tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87783380778368013962024-03-12T15:27:51.855-07:00The challenge of using perfect grammarMacarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-83975054680300343592012-10-21T13:44:00.002-07:002012-10-21T13:55:01.985-07:00A Brief Introduction to Electronic Music<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">Original Version</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">When thinking about
electronic music, what most people picture in their minds is probably a massive
neon-and-foam party, or maybe the last David Guetta single that sounds
everywhere, from radio stations to television ads, or the catchy beat from a
90’s eurobeat hit. Nowadays, electronic music has become an umbrella term for
all the above mentioned common places, but much more at the same time; if for a
long time it was the core around which different distinguishable sub-cultures
organized, these days, whether we notice it or not, almost everything that
radio stations play has digitally-generated elements in it. In this essay I will briefly examine how a musical genre that firstly emerged as part of an
avant-garde movement has reached such a widespread influence and has become so
omnipresent that we hardly notice in its full extent how important it is for
the current musical production. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The origins of
electronic music can be traced back to the first decades of the twentieth
century. In the 1920’s, musicians had already began exploring the possibilities
of experimenting with different instruments to create synthetic sounds.
However, these initiatives led to innovations that were more technological than
musical, and even though later developments would have been impossible without
these early enthusiasts’ contributions, the configuration of a proper
electronic music scene would have to wait till the early seventies. Of course,
this is nutshell history; especially if we acknowledge the amazing development
of production techniques in the 60’s and how forward-thinking musicians and
producers started incorporating the innovative studio techniques such as tape
manipulation and sampling as one more instrument (see The Beatles’ “Tomorrow
Never Knows”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was in Germany,
throughout the whole decade of the 70’s, where a group of artists of the
so-called “krautrock” scene started experimenting with electronic sounds. Most
of the bands associated with this avant-garde movement had little in common in
terms of their sound, but all of them shared a taste for experimentation and
the integration of technology in the creation of music. Faust, Kraftwerk,
Tangerine Dream, Neu! and Can, each of them with its own particular style, were
pioneer bands that not only developed new sounds or innovative production
techniques (many of this bands even crafted their own instruments), but they
also changed the way in which people thought of music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The influence of this
first wave of electronic bands throughout Europe was huge during the next two
decades, and it was not limited to a particular genre: Joy Division incorporated
Kraftwerk-like robotic beats into punk music to create a menacing and martial
sound (“Isolation”); New Order crafted atypical pop songs that people could
dance to (“Blue Monday”), Pink Floyd mixed synthesizers with prog-rock (“On the
Run”, “Any Colour You Like”); David Bowie’s art-rock prefigured many sub-genres
of electronic music in his Berlin Trilogy; and Afrika Bambataa single-handedly
set the foundations of rap culture (his classic hip-hop hit “Planet Rock”
samples Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe
Express”). As many of the artists and bands that were influenced by the
first-wavers become influential (sometimes genre-founders) themselves, the
prominence of digitally-generated elements in the music of a variety of
different musical scenes was greater and greater as time went by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">However, the
popularization of a particular kind of electronic music, namely dance music, did
not take place until the end of the 1980’s. By that time, electronic music had
held sway over most of the music that the decade is remembered for, from
Maddona to the Talking Heads, but it was always as the added element to an
already existing musical style, whether it was pop, funk, or rock. What changed
with the coming of the new decade was that dance music and all its different
sub-genres, were a kind of music <i>evidently</i>
and almost exclusively made up of synthetic sounds. The repetitive,
trance-inducing patterns of the music, the appearance of the figure of the DJ
(acronym for Disc Jockey), the clandestine celebration of massive underground
parties in different urban and rural spaces, and the popularization of the
so-called designer drugs were all factors that finally crystallized in the
emergence in <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country>
of what would be known as rave culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Needless to say, this popular
scene became a pop culture referent immediately identifiable and associable to
a specific period of time (late 80’s and early 90’s), and was quickly exported
to the rest of the world. The Love Parade, a massive street party that took
place until <st1:metricconverter productid="2010 in" w:st="on">2010 in</st1:metricconverter>
Germany and, on a number of occasions, in other countries such as Venezuela and
Chile, is probably the most well-know of the rave-inspired electronic parties.
Thus, the fact that dance music was the first contact of the general public
with electronic music may explain why people often equate electronic music with
dance music. Although electronic music had already become important within a considerable
number of underground youth subcultures, it still remained part of specific
niches and hadn’t had yet a great impact on mainstream culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The 1990’s saw the
emergence of a series of acts that took the general public’s recent familiarization
with electronic music as a starting point to create sounds that were
essentially electronic, but that were not (necessarily) meant to be boogied
away on the dancefloor. Björk, Portishead and Aphex Twins, to name a few,
started blending different genres in order to find new possibilities and
mediums for the creation of music, just like the former krautrock bands had
done almost twenty years ago. Thus electronic music was revitalized through continuous
experimentation in the search of originality, and new genres emerged: trip-hop,
IDM (intelligent dance music), ambient, big beat, etc. Even classically trained
avant-garde musicians such as John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen took elements
from electronic music and incorporated them into their own pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nowadays, the influence
of electronic music can be found almost everywhere in the current musical
production. While the more radical and experimental styles remain unknown to
the general public, the latest radio hits certainly owe a lot more to electronic
music than one would notice at a first listening. Hits songs by best-seller
acts such as The Black-Eyed Peace, Lady Gaga and Rihanna are all heavily
indebted to electronic music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">As it usually happens
with ahead-of-their-time movements, the avant-garde impulse that fuelled the
creation of the first pieces of electronic music has been assimilated into mass
culture to an extent that nowadays we almost do not notice its presence. What little
more than forty years ago was a radical initiative to break new paths that
would push musical language to its limits (making music with machines?) has
become part of our everyday musical landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Aplying the Lanham Method</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">When thinking about
electronic music, what most people picture in their minds is probably a massive
neon-and-foam party, or maybe the last David Guetta single that sounds
everywhere, from radio stations to television ads, or the catchy beat from a
90’s eurobeat hit. <b><span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Nowadays, electronic
music has become an umbrella term, but much more: the core around which different
distinguishable sub-cultures are organized.</span></b> In this essay I will briefly
examine how a musical genre that firstly emerged as part of an avant-garde
movement has reached such a widespread influence and has become so omnipresent that
we hardly notice in its full extent how important it is for the current musical
production. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #e36c0a; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">In
the 1920’s, electronic music appeared and musicians began exploring the
possibilities of experimenting with different instruments to create synthetic
sounds.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> However,
these initiatives led to innovations that were more technological than musical,
and even though later developments would have been impossible without these
early enthusiasts’ contributions, the configuration of a proper electronic
music scene would have to wait till the early seventies. Of course, this is
nutshell history; especially if we acknowledge the amazing development of
production techniques in the 60’s and how forward-thinking musicians and
producers started incorporating the innovative studio techniques such as tape
manipulation and sampling as one more instrument (see The Beatles’ “Tomorrow
Never Knows”). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was in Germany,
throughout the whole decade of the 70’s, where a group of artists of the
so-called “krautrock” scene started experimenting with electronic sounds. Most
of the bands associated with this avant-garde movement had little in common in
terms of their sound, but all of them shared a taste for experimentation and
the integration of technology in the creation of music. Faust, Kraftwerk,
Tangerine Dream, Neu! and Can, each of them with its own particular style, were
pioneer bands that not only developed new sounds or innovative production
techniques (many of this bands even crafted their own instruments), but they
also changed the way in which people thought of music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The influence of first
wave of electronic bands throughout Europe was huge during the next two
decades, and it was not limited to a particular genre: Joy Division incorporated
Kraftwerk-like robotic beats into punk music to create a menacing and martial
sound (“Isolation”); New Order crafted atypical pop songs that people could
dance to (“Blue Monday”), Pink Floyd mixed synthesizers with prog-rock (“On the
Run”, “Any Colour You Like”); David Bowie’s art-rock prefigured many sub-genres
of electronic music in his Berlin Trilogy; and Afrika Bambataa single-handedly
set the foundations of rap culture (his classic hip-hop hit “Planet Rock”
samples Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe
Express”). <b><span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">First-wavers influenced many artists
and bands—the prominence of digitally-generated elements in the music became
greater as time went by. </span></b></span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">However, the
popularization of a particular kind of electronic music, namely dance music, did
not take place until the end of the 1980’s. By that time, electronic music had
held sway over most of the music that the decade is remembered for, from
Maddona to the Talking Heads, but it was always as the added element to an
already existing musical style, whether it was pop, funk, or rock. </span><b style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;">Dance music and all its different sub-genres
changed and exclusively presented synthetic sounds</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">. </span><b style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;">The repetitive, trance-inducing patterns of the
music, the appearance of the figure of the DJ (acronym for Disc Jockey), the clandestine
celebration of massive underground parties, and the popularization of the
so-called designer drugs were all factors in the emergence of the rave culture
in England.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Needless to say, this popular
scene became a pop culture referent immediately identifiable and associable to
a specific period of time (late 80’s and early 90’s), and was quickly exported
to the rest of the world. The Love Parade, a massive street party that took
place until <st1:metricconverter productid="2010 in" w:st="on">2010 in</st1:metricconverter>
Germany and, on a number of occasions, in other countries such as Venezuela and
Chile, is probably the most well-know of the rave-inspired electronic parties.
Thus, the fact that dance music was the first contact of the general public
with electronic music may explain why people often equate electronic music with
dance music. Although electronic music had already become important within a considerable
number of underground youth subcultures, it still remained part of specific
niches and hadn’t had yet a great impact on mainstream culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #e36c0a; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">The
1990’s saw the emergence of a series of acts that took the general public’s
recent familiarization with electronic music as a starting point to create
sounds that were essentially electronic, but were not boogie</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">. Björk, Portishead and Aphex Twins,
to name a few, started blending different genres in order to find new possibilities
and mediums for the creation of music, just like the former krautrock bands had
done almost twenty years ago. Thus electronic music was revitalized through continuous
experimentation in the search of originality, and new genres emerged: trip-hop,
IDM (intelligent dance music), ambient, big beat, etc. Even classically trained
avant-garde musicians such as John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen took elements
from electronic music and incorporated them into their own pieces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #e36c0a; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Electronic
music is almost everywhere; while the more radical and experimental styles
remain unknown to the general public, the latest radio hits certainly owe a lot
more to electronic music than one would imagine.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> Hits songs by best-seller acts such as The
Black-Eyed Peace, Lady Gaga and Rihanna are all heavily indebted to electronic
music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">As it usually happens
with ahead-of-their-time movements, the avant-garde impulse that fuelled the
creation of the first pieces of electronic music has been assimilated into mass
culture to an extent that nowadays we almost do not notice its presence. What little
more than forty years ago was a radical initiative to break new paths that
would push musical language to its limits has become part of our everyday
musical landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-33243909485904476442012-10-14T13:57:00.000-07:002012-10-14T13:57:26.146-07:00The importance of Piaget´s framework for second language teaching<br />
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(1) participles<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(2) absolutes (noun + present or past participle)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(3) appositives<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(4) adjectives out of order<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: aqua; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-highlight: aqua;">(5) transitive verb in active voice</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: yellow; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-highlight: yellow;">(6) transitive verb in passive voice</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The importance of Piaget´s framework for second
language teaching<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Piaget’s ideas, <b><span style="color: red;">new and revolutionary</span></b>, changed the previous
conception of psychology: behaviorism; a scientific worldwide theory which said
that humans only assimilate information by stimulus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Piaget, <b><span style="color: #00b050;">a
Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher</span></b>, <b><span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;">never proposed rules</span></b> about how to intervene in education or
how to teach a second language. However, his research on mental development in children has had important
implications in language teaching. <b><span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Explaining that
children do not just store information</span></b>, <b><span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;">Piaget provided coherence</span></b> to his cognitive development
perspective.<b> <span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;">Children</span></b><span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;"> <b>process information
and create their knowledge</b></span> while touching and feeling; young
learners, <b><span style="color: red;">active and motivated</span></b>, construct their
own knowledge (schema).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Piaget explained that
children try to make sense of the environment they <b><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">are inserted in</span></b>; <b><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">ideas and concepts are
manipulated</span></b> by them in order to create new knowledge. As they go
through this process, <b><span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;">they
use these experiences</span></b> to manage new situations and problems. This is
really important because children need the chance to experiment—especially in
the classroom.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He also made proposed a completely new perspective: children’s mind
works differently from adult’s mind.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Piaget</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> argued that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there are four universal stages of development that all children pass through, as
a result of their biological development. These universal stages are:
Sensorimotor stage, Preoperational stage, Concrete operations stage and Formal
operations stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The teacher should create tasks that will give students the opportunity
to practice activities, as well as different thinking operations appropriate to
each stage. He should decide ‘how to teach’ first and then, ‘what to teach’
according to each age or, in Piaget’s words, according to each cognitive
development stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Piaget’s research resulted to be relevant for second
language teaching. As I said before, and despite the various critics, he
proposed a clear system of ideas about the child’s cognitive development—something
that even nowadays is useful. A teacher must implement a method which should be
based upon a selected approach and according to the specific stage the child is
passing through.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Piaget’s stages can tentatively be a useful tool or
even work as a model for curriculum design. For instance, in the<b> </b>Preoperational Stage when children begin
schooling, they are not yet able to think abstractly and need concrete
physical situations to learn. I have experienced that during my days as a
teacher assistant; </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">children’s mind tangled and confused </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">about the use of new grammar and vocabulary is a real issue in ESL
classrooms. However, they found easier learning new English through a game instead of simple written instruction or
examples. As Piaget mentions “a child is not satisfied with speaking; he must
needs ‘play out’ what he thinks and symbolize his ideas by means of gestures or
objects, and represent things by imitation, drawing and construction.”<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Education, for most people, means trying
to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society...but for me and
no one else, education means making creators....You have to make inventors,
innovators—not conformists."</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (Bringuier,
1980, p. 132)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-30139858881370639882012-10-07T13:07:00.001-07:002012-10-07T13:07:17.758-07:00Becoming a Vegetarian<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(1)
participles<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #7030a0;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(2)
absolutes (noun + present or past participle)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #00b050;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(3) appositives<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(4) adjectives out of order<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Becoming a vegetarian<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been trying to become a vegetarian <b><span style="color: #00b050;">(yes, a person
that not eat meat for a bunch of different reasons).</span></b> Actually, I
have been without eating meat for almost a year. I know there are some people who
do not have problems to quickly make the first step, but that was not my
situation. <b><span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Having an unhealthy diet was one of
my major worries. </span></b>I did not want to start losing weight or getting
sick, and realize that vegetarianism was not an option for me; therefore, I
started doing lot of research about it. <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">My mind tangled and my Mom doubting about my decision;</span></b>
do I have the willpower to do this? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I decided that it would be a better idea
to go slow. First, cut out red meats (cow and pork) and then white meat (chicken
and turkey). This method had good results; after two months I had already left
behind red and white meat. However, I am still struggling with seafood. I live
in a region of Chile which is a </span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">rich</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">source of seafood and I have been eating it since I
was a little girl. I also love cooking so it became a big challenge using (and
eating) new vegetarian and vegan recipes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">Kneading and baking in my kitchen</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, I found how easy it was to create new culinary food
without using any kind of animal products. </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #00b050; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Veggie quiches, Bean lasagna, and
Eggplant pizza, were the first recipes that I proudly made.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While
doing my research I also found millions of pictures, videos, and articles that
showed how animals were (and are) treated by the meat industry. </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Images of farm animals are still on my mind, scared,
crowded, and agonizing. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most of those animals are kept into small cages—they can even turn
around—and fed with pesticides and antibiotics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am aware that being a vegetarian or
vegan can be difficult, but there are hundreds (if not thousands) of reasons
that prove that is totally worth it. I want vegetarianism to become a lifestyle
that I am proud of.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-27834122148826297782012-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:002012-09-30T12:26:55.491-07:00A completely different topic: Reading Henrietta Lacks' story<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;">I
have had</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"> a chance to
completely immerse myself in the
story of Henrietta Lacks. <b>When</b> I first purchased this book, I realized that I
was completely unaware of her presence as well as her importance in the history
of medicine and scientific framework. What most caught my attention is how the story is presented to the
audience; <b>not only the medical implications, but also the human side.</b> Henrietta
represents many sensitive topics. <b>She is a poor woman, almost an orphan,
housewife, mother, worker, African-American, and diagnosed with cancer.</b> Did I
miss something? <b>As</b> we can see her story embodies provocative issues in everyday
life and society. <b>It encompasses poverty, racism, oppression, gender, and most
important: ethics.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b>As</b> a kind of biography, I will mention
some important details <b>which</b> in my opinion are relevant to understand her
story. She was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on August 1, 1920. Her mother died
<b>when</b> she was only four years old and lamentably her father did not have the
patience for raising his children. In consequence, Henrietta and her siblings
moved to her grandfather’s house in Clover (also Virginia) <b>where</b> her family still
farmed the tobacco fields. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b>While</b> living in Clover she met her cousin
<b>(and future husband)</b> David Lacks with <b>whom</b> she spent time planting and
harvesting tobacco, and most important growing up together. Henrietta was
considered to be the prettiest girl in her town, with her beautiful smile and
walnut eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> She had a little crush on Crazy Joe, <b>who was</b> <b>also
her cousin; however</b>, the relationship that she developed with ‘Day’ was
deeper. <b>B</b></span></span></span><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ecause</b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> he was deeply in love with Henrietta, </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 200%;">Crazy Joe was called like that</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 200%;">. He even stabbed himself in the chest <b>when</b> he realized she was
getting married to Day. <b>So</b> it was done, Henrietta married to Day and they
kept working on the tobacco fields till their Cousin Fred Garret came from
Baltimore bringing the good news: he got a job in Turner Station. Due the rise
of steel production at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point, employment began to
increase <b>as well as</b> the number of African-American workers. It suddenly became
“the promise land” for black families from the south <b>that</b> started migrating and
heading towards a new life. The work in this “promise land” was not easy. All
the black workers were immersed in a poisonous environment; they were
constantly breathing in toxic coal dust and asbestos. Needless to say, all of
these toxic wastes were brought to their own homes and spread to their
families. <b>Despite</b> this fact, Fred convinced his cousins that they should
migrate as well.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Since</b> 1951, Henrietta
started to feel strange and find inside her cervix a prominent lump. She asked
her husband to take her to the hospital <b>because</b> she was already bleeding. <b>After</b>
several exams, Henrietta’s biopsy report from the lab said <b>that</b> she was
diagnosed with “epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix, stage I”. <b>Henrietta’s
gynecologist, whose name was Howard W. Jones, his boss, Richard Wesley, and Telinde, a cancer expert, discussed
if it qualified as cervical cancer--and the procedures to cure
her. Telinde had a good reputation; he was one of the best cancer experts in
the country.</b> Within his methods, he treated both <i>carcinoma in situ</i> and invasive carcinoma using an aggressive
treatment to prevent women dying from metastasized cancer. He often used patients from the public
wards for research, usually without their knowledge. Many scientists believed
that <b>since</b> patients were treated for free in the public wards, it was fair to
use them as research subjects as a form of payment. <b>After</b> knowing
her results Henrietta signed an Operation Permit form giving consent to the
staff of Hopkins Hospital to perform any necessary procedure or treatment
(radium treatment, in fact). <b>Even though</b> nobody asked her <b>if</b> she wanted to be a
donor, doctors at Hopkins removed pieces of tissue from her cervix. Doctors
also did not tell her <b>that</b> the treatment had left her infertile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; position: relative; top: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <b>After</b> the first radium treatment, she was
sent home with instructions to call the clinic if she had problems (and she had
some later on). Two days after Henrietta went home, <b>the Gey Lab was able to grow
her cancer cells: the first immortal human cells. </b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-31501657915078927812012-09-24T09:03:00.001-07:002012-09-24T09:03:17.280-07:00New grammar that I've learned<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES;">I still remember the first time we covered FANBOYS in class. I was just
starting my second year at university when my grammar teacher explained to me
and my classmates this new acronym. He started by telling us the
following: “just join the first letter of each word I am going to write on the
board.” He wrote down: FOR (reason), AND (conjunction), NOR (negation), BUT
(contrast), OR (disjunction), YET (unexpected outcome), <b>and</b> SO (result). Then, he asked us about the relationship between
these new items. Most of them were familiar to me. I had been using some of
them for quite long time, <b>but </b>I
never realized their function within a sentence. What is the purpose of using
coordinating conjunctions? Well, obviously the words “coordinating” and
“conjunction” help me to develop an explanation. These are “connecting words”
that connect (I know it sounds repetitive) two ideas as one in a single sentence.<b> However</b>, if you missed the comma
before each of these items you will be in presence of a run-on sentence. <b>So</b>, if you are connecting two ideas
using conjunctions, be careful, <b>and</b>
do not forget the comma! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.25pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES;">I had so much fun in class last week. It is the first time I am involved in
that kind of activity in which creativity was the protagonist while learning
grammar. We were given several words to create original, meaningful, and
different sentences. What do I mean by ‘different’? As we already discussed in
class there are different types of sentences which are S-VI (Subject-Verb Intransitive),
S-V-O (subject-verb-object), AND S-LV-SC (Subject-Linking Verb- Subject
Complement). <b>When it comes to create sentences within a paragraph, I am not
always aware of the different function that a word has.</b> I used to put attention
only to the different kind of verbs within a sentence (intransitive,
transitive, <b>and</b> linking verbs), <b>but</b> now I am more aware of other components
such as nouns, adverbs, <b>and</b>
adjectives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-50856984785646860842012-09-16T13:17:00.000-07:002012-09-16T13:17:21.838-07:00So far this semester...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far this semester I have noticed that I am aware of
the different errors that people tend to make while writing. I really have
enjoyed the different in-class activities when we have to proofread and analyze
newspapers. During those activities I could realize that even a journalist may
present errors of punctuation; sometimes they are not consistent while using
them. I consider that it is important to discuss consistency in class because
it reveals our own style of writing and also help us to develop a “readable”
piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a non-native learner of the English language, I am
also aware of the different structures, forms, and functions that written and
spoken English present. I know the importance of syntax; the different parts of
a sentence such as subject, verb, object, etc. and the different word classes
such as nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the problems that I am still struggling with is
the use of “phrasal verbs.” I have problems to recognize whether the
preposition or adverb is part of the phrasal verb or it is acting by <b>itself</b> within the sentence. I also get confused because the meaning of
the verb sometimes completely changes. During my first years studying English it
was very complicated to learn new ones, I used to learn them by heart and then
forget them the following week. One of my friends also struggled with that. However,
<b>between her and me</b>, the problem was
solved. We created some fun mnemonics—with drawings included in order to learn
those new words. We even encouraged each other to use those phrasal verbs in context,
in every day conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I previously mentioned that I am aware of the
different parts of a sentence; however, it is still difficult for me to
identify, for instance, intransitive verbs or indirect objects. But I am
optimistic and I think I would learn how to identify them during the following
weeks. It is never too late to understand new things that is why I see<b> myself</b> as a life-long learner. I am
willing to comprehend the variety of conventions that languages in general
present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-28171417906132372032012-09-09T14:01:00.000-07:002012-09-09T14:01:15.402-07:00What have I learned so far?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During
the first weeks of this semester I have had the opportunity not only to discuss
and learn many things regarding grammar patterns, but also criticize different
teaching methods. While participating in the Socratic seminars developed in
class, we have shared our opinions and brought up thoughts and ideas on what it
is the best way to teach grammar. One of the things that we criticized was the
traditional instruction at schools. It is a bit frustrating and sad to know
that there are still some teachers that use traditional methods to explain, for
instance, punctuation, and do not care too much about the meaning and ideas
that their students want to develop. On the contrary, they only focus on form
and structure of a piece of writing. In my opinion, the traditional method does
not work because<b> its</b> characteristics
do not include the encouragement to compose a piece of writing focus on content
and creativity. I think it is essential to keep in mind that punctuation is a
process (with developmental implications), acquired over time, and an indicator
of language awareness; therefore, we need to be careful with the different
tools that we use to teach the proper use of grammar and punctuation to our
students. Even for us it is difficult to accomplish grammar or punctuation
rules because they are constantly exposed to different adjustments and
modifications. When I first started to learn mechanics in English, it was difficult
to figure out where a punctuation mark had to be placed. It was different than
the punctuation I learned in Spanish. <b>As
a second language learner, I am aware of the different challenges that young
native speakers face; as a future teacher, I am willing to help my students to
succeed in grammar.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally,
I would like to mention that this course has been really helpful for me.
Listening to my classmates’ discussions and sharing different perspectives have
helped me to broaden my knowledge about grammar and also about American classrooms.
My knowledge about the American culture is not that deeper as <b>theirs</b>, obviously.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8778338077836801396.post-53874150241354009632012-08-27T16:51:00.000-07:002012-08-27T16:58:31.286-07:00Use it or lose it!<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My first approach to writing was probably
when I was 7 years old. I had just learned<b>
</b>how to write, I grabbed<b> </b>colourful
pencils and a sheet of paper where I wrote all kinds of crazy stories with
drawings included. Even though my spelling and handwriting were<b> </b>not the best, the stories were still
readable. All the dialogues were related or similar to the books I had read; I
used to write short tales about fairies, princesses with super powers, animals,
etc., and how they managed to solve problems.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But I probably should have started this
first entry of my grammar blog by explaining my roots; my cultural background.
Well, since I was eleven years old<b>,</b> English
has been my second </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">language</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> —a<b> </b>foreign language;
therefore, I learned<b> </b>my first words
in English when I was in fifth grade. It was strange the way English caught my attention;
I just loved the different sounds, intonations, and new phrases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was in high school when I started
writing micro-essays in English. Even though I was the best of my class, I ran<b> </b>into difficulties because it got very
hard for me to develop my ideas, use proper grammar and mechanics
(punctuation). I actually consider writing to be a very difficult activity;
which requires a lot of study, work and concentration. In Spanish however,<b> </b>I do not required much of those
elements, I only need to feel how words flow from my mind to my hand and then
write them straight away. This happens because I like writing and also because
Spanish is my mother tongue; a situation distant<b> </b>from the ability I possessed<b>
</b>during my first years writing in English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During my first two years of university in
Chile, I had a very limited knowledge regarding<b> </b>punctuation usage. I was rather afraid of using punctuation marks in
my compositions because I had no idea where and when a comma, semicolon, or
colon had to be used. I had the opportunity to be part of a writing course that
was extremely helpful as it gave me significant insights into the use of
punctuation in written English. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, I feel confident when creating a
text, as I understand most of the rules concerning subordination, coordination,
parallelism and punctuation marks. This has, of course, increased my interest
in both reading and writing; for I now have a wider understanding of the
different components included within a piece of writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, there are still some mistakes
that I continue to<b> </b>make. One of
those mistakes is using commas, commas, and more commas everywhere. When it
comes to utilizing<b> </b>them </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am clumsy, insecure, exaggerated. </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am quite obsessed with semicolons because in Spanish we do not use
them regularly, or at least<b> I</b>
generally do not use them. I like connecting two independent clauses without
using a period. In my humble opinion, it sounds more natural.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the past, I used to feel insecure about
my skills, but now, I feel optimistic about my future as a writer. Even more so
I am sure it is just a matter of time before I start writing on a regular
basis. As a future teacher I am conscious of the importance of being aware of
one’s weaknesses and strengths; it is the first step in improving yourself and
becoming a better writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Macarena Álvarez Valenzuelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13164259995612652532noreply@blogger.com1