to pay to get in,

Which Tube station you will travel to (nearest to location), and the zone it is in.

What will you do on the other days? (2 full days or 4 half days or 1 full day 2 half days)

Search the web for other things to do in London.

What is the total cost?

Themed Post 4    A film that you liked

Say:

-Who  directed  and  starred the film

-Awards the film has received

-What the film  is about

-Why you like it.

-Include  useful  links or pictures to have more information

·         Write about  140 words

·         Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs 

Although there are many films that I enjoy watching, a film that I really like is Scent of a Woman. It was directed by Martin Brest and starred by A Pacino and Chris O`Donnell. It won an Oscar for the best acting in leading role for Al Pacino and was also  nominated for best director, best picture and best writing. It also won three other awards at Golden Globe Awards.

The film is about a university student who needs to earn some money and decides to look for a weekend job. He could not anticipate how challenging this job will be, and I think this is the essence of the film.

I like this film for a number of reasons: mainly excellent acting and screenplay, but most of all for the social and human analysis that you can derive from it. From the social point of view we can analyze social inequalities and discrimination of all types, and from the human point of view we can see how much we learn from each other and how complex human nature is.

Blog Session 3    Carrer-Related Website   OR     An Expert on your Field      Choose ONE of these  2 options:

Post 1 (Instructions). 
Write about a career-related website that you enjoy visiting.

You should:

- provide the link
- describe the website (sections, features,etc)
- say how often you visit the site
- explain why you like the site.




>Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs
>Word Count: 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post 2 (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 130 words
>Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

My favorite website

Although nowadays there are many websites that can be used  to learn English, there is  a career-related website that I find very useful.  It  is called  www.manythings.org  and as its name indicates, you can do many things in this website, such as  quizzes, word games, word puzzles, and proverbs.

I visit this website as often as I can because I enjoy myself with the exercises and also because I use it with my students.

The main reason why I like this website is that this site is non-commercial and has no advertising, so  recommend this site to my  students.  Also, this website has activities for all levels and ages, and even though the primary focus is for ESL, native English speakers may also find some interesting things on this site.

Post 2 (week 4) >> A singer/band you like or a concert/exhibition you've been to

- name
- what do you know about them?
- what type of music do they play?
- why do you like this artist/band?
- what's your favorite song? why?
- publish a picture or video
- 120 words minimum
- make 3 comments on your classmates posts. Concert/Exhibition >>

- what was it?
- when did you go?
- where was it?
- why did you like it?
- mention more details about it
- publish a related picture or video

- 120 words minimum
- make 3 comments on your classmates posts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwUGSYDKUxU

A band I have liked since the moment it was created is The Beatles.  Unfortunately, I do not know much about them, but I know they were from Liverpool, which I imagine must be similar to Valparaiso. Also they sing in English and they have helped me a lot to improve my learning and my skills.

 Why do I like them? Well, I think it has to do with my ideal definition of music. In my opinion, music has to connect to your soul through rhythm and feeling and also to your reasoning with social and logical appeal.  

   The only musical group that has satisfied my expectation has been The Beatles. That is why I listen to them from time to time.  My favorite song is CAN`T BUY ME LOVE because it reassures the idea that the most important things in life are free.

Blog 1 AUTOBIOGRAPHY

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

> Number of words: 120 (minimum)
> Make comments on three of your classmates posts

Dear students,

Welcome to the wonderful world of writing!

To start with, we will introduce ourselves, so I will introduce myself.

I was born in Cuba, but my husband and I decided to move to Chile with our two children and experience life in a different country. This decision has had positive and negative aspects.

Obviously I miss the family I left: my brother and sister and my grandchildren, but I visit them whenever I can and then we live unforgettable moments together. This makes me feel alive.

  Back in Cuba I studied English at the University of Havana, in the capital of Cuba.  After my graduation I started my working experience as a teacher at the same university where I graduated and my students at that university were studying to become English teachers. They motivated me and helped me develop as a person.  Now they form part of my life project and I feel proud when I meet them in my trips to Cuba.     As part of this experience I traveled to Kiev, a beautiful city in Ukraine, and also to Montreal in Canada. 
   Here in Chile I have had a great experience teaching students from different majors who have also motivated me!

    In my free time I do lots of activities which help me keep in contact with nature such as riding my bike and  swimming.   Also I go to the movies and read books in English to activate my brain and my knowledge.

What about you?  What is relevant in your lives?