The soap that inspires
Aleppo soap symbolizes a long tradition of soap production in Syria. It consists mainly of olive and laurel oils at varying ratios. The higher the content of laurel oil, the more expensive and luxurious the product.
In the process of making Aleppo soap, olive oil is mixed with soda ashes in boiling tanks and boiled at 200°C. While constantly stirred and heated, the oil splits into glycerine and sodium salt. Shortly before the process is completed, laurel oil is added to the mixture. The liquid soap is afterwards spread from the tank on the floor surface inside the house. It is then smoothed. After the substance has become solid, the soap blocks are cut and the seal of the manufacturer is pressed into it. It takes about six to nine months for the soap to dry and mature in airy rooms.
Traditional Aleppo soap does not contain artificial ingredients such as stabilisers, perfumes or colourings.
We used a bar of Aleppo soap to warm-up to the task of a process description for the IELTS exam.
(diana_ielts_7)
How we learn
Event: A colleague teacher comes out of the class to grab a dictionary, asking whoever happens to be around, “What’s English for na odczepkę?”, and rushes back. (We know that feeling of going blank when a student asks and our own resources seem to dry up. A dictionary may not be readily at hand.) We just shrug, but after a while offhand comes to mind, so we jot it down in big capitals on an a4 page and push it through under the door to the classroom. A minute later the same paper re-appears at the door, saying the cue is of no use. Understandably so, since the Polish phrase in question is multi-contextual and highly idiomatic. Its English equivalent doesn’t have to be that complex.
But that’s not the point here. What’s interesting is the whole event, someone in need and our reaction to it. It leads us to an instant search and investigation, triggers a series of actions. In seconds, OmniDictionary, a sophisticated Internet tool, feeds us back with two pages of various uses of offhand, predominantly an adjective, together with a considerable list of alternatives. The adverb offhand comes as the second entry. Later we learn that the noun sop also carries a lot of meaning related to the original Polish phrase, and there is idiomatic a lick and a promise, adding yet another colour. That’s learning at its purest.
Observation: What is affective is always effective.
Kozyra at Arsenal Gallery
We went to see Katarzyna ‘The Scandalist’ Kozyra’s set of latest video art pieces at Arsenal Gallery. Gender bender, or post-feminist vomit? It’s hard to tell, perhaps both, but which is which? Go and judge for yourself. (until 20 January 2008, 6 PLN, concessions 3 PLN)
First January haiku
jogging at daybreak
in ankle-deep virgin snow
flexing muscles freeing words
(albs_t)
going…, going…, gone!
A jolly good year it was!
