Other blogs -2009-2010

TIES

IF I WERE

Holidays

UBUNTU

Today you learned a new concept and a new word – ubuntu. Ubuntu?
No it’s not "left-leaning Sudoku, U2's latest album and not even fish-friendly sushi"… Read the BBC news report about ubuntu.

You also listened to the first part of Steve Jobs commencement address (=speech) at Stanford University, 2005. I strongly advise you to watch the whole video. You’ll learn a lot … and not only English.

Semana das Línguas - Avalon Theatre

Wednesday, next week, we’ll watch a (quite) free adaptation of Macbeth by the Avalon Theatre Company. Quoting:
»Our touring production of Macbeth, a fifty five-minute presentation, is a “play within
a play.” Set in Dunsinane Castle, Scotland in 1606, students will watch Shakespeare directing actors who are rehearsing his new play, Macbeth. Avalon Theatre’s professional actors, playing multiple roles, will perform key scenes from, Macbeth bringing to life some of the most famous and powerful language ever written. At the same time the audience will find much to laugh at as our professional actors get into all sorts of problems with the story and with each other.»

I’m sure you’ll enjoy the play. What's more some of you will actually get the chance to participate very actively…

For those of you who are really into literature check this site:
Shakespeare's plays online

As for the exercises we did in class related to the actual Avalon performance you can find them in: http://www.avalontheatrecompany.com/PDF/Macbeth%20Study%20Guide.pdf

Welcome back

Summer term has just began, but don't worry ... it is really very short :-)
This time we will start with some hard work. In the first lesson be ready to write an article (see below) and don't forget to bring your GRAMMAR. You'll need it.

WRITING AN ARTICLE
Write an article covering these points to be published in a magazine for young adults.
Pick Topic 1 OR 2.

TOPIC 1
Is advertising necessary in our society?
Is counter-advertising legal? Is it useful?
Some people believe that counter-advertising is a key contribution to raise awareness. Others claim that it contributes to tarnish public spaces and the media.
What are your views on the subject?

TOPIC 2
Is de-growth a myth? Can the world function without over-consumption?
This is not a black and white situation. I guess black is over-consumption and white is under-consumption. Neither is going to work in the economic system we have today. Over-consuming made the system fail. Under-consuming will also have a negative effect. What then?

Some interesting sites for you to research at home:Advertising / Degrowth
http://www.act-responsible.org/public/
http://www.by-flash.com/act/
http://www.adbusters.org/category/tags/degrowth

End of term

Well, it’s finally here … just one week separates us from a deserved holiday :-)
This week, those of you worked in the awareness campaign of Connecting Worlds are going to make your proposals public. Besides the Connecting Worlds site use your own blogs/portfolios and I expect to publish all your products here too. Later on, possibly during our Semana das Línguas, we should make it visible to the whole school, don’t’ you think?
It is also time to stop a little bit and reflect on what each one of us did, this term. Looking back, and out of all the bustle and noise (by bustle and noise meaning all the tests and stuff, as well as the satisfaction :-) or frustration :-( at completing all the tasks well… or not so well), it’s time to think of all we’ve learned and make new plans for the future.
Yes, even though it may seem a bit out of place, we should start preparing … Summer Term. Those of you who are up to the challenge and want to read a whole book in ENGLISH (as opposed to a short story) will have to decide now which book to read, so you can start on your holiday. Along the year we have talked about some books (your suggestions, my suggestions) and even read some extracts. Some of these books are listed here on the blog (see on the right-hand side) but there are many more options of course. Let’s discuss them in class.

(Check your answers in the Progress Check here, please)

Connecting Worlds (3)

Now it is time to start designing our campaigns.
We have two slogans:
Forget the Malls… (11-6)
NO planet, no GOLD (11-7)

Let’s fill in this PROJECT FORM together. We have one slogan, the same objectives, the same target public.
Then, each group might try to create their own product:
A song? An installation art? A counter-advertisement? An advertisement? A cartoon? A film? ...?
There is one thing we should definitively do: make our campaign public. Or else it won’t be a campaign, don’t you reckon?

Note: some of you may find this text difficult to understand, but still why not give it a try? Code of conduct

Your ecological footprint

Find out your ecological footprint with




or with

Lisbon Players

It is too late to organise (yet another) school outing but you might like to go on your own. Follow the pasta.

Have you ever heard of SPRING DAY 2009?

Click here to find out and to participate in chats and other activities.
It would be nice if we had some volunteers to participate in the first chat which will take place on March 12th :-)

Conectando Mundos (2)

Here are the texts that the groups wrote to introduce your class.
What do you think? Is there anything else you would like to say?

Conectando Mundos

Well, by now everybody knows that this new unit will be centred on our participation in Conectando Mundos.
I hope you enjoyed browsing the site and I expect you are now ready to get started. I know we missed Phase 1, which is a shame, so now we’ll have to make amends and be really active in Phase 2 :-)
And that means coming up with a few really impressive slogans for “the information and awareness campaign in favour of the economic de-growth, against the excessive consumption, and betting on solidarity among human beings”.
So let’s see what we come up with…

In the meanwhile, and because nobody can do without a nice grammar worksheet, just print this one, which is about Conditionals and bring it to class, next Friday. Just in case.
At home, and because some extra practice is always welcome, take a look at the BBC World Service . There you’ll find the usual listening materials, quizzes, crosswords and things that usually take up a substantial part of my time.
Finally, here is a Vocabulary worksheet with some of the key words and expressions you'll need to speak about the topic - Environment and a Writing Task.

Your VIEW of the CITY

This week you’ll be presenting YOUR VIEW OF THE CITY. I must say I am very curious and I have very high expectations :-)
Well, someone will have to be the first so here it goes:
11-7
Gustavo, João, Sílvia / Dalila, Marta P, Marta F, Nanci / Catarina, Frederico, Sara / Ana Patrícia, João, Rita, Ronja / Bernardo, Carlos, Cátia, Karina / Ana Catarina, Bárbara, Jorge / Nuno
11-6
Inês, João, Norman, Tomás / Ana Morais, João, Susana, Tiago / Joana C, José Diogo, Pedro / Filipa, Joana, Mónica, Raquel / Ana Catarina, Joana, Ricardo, Tlaloc / Cátia, João, Vanessa, Vranda

In the meanwhile, you might like to check your answers in last week’s test.
READING 11-7
READING 11-6
USE OF ENGLISH

Test & Portfolio

Hello,
The next two weeks will be very busy ...
This coming week you’ll sit the TEST. I should remind you that this test is not a progress check which means that it will be ‘exam-like’. It reflects your overall achievement as a student of English and, together with (or as part of) your PORTFOLIO, it will determine your final mark.
By the way, I'll spend a busy Carnival reading all your portfolios, so make sure you bring it on February 20th at the latest, or have your blog/site updated.

Next time I’ll post the schedule for the oral presentations but, please remember, all groups should deliver written work on February 17th /18th.

Hello
Please note that I have published some documents that you should see.
First of all I shoud mention the test plan.
Then you can practise your grammar skills by doing some online exercises on the Passive Voice and the Future Tenses. As for your Writing skills check the box on your right-hand side to refresh your memory.
Finally, and as you read an extract of the book WHITE TIGER by Aravind Adiga I'd strongly recommend you to read, and listen to, his interview to The Guardian.

EXPLORING THE CITY (2)

I hope you enjoyed last week’s field trip.
For starters, it always feels good to get out of the classroom and feel free…for a change. So I’m sure you’ve enjoyed each other’s company, and ‘goofing around’, and taking pictures, and being loud in a nice way:-)
But what about the CITY? Did you manage to keep your eyes – and mind – wide open?

Let me put you to the test. If you answer Yes to the following questions, then I’m sure the visit was worthwhile. Actually, I’ve read your texts and seen your photos so I know what your answers will be like, but still, here it goes:
- Were you surprised by some of the things you saw?
- Did anything happen (either good or ‘evil’!) that made you think?
- Can you identify what made you feel ‘at home’?
- Can you make out what made you feel uneasy ?
- Are you curious to find out more?
And a final question:
- Karina wrote that this visit “has demolished, like bulldozers, our prejudice”. Has it?
Actually I’m not so sure about that but I expect you really want to know more, and that is what is really important.

In order to know more we´ll follow two lines of action that will help you build your final task:

1 - YOUR RESEARCH
Make sure you identify what you need to know and how. Design your ‘project’ in a more detailed fashion so you can organise your work, decide and divide tasks, plan your time.
To do that you’ll have to:
- Ask your RESEARCH QUESTIONS (RQ) – remember, you must have a FOCUS
- Decide the NEXT STEPS in order to answer your RQ (interviews? More photos? Reading what?...)
- Prepare/decide what will be your FINAL TASK and PRESENTATION (Week 16-20 February - Please make sure your product is ready by the deadline which is right after the test and right before Carnival).
(Note: For photos of the old city visit the archives of the Arquivo Fotográfico )

2 - CLASSROOM WORK
Here is a selection of the images and texts we’ll be READING and discussing:

World’s population distribution – LINKS - Unit 2.4 – pp 70-72
Why do people live in cities? What are the trends for the future? Are cities nice places to live in? Is Lisbon a cosmopolitan city?
Green Delhi – Clean Delhi - A city of contrasts

Mobility - Your DNA Journey – LINKS - Unit 2.5 – pp 74

The city:
- Little Boxes (the suburbs) vs city centre (CBD)
- Norman Rockwell’s New neighbors
- Commuting (Roald Dahl’s Galloping Foxley – Tales of the Unexpected) and other descriptions of the CITY
- Walking Billboards – LINKS – Unit 3.2. pp 102

WRITING ACTIVITIES
Essay writing - providing solutions to problems
Besides your Learning Journal, of course, and the final product.

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES
Initial presentations – favourite photos (after exploratory visit)
Discussing and debating in class
Short presentations (poems and other texts)
Final presentation

VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR
Do not forget to expand your Vocabulary Records on the different topics (Consumer Society, Environment, Cultures, Work)
In the meanwhile we’ll have some grammar consolidation and new input. Most important topics will be: Verb tenses – Future Tenses & Passive Voice; Word Formation; Phrasal Verbs

“Well, how do you see what all it is to see?”

Mr. Head didn’t answer. Then as if the sight of people passing had given him the clue, he said,” You walk,” and started off down the street. Nelson followed, steadying his hat. So many sights and sounds were flooding in on him that for the first block he hardly knew what he was seeing. Mr. Head turned and looked behind him at the station they had left, a putty-colored terminal with a concrete dome on top. He thought that if he could keep the dome always in sight, he would be able to get back in the afternoon to catch the train again.

in The Artificial Nigger (sic) by Flannery O’Connor (A Good Man is Hard to Find - Stories)

And, why not, another extract from the same story:

“The day is going to come,” Mr. Head prophesied, “when you’ll find you ain’t as smart as you think you are.” He had been thinking about this trip for several months but it was for the most part in moral terms that he conceived it. It was to be a lesson that the boy would never forget. He was to find out from it that he had no cause for pride merely because he had been born in a city. He was to find out that the city is not a great place. Mr. Head meant him to see everything there is to see in a city so that he would be content to stay at home for the rest of his life. He fell asleep thinking how the boy would at last find out that he was not as smart as he thought he was.

EXPLORING THE CITY (1)

The NEW YEAR is here (HAPPY NEW YEAR :-) …and with it new ideas and new projects.
For starters, tell me… how well do you know Lisbon? Are you ready to use your (video) camera and explore it? Are you ready to ‘trek’ up and down past unknown places? To stop, and spot, and wonder about the little details that bring a city alive? Are you ready to forget the comfort of your parents’ car and spend two hours hopping up and down the bus or tramway? Yes, this is what this new unit will take!
Well, before you give up, here is a glimpse of my proposals for the first half of the term. Take a minute to think about them. And then react :-)
DISCOVER the CITY.Amoreiras? Bairro Alto? Martim Moniz? Alfama? …? You pick… And GO.
Let’s organize a first exploratory visit together. Later, after having set your own objectives and purposes, you should return on your own (group).

Your FOCUS
As you go along the streets keep your eyes open, both for general points and for detail. Your observations should be linked to (one of) the 4 topics of the English syllabus.
Brainstorm some questions that may guide your observation. Later you’ll decide what exactly your focus will be.
Connections to other subjects – History / Geography /… - are strongly welcome.

Here are some examples of questions that you could ask:
WORK –What kind of economic activity is there in the area? What impact does it have on people’s lives? What do local people do for a living? Do they have to commute?
CULTURES – Who are the people that live in the area? Who works there? Are there any signs of different cultures mixing together? Or do they just coexist? Side by side? What are people’s attitudes towards diversity? What can you find there that you’ve never seen before? CONSUMER SOCIETY/ADVERTISING – Is this particular neighborhood a ‘good’ example of our ‘Name Brand society’? Are there billboards/neons everywhere? Of what kind? Are people happy with this kind of environment? Indifferent? Does it go unnoticed? What impact does it have on people’s lives? What kind of shops are there? Is a particular branch more common? Why?
ENVIRONMENT – What is the atmosphere like? Are people aware of the impact of their actions? Are there any environmental hazards in the area? What is causing them?

Your group should pick ONE area/neighbourhood and ONE focus. Brainstorm more questions, let your curiosity run wild!

What about your final task?
Use your experience, your photos or footage to build your own narrative of the city. In other words create a narrative based on what you saw and documented.
There are actually different ways of doing this:
- an exhibition of your photos and respective catalogue;
- a story/play that you write (and illustrate) based on what you saw;
- … ? (Your suggestion)

You can then post your product in CNN – iReport/My City,My Life

In the meanwhile we’ll be reading different texts and discussing pictures and paintings that bring us different views and interpretations of city life. But I’ll tell you about it later.

Do you like these proposals? Do you think they’ll work? Are there any suggestions you’d like to make? Are there any questions you’d like to ask? Let me/everybody know if you have any texts, images, songs, poems, …, that you’d like to use in class or recommend your colleagues. Let’s discuss all this during the first two weeks of January both in class and using this forum. Once you’ve contributed with new ideas I’ll try to incorporate them in the final version of the unit which I’ll post by January 20/23.

Here is a chart with the main dates for this initial stage of the project.
STEP 1 – 6 to 16 January - Presentations of project; brainstorming and discussing new ideas
STEP 2 – 13 or 14 January - Exploratory Visit
STEP 3 – 16 January - Class Presentation – Your favourite photo(s)
STEP 4 – 16 January - Decide what your FOCUS will be; Your objectives and/or Research Questions;