English Language Challenges

 Hi all!!

today you are going to write the last post for this summer English course! The topic is related with your future plans regarding English, and if you have plans to improve your skills:

What comments can you make about your experience of 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?

- Word count: 260

- Make comments on 3 of your partners' posts!

Changes to my study programme

Hi everybody!

Today 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!

Favorite book

I think one of my favorite books is"Rayuela" (or Hopscotch) in English by Cortazar. It's one of the books that you can re-read it many times in your life; I read it for the first time about 15 years ago. Maybe what you need to read it is to have read some of his short stories befores, so reading Rayuela is a little more manageable.
You can read it like a normal book, or you can skip chapters like the author suugests and explains in the book itself, and you can even read it any other way you want, and surprisingly can still make sense.

I also like this book because one of the characters "la maga" is a very interesting one who gives advice to cats, and is perceived as not as intellectual as the others, but she experiences her surroundings like no one.

Another book that I like is "The little prince". One of the main reasons is because it was the first book that I read, which I read it again during my teenage years. Then, at unversity I had the opportunity to read it in French, and that was very exciting. I still have the same book which I received as a gift when I was 6, and now my son wants to read it. So, let the tradition start!

What about you?
What's your favorite book?

Word count: 240 words

Summer holidays

Hi everybody!

The post of this week is about the next summer holidays.
Well we are in summer already, but this is a peculiar one...because we are having classes! So, one more week and we are having 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 is having just one week off, 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 they are going with/would like to go with
-Activities they are thinking of being part of

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 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

When I was younger and I was at university, I used to think that I didn’t want a nin-to-five job, 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 and a rut 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. I really have fun when I'm in the classroom.

Write a text of about 210 words

Write about your future job

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

Pope's visit

Some months ago when the visit of the Pope was announced, the news was almost unnoticed by the majority of the people, but when the cost of this visit was revealed and that all chileans had to afford it; the controversy sparked. Most people are still questioning the reason for such high cost, considering that there are other needs which could be covered with that money; and also, that we are supposed to be a secular state and we shouldn't be paying that visit with our taxes. Personally, I'm not a catholic and I consider this visit unnecessary because of the reason I just mentioned, and all the issues concerning sexual abuses and the designation of the Bishop in Osorno (who concealed pedophilia cases and was supported by Pope Francis). I've heard some people that this visit will represent like a revolution of love and forgiveness and will help catholics to restore their faith in church, but I wonder how can you believe on and support an institution with so many flaws and crimes? I don't mean I don't respect other people's beliefs, but history has taught us that imposed religions don't bring benefits at all; unfortunately they have the power, and now our money too.

Write a text of about 180 words

Write about the visit of the Pope to Chile

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

A COUNTRY I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT

 You always hear about the beauty of the Europe, and about the wonderful islands in the Pacific (even though I want to go there, too). In short, the whole world seems to be full of beautiful places that I’d be like to know (but money...) . 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 still 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. Some of the most famous places in Venezuela are:

Mysterious Mount Roraima

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

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

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