Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
What English Profile involves?
English profile is a collaborative programme which is developed by a group of people who are part of differents and several institutions, which mainly are: the University of Cambridge, University of Bedforeshire, the Bristish Council and English UK.
What it is trying to be developed through this collaborative work is to create a objective criteria to establish a set of brenchmarks for the learning process of English as a second language. In other words, English Profile is trying to create a variety of levels to classify the learnning process of English worldwide learners. By classifying the learning process of English learners, it is possible to expect what students should be able to do at certain levels. in this way, it is likely to think in a appropiate curricula and material to work with the variety of students that each level includes.
For all previously mentioned, English Profile is working together with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is a set of levels that classifies the learning process of English learners, according to their usage of English. It uses letters and numbers (A1 to C2) as a propper name for each level, being in this way, A1 the very basic usage of English and C2 the most advanced usage of English (all the differents levels are: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2). Therefore, the Common Eropean framework of Reference for Languages provides to English Profile a clear and detailed criteria to achieve its goals.
Finally, I think that both of them should be used and inplemented in chilean curricula and teachers' methodology, because, as same as Corpus Linguistics, these tools are extremely useful for the improvement of the learning process of chilean students (whether for schools' or universities' students), because of their characteristics : the Common European framework of Reference for Languages gives us a clear criteria to classify the learning process of chilean English learners; and, English Profile uses this criteria to create a set of material to work with chilean English learners at the differents levels.
For further information:
http://www.englishprofile.org/
What it is trying to be developed through this collaborative work is to create a objective criteria to establish a set of brenchmarks for the learning process of English as a second language. In other words, English Profile is trying to create a variety of levels to classify the learnning process of English worldwide learners. By classifying the learning process of English learners, it is possible to expect what students should be able to do at certain levels. in this way, it is likely to think in a appropiate curricula and material to work with the variety of students that each level includes.
For all previously mentioned, English Profile is working together with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is a set of levels that classifies the learning process of English learners, according to their usage of English. It uses letters and numbers (A1 to C2) as a propper name for each level, being in this way, A1 the very basic usage of English and C2 the most advanced usage of English (all the differents levels are: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2). Therefore, the Common Eropean framework of Reference for Languages provides to English Profile a clear and detailed criteria to achieve its goals.
Finally, I think that both of them should be used and inplemented in chilean curricula and teachers' methodology, because, as same as Corpus Linguistics, these tools are extremely useful for the improvement of the learning process of chilean students (whether for schools' or universities' students), because of their characteristics : the Common European framework of Reference for Languages gives us a clear criteria to classify the learning process of chilean English learners; and, English Profile uses this criteria to create a set of material to work with chilean English learners at the differents levels.
For further information:
http://www.englishprofile.org/
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What Corpus and Corpora involves
Corpus linguistics is a large set of texts, which could be written or spoken, then Corpora linguistics is the whole collection of these kind of texts that have been collected worldwide. What corpus linguistics tries to do gathering all these texts is to reveal which patterns follows real language. It is in terms of which type of vocabulary, grammar structures, tenses, collocations, chunks, idioms, etc. are more frequent, at the time when native speakers have some talk or write letters, books, articles and any mean of communication that they may use which demonstrate the usage of real language.
For instance, this database might be used in teaching English as a second language for the students' learning, in other words, to teach the students how real language works or what is thereal usage of English language, having in mind the aim to teach them it for their better and faster understnading of English language, in terms of listening, reading, writing and also speaking skills. As well, it would be useful for them if someday go to any English speaking country or to Europe, where the usage of English language is basic and it would be helpful for them to get a good and well-paid job.
Furthermore, chilean teachers should use Corpus based textbooks to work in classes with the students, since these sort of textbooks contain high-frequent word based on the several linguistics studies which have been included on Corpus Linguistics, which means that those textbooks are strongly backed up and highly recommended for their usage in schools, institutes, universities and any institution which have between its purpose to teach and provide any students with a basic, intermediate or advanced level of English language. For all the previously mentioned reasons and arguments, I think it is very important for chilean teachers to use this extremely helpful and useful linguistic tool.
For further information:
http://www.cambridge.org/elt/corpus/default.htm
For instance, this database might be used in teaching English as a second language for the students' learning, in other words, to teach the students how real language works or what is thereal usage of English language, having in mind the aim to teach them it for their better and faster understnading of English language, in terms of listening, reading, writing and also speaking skills. As well, it would be useful for them if someday go to any English speaking country or to Europe, where the usage of English language is basic and it would be helpful for them to get a good and well-paid job.
Furthermore, chilean teachers should use Corpus based textbooks to work in classes with the students, since these sort of textbooks contain high-frequent word based on the several linguistics studies which have been included on Corpus Linguistics, which means that those textbooks are strongly backed up and highly recommended for their usage in schools, institutes, universities and any institution which have between its purpose to teach and provide any students with a basic, intermediate or advanced level of English language. For all the previously mentioned reasons and arguments, I think it is very important for chilean teachers to use this extremely helpful and useful linguistic tool.
For further information:
http://www.cambridge.org/elt/corpus/default.htm
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
United States, England or Australia?
If I had to choose a city where to live abroad it would bu probably Sydney, because there is where will live my sister with her husban.
Then, due to the reason previously mentioned, I looked for a shared room in Sydney. I found a shared room that I really like, since,firstly, it has fully furnished bedrooms with double beds ($300 per week) , which I consider that I can effort them. Secondly, all bedrooms are cleaned once a week and have a study desk with a television. Thirdly, towels and blankets are provided and there is also Internet accesses availalbe. Finally, it is near the Universities and tourist attractions and business centers.
http://sydney.craigslist.com.au/roo/1232704063.html
On the other hand, I found another place, which in spite of the fact that it is fully furnished, has a fully equipped kitchen, laundry and high speed wireless internet, I did not like metal cabins to sleep. They are apparently freezing, unconfortable and unstable (in terms of standing).
http://sydney.craigslist.com.au/roo/1221641068.html
Then, due to the reason previously mentioned, I looked for a shared room in Sydney. I found a shared room that I really like, since,firstly, it has fully furnished bedrooms with double beds ($300 per week) , which I consider that I can effort them. Secondly, all bedrooms are cleaned once a week and have a study desk with a television. Thirdly, towels and blankets are provided and there is also Internet accesses availalbe. Finally, it is near the Universities and tourist attractions and business centers.
http://sydney.craigslist.com.au/roo/1232704063.html
On the other hand, I found another place, which in spite of the fact that it is fully furnished, has a fully equipped kitchen, laundry and high speed wireless internet, I did not like metal cabins to sleep. They are apparently freezing, unconfortable and unstable (in terms of standing).
http://sydney.craigslist.com.au/roo/1221641068.html
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The most important factor that all the teachers should consider at anytime!
Meanwhile I was reading the article, on my mind was appearing all the pictures and images of my life during elementary school and highschool. Since, some of the situations and factors mentioned in the text were exactly the same things that I passed through during that part of my life. In fact, there were classes that I was very intrerested in and sometimes was not about others (for instance, I quite liked Physical Education and English Language classes, but I certainly did not in the case of Biology, Chemistry and Spanish Language classes). Although, what amazed me the most was the explanation that was given in the article for this type of behavior in children and for my feelings of likes and dislikes related to some subjects in school. In other words, motivation depends on the ability to develop some activities in some subjects, therefore, motivation depends on the level of accomplishment during classes, which is demonstrated on the feedbacks that teachers give to students and on the marks that students get, which, finally, affects the the self-steem of children or teenagers developing some activities in especific subjects. Furthermore, it was absolutely the main reason of why I did and I not like some subjects. Because, I was good at in some subjects and I was not good at in others.
On the other hand, I think that the sources of motivation mentioned in the article could explain almost all the learning problems in Chile and in any part of the world, but there are other factors that may affect the learning process. For example, psychological problems, familiar troubles, personal problems, physical conditions, cultural or religious background, etc. Despite, the strategies stated to fix or to solve those problems possibly might be helpful, if there were ideal conditions to develop the learning process in students. But, pityfully there are not the ideal conditions to introduce this strategies, since teachers do not have enough time to do a reflective analysis of their daily situations, which significates that they just have time to do an objective and cold analysis of their daily classes without considering the those sources of motivation. Thus, it would not be appopiate to implement those solution strategies in the chilean public education system, since there are not the ideal conditions to introduce these.
Littlejohn, Andrew. "Motivation: Where does it come from? Where does it go?". English Teaching Professional, April 2001: 5-8.
On the other hand, I think that the sources of motivation mentioned in the article could explain almost all the learning problems in Chile and in any part of the world, but there are other factors that may affect the learning process. For example, psychological problems, familiar troubles, personal problems, physical conditions, cultural or religious background, etc. Despite, the strategies stated to fix or to solve those problems possibly might be helpful, if there were ideal conditions to develop the learning process in students. But, pityfully there are not the ideal conditions to introduce this strategies, since teachers do not have enough time to do a reflective analysis of their daily situations, which significates that they just have time to do an objective and cold analysis of their daily classes without considering the those sources of motivation. Thus, it would not be appopiate to implement those solution strategies in the chilean public education system, since there are not the ideal conditions to introduce these.
Littlejohn, Andrew. "Motivation: Where does it come from? Where does it go?". English Teaching Professional, April 2001: 5-8.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Notice it or not, you are intrinsically intelligent!!
In a very interesting website (www.ted.com), I watched several videos which showed talks about education and other subjects. Anyhow, one of these videos caught my attention, due to the fact that it was about creativity and intelligence related to our education.
Ken Robinson, the host of the conference, pointed that the world wide education system is focused on teaching to the students that there are centain and few ways to be successful in life. Robinson supported this point stating that around the world, the most worth subjects in every education system are the same ones. In fact, at the top of the most worth subjects is Mathematics, second Languages and third The Humanities. On the other hand, the less worth subject is The Arts which is at the bottom of this type of list that classify the school subjects from the most to the less worth of these subjects. This is proved in the daily life of every school student, when he/she is having a talk with his/her father o parents about their future and wath they would like to be or to study. It is common that parents tell their children that being a musician or something ralted to The Arts is not a safe way to be successful in life. But being a lawyer, an engineer, an architect or a doctor is a safe one.
Robinson stated related to the previously mentioned that 'very crative and brilliant people think they are not intelligent, because they were stigmatized at elementary and highschool, since they were not good enough in some subjects. So, we were born as creative people, but we grow as no creative people, because of tendency to educate people to study those validated successful carrers'. Furthermore, he mentioned that,' human beings has focused just on their heads, on their brains, on their minds, forgetting that they have got a body which needs movement to live. This is the case of some people that need more than their minds to think, in fact, they need to move to think which is the case of dancers, sportsmen/women, artists or musicians. In the end, if we want to get an original idea we have to be prepared to be wrong in some moment of our lives, since we can learn, because commit mistakes. Thus, nowadays, the children are growing frightened to make mistakes, which means no original ideas, no creativity, no learning process and waste of their intelligence'.
Afterward, he mentioned that what he was stated previously proves that there are many type of intelligence, and that intelligence has three main characteristics: Diverse, which means we can think, because we receive differente stimulus, from the enviroment where we live in, that we perceive through our senses; Dynamic, we can get ideas from different sources of information and mix them to build a new concept; Distinct, which significates that there are different and several type of intelligence and knowledge, and every type of intelligence is valid to be considered as a souce of success.
Finally, Ken Robinson told that 'we should think about how to improve our learning process and how we could better use the intelligence human capacity to try to find out the way to improve our life quality without damaging the ecosystem, because if we keep living in this way the entire human race would probably disappear from the Earth'.
In conclusion, I fiercely believe, this video shows what we should try to do as teachers to-be. Due to the fact that in our society we can daily see many children and teenagers wasting their lives in dishonest activities (for instance, commiting crimes) or doing some activities that do not make them happy at all (for example, when they must work, because they have not found out what really fulfill themselves or when they have to study something that they do not like completely or at all, since they got no more choices). In other words, we should help children to find out their own path, and also letting them to be creative, respecting their thinking, their tastes, their learning processes, their original ideas and their skills. This should be the real purpose of a teacher, to let flow the creativity of students, to guide the students, helping them to find out their essence and to take advantage of their essence, helping them to be successful and happy.
Robinson, Ken. "Schools kill creativity". TED(2006). Online. 23 May 2009.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Ken Robinson, the host of the conference, pointed that the world wide education system is focused on teaching to the students that there are centain and few ways to be successful in life. Robinson supported this point stating that around the world, the most worth subjects in every education system are the same ones. In fact, at the top of the most worth subjects is Mathematics, second Languages and third The Humanities. On the other hand, the less worth subject is The Arts which is at the bottom of this type of list that classify the school subjects from the most to the less worth of these subjects. This is proved in the daily life of every school student, when he/she is having a talk with his/her father o parents about their future and wath they would like to be or to study. It is common that parents tell their children that being a musician or something ralted to The Arts is not a safe way to be successful in life. But being a lawyer, an engineer, an architect or a doctor is a safe one.
Robinson stated related to the previously mentioned that 'very crative and brilliant people think they are not intelligent, because they were stigmatized at elementary and highschool, since they were not good enough in some subjects. So, we were born as creative people, but we grow as no creative people, because of tendency to educate people to study those validated successful carrers'. Furthermore, he mentioned that,' human beings has focused just on their heads, on their brains, on their minds, forgetting that they have got a body which needs movement to live. This is the case of some people that need more than their minds to think, in fact, they need to move to think which is the case of dancers, sportsmen/women, artists or musicians. In the end, if we want to get an original idea we have to be prepared to be wrong in some moment of our lives, since we can learn, because commit mistakes. Thus, nowadays, the children are growing frightened to make mistakes, which means no original ideas, no creativity, no learning process and waste of their intelligence'.
Afterward, he mentioned that what he was stated previously proves that there are many type of intelligence, and that intelligence has three main characteristics: Diverse, which means we can think, because we receive differente stimulus, from the enviroment where we live in, that we perceive through our senses; Dynamic, we can get ideas from different sources of information and mix them to build a new concept; Distinct, which significates that there are different and several type of intelligence and knowledge, and every type of intelligence is valid to be considered as a souce of success.
Finally, Ken Robinson told that 'we should think about how to improve our learning process and how we could better use the intelligence human capacity to try to find out the way to improve our life quality without damaging the ecosystem, because if we keep living in this way the entire human race would probably disappear from the Earth'.
In conclusion, I fiercely believe, this video shows what we should try to do as teachers to-be. Due to the fact that in our society we can daily see many children and teenagers wasting their lives in dishonest activities (for instance, commiting crimes) or doing some activities that do not make them happy at all (for example, when they must work, because they have not found out what really fulfill themselves or when they have to study something that they do not like completely or at all, since they got no more choices). In other words, we should help children to find out their own path, and also letting them to be creative, respecting their thinking, their tastes, their learning processes, their original ideas and their skills. This should be the real purpose of a teacher, to let flow the creativity of students, to guide the students, helping them to find out their essence and to take advantage of their essence, helping them to be successful and happy.
Robinson, Ken. "Schools kill creativity". TED(2006). Online.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Let's speak 'in fair-minded words'
This Sunday 17th of May , Barack Obama, who was adressing a Notre Dame's University commencemen, stated:
'No matter how hard we trie to convince each other to adopt our viewpoints or our beliefs, sometimes the views of two opposite side are not possible to fit. But, instead of just keeping firmly our point of view, we should empathize and understnad the situation of the poeple who are across the river, and, at least, respect everyone's choice'.
The United State President mentioned this taking into account the controversial situation, in which he had received an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame, despite The president supports abortion rights and federally-funded embryonic stem-cell research( positions that are not well considered into the traditional Catholic world, and so for the University of Notre Dame which is considered traditionally as a Catholic university). As well, it was the main reason for some students fot not attending to thier commencement.
Anyway, President Obama was aware about this situation, therefore, that is why he tried to give this message of tolerance and peace, pointing to help to those people who are involved in that dilemma, trying to make adoption more available, helping to reduce unintended pregnancies providing to the teenagers with a proper sexual education and giving some help and support to those women who decided to take care of their children. But, in the case, that helping them was not possible, at least, we could just respect them, in terms of their situation, their choice and their beliefs.
I personally consider that to empathizes, to understand and to empathize with people who feel, think and act different from us is very important at the very moment to make a better place the world where we are living , we could accept it or not, all together and sharing our lives with people that sometimes we do not agree with. Thus, making easier and happier our own and everyone else lives, in conclusion, I believe that respect is the key to open the main gate of heaven on earth.
Maksin,Sherri; Hornick, Ed. "Obama calls for 'common ground' on abortion at Notre Dame". CNN(2009). Online. 17 May 2009.
'No matter how hard we trie to convince each other to adopt our viewpoints or our beliefs, sometimes the views of two opposite side are not possible to fit. But, instead of just keeping firmly our point of view, we should empathize and understnad the situation of the poeple who are across the river, and, at least, respect everyone's choice'.
The United State President mentioned this taking into account the controversial situation, in which he had received an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame, despite The president supports abortion rights and federally-funded embryonic stem-cell research( positions that are not well considered into the traditional Catholic world, and so for the University of Notre Dame which is considered traditionally as a Catholic university). As well, it was the main reason for some students fot not attending to thier commencement.
Anyway, President Obama was aware about this situation, therefore, that is why he tried to give this message of tolerance and peace, pointing to help to those people who are involved in that dilemma, trying to make adoption more available, helping to reduce unintended pregnancies providing to the teenagers with a proper sexual education and giving some help and support to those women who decided to take care of their children. But, in the case, that helping them was not possible, at least, we could just respect them, in terms of their situation, their choice and their beliefs.
I personally consider that to empathizes, to understand and to empathize with people who feel, think and act different from us is very important at the very moment to make a better place the world where we are living , we could accept it or not, all together and sharing our lives with people that sometimes we do not agree with. Thus, making easier and happier our own and everyone else lives, in conclusion, I believe that respect is the key to open the main gate of heaven on earth.
Maksin,Sherri; Hornick, Ed. "Obama calls for 'common ground' on abortion at Notre Dame". CNN(2009). Online. 17 May 2009.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/16/obama.notre.dame/index.html#cnnSTCText
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Errors are the beginning of the learning process!
Firstly, to start I would like to state that it is pretty normal that people make some mistakes, even more those who are studying some career related to English Language. I think it is fine for our level to commit mistakes , because we are not native english speakers. In fact, we are latinamerican and spanish speakers, which represents the basic reason for all our mistakes and misundertandings, in terms of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Well, I have realized that the most common error that we commit in our wrintings is related to spelling errors, which significates that we type too fast that there is sometimes we can make dozens of this type of mistake without noticing them. And furthermore, there are some funny words that we make up, based on this kind of error.
Another common mistake, and what I think it will be the most difficult error to get over to us, is when we translate from spanish to english our thoughts about what we are trying to express through our writings. How I mentioned at the beginning, this error is due to fact that we are native spanish speakers.
Ultimately, a minor mistake that I have seen is related to grammar structures and verbal tenses, which means that there are few errors confusing present tense with past tense and some grammatical inappropiate order structures.
Finally, I have realized that we do not have further problems when we tried to express ourselves. It is demonstrated in the coherence and in the well supported ideas full of good human values , which sometimes is more important and appreciated than a fancy, sophisticated and formal vocabulary.
Well, I have realized that the most common error that we commit in our wrintings is related to spelling errors, which significates that we type too fast that there is sometimes we can make dozens of this type of mistake without noticing them. And furthermore, there are some funny words that we make up, based on this kind of error.
Another common mistake, and what I think it will be the most difficult error to get over to us, is when we translate from spanish to english our thoughts about what we are trying to express through our writings. How I mentioned at the beginning, this error is due to fact that we are native spanish speakers.
Ultimately, a minor mistake that I have seen is related to grammar structures and verbal tenses, which means that there are few errors confusing present tense with past tense and some grammatical inappropiate order structures.
Finally, I have realized that we do not have further problems when we tried to express ourselves. It is demonstrated in the coherence and in the well supported ideas full of good human values , which sometimes is more important and appreciated than a fancy, sophisticated and formal vocabulary.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Quiet please!
For this time, I will talk about a video that I watched on http://www.teachers.tv/
This video is about a rookie teacher who was trying to keep the order and silence on his class of 5th grade. During he is telling to a girl (who might be a teacher, too) the situation of his everyday starting class, they both were watching the video which demonstrate what he was talking about.
Firstly, he started talking about how he tries to make the children to form a straight line before to get into the class to start the lesson time. In the video, which they are watching in the meantime, is seen that it is a complete mess at the moment that he is trying to make the children to line up.
Afterward, the teachers kept showing to this girl in the video how he tries to catch the attention of the children during the lesson time. He explained to her that no matter how hard he tried to maintain the silence, it just did work.
Finally,The woman gave him some advice about how he could be in control of the class, and keep the guys quiet and tidy, during he was lining them up and at the lesson time.
It seems to me, they were not thinking in the main reason of the untidiness of the students. Although, they were trying to find out the solution to this situation, they did not think on the possibly inadequate methodology that he was using to catch the attention of the kids. Maybe, the students feel boredom while they are in his class, because of the method he uses. In other words, the guys may be the problem, but he may be the reason of that apparently simple trouble and not the students.
Cowley, Sue; Hertage, Mark."Caothic start". www.teachers.tv/(2006).Online. 9 May 2009.
http://www.teachers.tv/behaviour
This video is about a rookie teacher who was trying to keep the order and silence on his class of 5th grade. During he is telling to a girl (who might be a teacher, too) the situation of his everyday starting class, they both were watching the video which demonstrate what he was talking about.
Firstly, he started talking about how he tries to make the children to form a straight line before to get into the class to start the lesson time. In the video, which they are watching in the meantime, is seen that it is a complete mess at the moment that he is trying to make the children to line up.
Afterward, the teachers kept showing to this girl in the video how he tries to catch the attention of the children during the lesson time. He explained to her that no matter how hard he tried to maintain the silence, it just did work.
Finally,The woman gave him some advice about how he could be in control of the class, and keep the guys quiet and tidy, during he was lining them up and at the lesson time.
It seems to me, they were not thinking in the main reason of the untidiness of the students. Although, they were trying to find out the solution to this situation, they did not think on the possibly inadequate methodology that he was using to catch the attention of the kids. Maybe, the students feel boredom while they are in his class, because of the method he uses. In other words, the guys may be the problem, but he may be the reason of that apparently simple trouble and not the students.
Cowley, Sue; Hertage, Mark."Caothic start". www.teachers.tv/(2006).Online. 9 May 2009.
http://www.teachers.tv/behaviour
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Justice or Injustice System?
Dear Minister of Justice,
I am writing you to express you my corcerning about the excessive indulgence of judges, at the moment of sentencing delinquents or criminals. You may think, what does mean indulgence of judges? Well I am reffering to the fact that judicial sentences are not appropiate, in the most of cases, according with dishonest acts that are commited by despicable people. In other words, judicial sentences that are being delivered by judges are not enough to ensure public safety.
This situation can be proved remembering the murder of a 16 years old woman, which occured the last sunday 12th. In an online newspaper (www.latercera.com) was publish this case, which relate that this young woman was on a bus (it was about between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.), when a man of a group of three delinquents on the same bus, who were there just to steal, shot her in the back. Finally, she died before to arrive to a hospital. The delinquents stated that it was an accident, because the gun activated itself. Besides, the man who supposely fired at this teenager by accident, has 7 cases of delinquence in his record, and having got his freedom in advance in 6 of the 7 cases.
It makes me wonder, how can be it possible? Why the judges give to criminals special treats, in spite of, the irresponssible acts commited by them?. I don't know about laws, but it is widely clear that when somebody commits several crimes, this person does not deserve any kind of freedom. Thus, I firmly believe that the laws and judicial sentences should be more severe at the moment of punishing criminals.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Ithal
English Pedagogy student (5th semester)
Alberto Hurtado University.
I am writing you to express you my corcerning about the excessive indulgence of judges, at the moment of sentencing delinquents or criminals. You may think, what does mean indulgence of judges? Well I am reffering to the fact that judicial sentences are not appropiate, in the most of cases, according with dishonest acts that are commited by despicable people. In other words, judicial sentences that are being delivered by judges are not enough to ensure public safety.
This situation can be proved remembering the murder of a 16 years old woman, which occured the last sunday 12th. In an online newspaper (www.latercera.com) was publish this case, which relate that this young woman was on a bus (it was about between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.), when a man of a group of three delinquents on the same bus, who were there just to steal, shot her in the back. Finally, she died before to arrive to a hospital. The delinquents stated that it was an accident, because the gun activated itself. Besides, the man who supposely fired at this teenager by accident, has 7 cases of delinquence in his record, and having got his freedom in advance in 6 of the 7 cases.
It makes me wonder, how can be it possible? Why the judges give to criminals special treats, in spite of, the irresponssible acts commited by them?. I don't know about laws, but it is widely clear that when somebody commits several crimes, this person does not deserve any kind of freedom. Thus, I firmly believe that the laws and judicial sentences should be more severe at the moment of punishing criminals.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Ithal
English Pedagogy student (5th semester)
Alberto Hurtado University.
Monday, March 30, 2009
That's more than I can bear
There are many situations that really make me get annoyed, although there is a punctual situation that I really cannot stand, this is when somebody is being pickpocketed, and everybody in that place have noticed, but despite, nobody does anything to stop this awful act, and neither to think that they would point their fingers to denounce and to show to everybody who is the pickpocket.
It once happened, I was in a bus stop in Estación Central, when a I saw a thief who was pickpocketing to a person that was trying to get on a bus. Everybody there was seeing what was happening, but anyone did nothing to stop it. Besides, the thief had got on in the bus too, so I went to that bus to tell the bus driver that a pickpocket had got on in his bus, an he responded to me: Yes, I know. I could not believe it, he knew about that situation, in spite of this, he did not stop it. Well, after that, I kept awaiting for the bus in the bus stop, and, to my atonishment, the thief had comeback to keep commiting that unpunished act . It seemed to me unbelieveable. In that very moment, I felt the anger flowing through my vains. I could not bear that situation to happen again in front of me. The bus, which I was awaiting for came, and the thief, again, went to the crowd, which was trying to get on in the bus, to rob someone's stuff. So, I stood next to the pickpocket and I said to him: get out of here, that is not your stuff. Incredibly, he responded to me: I was just trying to get on the bus to go home. Then, I replyed: get out of my way before I kick your ass. Afterwards, the robber went back to the bus stop, but he could not keep doing his job, at least, when I left that place on the bus, everyone on the bus stop was looking at him, so ,I imgine, that he could not rob, at least, for a few of hours, due to the shame to be recognize.
Some days later, I saw him again, in the same bus stop, but people there knew who was he, thus, people in that place stop him by themselves. I have never seen the pickpocket again , since the second time that I saw him, in that bus stop.
So, the first step to solve this kind of situation is to have courage to denounce this act in public,when it is happening. After this begining, all people there will get together to support you to stop the thief. And, as a second, and very important step, is to do not get in a crowd to get on a bus. Instead of this, poeple should make a line to get on the bus, thusly, respecting the turn of everybody, and to avoid to hit, to pull or to push anybody else, trying to get on a bus. In other words, getting on a bus in a ordely way.
It once happened, I was in a bus stop in Estación Central, when a I saw a thief who was pickpocketing to a person that was trying to get on a bus. Everybody there was seeing what was happening, but anyone did nothing to stop it. Besides, the thief had got on in the bus too, so I went to that bus to tell the bus driver that a pickpocket had got on in his bus, an he responded to me: Yes, I know. I could not believe it, he knew about that situation, in spite of this, he did not stop it. Well, after that, I kept awaiting for the bus in the bus stop, and, to my atonishment, the thief had comeback to keep commiting that unpunished act . It seemed to me unbelieveable. In that very moment, I felt the anger flowing through my vains. I could not bear that situation to happen again in front of me. The bus, which I was awaiting for came, and the thief, again, went to the crowd, which was trying to get on in the bus, to rob someone's stuff. So, I stood next to the pickpocket and I said to him: get out of here, that is not your stuff. Incredibly, he responded to me: I was just trying to get on the bus to go home. Then, I replyed: get out of my way before I kick your ass. Afterwards, the robber went back to the bus stop, but he could not keep doing his job, at least, when I left that place on the bus, everyone on the bus stop was looking at him, so ,I imgine, that he could not rob, at least, for a few of hours, due to the shame to be recognize.
Some days later, I saw him again, in the same bus stop, but people there knew who was he, thus, people in that place stop him by themselves. I have never seen the pickpocket again , since the second time that I saw him, in that bus stop.
So, the first step to solve this kind of situation is to have courage to denounce this act in public,when it is happening. After this begining, all people there will get together to support you to stop the thief. And, as a second, and very important step, is to do not get in a crowd to get on a bus. Instead of this, poeple should make a line to get on the bus, thusly, respecting the turn of everybody, and to avoid to hit, to pull or to push anybody else, trying to get on a bus. In other words, getting on a bus in a ordely way.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
It was completely avoidable
An article published online by BBC News(1) reported a very bad example (in Japan) about how to manage several cases of school bullying. It is due to fact that many schoolchildren wrote to the Education minister to inform him about the difficult and unconfortable situation which they had been being object. The Education minister gave them an irresponsible and thoughtless answer to their alarming call, he adviced them to not write again, to which, I wonder if there is something more important than a human being life. Well, it clearly seemed to be the case where the life of a humna being is not important enough to get the attention of a significant japanese authority. So, I guess, it had more worth a good goverment management appearance than the lives of many schoolchildren. I believe that bullying is a miserable act commited by guys who are not conscious of their acts, in fact, it is a reprehensible act. In spite of the I stated previously, the japanese Education minister reaction was not a reprehensible act, but an unbelievable and unforgivable act. We need authorities that work for the people´s well-being, not for their own, in especial case of school bullying. Do not you believe it?
(1) Hogg, Chris. "School bullying in Japan". BBC News(2006). Online. 29 March 2009.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/11/061115_bullying.shtml
(1) Hogg, Chris. "School bullying in Japan". BBC News(2006). Online. 29 March 2009.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/11/061115_bullying.shtml
Monday, March 23, 2009
About part of myself
This is my first time that I do this, in other words, publisihing a text which is created for me and express part of myself, my feelings, my thoughts, my view of the world. Thus, I will try to write as clear as I can, due to the fact that I am not used to publish my thinking and, actually, I do not like to do it, I am forced to do it, though.
I am a guy who wants to find the way to be completely happy which includes trying to achieve my goals and helping people close to me to get their own. Although, most of the time I cannot accomplish my own, so it is unlikely that i can help anybody else to get them.
The people that know me or ,at least, have talked to me think that I am a narrow-minded person, because I do not agree with them in some topics and because when they explain to me their opinion or view of a situation I respond "Why?", and they believe that I am criticizing their thinking. But, what I am really doing when I ask "Why?", is trying to help them if they have seriously thought about what they believe. And, actually, that is my reason to be a teacher. In fact, because I want to help people to find out their path, their objective, the meaning of their lives.
I am a guy who wants to find the way to be completely happy which includes trying to achieve my goals and helping people close to me to get their own. Although, most of the time I cannot accomplish my own, so it is unlikely that i can help anybody else to get them.
The people that know me or ,at least, have talked to me think that I am a narrow-minded person, because I do not agree with them in some topics and because when they explain to me their opinion or view of a situation I respond "Why?", and they believe that I am criticizing their thinking. But, what I am really doing when I ask "Why?", is trying to help them if they have seriously thought about what they believe. And, actually, that is my reason to be a teacher. In fact, because I want to help people to find out their path, their objective, the meaning of their lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)