virginia

Recollections after the party

2007-06-13T18:38:58+02:00

My dearest students,

It was a real pleasure to have you all at the party! I am glad you noticed the difference from being in a restaurant or moving around in the house chatting with each other, exchanging looks and smiles…

I know that you will now read each other with a different eye, even you will look at each other with a different eye because you have been able to share the pleasures of complicity without interfering with what you show of yourselves on a daily basis. Quite a few of you could put into these blogs your other inner souls and that was a wonderful discovery for you too.

From those who came home I want to thank constant and persistent Anegatrack, the joyful Bakerna, special thanks to our dear Blog Writer, who was, as I certainly knew he would, the real surprise of the evening, sweet and hardworking Bluephie, delightfully discrete Brujarula, and the revelation of the night, Ladybird whom I heartily thanked him for his dynamism last year and I want to renew my thanks mentioning that I really admire his passion for life and his capacity for leadership. I want to thank Latham for appreciating the little differences that make education “diverse”, Maia for being the way she is, so clever and brilliant and yet so quiet sometimes, wonderful Muddy, so deep in her thoughts, well expressed and with such a modern mind! Noa, the cat, the fighter who kept the class going with his differences I certainly enjoyed, Orlando also for her thoughtful and profound contributions in class, Poolux who in spite of being late to class she never lost track of what we were doing.

Positivo for his “extrovertedness” for his daringness and for being so spontaneous and fresh with all his comments. And Pumuki, another delightful surprise, so active and sensitive with her blog, Wonderful Shadow, so human, so passionate too, such a delightful teacher, I’m sure! And what can I say about Shanti, so incredibly versatile, so determinate and so sure of her deeds, who has delighted us all with incredible trips and animals. Spider, our cinema man, I wish he had written more for he had interesting things to say about this world, and I heartfully thank you all once more for accepting my other alter ego, Stillacer, in the community, even though “he/she” disappeared as soon as I saw you were an active group yourselves. And finally the last guest to our party Working on Art for his convictions and his positive side of life.

For those who could not come…

I am so sorry our teenager team from both classes could not come. I certainly missed Nacupenda’s vitality, DaDarkestAngel’s wit, Eddie_IM’s irony and intelligence, Redapple’s freshness and xdye’s admirable height. I know they are busy preparing their “selectivitat”, so they could be excused and we certainly wish them good luck!

I am sorry too that another wonderful teacher Mings_somo could not make it to the party, neither did Nahikari, the musician we all wanted to listen to her violin but we could only listen to her words of wisdom making clear to us why orchestras are arranged the way they are. We also missed our clever investigator, Shaeleigh.

I want to thank all the other bloggers who so gently contributed to the community with beautiful pictures and exotic trips like Aire, more locals ones like the discrete and serene Uxia and Luna55 fond of trips who so gracefully took me back to New York and Haddon’s brilliant ideas. I want to thank mature Llavorsi, soul partner from similar times… and Arwen for her sweet smiles in class and I hope next year will be better for her.

Last in the list but not least I want to end up mentioning patient and peaceful Alexas, hard working Capricorneo, bright Piccadilly, playful Draco who wanted us to believe what she is not and Lenxa, Mindundi, and Sunrise.

I have not forgotten those who disappeared before the end of the school year, like Xanadú, Bluesky, and Goblin (I was really sorry they had to leave!)

Thank you all for the wonderful community, for expressing your ideas so thoroughly and gracefully and for believing in the experience, even though with some doubts at the beginning...

Keep working, thinking reading, watching films in English, talking to people and practising. An please, do not forget to use your English when you travel!

I’d appreciate your comment to round off the experience, whenever your want or feel, I’ll read you with the same care as I have always done. Enjoy the summer, enjoy life. I’ll see you soon!

Thanks,

The teacher

Overwhelmed

2007-05-19T10:59:35+02:00

I cannot possibly go through all your texts and correct them thoroughly now! What a pity the word “exam” has rushed you into production when I would have liked to read one hundred texts these weekends I only found four or five pieces of writing on your blogs. But I assure you, even though I have no time to correct them, I am reading them all as well as all your comments too and I will have a good look at what you have done after you bring your “dossiers” next week.

Those teachers who share the world of teaching know how impossible days become as we approach the end of the school year preparing stuff and doing tasks that seem invisible to other people’s eyes! I can tell you I DO NOT HAVE A LIFE right now!

We will get to know each other on the 8^th of June in Sitges as we finally agreed in class. Then all the thrill will be over. I will send a Nicenet letter to give instructions to get to my place, please do not think it is spam. We will also talk about the final details of the party on the 29^th of May in class.

Relax, read and get soaked into English before you come to the exam next week. I know you can do a good job!

All the best…

Ready for the party?

2007-05-08T12:14:23+02:00

As Ladybird pointed out a few days ago in our Blog Community we should be ready for the “Identity party”.

Here are my views on that!

· I’d love to gather you all at an informal dinner party at my little apartment in Sitges.

· How about Saturday 26^th May or Friday June 1^st?

· What about not revealing your identities immediately. Bring something on you that may give us a hint of who you are. Then all along the evening-night we can discover by asking questions, observing…

· I can prepare some salads and other food but I’d also like your contribution with some drinks (Soft : Coke, etc. And alcoholic ones: wine or cava…) for I shouldn’t carry heavy stuff up the house. My back is not still in perfect shape! You’ll understand why when you come!

· Last but not least, I’d suggest you to read your partner’s blogs to be able to discover them that day.

Give me your views on day, type, food, drinks, etc… and think about how you can get organized to come to Sitges the day we decide for the party. (There are busses running from BCN to Sitges every hour all night long but you can also get organized with some of your private cars. See what you think!)

I’m really looking forward to meeting you all that day! Some of your writings have been just great!!!!

All the best,

The teacher

Please, react!!!

2007-04-11T11:49:37+02:00

Hi there,

I’ve been visiting all your blogs and have stated how lazy you have been.

The end of the school year is approaching and I can only see a few of you who have really improved their writing. I won’t mention names. You know them all!

Where are your good intentions?

I’ll be returning next week full of energy and ideas. Please, get ready and prepare for the talk we are going to have next Tuesday on “The Origins of Man”.

Please check the following address and try to understand the films that are shown in:

http://www.becominghuman.org/

I’ll be taking notes of your interventions and see who has done the homework! You have the weekend to get ready and your will, I hope, to get better. It will count as an oral exam.

Be the best!

Love,

The teacher

From our experience...

2007-02-23T09:50:51+01:00

Dear Students!

Before I try to summarize what I said yesterday in class I want to thank you ALL for contributing to the class knowledge. There have been excellent presentations and we have learned from your experiences so much. You are indeed WONDERFUL!!! I am very proud of you!

Now, that the experience is almost over, now that you know how funny we can act in front of an audience and that we may realize the effort it means to talk in front of our colleagues, it’s time to think about how we can proceed to go on speaking and expressing our ideas… in ENGLISH of course!

From your comments, emails, class observations, notes… I see how eager you are to learn but how difficult it is sometimes to show what we have learned when we are so shy (and tired!). I reasoned yesterday the need to read about the topics we are not really familiar with to become more skilful with the specialized vocabulary. Learning requires effort, you know that! I know you are tired and come to class after a long working day but you are in class because you want to communicate more and more accurately every day. So, let’s make the effort!

There’s no need to say that the four hour classes a week are not enough. You need to do more on your own. You need to read articles or books about the topics you are interested in, watch movies and documentaries in the original version, listen to songs, trying to understand the lyrics… Do the things you like, but in ENGLISH!

As we suggested yesterday let’s open up a space on my blog where you can give your views. You can do it as your own selves or as bloggers”, that is to say with your nick names. Please, suggests topics you are really concerned with. Topics that would generate interesting and diverse debates. We are about to speak about fashion…. manipulation, consumerism, capitalism behind fashion… Any other topics?

I’ll be waiting for your suggestions.

Thanks! You are the best!

Holidays

2007-01-06T19:49:38+01:00

Hi there you all!

I promised a letter, words of encouragement and I haven’t done much except reading Agatha Christie’s novel and prepare the test that will soon be due, do you remember that? Not much more, except the enjoyment of the holidays which I tried to spend as well as possible.

I went to Sicily and was very pleasantly surprised. The island was green in the country with trees loaded with oranges and lemons a pleasure for the eye and for the smell. Mount Etna was covered with snow and I indulged the view from almost the top with the shiny sea at the bottom. The food was delicious. I was ready for a different pasta or pizza everyday, not to mention the cakes which are a real temptation!

The Greco-Roman ruins were neatly preserved and I was almost in heaven sitting at the theatre in Taormina where I would have spend hours and hours, just watching the extraordinary view. No words to describe the Valley of Temples in Agrigento where I spend the afternoon until the sunset. It was magic!

I thought how well these ancestors of ours shared their cultures, the different cultures in an interesting crossroads of the Mediterranean without making any fuss and accepting and taking advantage of each other. Sicilians are full of live, they shout, they move their hands when they talk and they are really expressive in their eyes. I wished I could have stayed longer but I had to return to understand that real pleasures exist!

I thought of all my students and your writings and asked the gods loads of creativity for all of you!

See you soon!

Updating

2006-11-15T10:11:04+01:00

Dear students:

I realized the links of the EOI ESPLUGUES BLOGS and the COMMON MISTAKES LIST do not work in my previous post. I’ve tried to solve the mistake by inserting the link in the words. So I hope, when you click on the previous words, the links to the required documents will appear and will be able to "download the files" for you to use. Sorry for this! I also learn as, you can see. My previous post “Suggestions and regulations…” is still relevant, except for the links which I have solved here. So, if you have not read it, please, do so.

As I told you there will not be a class tomorrow, November 16^th. You may write a beautiful post instead! I hope I will return loaded with new energy. I really need this! I feel I am not “me” yet. I also hope to be overwhelmed with all your writings.

Please, be active; write and comment! Upon my return we’ll start a process talking about the blogs you like best and why. So, take notes of what makes you laugh, think, write, feel… Writing, people, is a matter of practice and to improve your writing, your opinions, your views, your feelings, your inner and outer thoughts… you just have to read and write a lot. That’s what I’m trying to encourage. Some of you are really responding really well. I’ll not mention names this time. I will soon.

I’ll be back!!!

All the best,

Suggestions and regulations…

2006-11-12T13:46:17+01:00

Dear students:

Forgive my initial mess. It’s not been easy to organize the complex “orchestra”… I mean, to organize all your blogs. You and I have made mistakes. One always learns and I hope next year I can do a better job with more adequate suggestions from the beginning. I guess this time most of the blogs are on the list. If you see that you have opened a blog and you are not there

http://virginia.blogspirit.com/list/project_support/eoi_esplugues_blogs4_url_doc.html

please, post another comment with your address. I might have skipped you for some or other reason.

I’d like to set some rules for you to follow so things will be easier for me when I sit to read your blogs and hopefully these rules will help you to improve your writings which is what we all want.

Always post your comment in my last post, saying you have written something. That’s to say, the post that appears on my blog as you open my main page with this address: http://virginia.blogspirit.com/ Click on comments and do not forget to fill in all the details you are asked for: a) the name of your blog, b) your email address which will not be shown and, c) the address of your main page (copy and paste this, please!)
If Virginia (the teacher) has not yet corrected any of your posts, please keep telling her. I read everything you write if you say so on my blog but to have time to seat peacefully for corrections is a different matter. So, please, be patient and keep trying. Not everything has to be corrected.
As I told you I have posted a list of common mistakes in: http://virginia.blogspirit.com/list/grammar_and_corrections/common_mistakes_doc.html I want you to check before you post your writings. Please, try to avoid these mistakes. You make them very often and they can be avoided.

That’s all for now. Let’s go step by step. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that your writing productions are challenging and creative.

Take care. All the best,

The teacher

EOI Esplugues (Blogs with problems)

2006-10-29T20:18:12+01:00

There are still a few blogs I cannot write comments.

Here are the blogs with problems:

The first group do not allow comments other than "blogger". They should have a look at: http://xdye004.blogspot.com/ and read "HOW TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO LEAVE COMMENTS".

Such as:

-Daisy and your Dolphin: http://daisyandyourdolphin.blogspot.com/

-Ladybird: http://ladybird06.blogspot.com/

-Llavorsi: http://llavorsi-llavorsi.blogspot.com/

The second group have not written anything in their blogs, so no comments can be left. If they write a little post or a few words, we will know if they allow comments. Such as:

- Anegatrac: http://josete999.blog.com/

- DaDarkestAngel: http://margar26.blogspot.com/

- Hada: http://agca63.blogspot.com/

The third group have not posted their address correctly in my blog and the link doesn't work. Not to make mistakes, copy and paste your blog address in the slot where you are asked in the comments section in my blog. When you finish, check in your comment if the link works.

Such as:

- Story: (blog in this address: http://story-tellusastory.blogspot.com/ appears as not found)

- Termq: (no link found, should fill in details when you post a comment in my blog. I do not know your URL, your Blog address!)

EOI Esplugues BLOGS

2006-10-13T19:38:17+02:00

Please, post in your comments the addresses and names of your Blogs