1.My English progress from 2009-2011

My first composition is my letter presentation which I wrote at the beginning of first of batxillerat. In this letter I explained my future aims, something about me, my family, my hobbies, what I expected to do…

To tell the truth, I like it more than the compositions that I’m doing now, because I talked about what I really wanted to talk about. On the contrary, the compositions which I’m writing now, are about social topics, things that are interesting for the entire world…

My last composition talks about renewable energies in general and the benefits that they have given to society. I also talk about these kind of energies: wind power, hydropower, geothermic… finally, I give my opinion about it, which is that they improve the environment.

Looking at these two compositions I realize that there are a lot of differences between them:

First of all, now the content is more mature than before, because during 1^st of batxillerat my compositions talked about my future, my childhood, my friends… and now I talk about bulimia, abortion, renewable energies, Japan… So, these are interesting topics which are important to society.

Secondly, I haved improved my language because now I use more technical words, linkage words, connectors…

For example: in my first composition, I talked like a twelve years old girl, because I think I said things so immature, such as: “my hobbies are: going out with my friends, shopping, listening to music, surfing the internet…”. My world seems to be pink, and that’s good, but I think that my work now is more elaborated than before. On the other hand, in my composition of renewable energies I used more technical words, more linkers, the structure of the content is much better…

My first oral presentation was about my summer job because the topic which we have to talk about was optional and I chose this. I did it well but it was my first oral presentation alone, so I was more nervous than the other presentations: I remember I was always looking at my teacher, sometimes I read my notes (although I studied what I had to say), I didn’t do any movements or gestures to hold the attention of my classmates and sometimes I didn’t know how to continue the oral presentation.

My last presentation was during the second term, because this term I haven’t done any. It was about plastic surgery. The content was quite good but I remember that on this day we have a very difficult exam and I didn’t study so much what I had to say. However I made some gestures and my pronunciation was quite well (better than the first time) and my level of English was better.

So, there are some differences between these two oral presentations, and I’m happy to see that I have improved in some ways, for example: I have improved my pronunciation because before I didn’t know how to pronounce some words, my fluency, I do more movements, gestures, I try to hold the attention of my classmates, I work more on my presentations and now they are more mature and the topics are more interesting.

2.My English COMPETENCE in 2010

The oral evidences that I have chosen are the podcast that I did with Laura about Japan and the oral exam:

http://lauraaasblooog.blogspot.com/2011/03/podcast-maria.html

http://maariaa8.blogspot.com/2011/05/reader-exam.html

The written evidence that I have chosen is the composition which is about HOME, the documentary that we watched on the English class:

http://maariaa8.blogspot.com/2011/05/home.html

I have chosen this podcast for many reasons:

First of all, because of the topic, it talks about nuclear disaster and the tsunami that Japan has suffered. I think that this caused a world reaction and the entire world was emotionally affected by this.

Secondly, I have chosen this because of the dialogue. To write this, on the one hand, we have to think like a Japanese girl who has suffered this disaster and who lost her family and on the other hand, we have to think like a reporter who has lived this situation personally.

Thirdly, because it shocked us a lot. These kinds of things show that although there are countries which are developed, they also suffer big disasters like poor countries such as Haiti. Of course, the consequences were more important in Haiti because buildings in Japan are very strong because they can support the earthquakes.

Finally, I have chosen it because of my theater representation: we enjoyed the time recording this podcast a lot, we laughed so much because I have to cry to show that I’m very sad. I think that it’s positive because in my opinion, learning enjoying yourself is so good.

I have also chosen the oral exam because it is the activity that I like so much:

The most important thing is that I have learnt a lot of vocabulary, phrasal verbs, new words, pronunciation… because I have to look for a lot of new words. I have also to summarize the book and to answer the questions to prepare the exam better.

In my point of view this is the activity that is more useful to me.

Talking about written evidence, I have chosen HOME because I like this documentary a lot, not only for the explanation, but the images too.

I have compositions that are quite well but this is special. On it, I talked about the different kind of problems that the earth and the world suffer for many reasons:

On the one hand, it is because of pollution, nuclear power disasters…

On the other hand, it is because of humans who don’t get conscious about the problems that our planet suffers.

So, I think that this is an interesting topic to talk about.

I know, I probably have compositions which are better than this but I have chosen it for this:

First of all, because in this composition we have to comment a phrase of the documentary and give our opinion of it. So, I think that this is an important activity because it could be difficult if you don’t understand the sentence well.

Secondly, because an activity like this, has made me improve in different ways: not only in English, but in my personality too, because things like this make you think and I think that it is so good for me and for everybody else.

 

In these two courses I have improved my English a lot, but to tell the truth, I think that during the ESO we did basic things like: colours, numbers, animals, the months… And this is not useful for anything, so when we are in batxillerat we have to do oral exams, PAU exams, compositions for the blog, tasks, some difficult homework etc. and after, the teachers complain because their pupils don’t pass the exams.

On the one hand, I think that my level of English has improved since I started batxillerat because we have done some innovation projects: these are the compositions which we have to post on the blog, record podcasts…

On the other hand, in my point of view the new innovations aren’t always good, because I think that we should to do more PAU exams, more listening (for the marks) and one or two compositions per week in the language room, because it would improve our level of English.

To conclude, I think that these courses have given me good and bad things, but moreover, I have become more mature in my compositions and I know a lot of new vocabulary.

I’m so proud of my results and I want to continue learning English.

Podcast (Laura and Maria)

3 comments

http://dontevergiveuponyourself.blogspot.com/2011/04/death-penalty.html#comment-form

http://vero-pitu.blogspot.com/2011/05/civil-war.html#comments

http://remembermetonight4.blogspot.com/2011/05/catastrophe-of-japan-has-made-history.html?showComment=1305386041403#c6255846626015975053

Renewable energies

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable.

Mainstream forms of renewable energy are:

Wind power: Airflows can be used to run wind turbines. Areas where winds are stronger and more constant, such as offshore and high altitude sites, are the best places for wind farms. Typical capacity factors are 20-40%.

Hydropower: Energy in water can be harnessed and used. Since water is about 800 times denser than air, even a slow flowing stream of water, or moderate sea swell, can provide amounts of energy. There are many forms of water energy: Micro hydro, hydroelectric, ocean energy…

Solar energy: Solar energy is the energy from the sun in the form of solar radiation.

Biomass: Liquid biofuel is usually either bioalcohol such as bioethanol or an oil such as biodiesel. Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles.

Geothermal energy: Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping the heat of the earth itself, both from kilometers deep into the Earth's crust or from shallow depths, as in geothermal heat pumps.

In my opinion this is a high innovation to improve the convenctional energies because these type of energies are much better than the others because they are cleaner. Even though they are more expensive than the tradicional ones.

Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by restraining of food intake for a period of time followed by an over intake that results in feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. It starts at about 18 years of age.

The most common form is defensive vomiting, fasting, the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and over exercising are also common. Bulimia is nine times more likely to occur in women than men.

These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from overextension, followed by self-induced vomiting. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day.

Bulimics are much more likely than non-bulimics to have an affective disorder, such as depression or general anxiety disorder.

This is a very important and high problem: on the one hand because sometimes it can cause annorexia and seriously psicological problems and on the other hand because it's so sad for the person who suffer this and his family.

Dialogue

M- Hello Jack Smith, the aim of this interview is to know what your work is like now and before.

My name is Maria and I’m doing this interview because I’m doing a project which consists of this. This kind of job are dying out, so I want to know the consecuences of this in your life and of course, on the work you are doing nowadays.

To begin, tell me something about which type of animals you work with?

J- Hi! First of all, thanks for doing this interview. Now, I’m working with cows.

M- Ok. And, why did you decide to be a farmer? I understand that it’s because your father worked as this too, didn’t he?

J- Oh yes... Ny father and my grandfather started working on a little farm and now I have this farm and a lot of farmlands.

M- It’s good! I suppose that you are proud, aren’t you? And do you remember what this work was like when you were younger?

J- I’m still young! Haha.

M- Yeah, sorry. I know, haha.

J- Mmm... this job changes a lot: before, when my father was alive, we had more work than now because the vilages around this, bought all of our cows: the milk and meat.

M- Ok, and now?

J- Uf... Now it’s so difficult to continue because the big meat industries has the control of the trade. I can’t understand this because my milk and meat has a high quality.

M- Oh... I understand. The big industries always dominate the small ones, don’t they?

J- I’m sorry to say that’s true.

M- Ok. So, that’s all. Thanks for your time. I think that I understand what your work was like before and what it’s like now.

Farmers are losing customers because of big industries, alhough the milk is better.

J- Yes, I can’t say it better. Thaks and nice to meet you!

M-The same to you. And thanks again. I hope that your job will be able to improve.

J- I hope so!