English Language Challenges

This week we have our last post!
This last one is about the challenges you may have about learning English:

-What comments can you make about your experience learning English at university? What about the use of blogs? -What aspects of your English need to be improved and how do you plan to do this? -Outside the English class, how much are you using English these days? What for?
- Wordcount: 260 - Make comments on 3 of your partners' posts.

Changes to my study programme

Hi everybody!

This week you are going to write about the changes you would like to make to your study programme. I think this topic really touches you, because I've heard that some subjects should not be in your curriculum, and I've heard that many times and in different faculties.
In my personal case, I remember that when I studied pedagogy some of my classmates noticed that the hours devoted to didactics (an essential course in the teaching area) were not enough, so they decided to make something in order to revert that situation. At that time, there were a lot of meetings, and some leaders appeared. At the end, the Faculty agreed to add more hours to the programme, so we could have an extra semester of Didactis of the speciality. I think that the generation of that year made a great change that helped people who enroled the following year.
Most people agree that careers in Chile last longer than they should, I don't know the reason, but I think the problem is beyond the universities, maybe it's on the education we receive at school and, as we all know, it's not as good as it should be; the first semesters at university tend to even out the different levels students have when they start university.

what about your career?
write about some changes that could be made to your study programme (career)
Among others, think about:
-the curriculum
-workload and length of studies
-use of technology
-teaching metods

wordcount: 250 words
Don't forget the comments!

Summer holidays

Hi everybody!

The post of this week is about the next summer holidays.
The semester ends, Xmas and New year's eve are just around the corner...and then the  long yearned holidays. When that time of the year is approaching you start to think what you are going to do, where you want to go, and then the cruel reality: money.
Most people, including me, want to travel during holidays, because we have time to do it; I think that I want to do it, but I'm not sure if I can because my husband doesn't have holidays, so the option would be to travel just with my son. Maybe I'll do it, but I spent a lot of money in my last holiday so I'm praying to afford another trip. If I can't, the beach is near so I'll go there, and that's not bad at all, I love the beach, and my child too, or I could join my cousin and go camping at Vichuquen Lake...so there are some options to escape from this jungle.
Anyway, there's also the possibility that one morning I just decide to go somewhere and I just pack my clothes and go somewhere, why not? Sometimes, when you improvise the best things may happen.

Write about your plans or ideas for these summer holidays:
-places you are going to/would like to visit
-people you are going with/would like to go with
-Activities you are thinking of being part of

Write a text of about 240 words and don't forget the comments!

3rd themed post: A person you admire

Hi all!
this week's post is about the person you admire.
It's a difficult topic because sometimes you admire more than one person. Personally it was hard to choose, but I'm going to write about the first person that came to my mind when I thought about it: my grandma.

My grandma with her grandchildren

Rosa Pacheco was the name of my grandma on my mother's side, she was born in Santiago in 1901, and when she was a girl she lived in Buin. Her mom was a teacher and her dad a businessman. In those times being a woman and having a profession was unusual, so I think my grandma was influenced by her mother who was the principal of a school for ladies; sadly her mother died when she was a girl and she lived with her dad until she was old enough. When she was around twenty she received an inheritance and bought a piano, and at the same time she started to study at Conversatorio de Musica (currently Universidad de Chile) to become a concert pianist, and she did it. She studied many years, and postponed marriage and children (she was ahead of her time). She played in some theathres and got married in her middle 30's, she had 3 children but continued working as a teacher for some rich people (like children of diplomatics), because she never liked the idea of being a housewife. Along with the piano she loved to read, and she was a quiet and relaxed woman. I think for me and my cousins she is our role model, because she taught us that we shouldn't do what we are supposed to do, and also the love for books and music.

what about you?
who do you admire? why?

write a text of about 230 words, and don't forget the comments!

Post graduate studies

This week post is about postgradute courses you would like to take in the short or long term.

I consider that studying in Chile is really expensive, we all know that. So, making the decision of continuing studying after having your degree, most of the times is not a real option. Anyway, as more and more people are having the possibility of obtaining a degree, the market is getting really competitive, and having undergradute studies is just the first step.
In my case, I would have liked to study abroad, but unfortunately there were few options when I was at university. I can see that now students have more opportunities, but money is always a bump in the road.
A couple of years ago, and after finishing a Master´s I took in Santiago, I started to think about applying to Becas Chile, but then I found out that the money that the grant gives for living costs is not enough, so if you have a son that option is not a good one. Moreover, that grant forces you to come back to Chile for some years..and I really don't like that idea. So, by now I'm staying here!


Write about a postgraduate course that you would consider taking in the future. Include:
-Reasons to do the course
-Subject(s) you would like to study
-Where you would like to study (Chile or abroad)
-How would you like to study (distance learning, blended system, part-time course, etc)
-Any other relevant ideas

Don't forget to make comments on 3 of you classmates' post + Teacher

Word count: 220 words

My future job

My future job

When I was younger and I was at university, I used to think that I didn’t want to work from 9 to 6, and even now I think that working 45 hours a week is a nightmare which doesn’t allow you to be with your family or friends. I used to think that I wanted to be my own boss, so I could manage my time and maybe work from home. Probably, that was a reason I studied translation first, because that profession allows you to work from home; but then I realized that if I was going to work as a translator I would be within 4 walls, stuck in an office every day and I would have no contact with other people. So, I decided to study pedagogy, that way I would work from Monday to Friday and I could meet different people.

If I had to imagine a job that I would like to have now, I’m sure I wouldn’t choose a different one because teaching to adults allows me to have more time for me and my family than working in an office from 9 to 6, and it´s fun to talk and help young people to learn English.

- 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?

- What about the salary?

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

- Add any other related ideas.

Write a text of about 210 words

Don't forget to make comments on 3 of your partners' posts+My post

2nd themed post: My favorite music

Everybody loves music, or most of the people I think. I remember when I was around 7, when I discovered music...my grandma had an old record player, which still exists, and it's like a piece of furniture where you can play records and listen to short wave radio. I was very curious about it, so my mom showed her records and I found out how to play them in that device. I still remember that I really liked a Beatles' record, so I listened to it over and over again. Then, I grew up and I started to like teenage bands like New Kids on The Block, and things like that, but when I realized that those bands did not play quality music; I started to listen to rock bands like Megadeth and even alternative singers and bands, like Sonic Youth or Bjork. I still listen to them, but there is one band that I've been listening to it for more than 20 years: The Smashing Pumpkins..and what about you?what's your favorite type of music, why?

Word count: 200 words
Add comments to your TEACHER + 3 partners

Themed Post 1: Your favorite place to eat

I'm really hungry now, so writing about this topic is going to be hard...

I have a couple of places where I like to eat, and what they have in common is that they are close to my house: "Ijole" and a Peruvian restaurant named "Amancer Peruano"
The first one is a small Mexican taqueria where you can have some tacos or burritos at good prices. It is a small place ran by its owners, so if you go there frequently then even know your name and your favorite taco, I really like that.

The other one is the Peruvian restaurant, which is next to the taco's place. This restaurant is more expensive than the other, so I don't go very often. At the beginning it was a smalla place, but now is bigger, so more people go there.

Ijole

They have very good quality dishes, and a very good pisco sour!

what about you?
What's your favorite place to eat?
How often do you go there?

Write a text of about 180 words, and don't forget to make comments on your partners' posts and your teacher

The best concert or holidays you've ever had

Hi everyone! Today I’m going to write about concerts….I like concerts, I used to go to different concerts quite often when I was at University, now I just go once or twice a year :(

About 15 years ago I went to the most incredible concert I’ve ever been to: Smashing Pumpkins concert at Estación Mapocho. They were one of my favorite bands,and they still are. I went there after my university classes with my friend Patty. 

 When we arrived to Estación Mapocho, we had to struggle to get into the concert, because there were many people and they were all kind of crazy trying to get into the line, I was almost smashed against some barriers that were put by the police to organize the waiting line; but finally we could get into the Estación Mapocho and as we were 

They almost killed me!!

running, we were given some bracelets (I don’t know who gave them to us), so we continued running as fast as we could, and then we realized that those bracelets allowed us to be almost in the first line! We waited anxiously for to the concert to start, and when it did it was just perfect; they sang all my favorite songs, it was amazing!

This concert is one of the most special moments of my life, it takes me back to the days when I was a university student... well, what's the best concert you've ever had? Why? Who were you with? Where was it?
If you write about holidays...where did you go? Who did you go with? why was it so special?

Write a text of about 170 words

Write about the best concert/holidays you've ever had

Don't forget to make comments on 3 of your partners' posts

Venezuela!!

You always hear about the beauty of the Europe, and about the wonderful islands in the Pacific. In short, the whole world seems to be full of beautiful places that I’d be like to know. However,the country that I would like to visit is in South America: Venezuela.

Why Venezuela? Well, because of different reasons. The first one is that I lived there until I was 3, then I moved to Santiago; so I feel like I need to know the country where I learned to walk, to talk, etc. secondly, some relatives of mine live there and I’d like to spend some time with them; and finally because I have seen in pictures amazing landscapes, and I have heard the people from there is really nice and friendly. One of the most famous places in Venezuela are:

the tropical beaches in Margarita Island,
where I hope to relax someday

Mysterious Mount Roraima

Angel's Fall...the world's highest waterfall

I have been planning my trip to Venezuela since many years ago, but there have always been some difficulties  which have stopped me from making it true. Among them I could mention the political situation of the country which has made the capital city, Caracas, a very dangerous destination; also the money you need to have a comfortable and stress-free trip.

I really hope that my dream trip comes true real soon!!

Now tell me, which country would you like to visit?


Write about:
 the country and the places you would like to know
the reasons why you would like to visit that country

don't forget to :
-write about 160 words
-make comments on 3  of your classmates' posts + your Teacher
-include pictures or videos