Open House: This is The End

Open House

Estimados Alumnos y Padres de Familia,
El sábado 12 de Junio será nuestro Open House que dará inició a las 10.00 a.m., los alumnos se presentan a las 8.30 en horario regular y se pueden retirar terminando el evento.

Dear students,
Here's the video you asked me to upload. it would be nice if you can get a red jacket for someone to perform as M.J. Good luck!

Countdown to Open House

Dear students,



This is our schedule for the rest of the semester.

22nd May: no class
29th May: Quiz #10, Essay (Book Report), and last rehearsal
5th June: no class
12th June: Open House




Remember our evaluation:
Homework 15%
2 Oral Test 20%
10 Written Test 30%
TOEFL 10%
Essay 10%
Participation and attitude 15%

Everyone -with no exception- will be attending our Open House on June 12th. Following the regulation of our Language Department student missing the Open House will not complete this course.

L.P. #15 Slides for Quiz #10
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMjk4aGJicW1qNjI&hl=en

Doubts? hoogdalem@gmail.com



JG

Famous People

Your homework is to study for our 9th quiz:
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMjgyZ3JrZGtoZHI&hl=en

And to start reading a book for your final essay. You'll hand in this book report on May 29th.
Choose a book with 120 pages at least.
Done on computer
1 page introduction, 2 pages body, 1 page conclusion (at least).
1.5 paragraph

Remember, the essay is NOT a summary. Follow this guide to draft yours.
http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingabookreport/a/report.htm

The annoying thing

Attention: There's no class this May 1st, we're back until Saturday 8th.

The Annoying Thing

1) 2nd oral test. Recall Lesson Plan #1 "Alternative Beliefs". Choose one topic and prepare a 3 min presentation. During your turn, you'll not be allowed to read your speech nor the information from your presentation.

Besides the oral test presentation, your homework for two weeks is:

2) Answer to the following questions in relation to each performance from the class.

a. In your own words, explain what was performed on each play: neighborhood, restaurant, theater, and with friends.

b. Have you ever experienced disturbance from your neighbors? What kind? (If not, have you ever performed as an annoying neighbor? How?) How will you deal with an annoying neighbor to avoid a bigger problem?

c. Describe some of the annoying experiences you've had in restaurants, like paying your dinner with 10 cent coins or finding a hair in your meal. What was your reaction?

d. Have you ever experience disturbance in movies theaters? What kind? (spoiled kids, people at the back kicking your seat, slurping soft drinks, etc.) How will you deal with annoying people in the middle of a movie? Would you decide to ignore them and try to watch the movie or argue with them to stop the disturbance?

e. Have you ever been embarrased by your friends? How will you deal with annoying friends? When is it worth to loose a friend?

1 1/2 page at least!

3) Study for your Quiz #3. It will include vocabulary from L.P. #12 and 13. This lesson's vocabulary is avaiable at:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMjgxYzl2czU3aHM&hl=en

Have a nice weekend!!!!!!!!! And don't annoy people at FACEBOOK

Shopping Time!

Shopping Time!

Homework: Write 1 page essay (only for this time) regarding your role and gameplay during your experience with Shopping Time! The game of buyers and sellers... You may include anything you want but in relation to the topic.

Practice: Do the reading comprehension practice and answer to the exercises #1, 3, and 4. The worksheets are un these links:
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYZDJkMmIyYjMtOTk5NC00YTJmLTg0ZTgtNDVmNTk2NjE4MGVh&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYMGEwN2MxYzAtYzUwMC00M2I4LTg5ZDMtZTJmYjBhZTE0YTQ3&hl=en

The lesson's quiz will be held in 2 more weeks.
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMjQxZjVxZHI4cjI&hl=en

Resultados y 2a Junta de Padres de Familia

Estimados Padres de Familia,

Por medio de la presente, les comparto los resultados de los alumnos:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ArbCmn08YwmYdFVxaFRPWmF5U1BiV1NTYmlsOW5janc&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYOGIzOTIyOWUtZDcwZC00NWI4LWE1MmQtMzdmMTE4MmQ0ODll&hl=en

La 2a Junta de Padres de Familia será el próximo sábado 17 de abril y está reservada para con los que hay que tratar algo en relación al desempeño de los primeros. Sin embargo, estaré tambien a disposición de todos ustedes para resolver cualquier inquietud a partir de las 12.45 hrs, si así lo desean.

La cita con los Padres de Familia indicados será vía correo electrónico de sus hijos. Por favor, estén al pendiente por si ellos reciben este aviso.

Alumnos, sean honestos e informen a sus padres si fueron señalados.

Muchas gracias.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

What's That Song?

Hi there... a few announcements for you:

1) we are out for 2 weeks, thus coming back until April 17th.

2) Your hw is to write an essay explaining what would your ideal concert be like, and with whom.

3) To finish the TOEFL review exercise (p. 317 and 318) from our last class. If you were absent, these worksheets are avaiable in the following link:
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTc4YzV2Z213Y3M&hl=en

4) To study this Lesson's vocabulary plus those from Lesson 10 "Can money can buy happiness?".
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTg1ZmpxZG4yd2I&hl=en

5) The next class I'll schedule your 1st Rehearsall for our Open House Play, "Alice in Wonderland".


Take care!

Can money buy happiness?

Hello people,

1) This is a description of our last activity: Pick one of the following charities and discuss why do you think people should (or not) donate to them. If you were in charge of raising funds for any of them what would you do? Explain your plan.
a. a charity that helps elderly (old) people with food and housing
b. a hospice for people who are dying of an incurable disease
c. an organization that provides emergency supplies and medicine for disaster victims
d. a charity that helps homeless people
e. cancer research
f. a charity that helps people with AIDS
g. animal shelters

2) Study the vocabulary and key words for our next test.

3) Please do and bring the toefl practice below, it is avaiable for download.

Lesson Plan 10
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTU5Z2g1eHRzZnY&hl=en

Toefl Exercises L.P. 10
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTc1enA5ZjY4ZGs&hl=en

Hooked on the Net

Hooked on the Net





Your homework is...

1) To join our St. Patrick's Day Celebration! Please, dress in green and bring a meal for 3-4 servings, don't be a party pooper!

2) To research the plot of a popular movie or play for our Open House.

3) To make a 1 1/2 essay about one of the following topics:

Option A: Smallville: A call to civil disobedience.

There's no meaningful difference since the water privatization deal lead by Cardenas government. Nowadays, with so many unsolved issues, post-election chaos has become a nightmare for you, the new head of the town.

The People's Liberation Movement (PLM) is calling for civil disobedience. Your intelligence and security services have detained prominent critics of the state who use the Internet to spread the opposition and a cover operation for a coup d'etat. But the parliament fears that without enough enforcement, your government will be toppled by a popular uprising.

In an attempt to set order back, your assembly suggest to diminish the people's freedom of speech and ban the right to publicly voice their disagreement in public gatherings such as rallies and protests. The new policy includes a strong content filtering and blocking social networking such as Facebook and Twitter.

Is Internet censorship a fair measure for authorities to ensure peace and stability in their countries? In what extent should content regulation be possible to prevent harm to societies? Think, besides the benefits of consumer freedom, about the possible threats and consequences from a free Internet.

Whether you like it or not, explain your steps to handle the situation. Remember that the opposition wants your removal and detention. The aftermath from a handful of awkward decisions continues...


Option B: What would you do with a million dollars?

Material

Hooked on the Net
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYMTVmYmRlY2QtMGNlMC00NTNiLWFmZDQtNTYyMzM0NDdiNDNk&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYM2I3NGM4OGQtNDlkNC00ZGYxLTlhODctNjc3MzhlMTAwMTk5&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYYjJmZDBhMTQtYTA4OS00NjA0LTlkNmMtNzQxZTdhMjM1OTRj&hl=en

Today's News!

Today's News!

1) Your homework is to make a 1 1/2 page of any of the following topics:

a) If you could set the ethics and standards for a "fair journalism", what would you consider to regulate the media?

b) If you were a journalist and had to make a choice between reporting a story or lending a helping hand, what would you decide? What's ethically what you're supposed to do? Should journalists be involved in events or refuse to help because it's not their job?

c) Suppose you were a reporter in Haiti and you decide to "cross the line" thus involving in the story to help the injured and the sick. You'll be including the fact that you're trying to help to treat a patient in your story. But people will argue that you are exploiting the sick and injured. Are these critics well-founded or they ignore the common sense of kindness? What's fair and what's not? Explain your reasoning.

2) Quiz #5. Please study the vocabulary from this lesson. It is avaiable in the worksheet:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTQ4YzdzbWdiZnM&hl=en

3) EVERYONE: To plan an activity for our OPEN HOUSE, for a 15m presentation. Otherwise I will decide for you... BRING YOUR IDEA WITH YOUR HW.

4) The video from Old School Journalism explains the writing jobs on newspapers.

Additional information.

Auxiliary Verbs: This is a self-study guide about the main auxiliary verbs: "To be", "To do", and "To have".
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTUyZzY1ODViY2c&hl=en

How visual media affects people

How visual media affects people

Goal: For students to encourage critical thinking in relation to the positive and negative effects of visual media.

Objective:- Students will express their opinions about this theme.- Students will acquire new vocabulary related to the theme and learn to apply it.



Vocabulary:
household, media, TV "the small screen", trial, nevertheless, trendy, encountered, dissatisfied, furthermore, channel surf, advertising, grieving, sought (seek), trash tv


Homework.

1) To draft a 1 1/2 page essay about any of the following topics:

a. Impact or content? Ratings vs quality in program broadcasting.
If you were a public broadcaster from Multimedios, would you pay more attention to ratings (even if this will inevitabily entail a lowering of quality) or would you focus on the core business of quality programming (even if this means that you audience is likely to become smaller in the years ahead)? Explain your reasoning.

b. Do you think of visual media as a mean to enrich people's mind (the transmission of knowledge) or significant risk of attention problems and other disorders? Explain.

c. How could visual media affect unconsciously the mind of people? Explain your reasoning.

2) To make the visual media exercises from the worksheets. This will help you in your next test.


Material:

L.P. #7 Visual Media
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTE2OWp2ZGI0Zzg&hl=en

L.P. #7 Visual Media Passage
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYNTM0MzZmM2QtYzU0Yy00OTM3LWEzNmQtNDYzZGZlZThlOWQw&hl=en

L.P. #7 Visual Media Exercises
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTQ0amdiYjZ3d2c&hl=en

Additional references

How we perceive ourselves

Crazy Relationships

Crazy Relationships

Hi people.

1) The standards for your assignments have changed. Please notice:

For all ESSAYS: length: 1 1/2 page, font: arial, size: 12, justified paragraph, 1.5 space.

If you don't have a printer, I will still accept the homeworks handwritten. I will NOT accept submissions via e-mail.

2) Your homework is to write a 1.5 essay (follow instructions) about any of these topics:
a. What are you looking for in the person you want to be with
b. How do you difference love from crush? How would you cope with a crush?
c. How would you deal with a broken heart?

3) Optional. You may earn up to 10 pts subject to your effort and answers to the questions.

After your participation in Blind Date:
a. How would you prepare for a blind date?
b. What was your blind date alike? (friendship, dating, "puppy love" or just for fun) Explain your reasoning.
c. How would you spot a liar? Can you tell apart between an honest and a cheater?
d. Is it possible to find serious people or a long term relationship through online dating services?
e. What are some of the possible threats about blind dates?

Juan, Mayte, Samantha, Carlos, Margarita and Erick, these people have a surplus in the next test for their participation in our last activity. If you want a chance to get these points, we'll look forward for an opportunity the next class.


Material: The next class we're having our W. Test #3.
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMTAwNmozcjM1aGY&hl=en

Additional vocabulary

affair: A romantic or sexual relationship, sometimes one of brief duration, between two people who are not married to each other.
crush: A romantic attaction or platonic relationship.
cheater: One that cheats (one that fools or acts dishonestly).
flirt: A form of human interaction, usually expressing interest in other person.
liar: One that tells lies (a false statement).
puppy love: Teenager love, specially one that is not expected to last.

Additional vocabulary

Starting a New Civilization

Estimados Padres de Familia,

El próximo Sábado 13 de Febrero, tendremos nuestra 1era Junta de Padres de Familia en el horario de 12 a 13 hrs, salón Aula Inteligente del CIDEB. Se les pide atentamente traer el apartado de la hoja del reglamento firmado.

Starting a New Civilization

Dear Students,

"Starting a New Civilization" was originally a team activity, but now its an individual assignment.

Instructions: To write a 1 page survival plan considering an specific background (a shelter with 7 survivors have been assigned to you).

Rules: Choose 6 between 7 of your survivors. You're allowed to exchange one of your survivors with another one of your choice.

When you're ready, for each of the survivors answer:

Character "X"
Reason in favor of survival:
Reason against survival:
Decision of commitee (Yes/No):

With the chosen people, you'll write a survival plan (the analysis is in addition to the survival plan).

When you're ready, answer each of the following questions:

1) With the chosen people, what type of leaderhip do you think your group is most likely to have? (liberal, authocratic, democratic) Explain why.
2) Which people are most likely to become the leaders of your group? Which the followers? Why?
3) Based on your analysis, what type of prejudices did you have towards the people? Do you think those views are fair or detrimental for the decisions of your group?

Starting a New Civilization
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfODdmdm0zNHhkNQ&hl=en

Types of Leadership Explained (Spanish)

Thirst, The Quarrel of Water p.2

"Thirst"

Goal:
The main purpose is to encourage critical thinking by making students aware or real life concerns regarding water scarcity as they learn new vocabulary and practice listening skills and oral expression.

Objective:
- Students will become aware of real life concerns regarding water scarcity.
- Students will understand the role of the different sides involved in this problem.
- Students will be able to discuss and express their ideas.
- Students will be able to fill in the blanks with the missing word of a song.

Homework:

1. Your quiz #2 is the next saturday, after the TOEFL test. Study the lesson's vocabulary.

2. The next class we're a having our 1st TOEFL practice. You don't need to prepare for this test. The purpose of having a TOEFL is to measure your english profiency at the beginning vs at the end of this course.

3. Answer to the questions with nice and well-founded answers (use everything you learn in the debate).
a. How will our lives change if water was scarce in our community?
b. What did I learned from the discussion?
c. What was my role-play? How was my opinion affected after performing this role?
d. Historically, water has been viewed as a shared common, but after our discussion, do you think of it as a) a public good or right or b) a market commodity? Explain your answer.



Vocabulary:

Turmoil: A state of uneasiness or disturbance of public peace: There's a state of turmoil after the earthquake in Haiti.

Fiasco: A complete failure.

Private sector: The part of the economy in which goods and services are produced by individuals and companies, not the government. Not owned by the state.

World Bank: A branch of the United Nations that provides financial andtechnical assistance to enhance growth in developing countries.

Profit: Refers to the money gained in business, for example by selling something. Profit is not the same as income.

Income: The amoun of money received during a period of time in exchange for labor and/or services: His monthly income while working in Hispanic Teleservices was not enought to pay his studies.

Loan: The lending of money.

Scarcity (scarce): Lack or shortage of something: Overpopulation, rapid industrialization, and increasing agricultural use have lead to worlwide water shortage and scarcity.

Bill: A note showing how much money is owed for goods and/or services: A water bill.

Bond: A certificate of debt issued by a government or corporation guaranteeing payment of the original investment plus interest by a specified future date.

Commodity: Any good that can be exchanged in commerce; any good that can be bought or sold.

Expense: Charge or payment of money.

Thirst, the Quarrel for Water

The Aftermath...

(of your decisions)

• Major Felipe Cárdenas grants the rights for operation and expansion of water and sewerage services to Smart Decisions, Ltd. (co-owned by the Cruz, De León, and other wealthy families). The World Bank agrees to provide an additional $92 million loan for investment in the Town's developing program.

• By the next year, 600,000 more families are connected to the water system. With the improved service, increased consumption brings unexpected loss to Smart Decisions. Soon, the company understands the amount of work needed to mantain and operate the system.

• Only a year into the contract, Smart Decisions asks for the first increase. But the promise was to provide water for 4.96 pesos.
  

• Fixed prices are granted by the company, but weak regulation from government allows Smart Decisions to make the price adjustments.

• Price hikes prompt the consumers to boycott paying their water bills.
  

• The regulatory commision lead by Itzel Barranco and Alma Treviño bans any form of rate increase in sake of its people.
  

• Union resistance is crushed by the company; 120,000 workers are laid off to reduce costs. Outraged people lead by Daniela Cantú, Samantha Villanueva and other labor and human rights leaders start a 4 daystrike to drive out the water company.
  

• Chairman Carlos Román Tijerina threatens to cancel the contract if the additional rate increased is rejected by the Water Comissioner Juan Goméz.
  

• Unmet promises of investment and expansion force the city officials to conclude the time to end the relationship. Control of the waterworks reverts to the government.

• Smart Decisions claim that the city has not met its obligations and bring the dispute to the International Chamber of Commerce, demanding compensation from the government lead by Cardenas.

• The government will now take on $530 million in loan payment from the World Bank to its creditors. The following generations of this Town will pay for the costs of additional debts.

• What began as a simple 5-year term concession turned out to be the largest lease agreement in history and another privatization fiasco.

• Today, most of the poor in this Town still remain without piped-water services.

Lost

Goal:
The main purpose is to exercise oral expression skills through several survival activites.

Objective:
- Students will learn what to do in a survival scenario.
- Students will perform an in-depth thinking in their behavior and personality.
- Students will get to know all their classmates.

The next class we are having our 1st Written Quiz.

The Quiz includes some vocabulary from Alternative Beliefs and Lost. The slide presentations with the vocabulary are avaiable for you with some of the definitions.

Goal: The main purpose is to exer

Please review all the Personality Traits and understand their meaning. (I handed out a worksheet with them.) Pay special attention to: reliable, deceptive, thoughtless, moody, bossy, demanding, outgoing, sluggish, outspoken.

And from these lesson's vocabulary: aid, bonfire, bait, crop, dew, harvest, personality traits, sextant, stranded, supplies, trap, wreck.

If you are uncertain about a meaning, check the Answers.com website.



Homework:

1) 1 page essay about the 8 inventions that are the most important for humankind. Explain your reasoning on each. Handwritten.

2) I was very upset with the negative mood of some of you towards my class. If you think you're too cool and old enough to do "childish" activites, LEAVE. At this very moment I've decided to change the type of activities in our class. Your additional homework is to read the case study "Water Privatization Fiascos". Read it to get a background for our activity on Saturday. We 'll have a discussion group instead of the games.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYNTc3NWQwYzItMzBhOS00ZTkzLTg4OTQtN2I3NjNkMDI0ZGMw&hl=en

Not having an insight about this topic will be considered as a missing homework.

Keep the good work! Thanks for your time and willingness to participate.

Alternative Beliefs

Hi people. This is your 1st assigment for next Saturday. Please, read and follow instructions!

Always:
1. Explain your reasoning.
2. Avoid "Yes/No" type answers.
3. Handwritten

1) Alternative Beliefs

1. Do you think there is intelligent life in other planets?
2. Some people claim to have seen UFOs such as flying saucers. Do you believe in them? Why or why not?
3. What is your opinion of people who say that they can communicate with spirits? Would you like to take part of a session?
4. Would you ever visit an astrologer for a forecast of how your life will run for the future?
5. What does your star sign tells you about your personality and compatibility with other people?
6. Do you believe in other forms of fortune telling, such as palmistry, tarot cards, reading tea cups, etc?

2) Shipwreck!

These are only to be answered by those students that were stranded (left) by their team in the Shipwreck game. In your case, I expect both homeworks. Missing any of these tasks will be considered as an incomplete homework.

1. How were the decisions made in my group?
2. How did I feel about the decisions? Do I think it were fair?
3. Were the people in my team (including me) straight and honest? Have all of them exposed true reasons to survive.
4. How is this exercise like our English Course? In other words, what relationship has with our class?

3) Slide presentations

I will let you know soon or later when is your 1st Quiz and what to study from these materials:

Shipwreck!

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfODZjd2J0eGhjZg&hl=en

Alternative Beliefs

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfNzJkd3Z2eDRkZg&hl=en



Additional references:

Around the World in 80 Faiths by Peter Owen Jones.
Avaiable at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYgpYM2DYs
I couldn't upload the video due its length, but I'm sharing the link with you. It's a nice overview about Indian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.

Quesions? Post them in here.

Have a nice week!

Jimmy

Welcome

Hi people, welcome to our blog. During the following months, your homework and assignments will be posted in here. Your duty is to be aware of them and work during the week to hand over these tasks on time. NO LATE DELIVERIES. Questions regarding any o the activities? Post and share them with your classmates or write me and e-mail at: hoogdalem@gmail.com I check my e-mail in Thursdays.

Luis Jaime Guerra