How do you say that in English?

Choosing the Best Hotel

2011-08-18T08:28:00.000-03:00

[Pre-Intemediate I]

Choosing a hotel is not always easy. There are many things to consider, such as price, facilities, location, and more. Services are important too.

Below are some of the services you might want to find in a hotel. Which do you think are most important (1:Less important - 8:More important)?

___ Room service
___ Laundry service
___ Shoe shine service
___ Wake-up service
___ Minibar in room
___ Internet connection
___ Fitness center
___ Business center

The Peninsula Hotel in New York city has a lot, if not all these services. Would you and your family like to stay there? Or would you prefer a smaller, simpler, but also cheaper hotel? On pages 34-35 of your book, you can find information on some popular hotels in NYC. Chose one hotel and write a short paragraph saying why you would like to stay there. You can add this as a comment below.

Click here for a short video presentation of The Peninsula

Online Pop Culture: Weezer's Pork and Beans

2011-05-16T13:56:00.002-03:00

[Advanced]

Today, we take a look at online pop culture from the perspective of an Alternative Rock band called Weezer. Their famous 2008 hit Pork and Beans is populated with some now classic examples of online pop culture, as we will see. But, first...

Let's see what we know, or think we know about "culture". Are the following sentences true(T) or false(F)?

___ Culture is everything the people of a certain society or group make or do.

___ Examples of culture can only be found in museums and art galleries.

___ Not all kinds of music can be categorized as examples of culture.

___ The term pop culture was originally used to refer to the poorer education and cultural

levels of the lower classes.

___ Culture is also the totality of our ideas, attitudes, perspectives and beliefs.

Now, as you watch the clip for Weezer's Pork and Beans, try to identify some of the many examples of online pop culture, the several YouTube videos that are refered to, for example. Make a list!

1. The Mentos Explosion videos.
2. The Miss South Carolina video.
3. The video of the fat guy singing in front of the computer
.
.
.

Finally, here's some food for thought...

Do you think that online Social Media like Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, YouTube, and others really allow users to express their individuality, their creativity?

Here are the lyrics to the chorus of the song. Do you think this is the attitude of the people who post videos on YouTube or do you think they are, in fact, desperate for attention?

I'mma do the things that I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think

Remember to share your thoughts and ideas as a comment below.

Chimamanda Adichie and the dangers of the "single story".

2010-06-06T06:01:00.000-03:00

Chimamanda Adichie
July, 2009. Oxford, England.

If you want to watch without the Portuguese subtitles, you can find the full video here.

World Cup 2010

2010-05-27T20:59:00.001-03:00

It's almost time!!!!!!

Cosmic Commercials

2010-05-27T09:03:00.002-03:00

My Computer and I

2010-05-24T18:22:00.000-03:00

[Pre-Intermediate]

Can you imagine a world without computer? Without the Internet? Sure, we can live without almost anything, really. But it's difficult to imagine living without these two technological advances. Also, we have become so dependent on them!

This writing assignment is your opportunity to share your opinions and to talk about how you use your computer and the Internet. Here's an example:

My computer and I

I think the computer has completely changed our lives, and my life, of course. I really cannot imagine doing all the different things I do today without my computer or the Internet.

I use the computer to communicate with my friends. For example, I use FaceBook and Messenger to talk to them. I think I spend about 2 hours per day chatting with them and posting information on Facebook. I always update my profile.

I also use the Internet to study and to do my homework from school. I usually use Google or Wikipedia to search for information to help me with my school assignments. I also use the computer to make Power Point presentations and work on projects.

Finally, I cannot imagine my life without my computer. I use it every day and it's very important to me. The Internet too. Can anyone live without the Internet today?

---

Before you post your comment/writing, here's a video you might like. It's a commercial for the new Windows 7. It shows all the other versions of Microsoft's famous Operating System too.

YouTube Turns Five! Happy Birthday YouTube!!!

2010-05-20T09:45:00.001-03:00

The Great Debaters and Notes on Essays

2010-05-17T11:26:00.003-03:00

[Advanced]

The Great Debaters(2007) is a movie directed by Denzel Washington. It is a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard, an Ivy League University, in the national championship.

Here's a preview of the movie:

An essay is usually a short piece of writing which is quite often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author.
Essays have become a major part of a formal education. Secondary students are taught structured essay formats to improve their writing skills, and admission essays are often used by universities in selecting applicants and, in the humanities and social sciences, as a way of assessing the performance of students during final exams.

This semester, we learned how to write an essay providing solutions to problems. These were the three possible topics:

• How to learn English (and never forget it!).
• How to look 10 years younger.
• How to get along well with your parents.

We have already gone through the Composing, Drafting and Revising stages. You may now write your final drafts as a comment to this post. Remember that this piece is part of our preparation for the actual Writing test.

The Mummification Process

2010-04-19T09:54:00.001-03:00

[Intermediate]

Here's a great video exercise I found at ESLVideo. It's on the Mummification Process and the video is actually from the J. P. Getty Museum, in Los Angeles. Do not answer the questions on the quiz itself but on a separate sheet of paper. I'll comment the answers. Tell me what you think of the video.

<p>Mummification process </p>

Extroverts and introverts? [Pre-Intermediate II - Writing II]

2010-04-14T13:18:00.001-03:00

[Pre-Intermediate]

Of course, our behavior might vary from extroverted to introverted depending on circumstance. However, it's fair to say that we are usually one or the other. So, how about you? Are you and extrovert or an introvert? If you don't already know which one you are, you can take this online quiz and find out. Keep in mind that both these personality types have their own unique characteristics. It's not an advantage to be only one or the other, rather, both are very special. What about your brother or sister, or even your best friend? Is s/he more extroverted or introverted?

Here's an interesting video I found of someone who was tired of being an introvert and decided to start a club:

For the Pre-Intermediate II - Writing II assignment, I asked you to talk about a friend or about someone from your family who has a different personality from yours. You can write your text as a comment below. I have also written one as an example.

Cheers,

TOEFL Prep. - Writing Feedback and Suggested Practice

2010-04-05T13:05:00.002-03:00

[TOEFL Prep.]

The samples below have been selected from the writing produced thus far. Please read each text and focus on the highlights presented.

Sample 1:

In this set of materials, the reading passage
discusses some characteristics of human memory, and the listening passage add one hypothesis that human memory goes through mature process.

According to the reading passage all people pass through a amnesia in some part of their lives. This kind of amnesia occurs mainly in the first years of human life, which is mainly concerned between three to five years. In this period most of all children are learning too many things, so it is hard to absorb this quantity of information. In 1805 Freud noted this interesting aspect of memory, which he referred as childhood amnesia.

In the listening passage, the professor's lecture gives extra points of views to support and understand the childhood amnesia. The first aspect is the children brain store the information in a randomly in the brain. By this way, it is difficult in adult life remember the random information stored at the first years. The second aspect is that, the hippo campus passes by a mature development. The adults store information in a organized way in their brains, which is different from childhood first years. The professor concludes that, these aspects could be the main causes of childhood amnesia.

- In bold: Standard format and outline of a response.

- Underlined: Connecting words/phrases used to improve flow of ideas and organization.

***

Sample 2:

In this set of materialS, the reading passage discuss(s/v) about the childhood amnesia and the listening passage is about the difference of(ww) child and adult's memory(?).

According to the notice(ww), amnesia is a king(ww) of experience that all people have in their life. It is something that happens in the first few years of life, especially from the first three to five years of a child(rw) as Freud first noted (1805) when he called it as childhood amnesia(punctuation must be improved here). After(ww :since) Freud, many researches(?) have tried to know more about it(ww :this) and they found(vt) that people can not remember things from their first years of lives(ww). Even though the people say that they remember thing(pl.) from their childhood they do not remember wheter(sp) the remembered thing really happened.

The causes of this kind of amnesia, according to the listening passage(?) are hypotheses(rw); as a general explanation the man(rw) said that a child with few years(rw)
can not organize or record a information(rw) as an adult can. Another way to explain it(:this) is when we talk about a organic problem located in the hippo(rw).

In sum up(rw), both of the answers are not concluded(rw), but the researchers are sure that it happens with every human being during this childhood.

- (ww): Various examples of wrong word choice.
- (rw): Some passages should be re-written for clarity, sentence structure, or L1 influence.

***

Sample 3: Various Passages

According to the reading , in our life are a part that are marked for a memory less. That part starts at first years of life and goes until we have tree to Five years. This period is called childhood amnesia. The studies about it are hard to do, because you have influence of the family and does not have the certain response from the child who is the studied.

According to the reading passage, it is exists any kind of the amnesia that to do the most people to forget the childhood experiences. Freud was who discover this aspect of the human memory in 1805 and in fact, the people not remember itself anything with the age since three to five years.

Perhaps, because this immature part of child's brain and their functions related with the memory not is possible that we remember events occurred in the first few years of life.

- (rw): The above passages are often quite difficult to understand and should be re-written for clarity.

***

Suggested Grammar Practice:

Use of articles: a / an / the / -

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/the.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/cw-articles.html

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=429

Choice of words: another / other / others

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/lefg1_otheranother1.html

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/lefg1_otheranother2.html

Passive Voice: Various verb tenses(form).

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise1.html

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise2.html

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise3.html

Suggested Vocabulary Practice:

Reporting verbs: Say x Tell (claim, state, suggest, advise, reassure, convince, etc.)

http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_reportingverbs.htm

First Review - Advanced III

2010-03-31T09:52:00.000-03:00

[Advanced]

Here are the answers to the First Review worksheet from Advanced III. At the bottom, you will find some links to further activities online that may also help you prepare for the exam. Good luck!

1.Reporting Verbs*
1. suggested
2. explained
3. persuaded
4. reassured
5. complained
6. confirmed
7. admitted
8. accused

2. Reporting Structures*
1. convinced
2. advised
3. explained
4. admitted
5. told
6. assured
7. admitted
8. claimed

*Extra notes and exercises on Reporting Verbs can be found at: http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_reportingverbs.htm.

3. Vocabulary - Travel / Vacations
1. nap
2. tar
3. slapped
4. dive/dip
5. raft
6. nipped
7. foot down

4. Vocabulary - Adjectives*
1. Indecisive
2. Improbable
3. Illegible
4. Unusual
5. Irreplaceable
6. Unadventurous
7. Illogical
8. Incapable

5. Vocabulary - Adjectives*
1. Relentless
2. Devilish
3. Irresistible
4. Undivided
5. Regardless
6. Irresponsible
7. Stressful
8. Disobedient

* Further practice can be found at http://www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/word/other/prefixes/worksheets/Prefixes%20Worksheet%20%281%29.pdf. Use a dictionary to confirm your responses.

... with a little help from my friends.

2010-03-25T13:41:00.003-03:00

[Intermediate]

Here's something that we all need, that we can all be, that we all want nearby, that we all run to share good news with, and more... a FRIEND.

Friends are so important, so cherished that there are (~~have~~) poems about friends, novels about friendships, movies, and, of course, countless songs. One particular song I like is called With a little help from my friends. A lot of different bands and singers have recorded this song. I've decided to include two here, one from the Beatles, which is easier to understand, and one from Joe Cocker. Not many people know him, but he's a great singer from his generation, with a very distinct, very powerful voice.

Read the lyrics(pl.) first, and then listen to the song. Listen to it again and try to fill in the gaps.

What would you think if I sang __________,
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing __________.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day,
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need __________
I need __________ to love
Could it be __________
I want __________ to love.

Would you believe in a love __________
Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light
I can't tell you but I know it's mine,

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need __________
I just need __________ to love
Could it be __________
I want __________ to love.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends.

This is the LINK to the other version recorded by Joe Cocker. It's his voice you hear in the intro to the popular TV series The wonder years. I don't know if it ever aired here in Brazil, but it became a classic in the US.

Did you notice the use of gonna in the chorus? It's actually going to. Here's a couple of other songs with "bad English". Clicking on the singer and title will take you to the video on YouTube.com.

Elvis Presley - Hound Dog (ain't)
Sheryl Crow - All I wana do is have some fun (wanna)

Here's an opportunity for you to talk, rather, write about your best friend. We've actually already started in class so this shouldn't take you long. Remember to include some information about how you met and where, the things you like to do together and something about his/her looks and personality. And whatever else you want to say about this very special person, your best friend.

Quick tutorial on how to comment:

Click on "Comments" below and post your text. Remember to then click on "Comment as" and choose "Name/URL" so you can add your name to your comment. Finally, click on "Post your comment". You can show everything to your friend too.

Cheers,

♪♫ Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun! ♪♫

2010-03-18T13:01:00.006-03:00

[Pre-Intermediate]

Did you know that the now-famous McDonald's Big Mac tongue twister first went on air in 1975? It was part of an advertising campaign that, curiously, only lasted a little over a year, though it has reappeared a few times since then and it's still very popular today. There was also a Portuguese version -- dois hamburgueres, alface, queijo, molho especial, cebola, picles num pão com gergilim -- and I'm sure you all know how to sing it. Now, I wonder what it sounds like in other languages. :-)

Here's a commercial from 1985 with the famous tongue twister:

But, how big is a Big Mac, really? Well, it depends on the country. For instance, in the USA, it weighs 214g and has 540kcal, but in Mexico, it's a little bigger: 219g and 600Kcal. This can change with special, limited time offers of bigger burgers, though. I was surprised when I read that. I thought the biggest sandwhich would be the one in North America.

Sizes haven't always been like this. According to a 2007 paper published in the Journal of Public Health Policy, portion sizes offered by fast food chains are two to five times larger today than when first introduced. When McDonald’s first started in 1955, its only hamburger used to weighed around 45g; now, the largest hamburger patty weighs 226g, an increase of 500 percent.

Pizza sizes have also changed along the years. For example, today, two slices of pizza contain about 850 calories, but, in the past, it used to be only 500 calories. If you order pizza about two times a month, those extra 350 calories translate into 1kg a year.

So now, if we're in the subject of comparing past and present and talking about how things used to be, I would like you to talk about some of your past eating habits and lifestyle and maybe say how things are different today. These questions can help you start thinking:

Do you eat a lot of fast food today?
Did you use to eat more or less fast food when you were younger?
Do you have a healthy lifestyle today?
Did you use to eat vegetables and fruit in the past?

Here are two great examples from Fernanda and Janaína, respectively:

"I used to be a couch potato, but I'm changing now, because this new lifestyle is good for me. I eat more fruits and whole-grain foods. I'm avoiding sugar and pasta allthough I'm crazy about it. I want to be able to be more healthy."

"When I was a yonger I used to eat lot of sweets, fastfoods and drink soda, I didn't used to eat fruit and vegetables but when a I was 20, I decided to change. I've been cutting back sguggar, fries, fast foods."

Finally, you can post your writings as comments. When you do, comment as Name/URL and type in your name. Or, choose Anonymous if you want.

Souvenirs

2010-03-07T14:44:00.003-03:00

[Advanced]

Here's a song that can help bring up some memories, images of moments past. It's called In my life, by The Beattles:

It doesn't really help you to learn English if you simply listen to music, you have to read the words too, the lyrics. BTW, the word "lyrics" is always plural. Now, you'll notice that I've taken out some of the words from the second verse and left them blank. Can you fill in the blanks?

In My Life lyrics
(Lennon/McCartney)


There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these _______ and _______
There is no one compares with you
And these _______ lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose _______
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I _______ you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Finally, I'd like you to write a short, or not so short paragraph about a memory you have of something that happened to you in the past. It can be a good or a bad memory. Remember to add as many details as possible. For example, where were you? When was it? Were you alone? What were you doing? etc. Just tell us your story as a comment!

Another great What would you do? episode!!!

2010-02-24T17:16:00.003-03:00

x
What would you do?

What would you do?

2010-02-24T15:52:00.000-03:00

Primetime: What Would You Do? is an American television newsmagazine broadcast on ABC since February 26, 2008 as part of the Primetime series. The show is about setting up everyday scenarios and then capturing people's reactions. Whether they're compelled to act or mind their own business, John Quiñones reports on their split-second and often surprising decision-making process. Often people speculate on how they might act in a difficult situation, but this series looks at how they actually do in the face of everyday dilemmas that test their character and values.*

I would like to share with you a very interesting episode I recently came across. It shows a case of blatant racism in an upscale store in Soho, New York city's shopping district. The clerk and security guard and the black woman, the customer, are all actors. The cameras installed in the store all focus on the observers. So, what would you do?

What you you do if you saw a person suffering discrimination in similar circumstances? Would you step up and say something? Would you complain to the store manager? Would you help the person being discriminated? We will discuss these questions in class so you don't have to write answers to them.

This is your assignment!!!

Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Remember that these are all imaginary situations. Say what you would or might do.

ex. What would you do if you were the President of your country?
If I were the President, maybe I would invest more money in Education.

1. What would you do if you won the lottery?
2. What would you do if you saw your best friend's boyfriend kissing another girl?
3. What would you do if a stranger offered you ice cream?
4. What would you do if you saw someone hitchhiking on the road?
5. What would you do if you were accused of cheating in your final exam?

Good luck!

* Taken from Wikipedia.org.

TGIF, with a Human Calendar!

2010-02-12T16:20:00.007-02:00

Here's a really cool gadget you can add to your own blog or webpage. The code can be found at HumanCalendar.com.

Now, I'm still just a newbie so I had a hard time figuring out how to actually do this. In case you run into the same problems, here's a quick tutorial. :-)

Once you've logged in, go to the Customize screen.Click on the Layout tab, and then Page Elements. Choose the spot, according to your blog template, and click on Add a Gadget. You'll see a series of different gadgets to choose from and, in the "Basics" list, you will find "HTML/JavaScript". That's the one you want. Then, give your new gadget a title and paste the code under "Contents". If you choose a 2x2 215px picture from HumanCalendar.com, for example, this is the code you get. Insert this and click on Save. That should be it!

Spot the differences!

2010-02-11T16:48:00.041-02:00

"Spot the Differences" games are quite commonly found in newspapers and crossword puzzle magazines. They're not only fun for kids, but a lot of grown-ups enjoy them too. Here's one:

Now, I thought of doing something similar with text -- if you've ever been a student of mine, you know that I can't draw.

Below, you will find Text A and Text B. Can you spot the 17 differences between them? After you do that, you can try to identify, from the pairs of different passages, which passage is correct. In the end, you should have a much better text, with no grammatical mistakes. You can see this Text C in the comments.

Text A

Hello, my name is Fredolino and I am 15 years old. I am a student from Brazil. This morning at school, my teacher ask me to write a short paragraph about myself to practice my English. She said that she will give a prize to the student who writes the best text. So, let me begin... I don't have a very large family. I only have one brother. His name is Valdofredo. He is 17 years old. My parents, my brother and I live in an apartment. In my apartment, have three bedroom so I don't have to share my bedroom with my brother. I think I am a nice person. I have much friends and enjoy meeting new people. When I was younger, I lived in other city and knew many people there. I yet talk to them sometimes. I like sports and I'm crazy about football. I usually play after school. I'm not very good but it's excited. Well, that's just a little bit about me. My life isn't very interesting. Tomorrow, I go to school and give this paragraph for my teacher. I hope I win the prize. Goodbye.

Text B

Hello, my name is Fredolino and I have 15 years old. I am a student from Brazil. This morning at school, my teacher asked me to write a short paragraph about myself to practice my English. She said that she will give a prize to the student who write the best text. So, let me begin... I don't have a very large family. I only have one brother. Your name is Valdofredo. He is 17 years old. My parents, my brother and I live in an apartment. In my apartment, there are three bedroom so I don't have to divide my bedroom with my brother. I think I am a nice person. I have many friends and enjoy meet new people. When I was younger, I lived in another city and knew many peoples there. I still talk to them sometimes. I like sports and I'm crazy for football. I usually play after school. I'm not very good but it's exciting. Well, that's just a little bit about me. My life doesn't be very interesting. Tomorrow, I'll go in school and give this paragraph to my teacher. I hope I win the prize. Goodbye.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? [Pre-Intermediate II - Writing II]

2010-02-10T14:58:00.001-02:00

TheFreeDictionary.com defines extroverts and introverts as:

Extrovert(n); extroverted(adj.): a person concerned more with practical realities than with inner thoughts and feelings. [sociable, outgoing, amiable].

Introvert(n); introverted(adj.): a person who tends to shrink from social contacts and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts as opposed to others or the environment. [shy, reserved, introspective].

Here's a video presentation I found of some very famous introverts:

Write your response [Pre-Intermediate II - Writing II] as a comment below.

Cheers,

Fried green tomatoes, a yummy Southern specialty

2010-02-10T14:22:00.002-02:00

Let's just say I recently took a walk down memory lane and... fried green tomatoes were just sooo good. It's a delicious Southern specialty online and a classic favorite. Here's the recipe from SimplyRecipes.com:

INGREDIENTS

3 medium, firm green tomatoes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

METHOD

Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. Let tomato slices stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 4-6 minutes on each side or until brown. As you cook the rest of the tomatoes, add olive oil as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

The "Food Wishes Video Recipes" channel on YouTube.com also has an entry on how to prepare this great dish. Here it is:

Enjoy! Oh, and feel free to share any of your own favorites as a comment.

How big is a Big Mac, really?

2010-02-08T12:40:00.003-02:00

Did you know that the size of McDonald's Big Mac varies from country to country around the world? According to Wikipedia, it ranges from 201g to 219g. Though that might not seem like much, it makes a somewhat significant difference in terms of calories. In Mexico, for example, a Big Mac has 600kal, whereas it only reaches 492kal in France. Of course, this is the regular sized sandwich. Can you imagine the number of calories in a super-sized Big Mac?

Speaking of Super Sizes, here's the preview of a movie/documentary that you might find interesting, in case you haven't seeen it yet. It's called Super Size Me.

Now, do you eat too much fast food? Was it always like this? Would you say you have a healthy lifestyle? Take this opportunity to write about some past and present eating habits. You can post your ideas as a comment.

I used to...

2010-02-05T18:07:00.005-02:00

When we say that we used to do something, it means that we don't do that something anymore. Things have changed. We can sometimes sound nostalgic when we say this because we're looking back, talking about the past and how things are different today. For example:

"I used to practice sports when I was younger. I was very athletic then. But, I have to admit I have a somewhat sedentary lifestyle now."

"My brother and I didn't use to have a very good relationship, but we're great friends now."

This song by Madonna shows exactly what I mean. Watch the video clip below and then google for the lyrics. Do you notice how she talks about her past with "used to"?

Would you like some quail eggs?

2010-02-04T12:43:00.004-02:00

While this might sound like a very unusual offer at most dinner tables in North America, quail eggs are actually very popular in Brazil. Most self-service restaurants will have this delicacy along with other favorites such as potato salad, steamed vegetables, cheeses and other less "exotic" options. Of course, quail eggs are boiled, never fried :-)

BTW, here's a picture of a quail in case you have never actually seen one. It's really a very pretty bird.

But, even if you might decline quail eggs, Twinkie Chan would certainly give them a try. In fact, she has and apparently they are also popular in China -- is there anything they don't eat in China? Anyway, there is a lot of other yucky, or not so yucky stuff she will also eat. Take a look at her very aptly named blog: I Eat Yucky Stuff! How about you? Would you like to try some rice yogurt?

Finally, here's your Homework Assignment. What would you say to the following offers? Write your responses as a comment. Be sure to review the vocabulary and expressions we covered in class today to help write a better response. Oh, click on the food to see the picture.

1. Would you like a tofu burger?
2. Don't you like candy apple?
3. Wanna try some carrot juice?
4. Why don't you have some of my grandmother's pumpkin pie?

It's finally here!

2009-12-23T09:00:00.004-02:00

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I hope you all have a great holiday, with all your dearest. God bless!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

If I had $1,000,000

2009-12-22T11:42:00.004-02:00

What would you do if you had $1,000,000? Well, the folks from Barenaked Ladies, a popular Canadian Indie/Folk/College Rock band, know very well what they would do! "If I Had $1,000,000" is the name of one of their most famous songs. It was originally released in their 1992 debut album Gordon. I found a nice recording of a Live performance on YouTube, but there's also another video montage with song and lyrics. Before watching, try to guess which of these things the singer would do:

If I had $1,000,000...
a) I would buy a house.
b) I would buy a car.
c) I would buy love.
d) I would build a tree-fort.
e) I would buy the remains of a famous person.
f) I wouldn't have to walk to the store, I would take a limousine.
g) I wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner.
h) I would buy a monkey.

Here's the Live video:

Can you fill in some of these gaps from what you remember of the song?

If I _____ a million dollars
      (If I _____ a million dollars)
I _____ buy you a house.
     (I _____ buy you a house)
If I had a million dollars
      (If I had a million dollars)
I'd buy you _____ for your house
      (Maybe a nice Chesterfield or an Ottoman)
And if I had a million dollars
      (If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a K-Car
     (A nice Reliant automobile)
If I had a million dollars I'd buy your _____
.
.
.
If I had a million dollars
      (If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a _____
      (But not a real _____, that's cruel)
And if I had a million dollars
      (If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you an exotic _____
      (Yep, like a llama or an emu)
And if I had a million dollars
      (If I had a a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you John Merrick's remains
      (Ooh, all them crazy elephant bones)
And If I had a million dollars I'd buy your ______

Now, listen again to check your answers. This time, you can see the lyrics.

I hope you've enjoyed the song!

And now, a little holiday cheer...

2009-12-18T17:04:00.004-02:00

As for me, Christmas means the beginning of some 30+ days of a much expected and well-deserved vacation, so I cannot fathom anyone being bored this time of year. Nevertheless, imagining someone got bored of all the free time, and felt he had nothing better to do this holiday season, what could he do? If someone thought she had too much free time and wanted to do something more productive, what could she do? Well, I found some very creative ideas on a video on YouTube.com and thought it was absolutely hilarious. It's called "Things To Do When You're Bored During The Holidays".

I thought we might seize the opportunity to share some of our own ideas. But, because I know no-one will get bored this holiday, let's not make a list of things to do ~~when~~ we ~~get bored~~. Instead, let's only imagine what we could or would do if we got bored. This, then, becomes a very nice opportunity to practice what are called "Unreal Conditionals", or imaginary situations when we say not what we really ~~will~~ do, but what we would do.

You can publish your ideas of things you could do if you got bored as a comment. Check my example first.

Finally, here's the video:

See you next time,

It's Almost Christmas

2009-12-16T13:35:00.001-02:00

Hello again,

Because it's almost Christmas, here's Richard Williams' 1971/72 animated version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This is a classic Christmas tale that everyone should know. I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers,

Mrs. Robinson's English Tips

2009-12-15T09:36:00.004-02:00

Here's something I did using an online flash movie maker from xtranormal.com. The website -- no downloads required, just click on Make Movie from the main page -- "reads" the script you type in and transforms it into speech. It's called something like text-to-voice rendition!The website also allows you to choose camera angles, facial expression, and more. Give it a try.

Meanwhile, here's Mrs. Robinson...

See you next time,

Manson Superstar

2009-12-14T09:59:00.005-02:00

Hello all,

I haven't been to the theater in a long time, but a friend of mine went to see a play at Novelas Curitibanas last Thursday and I'd like to post something about that because, as it turns out, the play is in English.

Mug shot of Charles Manson

Courtesy of about.com.

It's called Manson Superstar and is, of course, based on events involving Charles Manson, founder and leader of a fringe communal group called the Manson Family in the 1960s.

Before you watch the play, here's some biographical information on Manson extracted from his entry on wikipedia.org:

Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was convicted of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders, carried out by members of the group at his instruction.

...

Manson is associated with "Helter Skelter," the term he took from the Beatles song of that name and construed as an apocalyptic race war the murders were putatively intended to precipitate. This connection with rock music linked him, from the beginning of his notoriety, with pop culture, in which he became an emblem of insanity, violence, and the macabre. Ultimately, the term was used as the title of the book prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi wrote about the Manson murders.

You can find part of a special on Manson from A&E at youtube.com. Here's the first of the series:

The Novelas Curitibanas theater is at Rua Carlos Cavalcanti, 1222 - São Francisco and tickets are 1 can of powdered milk. Here are the next showings:

Thursday, Dec. 17th - 9:00PM
Friday, Dec. 18th - 9:00PM
Saturday, Dec. 19th - 9:00PM
Sunday, Dec. 20th - 7:00PM

If you do go and see it, you can leave your comments here. So, did you like it? Why or why not?

Cheers,

Let's get talking on www.voxopop.com

2009-12-10T10:36:00.008-02:00

Hello all,

I've recently come across a very interesting website and it seems that it's already used by quite a few people, teacher even, to help improve their English. It's called Voxopop! The concept is really quite simple. The website works like a cross between a bulletin board and a radio talk show. It allows you to join Talkgroups or even create your own so you can share ideas, opinions, experiences, etc. with other people. Each Talkgroup is centered around one main discussion topic but will include vairous threads, or subtopics. You record short messages -- so, you'll need a microphone -- and other people can hear what you've and respond to you. Signing up is easy and won't take more than a couple of minutes. No download are necessary.

I've already signed up, and joined a couple of TOEFL-Speaking groups. It's great practice. I've also started my own Talkgroup. It's called "I was so embarrassed...". The idea is to give everyone a chance to talk about some embarrassing moments we've all had and thus practice our English speaking skills.Try it! Click on the name of the Talkgroup to go straight there.

But, first, here's a video I found on YouTube that can give you some ideas, besides the examples you have in the Talkgroup as well. Esther is recounting an embarrassing moment she had on her first day of school. Read these questions and then watch the video. Check how much you understand of her story by answering the questions. I will post the key as a comment.

What is her opinion of life?
What is the best part about acting the fool?
What does she say about the new school and the school where she had studied before?
How did she feel on her first day and what did she try to do to break the ice?
The students in her Algebra-Geometry III class were asked to introduce themselves. What did the girl sitting in front of her say? What did Esther think?
What did Esther say the reaction of the class was to what she did?
What did she finally understand about Lori?

Cheers,
P.

The Rolling Stones' Paint It Black(1966) or Why are some bands "immortal"?

2009-12-08T17:46:00.001-02:00

This was the US cover of their UK album Aftermath. Released first as a single, the song opens the US album.

Ok, I'm not that big a fan of The Rolling Stones. Never have been, though I really enjoy some of their music. But, you have to tip your hat to these guys. They've been singing FOREVER. Even the Beatles came and went, but the RS are still touring. Every five years or so they hit the road saying "this is the last time", only to sell tickets at two times the price the next go-around. I really think my grandchildren will still have the chance to see them live, although I doubt they'll have the money to. Who knows how much a ticket will cost some fifty years from now? :-)

But, jokes aside, what is it that makes some bands so successful while others are never heard of again in a few years' time? I'd like to hear your opinion?

PS: Don't forget to check out the original video clip on the title link!

In my refrigerator, there are...

2009-12-08T04:25:00.000-02:00

From the 1950s, an add for a GE refrigerator.

The tittle link will show you a veery different tv spot for an LG.

You can tell a lot about a person, about his/her eating habits from what you'll find in that person's refrigerator, or fridge, for short. So, here's the assignment: could you tell me the different items in your fridge and maybe even take a picture of it, upload it together with your comment? You can also talk about your past and present eating habits. Try to use these words and phrases: there is, there are, many, some, any, yummy, yucky, when I was younger, used to, didn't use to, nowadays.

I'm hungry already. :-)

"Make your own Flash movie!" Contest

2009-11-15T12:41:00.000-02:00

Here's an idea. DVolver Movie Maker allows you to make your own Flash movie with different scenes, characters, sound track, etc. You can create your dialogues and let your imagination run wild. You don't have to sign up. Just click on the

When you're done, you'll need to e-mail the movie to yourself so you can receive a link to your video in your mailbox. You can then post the link here together with a comment. The best work will get a surprise treat. All levels are welcome and all animations will be graded accordingly and in terms of creativity and use of English.

Good luck!

Oh, here's one that I've made. BTW, the title is a reference to the idiom One man's meat is another man's poison.

Growing old!

2009-11-13T13:21:00.000-02:00

Happy 68th Interamericano!!!

I am very happy to be a teacher with a school that's celebrating its 68th anniversary this month. I mean, how many institutions do you know in this day of franchising, etc. that can boast almost 7 decades of English language teaching?

I've only actually been a part of 8 of those, but I could say I've seen my share here. We've have three president-directors, we've opened two new schools, one of which is in the most beautiful shopping mall in town, in my opinion -- and mind you I don't like malls. We have recently and are still in the process of installing state-of-the-art interactive white boards in our classrooms -- I love teaching with those -- and want to provide internet access in still other classrooms. Our students now can check grades and communicate with us via the Aluno Online portal and we also have another portal just for faculty. I mean, so many of my colleagues didn't even have an e-mail account when I got here. Oh, and I'm writing this post from the teachers' room where we have a fast machine with net access.

It makes me laugh to imagine that the flash disk we got for teachers' day this year would have sent us all home asking "What's this for again?" only a couple of years ago.

Anyway, I'm sure our school won't stop here. You don't grow this old without constant innovation. An so, the question is "What will I see in the next 8 and many more years I hope to share with my colleagues here?" I can't wait to find out. :-)

P.

BTW, those of you interested can check out some of this history in our photo gallery online. Here's the link to our homepage. You can find the gallery on the right!

The Nintendo Power Glove

2009-11-11T12:49:00.001-02:00

About 100 years ago, when I was a child, my parents gave me one of these for Christmas. I think I was the first one in my group of friends to actually have a Nintendo Power Glove. I remember the commercial on TV made it look amazing. A couple of days later, and a few games down, it turned out, however, that it really wasn't everything the TV spots made it out to be. I coulnd't get Mario to stay still, for instance, and he often ended up falling down a hole. Also, I didn't have Mike Tyson Boxing so I never got to play like the kid in the commercial. :-(

Now, one century later, Nintendo has a super machine called the Wii, which I hear is amazing. I just don't think I would spend my own money on it, though.

Does anyone have a Wii? Or any other console? How much time do you spend playing video-games or computer games? Do you think some games are really too violent? This is actually one of the topics of our Int. book. Write down your thoughts on the matter as a comment.

Cheers,

Clueless

2009-11-08T11:32:00.000-02:00

I thought this was a great picture to go with the word "clueless" :-) The tittle link will take you the the definitions provided by The Free Dictionary. Great online dictionary, BTW.

Comments anyone?

2009-11-08T10:48:00.000-02:00

Ok, so I've just changed the settings to allow for comments from anyone. I would just like to ask, however, that you sign your comments with your real name, and e-mail address, if you want.

Cheers,
P.

Companhia japonesa apresenta 'óculos tradutor' - O Globo Online

2009-11-08T10:44:00.000-02:00

Companhia japonesa apresenta 'óculos tradutor' - O Globo Online

I've seen pens that are supposed to do the same thing, but those are horrible. They just don't work. Anyway, I'm still waiting for someone to invent a microchip implant that will instantly "teach" any language. Only then will I say that I need a new career. :-)

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-11-01T18:12:00.000-02:00

The movie is already in theaters across the US, but I don't know when it's scheduled to be released in Brazil. So, for now, here is Gene Deitch's animated short adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are.

PS: This time, I got it right. The tittle link leads you to the clip. :-)

It's never too late!

2009-10-24T21:15:00.001-02:00

Nope, it's never too late.

So, after a very exciting teacher's meeting with a great presentation on some fun ways to use technology in the classroom, here's my very first post, my very first blog.

I hope this works!

To start things off, I'm adding a link to website where you can make your very own flash movie. Ok, it's not that sophisticated, but it gets you started. Try it out. See if you can make up your own dialogs in English, using some of the themes and new vocabulary from this semester so far. You can post the link to your video as a comment to this.

Have fun. Cheers.