Finally, the sketches! (LJ 3)

I must admit: I've been wishing for today's lesson for a long time! First of all, because we worked so much on the sketch that we only wanted to do it once and for all; then because I was completely curious about the other group's sketches! I felt very happy when I saw that every group had the work done at the time and, especially, with so much interest in it.
I really enjoyed doing my sketch because, at the begining, things were not going very well. I was always saying that the idea was good but there was something missing! And then Raquel had the brilliant idea of doing, instead of only the 7 sins, the 7 sins of the XXIº Century. And that's when things started to move on! So, in the end, I felt extremely happy because everything was fine and we did a good job. I'm very proud of my group because we all worked together and we overcomed all the problems. Filipa did a very good job speaking english, as well as Monica. Me and Raquel were more confortable speaking, bue we gave our contribution by giving some good ideas and details to the sketch.
I have no words to describe how happy I am! Very different from the last year, isn't it?

P.S - I also would like to say thank you to Norman because without him we couldn't have the beggar! Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)

Arranged Marriages

The world is too big to have only one culture, at least in our times, in which man is not able (yet?) to accept the difference. So we live in a planet full of many people, many places and dominant cultures very different from one another.
That's why problems like arranged marriages come up, and I say "problem" because in my society, in my culture, it really sounds like a problem.
In the West, marriage has undergone a lot of changes along History. There were times in which arranged marriages were used for many reasons. It could be like a mechanism for someone to ascend into a higher status in society, for example. Anyway, the course of things changed. Marriage started to be much more human than a political or religious mechanism. In other words, people are now married because they love the other person, instead of being married because of political reasons or other things. And this happens because people in the West have enough freedom to do that.
I strongly believe, to sum up, that this is the right way to do things. People should have the power to decide, because in fact it's their lives that are at stake.

Learning Journal 2

Today we did a written test. I think I did well. I just need to organize the time better and, of course, next time bring the dictionary! The sketch is also doing well. Tomorrow we'll meet each other to conclude it. I personally think that the work will be very good. We'll see!

Learning Journal 1

Group Working is not beiing easy. We need to build the sketch and we try to focus on that, but we have different ideas and it's very dificult to reach an agreement. That usually sounds good, but in this case it's not exactly good because the only one who desagrees it's me! I don't have any problem in accepting the ideas of the others, but I think they feel ofended by me, because I don't say "yes" all the time. We are working with an ideia which is cool, but I still think that it could be much better. Anyway, we are working and the sketch will be good. It doesn't need to be perfect, I must understand that.
Today I was the leader and I think I did well. Here are some things that I think I should do better:

• Insist with the group to speak always in English
• Always pay attention to what people suggest
• Motivate the group to overcame their problems

This is it, about today. I will start posting Own Messages, Gammar Points and Vocabulary Records soon.

Learning Journal 0

Today we started the lesson by seeing a video campaign of the International Amnesty which I thought absolutely brilliant. It is only made of images and some sad music, there is no text (only in the last second), not even people appearing. This actually gives a tremendous power to the campaing. I'm sure you're curious, you can see it here if you want.
After discussing some main ideas about the video, we read a speech by Muhammad Yunus and I found some very good points of view that I would like to share. He says that "poverty is a threat to peace" and with so big differeces on the income distribution, in which more than a half of the world population lives on two or even less than one dollar a day, there's no "formula for peace". He also mentions the Millennium Development Goals, that seemed to be a bit forgotten because of the big BOOM of terrorism with the 9/11, and then the Iraq war. But I totaly agree when he says that "putting resources into improving the lives of the poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns", and I hope that more people around the world thinks this way too.
Anyway, we started doing the worksheet but of course there wasn't enough time, so we are now supposed (supposed, is this correct?) to deliver our work done next Wednesday. This was more or less what we did today. Now, time to work on the sketch! Bye :)*

Intro:

I know I need to do it,
I'm just wondering how to.
(Deadlines are coming)
Too much pressure,
Too little control,
I must do something
Otherwise I'll fall.
I know I need to do it,
just don't have the idea
(Yet!)
Because my brain switched on,
ideas came,
now I'm writing,
this is like a little game.
My message starts here,
Begining my portfolio,
Everything will be written by me
As simple as it should be.
It will have many topics,
you can explore them any time,
I'll make sure
That they will be at least fine.
I'm not experient,
I'm playing with what i got,
But I'm confident enough to know
That my bottle will not stop.
Time to say goodbye,
I hope you like it.
I liked it anyway,
So see you another day.