Blog Session 6 Sample Post

Free Post 2

The human brain

I have always been interested in how the human body works. One of the reasons to be interested is that I practice sports, so why we sweat, stretch and how we can work out our muscles are intriguing facts about our bodies. Those, among other incredible facts like gestating as to have new generations. Sleeping, dancing, walking and reading are just some of the activities that have to do with the brain.

Biology and Education are closely related if we analyse the brain activity. As a teacher, when we study the way human beings learn, we study Psychology but unfortunately we didn’t study Neuroscience. Therefore, as this science has always caught my attention I wanted to learn more about it. A couple of years ago, because of the Masters programme I was studying, I had the chance to read lots of interesting papers about how the brain works when we read as well as how the way we stimulate the brain affects our learning process.

The human brain is a complex organ and as human beings we are supposed to be the only ones to know something about the way the brain works. With that skill, Pierre Paul Broca (1824-1880), a French pioneer doctor was able to draw a map of the brain and consequently, he discovered a small area in the left hemisphere, which controls the production of language. Thus, 100 billion neurons in our brains* are responsible for language, communication and many other aspects of our lives.

*http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/facts-about-your-brain/7038?image=2

Blog Session 6 Instructions

Dear Class,

This Tuesday is time for the second free post. You can choose what to blog about and visit this link for more details on how to organise your ideas. 
You can organise what you want to write with an outline, which is a list of the ideas you want to cover in each paragraph, section or chapter.
Please write 160 words minimum. 

http://www.fuelyourwriting.com/4-easy-rules-for-a-successful-outline/


Good luck,


Belén

Blog Session 5 Sample Post

A photograph

To choose one photograph I like it’s not possible because I love colours but I also enjoy black and white. There are so many choices; photographers round the world have always been “making” photos. I definitely prefer black and white and I miss going to the dark room and developing my own film and pictures.

One of the photos I will always remember was taken by Luis Poirot, a well-known Chilean photographer. In this photo you can see Chilean song-writer, actor, singer and activist Víctor Jara, killed in 1973 by Chilean military officers. That day Víctor and Luis were near Cerro Blanco, in Recoleta. They were trying to obtain a photo for Víctor’s new album cover. Here we can see part of the complete photograph. I found this darkish copy on the internet but it’s not the photo I have on my wall at home -or the postcard version of the photo I was given.

In the portrait I have, apart from Víctor Jara holding his guitar, and the old lady behind him, there’s a boy to the left, next to Víctor, and the boy is looking at the camera. You can also see the entire guitar Víctor is holding. One more difference between this picture and mine is that Víctor is not looking at the camera.

This photo was taken in 1969. According to Luis, the photographer, this photo wasn’t authorized by the Communist party, so Víctor’s new album cover for “Pongo en tus manos abiertas” was the one – you might have seen- with two open palms.

Last but not least, I really like this photo because Víctor Jara is in it and of the various photos where Víctor appears, this one is my favourite portrait of him. I admire and respect everything he was and did.

Blog Session 5 Instructions

Dear Class,

This time you have to choose a picture you like to write about it.

Say:
a) who took it
b) what it shows
c) when it was taken
d) why you like it
e) Upload it too

Add any other information you'd like to mention in 150 words minimum. Don't forget to make comments on at least three of your classmates blogs.

Good luck,


Belén

Blog Session 4 Sample Post

Documentaries

I really enjoy watching films as well as documentaries and documentaries unlike films are meant to document some aspects of reality. A couple of friends have created their own documentaries so I’ve seen what it takes to actually complete one. I like documentaries because I think we can learn a lot about so many different things in a more dynamic way. Also, I like documentaries because as a translator, I can work subtitling a film and that’s an interesting job to have.

There's a documentary I'll always remember: “Nanook of the North” (1922) even though it’s not my favourite one, it’s an interesting documentary considering the year it was filmed and also, it’s considered to be the first anthropological documentary film ever. There you can see the life of Inuit Eskimos, Nannok and his family.

What I really like about documentaries is that they’re non-fictional motion pictures so we should see real life and real experiences. I don’t have one single favourite documentary but here I left you the trailer of the latest I watched:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnOArGfIR0c

If interested in Chilean documentaries, please watch “La batalla de Chile” by Patricio Guzmán and you can also check this blog if you want more information:

http://documentaleschilenos.wordpress.com/

Blog Session 4 Instructions

Dear Class,

How are you?

This is the first time you can choose the topic! In this link you'll find ideas to organise your ideas.

http://www.eslgold.com/writing/getting_ideas_organized.html

Please write 140 words minimum and don't forget to make three comments.

Best,

Belén

Blog Session 3 Instructions

Dear Class,

How are you?

Today, the topic is technology. Think about the technological object you like the most and write about your favourite piece of technology.

Include:

a) What it is
b) When you got it
c) How you use it
d) How often you use it
e) Why you like it
f) What life would be like without it

Remember to make comments on three of your classmates posts and please write this in 130 words minimum.
The comments can't be "that's great" or "wow". Read the whole post and then make comments about how clear the information is or about your opinion respectfully, of course.

Good luck and have a great week,


Belén

My favourite piece of technology Sample Post

I must begin by saying I do have a love/hate relationship with technology in general. I value creativity and I think there are many important inventions but as I still write letters, I think we can still live without so much technology. Talking to my friend Chris who’s working in Yemen through Skype is fantastic, but at the same time I think it's not necessary to give technology an incredible amount of importance in your life.

In terms of technology, what I use the most are mp3 players. Last week I lost the one I got three years ago so I’m planning to get a new one as soon as I get paid.

I like mp3 players because of their size, you can carry them everywhere you go and some of them have very original designs as well. I use my mp3 every day mainly because I can listen to music and especially because it has a voice recorder! Also, it’s useful to keep my favourite family pictures, all the files I need for work and my studies, and videos of course.

I can imagine my life without an mp3 but now that I’m used to this piece of technology. I think I’d need something similar, specially to continue enjoying music!

Remember to finish Blog Session 2

Dear Class,

Considering you have to write about your expectations, these are the meanings according to www.wordreference.com

expectation /ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən/

1. the act or state of expecting or the state of being expected
2. (usually plural) something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for
3. an attitude of expectancy or hope; anticipation
4. the numerical probability that an event will occur

Also, you can check the info in these links to express your hopes, dreams, wishes and to connect your ideas:

https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_writingskills/writing_tuts/linking_LL/linking3.html

http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/wishes-and-hypothetical-situations

Good luck!


Belén

Blog Session 2

Dear Class,

This time please write about "Your expectations for a new semester"

Include:

a) The subjects you are doing
b) Extracurriculars you are taking
c) Other activities that you are part of at university
d) What you expect from this new academic period

Write about this in 110 words minimum and make comments on three of your classmates posts.

Best,

Belén