Watch the following YT clip. People answer the question:
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Pay attention to what form they are using in their answers.
What am I trying to do? Can you help???
Now it's your turn. WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW? Of course you're writing. Now look what is happening around and write 5 sentences using this structure.
Read the article about dress code policies in recent years which you can find here.
What is your opinion about it? Consider this question from your point of view as a future employer and employee. Do you know of cases when these rules applied? when they did not apply in our country?
Now it's time for you to interview your colleagues, friends, family about such routine things. You can either video record or just sound record the interview. If you sound record, you can create an account with Audioboo (same as for the reflections on our English class) and then send us the link to it in the comments. For video recording I will come back with the platform we will use, soon.
Do you know the meaning of the expression 'it's writing on the wall'? I'd be grateful if you could remind me of it.
Well, even if you were taught that it's bad to write on walls, I have created a wall on which you can write! It's a wall on which you can tell us three things about yourself.
In order to write, doubleclick anywhere on the wall and in 160 characters (this is the limit) write 3 things about yourself. You can also include photos, movies. Don't forget to write your nickname so that we know who you are.
I'm sure you played the "finding differences" game a lot not long ago. Would you like to refresh your memory? Try finding the 5 differences in Mona Lisa here
Did it take you long? Now let's hear about at least three striking or less obvious differences you've already encountered in being a student vs being a pupil. Please reflect on them: are these differences to the better? What is your opinion of change? Is it easy for you to change or you try to resist it? Why and when do people change and why/when they don't? Let's hear your opinions.
It's time for us to write a poem, a collective poem, i.e. once it was started, you will have to add your own line to it (1 line/each student). The next student will type the whole poem from the beginning and will add his/her own line. Don't worry about the rhyme, we will write a free verse poem. Just put all your feeling into it as it's going to be a poem about love.
Finally, we will give it a catchy title.I will start the first line:
This is one of my favorite YT clips. It impressed me because it shows the existence of strong bonds and love between animals (even wild ones) and humans.
Although I have never had the chance to experience such a thing, the closest I've ever been to a lion being in the zoo, last summer I stayed with my parents'dog before its passing away - a traumatizing experience which taught me a lot about love, honour and suffering.
YOUR TURN
What is your favorite YT clip and why? Give us the link. Does it represent you in some way? Explain.
Most people would be happy to change the world once, but Steve Jobs did it four times.
Founder and CEO of Apple, who transformed everyday technology and invented ever sleeker gadgets like the PC, Ipod, Iphone, Steve Jobs, who died on Wednesday, was a singular figure in American business history.
He didn't invent personal computers, digital music, smartphones, tablets or digital animation, he did something more important. He made them good.
And he did it while making a lot of money from them as well. Right now Apple values twice the Romanian GDP.
He changed the business world more in one lifetime than anyone in the last 50 years. Not by creating ground-breaking technology, but by making technology that "just worked" for people.
His commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 is a true message for us all:
What have you learnt from this speech? his life lesson?
We live historical times. A few days ago, the world's biggest physics lab unveiled a shocking finding: that one type of subatomic particle, the neutrin, was clocked going faster than the speed of light. Watch the movie below and see how this breakthrough might impact our lives.
What impressed you in this movie?
What piece of news of major importance have you heard/watched?
As promised, the best crime story writers will be rewarded, so please rank the first three entries that you liked best and give the reason for your choice.
I will be considering the correct spelling and grammar.
My favourite one: "Two little mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned but the second mouse... he struggled so hard that he eventually turned that cream into butter. And he walked out"
For me it means that we never have to give up even in most desperate and final situations. If you give up you are likely to fail but if you struggle and sweat to achieve something you will eventually make it. That is why I have never envied those who took the easy path....
Watch the funny clip with the famous protagonist Charlie Chaplin and then write short screenplays (dialogues of at least 4 replies) for different scenes in it. Use your imagination and be creative. We may perform the best creations in class.
ALTERNATIVELY, for more mature dialogues ( :-)) here's an awesome example of baby talk. Can you try to translate the essence of it into adult language?
And here's an anticipated bonus for the most creative writers: Victor Socaciu's hit - a great song for the great Charlie. Enjoy!
Here's a new challenge: Try reading the 2 texts below - the first in English and the 2nd in Romanian. Could you understand the message? (Please don't 'translate'it into a normal text, otherwise you will spoil the others' experiences) Just say yes/no. If yes, why do you think you could make it? Any comments regarding spelling and reading? How important do you think spelling is then?
Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. Cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod unersdtadn waht I was raednig. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdring to a rscheearch in Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny ipmotrant tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteers in a word be in the rihgt palce. The rset can be a taotl mses, and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Cnofrom uuni stduiu al ueni uinvresttiai elgenze, nu cntozeaa in ce odrnie se alfa lirteele itnr-un cuvant, signruul lcuru ipmotarnt e ca pirma si utlima lierta sa fie la lcuol lor. Rsetul potae fi o vrzaa colmpeta si tot o vei ptuea ctii fraa prboelme.
Your turn:
1. Compare William and Kate's wedding to Charles and Diana's / a Romanian wedding in terms of customs, etiquette, garments. of course except for the fact that this was a royal wedding. What did you find special/interesting about it? What do you think is specific for a Romanian wedding? Have you ever been at a wedding in another country or for another nationality? How was it different?
The first thing I learned about this town was from the coach driver at the airport, who, after controlling my ticket said: 'Travelling to sunny Brighton'. And it was indeed sunny! So much unlike Britain and even so much unlike the British seaside - as they jokingly admit of having summer in one afternoon.
In order to find more about Brighton and the Sussex area, I'd like you to search the web and find how is this seaside town different from a Romanian seaside town.
Examine pictures, look at the buildings, at the people. How are they similar/different?
What are its highlights? Is there any aspect that you found particularly interesting about it? Waiting to see your impressions of your virtual trip to Brighton!
Do you watch crime movies, such as Midsomer Murders? Have you read Agatha Christie?
Now it's time for you to write a crime SCENE (NOT THE WHOLE STORY in about 100 words) in a crime story starting from one of the videos below.
You may include describing the scene, character/s, facts that happened, are happening, or are going to happen. Give it a suitable title.
This is a competition and there will be real prizes for the winner/s.
Challenge your imagination!
Let me tell you about two movies I have recently watched.
I have watched the two Oscar winning movies: The Black Swan and The King's Speech.
Both of them have something great to tell us. What the former has told me is that there is always a white and a dark side in each of us and that each masterpiece, each accomplishment, needs sacrifice.
Have you seen them? What ideas did you find interesting in King's Speech? how about Black Swan?
You can also tell us about another interesting movie you have seen BUT PLEASE DO NOT RETELL THE MOVIE SUBJECT, write ONLY about what you have learned from it ( DON'T WRITE MORE THAN 50 WORDS)
In the clip below you are going to see what people have (just) done. Try to guess before the interviewer answers the question.
After you have watched the video and done the exercise, pass on to the challenge below
Your turn:
First, tell us where you are and what you are doing.
Look at the people around you wherever you are, in your house, or watch out of the window, or watch TV for a couple of minutes, read from a newspaper/book and then let us know what people, actors, characters, etc. have done.
Example: Context: It's Saturday afternoon, 5:00pm and I am inside, preparing the lesson for you. The TV is on and my husband is watching the news.
What has just happened around:
I little kid has just cried out for her mom in the playground near my block. The ambulance has raced past, I've heard its siren.
The news reporter has announced the number of victims in Japan. I've also read on Yahoo news that UN forces have hammered targets in Lybia.
Now it's your time, tell us what you have done, heard, seen, read... etc.
Dear students,
this is our fabulous opportunity to meet Mrs. Elizabeth Anne and her students from Grenoble, France. You will be able to exchange information about what it is to be a student in France and Romania as well.
Welcome to our blog, dear Elizabeth and students!
Monday 14th March
Thank you so much for all of your questions. I hope my students will answer them when I see them next week. Please don't hesitate to add more !
I have made a slide show to show you our campus. You can see it (and listen to me) by clicking on the link here.
Keep up the good work :-)
Elizabeth
It's time for us to be welcoming hosts for Erasmus students and share with them some information we know about our town, student life, university, which will help them to get the best of their stay in Targu Mures.
I will appreciate your personal opinions and I am sure our guests will appreciate them as well.
This is how you do it: go to VoiceThread.com and create an account.
Then go to our Welcome to Erasmus students VT at http://voicethread.com/share/1804649/ , sign in and click on Comment. Choose to comment with voice (either with microphone, or via webcam).
Erasmus students from Turkey have been invited by their Romanian colleagues to enjoy the Romanian life style.
Shopping has become a modern pastime. It has been said the people have replaced going to church on weekends, to going shopping.
Below is a Red Wall (no grafitti :-)) where you are invited to share your ideas about how you enjoy to do your shopping. Read the questions at the top of the Wall and answer them there.
To post your answers on the wall, click on Post a sticky, then doubleclick anywhere on the page and answer one of the questions at the top of the Wall. Don't forget to write your name. You can also embed photos, add urls, YouTube movies that are linked with your answer.
So don't forget, post on the wall, not in the Comments area.
Before you comment on the blog, you can take the following Quiz. Let us know how it went:
Shopping terms on PhotoPeach
In the comments section you are invited to answer the following questions:
1. Which is your favorite shop in our area and why?
2. What is the most important criteria that you consider when buying?
3. Have you ever bought something you did not intend to? Why?
4. What shopping place would you recommend to a foreign tourist visiting our town? Why?
5.Is there an exquisite shopping place you've ever visited? Tell us about it.
As for me, my favorite shopping place is the open market place because it is more romantic. I like to look around for special flowers and even when I don't need one, I end up coming home with at least one. Well, even if I look at the price, when I really find something I like, this is crucial. For tourists visiting our town I would recommend the Souvenir shop in Tudor - they have very nice embroidered blouses.
The most exquisite place I visited I think was the Harrods in London. It is a unique experience and I especially enjoyed the Perfume and Chocolate and Tea departments. It's worth visiting (even if you don't buy!)
I am really thrilled to see that you have already posted your comments before we started.
I also hope you were successful in your exams and had a nice (
but short :-( )holiday.
We will have new and attractive subjects this term, so keep coming to our blog and sharing your ideas! Your opinions are important!
To start with, I'd like you to say Which is your FAVOURITE WORD IN ENGLISH and WHY? BTW, have a look at the highway screen below - We're on!
My favorite word is TRUST.I appreciate trustworthy people and usually my friends are people whom I trust. Although the American dollar has the slogan 'In God we trust' there is less and less of it nowadays and that is why 'trust' can be more valuable than gold.
How about you? Which is your favourite word and why?
What am I trying to do? Can you help???
