Sunday, April 29, 2012

Hello People!


This is the first of the two final blog activities of this semester!


As you know (and if you don't let me tell you) this is the week of THE SHORT ANIMATION FESTIVAL at Unitec!. I'm so proud of being part of  a small team in charge of organizing this and next semester events, all my groups that have class on May 4th MUST ATTEND !
For the others it is voluntary to attend but please note that during the event there will be some workshops that you can complete in order to have some extra points for this last term :)
So,  I really hope you all come and have fun!


By the way, one of the shorts that would be on screen that day  at 7:30pm is "ZERO". As my groups are form 6-7pm, 8-9pm and 9-10pm. I realized that maybe you will miss it and it is REALLY GOOD!  (If you need to, click in the link that appears on the top of the video, go directly to YouTube and please select ENGLISH subtitles at the CC button)



(This video belongs to Zealous Creative and it is used for academic purposes only,  any violation intended)



What do you think about the topic of the animation?
How do you think  we could  teach tolerance and respect towards the difference? Are you tolerant and respectful to people that think different from you?



This is the official poster, I'm going to send all the info to your mail feel free to share it !



ALSO, AFTER MAY 4TH PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE FESTIVAL .
 I WOULD LOVE TO READ YOUR OPINIONS

Activity open from April 30th to May 14th 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Do schools kill creativity?

Hello my dearest students!


As some of you know I have a very profund interest for education. Not just because I love to teach but because I love teaching. And also because I know that it is a very important issue for everybody.


At mornings, I work as researcher on this field studying its connection with digital culture. And because of that I have the privilege to work with great minds from different disciplines.


Today, I want to show you a talk by Sir Ken Robinson, one of the most important academics talking about how we should re-think education.


TED conferences have the slogan: "Ideas Worth Spreading" "Ideas that Change the World" and one of the most important quotes of this talk is : 


"If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original"


What do you think of this video? Do you agree with Sir Robinson? Why?



HINT:

If you don't understand Sir Robinson's English please : Click on the following link and choose the English Subtitles!

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Activity Open From March 29th to April 11th 
HAPPY HOLY WEEK

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Addicted to Cherry!

Hello!!


I decided to change the day of publishing the activities on the blog to Wednesdays instead of Saturdays. So here's the new one:


As all we know, there are small, mild and critical addictions. Everyone is addicted to something or... someone, but it is very difficult to accept it. 


Of course some addictions can't be compared with others but let's talk about the minor addictions. 


In my case, I'm addicted to candies...:S Yes I am. Not to chocolates but candies, if they are  cherry flavored even better :) ahh... and cakes, now if  it is a cherry cupcake I can die! But I'm trying to quit or at least eat less candies per day. I don't want to get too fat or have  any more sugar blood problems. 


This is a funny and a little dramatic  French animation called "LE CAFÉ" about the dangers of getting addicted to coffee:


This is not the one that I originally posted, the previous one was removed and had better subtitles. SORRY!


Dir. Stephanie Marguerite & Emilie Tarascou / Music Oldelaf & Mr D / France / 2007 


So, coffee is not a problem for me because I don't drink coffee ;). What about you?
What are your small addictions?
(and what do you think of the video?)

Actvity open from March 21st to March 28th



Sunday, March 11, 2012

What are you scared of?

Hello everyone!!
This is the first blog for  the second term!!! Yes, that's right, time flies and we are almost half way of our classes. Thank you for all the wonderful comments about Women's Day I really enjoyed reading them, I'll give you full feedback during this week along with your first term grades :).


Now, the topic of this week is about normal things that really scare you or you feel afraid of but they are not really THAT terrible.
In my case, I'm scare of spiders ;s, I know it sounds silly for some people, but... when I was little, one night, trying to turn the light on I put my hand on one aughhh! It was horrible! I think a black spider is probably one of the most scary things in the world!


Let's see this video from an interview done by Ellen Degeneres to the actor Dennis Quaid where they discuss about things he finds very scary :)



Now, tell me: What are you scared or afraid of? bats, rats, spiders, snakes, bees, heights... and why??
Everybody has a least one thing they can't stand and there's always a story behind it!! So come on ! I told you mine now it's your turn!


Activity from March 11th to March 20th


Have an amazing (non-spider) week!!


ACTIVITY CLOSED!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

WOMEN'S DAY

Hello!


This week, on March 9th people around the world will celebrate the International Women's Day. Therefore, the activity for this week is to make a comment about the video called: "500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art"




I can't wait to read your comments!!! 




Activity open from March 04 to March 11th

Don't forget to sign every comment

Have a nice week!

THIS ACTIVITY IS CLOSED!!  CHECK THE NEW ONE :)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Hello Everyone!!


First, I want to say: THANK YOU for your comments !! You have been brave and generous for sharing your ideas and feelings with everybody. You are making of this blog and important and priceless collaborative English exercise. :)


Now, this week activity is very simple, relationships sometimes are very complicated we all know that, so let's read the quote below and answer this question: 


-Do you agree with Depp? and Why?


      Activity open from February 26th to March 4th 2012


" If you love two people at the same time,
choose the second one,
Because if you really loved the first one,
you wouldn't have fallen for the second"

-Johnny Depp


Don't forget to sign the comment with your name, level and class code! (Ex: Lina Parra English VI 355TN)

ALL THE BEST FOR THIS WEEK!!
This activity is closed :)

Sunday, February 19, 2012

SONG OF THE WEEK!

Hello my amazing  students!


As you all know we did a reading exercise this week comparing two versions of the same song.
The song "I am Feeling Good" has more than 30 versions since it was originally composed in 1965. In class we listened to Nina Simone's version from 1965 and the version done by Muse in 2001 and we completed the lyrics.


Now, I want to invite you to share your opinions, some of you already did a composition exercise so you can use those ideas. For the rest of you remember that questions are:


1) Which version do you prefer: Nina Simone's version, Muse's version, both versions? and Why?
2) There are 44 years of difference between the two versions. What emotions can you find in them? Are they the same song or are they different and how?

Activity open from February 19th to 24th. 

 I found two very nice videos of these versions, you already have the lyrics, so please enjoy them!!




"Feeling Good" performed by Nina Simone, Album "I Put a Spell on You" (1965), Phillip Records. You tube user . Used only  for academic purposes.




"Feeling Good" performed by Muse. Album "Origin of Simmetry" (2001), Mushroom Records. You tube user . Used only  for academic purposes.




Don't forget to check the grammar links on the top-left of this page according to your needs.



REMEMBER! Sign all your comments with your name, Level and code of your class!                     
                                       HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND FEEL GOOD!! :)
- This activity is closed-