Blog Session 4 ::: Sample Post FREE Post

The human brain

I have always been interested in how the human body works. One of the reasons to be interested is that I practice sports, so why we sweat, stretch and how we can work out our muscles are intriguing facts about our bodies. Those, among other incredible facts like gestating and breastfeeding when we have babies. Sleeping, dancing, walking and reading are just some of the many activities that have to do with the brain.

Biology and Education are closely related if we analyse the brain activity. As a teacher, when we study the way human beings learn, we study Psychology but unfortunately we didn’t study Neuroscience. Therefore, as this science has always caught my attention I wanted to learn more about it. A couple of years ago, because of the Masters programme I was studying, I had the chance to read lots of interesting papers about how the brain works when we read as well as how the way we stimulate the brain affects our learning process.

The human brain is a complex organ and as human beings we are supposed to be the only ones to know something about the way the brain works. With that skill, Pierre Paul Broca (1824-1880), a French pioneer doctor was able to draw a map of the brain and consequently, he discovered a small area in the left hemisphere, which controls the production of language. Thus, 100 billion neurons in our brains are responsible for language, communication and many other aspects of our lives.

Blog Session 4 ::: Instructions

Dear Class,

This time you can choose what to blog about. Write 140 words minimum and remember to leave comments on at least three of your classmates' posts plus one comment about mine.

You can write about the university, your career, your family, the country, SENAME or anything else, it's your choice.

Here you have an example of how you can organise what you want to say. If you want to write about "Mass Media connections with major companies" you should outline the following:

What is mass media

Mass media influence in Politics (in general around the world)

Mass media influence in Chile

You can have three paragraphs to develop these three ideas and voilá your post is ready!

Good luck,

Belén

Blog Session 3 ::: Sample Post My favourite piece of technology

I must begin by saying I do have a love/hate relationship with technology. Talking through Skype to my friend Chris who's working in Yemen is fantastic, but at the same time I think it's not necessary to give technology an incredible amount of importance in your life.

In terms of technology, what I use the most are mp3 players. Last week I lost the one I got three years ago so I'm planning to get a new one as soon as I get paid. I use it all the time so I really need a new one.

I use mp3 players because of their size, you can carry them everywhere you go and some of them have very original designs as well. I use my mp3 every day mainly because I can listen to music and I love listening to music. Also, it's useful to keep my favourite family pictures, all the files I need for work and my studies, and videos of course.

I can imagine my life without an mp3 but now I'm used to this piece of technology, I think I'd need something similar, specially to continue enjoying music!

Blog Session 3 ::: Instructions

Dear Class,

Today, think about technology and how technology help us, so you can write about:

Your favourite piece of technology

Include:

What it is
When you got it
How you use it
Why you like it
What life would be like without it

Please remember:

130 words minimum
Include a picture
Make comments on at least 3 of your classmates' post plus a comment about my post.

Good luck,

Belén

Blog Session 2 ::: Sample Post Why I chose this career

Why did I choose my career

When I was a little girl I wanted to be a vet because I loved animals and when I was little bit older I wanted to be a midwife because I love babies but none of them happened. Then, when I was in High School I really enjoyed English because of music, so I spent a lot of time translating songs.
When I graduated from High School I wasn't sure what to study so I took a year to think, evaluate options and to finally decide.

My first option was something about Literature but in those days, the only option was PUC and I didn't even want to apply to that university. Then I found out something connected with English was Translation and after checking the programme, I decided to become a translator. As I've always enjoyed English I thought becoming a translator was a good option and after the first year I knew the career was for me.

Some years later, I had the chance to study a "special" programme for translators, so I became an English teacher. I started working as a teacher of English since the first year of Translation because I really liked it, maybe because there are many teachers in my family.
I started teaching private lessons to kids, then I taught adults and young adults and now I know this is my vocation because I couldn't live without teaching.

Blog Session 2 ::: Instructions

Dear Class,

Today please think about the reasons why you chose the career you're studying now.

Write about:

a) Your dream jobs when you were a child
b) Other career options that you had at the moment of applying to university
c) What made you decide in the end
d) Your experience at university until now
e) The kind of job you would like to have

Write this post in 130 words minimum and don't forget to make comments on at least 3 of your classmates' posts; as well as a comment about my post.

Best,


Belén

Sample Post ::: My biography

About me

My full name is María Belén Farías Gutiérrez but nobody calls me María Belén. I’m Belén, a single Chilean woman, I’m 39 years-old and I live in Santiago. I’m from Chile and I was born in the capital city, on a rainy day, on May 22nd 1979. We’re a five-member family, my parents plus my brother, sister and I; and I'm the youngest because my sister Male and brother Felipe both are older than me. I also have a younger step-brother, Mauricio, a younger half-sister, Mariajosé. 

I studied in the same school for twelve years and I’m still in contact with most of my classmates. After that, when I was 17, I worked sporadically and studied English for a year because I didn’t know what to study as a career but I finally decided I wanted to be a translator. I graduated as a translator in 2001 and then studied Pedagogía en Inglés so I became an English teacher in 2005 and also since the same year, I've been teaching Spanish to foreigners. 

Since 2010 I've also been working as a tour guide and with my partner we have now our own tour business called Puelmapu Turismo Sustentable. I live with my partner and our two baby boys Santiago and Facundo.

I really like music, singing and sports. I play capoeira, practice yoga and rock climbing but I can’t go climbing as often as I’d like to. I love dancing too and I try to learn new songs in different languages. 

Blog Session 1 ::: Instructions

Dear Class,

Today, please write about yourselves. Write an autobiography and include the following:

Birth info
Studies (Elementary, Secondary School and University or others)
Family
Hobbies
Others...

Write your autobiography in 120 words minimum, make comments on at least three classmates' posts and also, write a comment about my post.
Remember to keep in mind what I wrote about comments in my previous post: Welcome back to English!

Good luck,

Belén

Welcome Post

Dear Class,

This semester we'll write ten posts so I hope you enjoy this new experience. We'll be all reading each other's blogs, so you get to write comments on your classmates' blogs as well.
Before you start writing, please read the sample post I write so you can have an idea on how to express your ideas.
Keep it simple and you'll see all the progress you can make.

Remember to be respectful to make comments and comments of course have to longer than: Wow, that's great! Your comments should consider agreeing on someone's opinion, giving advice, offering suggestions, sharing same or similar experiences, etc.

Try to use all the English you know - IN THE CLASS - and also when you write in your blogs. Trust in all you know so far, instead of using Google translator.
If you need to translate something, please ask me or use: www.linguee.es


Best of luck,

Belén