In the Magic Ring
This post is ielts_7 group task only.
The diagram shows a graphical summary of the activity in which your group participated in one of the recent lessons. Write a description of the activity presenting its stages and provide a caption for the diagram. Write at least 150 words in comments.
from Devon (3)
I am writing this while waiting for my flight at the Heathrow Airport. I found myself a quiet place and made a little sum up of my visit to England; the first thing that came to my mind is that, weather you like it or not, travel really broadens the mind. Perhaps just for this simple reason that you meet new people. Another cliche? I don’t think so. The process of opening yourself to others is something you have to learn all the time, and something you’ll be never too good at. Still this is crucial to one’s development – cause we develop through others and thanks to others.
I have learnt a lot at the course about teaching techniques, got to know lots of activities, etc. but now I am left with this feeling that the most important lesson I took was trying to learn and understand who Christina, Lise, Ann, Ania, Ula, Adolfina, Simona, Carmen, Dana, and Nick were, and listening to their stories. Interesting, I tell you. Thanks.
from Gothenburg
by anna_joh_t on October 27, 2007
in visitors
Never enough time… It was really good to hear from you all. Albert – you put some pressure on me to achieve a little more than I usually do… Anyway, I think the Pilgrims course changed my quite traditional teaching a bit and it has helped me in many situations when I find the course book unbearably boring.
I used the family tree idea with my beginners of Swedish and I could hardly make them stop working! (Their family trees were not at all as imaginative and open-minded as ours, but the students did use a lot of Swedish and felt proud of themselves.) I am not as dedicated as Silvia so I ended up using black and white pictures that I found on Google – but that worked out well.
I’ve also enjoyed watching my students angry, happy, sad etc… when acting out dialogues – and it was great to see them experiencing feeling in the new language.
This year I’m very fortunate because I only have twelve students – (which is of course costing the school a lot) so I can quite easily make them walk around, talk a lot, change places, sit in a circle and talk.
Next week the students are on leave and I only work Monday and Tuesday. I will make an effort to find the surface of my desk… Wish you all a nice weekend.
from Devon (2)
Just a bit of reflection on communication, (sorry in advance for any typos that might appear, I feel a little tired of looking at the screen).
The following is directed especially to the teachers.
I realized it here that for communication to take palce the two sides have to be willing to communicate. This may sound like a very obvious thing to say but I guess too often we take it for granted or simply forget about that, especially in classroom environment.
When I came here I thought I would spend lots of time with my hosts, talking, getting to know each other, gaining new experiences, and what not. I thought that if there would be a barrier to our communication it would be perhaps only my English.
Nothing like that happened.
My hosts won’t talk to me too much (I don’t want to get into details, they just won’t :), and most of my time I spend talking to my group-mates – from France, Romania, Spain, Guadalupe, no matter how inadequate our English is.
There is something more to communication than a language itself.
I hope I make sense. If it’s too obvious, forgive me :), I just wanted to share this with you.
from Devon (1)
I’m halfway through the course but due to my very limited Internet access it’s my first account of what is happening in the little town of Totnes – a very charming place in the country of Devon, indeed.
Judging from the picture it may seem that the course is all about having a good time. And although some even appear to be relaxed to the point that they allow themselves a nap during the class, I assure you it is nothing but hard work. In this particular picture you can see me playing the role of a king, there is my queen beside me, and the sleeping princess and her prince, there was also a monster but, apart from being monstrously horrible, it was so big that it didn’t fit in the picture.
Stay tuned for more from Totnes
More to share
Quite unintentionally, this bit counterbalances the mood of teenage angst in the previous post of the sharing series. So, what do you think a beautiful young blonde with a slightly husky voice and agile fingers, and her plain-looking guitarist partner might have in common with this dignified old man? Just see the way they all gaze at each other.
T – I pattern again
Hello fatfish_group. I enjoyed yesterday’s lesson with your group. You were brilliant generating ideas, although when discussing the problem we only touched the tip of the iceberg. So try and continue here. Think of arguments (general topics) and supporting ideas (illustrating examples) you could include in your answer to this question:
The Internet has become an essential part of modern life. However, with its advantages and benefits come also disadvantages and dangers. Discuss.
Provide only one positive and one negative point. You can of course come up with the same ideas as your your friends, but try to vary the words.
What we all need
by eight_thirty_group on October 16, 2007
in students
what i need from others is optimism
optimism is talking with my family at christmas
optimism is seeing people’s faces smiling
optimism is looking forward to hard things
optimism is seeing a glass of water half-full rather than half-empty
optimism is hearing good words
optimism is seeing the sun coming out after two rainy days
optimism is hearing from somebody i care about
optimism is being with my wife and son on a sunday morning
it’s optimism that i give to others
Just sharing :)
I was wondering what title to give to this post or what deeper thought it should present, but I haven’t managed to come up with anything. Well, maybe just this little idea of sharing – one’s thoughts, conclusions, passions… Isn’t it more fun when you can share what is dear to you with someone else, let’s say a friend (or group of friends)? Or colleagues and students :)? If you asked me, I’d say the ideal sharing material is music, because, as I understand it, through music you share your feelings, emotions, even certain attitudes as well. It’s a package deal :)
Let’s share, then :) The links below will redirect you to my latest discoveries – some pieces of music that always make me feel good, try them :):
one
two
The last one does not always make me feel that positive, but I always love it :)
three
Now I’ve shared, it’s your turn :)
obsessed about obesity
“I got weight issues, yeah you know, the kind that most girls have and obsess about all the time.”
Are these just words of another American girl unsatisfied with her weight, or is it a more general truth about adolescent girls nowadays, also in Poland? And are we perhaps near to becoming an American-like society where weight-related problems are a nationwide issue and fighting obesity is not only “an obsession” of individuals but also a government’s policy?
p.s. This is directed to my IELTS girls (By the way, I left you the full version of the text on gv_files) but anyone is, of course, welcomed to comment on that.