Post 10 My blog experience

Homework: Please post by Wednesday 16th

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.
Please post by Sunday 22nd

Sample

Hello friends! I came to talk about my blog experience. I really enjoyed writting here. I learnt and practiced my english. I don’t like English so much, but I’m trying.

I decided that learning English is one of my biggest challenges throughouy all this time in this class, since I've never really triedto learned. I've started writing songs in english in a notebook and try to read the lyrics to songs to improve my pronunciation. I don't have a perfect pronunciation now, but at least now I can try to pronounce something and don't want to start crying everytime I don't know how to say something.

Without any doubt the blog has helped me, I decided to do the posts by myself, without the help of an online translator. And actually I did it!, its not perfect but I don't have to correct every time a write.

That's why some entries might not be that understandable but I certainly did my best for the basic level I have. I think that listening, writing and repeating is the answer to eventually getting used to English and understandign what I read or hear.

It is very clear for me that I still have so much to learn! But at least now I have the will to overcome the shock that English causes me.

For future experiences with the other courses, some things I would like to say about this class is that I would prefer to write more about some themes I'm interested in. I understand that you put the same theme for everyone as to evaluate all students with the same difficulty but maybe if we could write more about things we care about that will motivate us more.

I hope I never stop learning!

Post 9 Free themed My next vacation

Tell your classmates about your next vacation plans

Say:

• Where you´re going
• What you're going to do
• What else you would like to do (but can't)
• Why you're going there
• When? Who with? By plane, train or bus?
• Other information (costs, funding, clothes)
• Upload a photo

Word count: 190

Sample

Well, on my next vacation I'm going to Brazil. Yeah, it's going to be great! I'm going to visit all the beaches in Rio during the day and dance samba all night long. Just kidding. Of course, I'll also visit museums and art galleries. They have really good collections. I'd like to visit the Amazon jungle, but It's too far away and I don't have enough money.

I'm going there because I really love Brazilian culture. I've listened to Bossa Nova since I was a child. Both my parents lived in Sao Paulo when they were young and they brought a lot of CDs and books from their adoptive country, so I grew up listening to and speaking Portuguese as well as Spanish. And this will be my first trip there. I'm so excited.

I'm taking the plane on December 26th just after Christmas I'm going to spend New Year's Eve there with my girlfriend. I would have gone with my buddies, but she's paying for the tickets.  It's a Christmas present. Oh, I love my girlfriend so much!! We're going to visit some beaches, like Copacabana and Ipanema, take lots of pictures and probably eat in romantic places. We´ll also visit the Sugarloaf, of course. The only downside is that my girlfriend doesn't like to dance samba.

Post 8 (week 12) Themed post 3

Talk about the TV & film  industry product

Choose a genre (tv series, movie, animated

Talk about a specific program

Cast/director/genre

Season/episodes/

Popularity/Raiting/awards

Country/year

Like or dislike / why

Why it's good or bad

www.imdb.com

Word Count 180

LEVEL 3 >> Session 7 (week 11) >> Carrer-Related Website OR An Expert on your Field For this post, th

e students have to choose only ONE of these  2 options:

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

You have to:

- 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: 170


Example:Well, I often visit ManyBooks.net because I enjoy reading so much. It's necessary for my job as a teacher since I'm always looking for new books to give to my students. These books are free to download and you can read many famous authors from the past. There are books in English, Spanish and other languages. It's a simple website and easy to navigate. You can search books by author, title or genre. There is a Books of the Week section, a Popular Download section and a Recommended section that's very good. The best part is that you can download books in different formats for android, kindle or pc. I visit the site about three times a week, sometimes even four, and I can also connect using my smartphone. I always have good books to read. The link to the site is www.manybooks.net. I hope you find great stuff there!! Bye!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

As a writer I really admire Julio Cortázar. He was an Argentinean author born in Belgium in 1914, but he moved to Buenos Aires when he was four years old. He grew up in a big house where he read a lot, because he was frequently sick and had to stay in bed. He studied pedagogy. He wrote many short story collections and novels. He's famous for introducing the fantastic in his fictional world, though it's a very modern concept, because there aren't any ghosts or monsters in his work. Strange things happen to characters that they can't explain. He wrote novels such as Rayuela, Los premios and Libro de Manuel. His short story collections include Historias de cronopios y famas, Bestiario and Las armas secretas. I like his style because it's very fast and intricate. His stories always speak about the human condition, about trying to find other hidden aspects of life that too often we forget: creativity, risk and imagination. That's why admire Julio Cortázar.

Post 6 Free/Themed Blog News story of the week

Talk about a news story of the week

Comment on a recent news story. It can be local or international news. It can be political, cultural, financial, a human interest story, etc.

Say:
What happened
When and where
Cite your sources
Discuss possible causes and/or consequences
Give your opinion about the news
Upload a picture

160 words

Session 5 My favorite photograph

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 160 words.

Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs 

Here's an example from another student's blog. His name is Adrián Lillo.

Hello my friends! Today I going to upload a picture of my last vacations!

My sister took this photo on my last vacation in New York City, USA. This photo shows the Big Apple from the roof of Empire State Building, and me with my iPhone capturing the same landscape. This spectacular picture was taken in February 2013, after having been in Las Vegas and Ohio on the same vacation with my family. In that vacation, I was in the United States of America for one month. 

New York, has many possible scenarios to photograph, and I believe the Empire State is one of the most beautiful building in the all world. 

This picture is one of my favorites and one of the most beautiful picture in my life, due to the experience and the feeling at that moment. It was great!!! I hope you like it and enjoy the picture, because I love it!

If you have the chance to go, don't hesitate!!

Thanks for the comments, see you in your blogs! 

Session 3 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.

My favorite piece of technology is my old record player. I know it sounds out of date, but there's nothing like listening to my vynil records, which I have bought in several flea markets around Santiago, in true stereo mode. CDs and mp3 really don't cut it. The quality of the sound is far beneath analog. That's why I enjoy listening to music in my house rather than wearing earphones in the street. I'm planning on buying some big speakers soon, but they're a little expensive, so I'm still saving money to get them. My newest record is an original The Who LP I bought online for just ten dollars. I can't wait to put it on!!

Level 3 - Post 2 (week 4) > Expectations for a New Semester

Write about:

- the subjects you are doing this term
- extracurriculars you are taking
- other activities that you are part of  at university
- what you expect from this new academic period

wordcount: 110 (minimum)


This term I'm studying several subjects like, for example, History of Ideas, Statistics and Latin American Political History. They're all very interesting, but Statistics is really hard for me and I'm not getting good grades. I think I'll have to study harder.

I have to take English and other extracurricular courses and I'm really enjoying my tennis class. It's a lot of fun. I also participate in Radio Inapina and teach at the Victor Jara Preuniversitario. It's awesome!

I expect to learn more English so I can communicate with my facebook friends in the United States. I want to pass Statistics and really understand it. I also expect to learn a lot in my new classes and help a lot of people who want to study but don't have the means.
That's all. Bye!!




> Make comments on three of your classmates posts

Blog Session 1 (Week 3) >> My Auto Biography English III EGGP

This week, and as the first post of this semester,  the students have to write their auto biographies.
Include:

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

Important for teachers >> include your own sample post as language input and guide for your students

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

SAMPLE POST

Hi, my name is Rodrigo Suárez and I'm your English teacher in charge of this blog. Let me tell you somethings about myself. I was born on July 6th, 1971 in Santiago. Early on, my family left Chile to live abroad. I spent my elementary school years in Germany, England and the United States. I completed my high school here in Chile. I went to The English Institute and Colegio del Alba. My parents separated in 1987 so I lived with my mom and my brother Fernando in Providencia until I left home to live by myself. I have worked as an English teacher for many years, most of them at Instituto Chileno-Norteamericano. What about hobbies? Well, I love reading and playing the guitar. Right now, I'm taking classes with a friend who is a guitar master. I also like to write poetry and short stories. I might publish a book soon. One of my favorite activities is to go to a café and drink coffee while I talk with friends about books, movies or politics. See you!!

 

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.

Sample

Hello friends! I came to talk about my blog experience. I really enjoyed writting here. I learnt and practiced my english. I don’t like English so much, but I’m trying.

I decided that learning English is one of my biggest challenges throughouy all this time in this class, since I've never really tried to learned. I've started writing songs in english in a notebook and try to read the lyrics to songs to improve my pronunciation. I don't have a perfect pronunciation now, but at least now I can try to pronounce something and don't want to start crying everytime I don't know how to say something.

Without any doubt the blog has helped me, I decided to do the posts by myself, without the help of an online translator. And actually I did it!, its not perfect but I don't have to correct every time a write.

That's why some entries might not be that understandable but I certainly did my best for the basic level I have. I think that listening, writing and repeating is the answer to eventually getting used to English and understandign what I read or hear.

It is very clear for me that I still have so much to learn! But at least now I have the will to overcome the shock that English causes me.

For future experiences with the other courses, some things I would like to say about this class is that I would prefer to write more about some themes I'm interested in. I understand that you put the same theme for everyone as to evaluate all students with the same difficulty but maybe if we could write more about things we care about that will motivate us more.

I hope I never stop learning!

Deyanira Abarzúa (Administración Pública) 

Session 8 Talk about your dreams

Write about what dreams for your life



Say
-What you would really like to do with your life, why?
-If you can achieve your dreams, how do you think your life will change?
-Things that may stop you from achieving your dreams.
-Things that may help you achieve your dreams.
-Other ideas (travel, studies, hobbies, fame, etc.

Word count: 190
Make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts.

Example:

Well, I'd really like to start my own music band. I love playing guitar and singing. I even have written my own songs. I'd love to have the opportunity of meeting other musicians and playing in a rock band. My life would really change because right now I work in a small cubicle in a downtown building and no one knows who I am. If I had a rock band that would definitely change...

LEVEL 3 -- POST 4 (week 6) >> FIRST FREE/THEMED POST: Bad habits and dental health

How sports can improve Chilean life standards

Write about the relationship between sports and benefits for the population of the country, focusing on the problems of the poor.

• How sports provide health benefits (physical and psychological)
• Current problems in the population that may be improved by access to sport programs
• Problems related to access to sports
• Solutions and public policies
• Benefits for the general population
• GIVE YOUR OPINION (I think..., I believe....)

- Comment on 3 of your classmates posts
- Word Count for this post : 140 words




Bad habits and dental health

Choose one: Smoking, Drinking, Junk Food, Sugar, etc

1. How do people's bad habits affect their dental health?
2. What are the consequences to teeth and gum?
3. What can be done to repair the damage?
4. What recommendations can you give?
5. Do you have a bad habit?What are you doing about it?

In pairs discuss a few topics related to topics you are concerned about. Topics should be interesting, and students should be able to GIVE AN OPINION and REASONS

Examples
-What makes Dentistry different from other faculties?
-Animal protection
-World pollution
-
In class, decide on the most interesting topics (4) Choose one for this blog session.

Divide the chosen topic into bullet points

- Comment on 3 of your classmates posts
- Word Count for this post : 140 words

Post 9: Financial independence

Is money an important issue for you?

Write about:

• How you earn or obtain money? Do you work and study? Do your parents give you an allowance?
• How you manage your money. (Do you save money? Do you spend it immediately? On what? Do you use credit cards?)
• What you plan to do when you'll have your own earnings when you get a job.
• What you think of wealth distribution in Chile. What could be done to change the situation.

240 words

Write three comments on your classmate's blogs

Sample

I work as an English teacher. As most teachers, I don't earn a lot of money but I try to get by. I have to work in a lot of places. What do I do with my money? Well, I try to save as much as possible, but I also like to spend it on books and movies. I try to save money by not buy new things which are generally expensive...

Post 8 > 2014: Good and Bad Points (so far..)

2014>> Have you had a good year??

Write about:
> Good things that have happened in your life
> Situations that did not go so well
> Your achievements in 2014
> Things you did not do / have not done yet / still have to do this year
> Important news / events you would like to highlight
> Any other comments

Wordcount: 250 + 3 comments

Post 7 (Week 9) >> HOW GREEN ARE YOU?

 
Where do people learn about enviromentally friendly practices?
- Have you incorporated recycling into your habits? Describe
- Do you use a bike or your legs instead of a car?
- Have you joined or supported any eco-organisations? Why/Why not?
- What else have you done /would you like to do?
- What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint?
- What's missing in our society/Santiago regarding this issue?

Number of words: 230
Don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates posts.

 In Chile, environmentally friendly practices are

Post 6: Free themed blog

Remember the last free themed blog? Decide on another with the class. It has to be a controversial issue, that's the only condition, with at least two postures. You must defend one.
Examples: birth control, cosmetic surgery, health policies, zoos, animal protection, etc
Make a list of points you must include.

New technologies have changed social relationships in a negative way.

Relationships before/after the internet/social networks
How much time people spend online or on technological gadgets
Contrast/ communicating face  to face
Strengths/Opportunities
Weaknessess/Threats
Personal experience as example

Word count: 220
Illustrate with some pictures

Three comments on your classmates' blog

Ex: I'd make an app for helping people to remember when to brush, I'd call it Rembrush and it will remind you when to brush with an alarm. It will also tell you how long you have to brush. You can take pictures of your mouth and teeth and the app will analyze the picture for any problems. You can also upload the pictures or send them t your dentist...

Post 5: My Future Job (week 7)

- 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?

- In an office?

- What major are you studying / are you thinking of taking?    Explain why

- Add any other related ideas.

SAMPLE:

I'd love to have a permanent job teaching English at a major university. I'd like to have some kind of creative position where I could design new materials for teachers to use in their classrooms. I'm comfortable working in an office, although I love to take my students on field trips around the city as a great learning opportunity....etc.

- Make comments on 3 of your classmates’ posts

Sample

- Word Count: 210 words

Post N°4 Free.themed blog

Dentistry

Design an app

What's the name of the app/ What's it for?
What are the main features?
What kind of people would benefit from your app? Explain,
What are some things you could do? Give examples
Add any relevant information you think is pertinent.

Be creative!!
Word count: 190
Illustrate with some pictures

Three comments on your classmates' blog

Ex: I'd make an app for helping people to remember when to brush, I'd call it Rembrush and it will remind you when to brush with an alarm. It will also tell you how long you have to brush. You can take pictures of your mouth and teeth and the app will analyze the picture for any problems. You can also upload the pictures or send them t your dentist...



Arts



The contemporary art scene

Choose one example of contemporary art from the twentieth or twenty first century and discuss:

• Main characteristics and importance/relevance to the art scene
• A brief analysis of one representative work of art 
• Some important representatives and their contributiones and innovations
• Your personal opinion and some aspects you consider important for your own work

190 words

Post N°3 The best Holidays/Concert ever

This time, you have to tell you about the best holidays or concert they've been to (choose only 1 theme):

They should mention:

Holidays:

- when it was
- where they went
- how long it was
- people they went with
- things / activities they did
- why it has been the best so far
- any other relevant info

My very best vacation was last year. I traveled to Mexico with my girlfriend and toured much of the country. It was so amazing and we stayed there for almost a month! We visited the Mayan pyramids in Yucatán and flew to Cancún for a lovely weekend under the sun. After that we traveled to Mexico City and visited all the museums and the huge UNAM. We saw a lot of mural paintings by Rivera and visited Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul. It was incredible. We saw so much culture and learned a lot about how Mexicans live daily. It was by far the most adventurous vacation I've ever had.

Concert:

- when / where it was
- the artist they saw
- a bit of info about the artist
- describe the atmosphere during the event
- describe how they felt and why they enjoyed it
- any other memories about it





>>Wordcount: 180
>>Leave comments on 3 of your classmates posts.

Post 2 (week 4) >>> Themed/Free Post 1

Describe your creative working process

What does creativity mean according to you? Explain briefly
Who are some artist you follow and find inspiration from? What do you see in them?
What are your sources of inspiration or creative ideas?
What materials/techniques do you use more often and what is their relationship to your working process?

Talk about your experience while creating a work of art and your experience as a spectator of your own work.

180 words

Please make three comments on your classmate's blogs

Dear students,

Here you get to decide on a topic you'd like to develop.

Brainstorm a few possible topics and finally agree on one through some discussion and voting. 

As there are several themed posts this term (see blog syllabus), the best thing to do is to negotiate all of them at once. Ideally, at least one of the free posts should be career-related.

Students should work in pairs or small groups to come up with their top 3 topics. Then as a class, find the most popular topics for the posts. 


- Comments: Ask students to leave a comment on 3 of their classmates posts
- Word Count for post 2: 170 words