English chat





Image taken from: https://openclipart.org/detail/189055/chat

Our English Chat is a class space for us to improve our spoken English. Meetings will be held once a week during our classes.

We all are welcome to participate in our English Conversation Club, regardless of our level of proficiency in English!!!

April 7

In this English chat we are going to read, write, listen and speak about one of the most worrying local issues we have in Medellín: homeless population. I invite you to read an article about this population and be ready to speak about this topic in our English chat

http://colombiareports.com/beacon-medellins-homeless-addicts-abyss-crack/

And take a look at the following stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dDnIJz0ZQc

Song: Another day in paradise


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6vFI

According to your opinion, what are the main problems these people can have and what can the solutions be. Write your comments here!


March 11

Video: Gender Differences
Topic: Gender Roles

Questions:

Description Qs:
  • According to the video, what does a man do?
  • What does a woman do?
                         
Narration Qs:
  • What happened when the man went shopping?
  • What happened when the woman went shopping?
  • Have you ever lived a similar situation? What happened that day?

Opinion Qs:

  • Do parents in our country treat their baby boys and girls differently?  
  • What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
  • Are men and women equal in skills and intelligence?
Activity prepared by Alejandra Jiménez

March 4
The International Women's Day 


Do you know why The International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year?

International Women's Day isn't just about giving a flower to a woman you appreciate and telling her she's great. This day, March 8, is a symbol of the struggles that women around the world have undergone to gain equality and rights and a reminder of how far there is still to go. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help celebrate this important day. 

Take a look at the following page and do something interesting this day:


Outstanding women:

Let's watch a video about what brilliant women have done in history:


Song:


Many people have been inspired by women and one of these people is john Lennon. Go to the following page, enjoy and complete the song he wrote for his lovely woman:


February 26

Short Film: The Butterfly Circus


Today we are going to watch a beautiful movie about how people can overcome their own limitations and weaknesses . They could look disable people, but they can do things.


1.        Look up some key words in a monolingual dictionary:


limb:
limbless:
circus:
carnival:
acrobat:
contortionist: sideshow:


able:
disability:
disable:
caterpillar:
cocoon:
butterfly:
hope:


Characters:

What do they look like?

Describe Will’s appearance and his personality.


Describe Mr. Mendez’ appearance and his personality. 



Watch the film:  

http://www.amara.org/es/videos/4HIJwP6KiRVl/info/the-butterfly-circus-hd/


3. Choose one of these scenes and narrate what happened.

a. At the sideshow…

b. In the river...

c. At the circus...

Activity prepared by Alejandra Jiménez and adapted by Deisa Gómez


February 12

Every February 14, across the United States and in other countries around the world, candies, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint? Let's listen to the story of this brave man:






Activity to do:



Go to the following page and do the proposed activities. Write down in comments the scores you got in each activity



25 comentarios:

  1. Bryan Alejandro Zapata Areiza.

    b. In the river, everybody was taking a bath, but Will was on the other side of the river trying to cross it.
    Then Will fell in the water and realized he can swim and stay afloat... That's the way he get an act in The Butterfly Circus.

    ResponderEliminar
    Respuestas
    1. I think the main problem is the drugs addiction and the problems it cause not only for the person, also can be a nightmare for their family and friends.
      Think one possible solution for this is try to reduce the drug production and their commercialization.
      To finish, we can teach kids about drugs and their impact.

      Eliminar
  2. Manuel David Marin G.
    a. Will was behind a curtain, then the boss of the circus open the curtain and all the people were
    dumbfounded, except Mr. Mendez, who was the Circus of Butterfly's master of ceremony. He was surprised for the appearance of Will, but he don't laught like the other people. He said him that he is a magnificent person, but Will spat Mr. Mendez, but Mendez don't respond aggressively.

    ResponderEliminar
  3. Jazmin Juliana Zuleta Ramírez

    c.At the circus, Will was going to have his own show. He ascended 50 feet high and he leapt into a pool. Then he swam and he left of water.
    After the show, Will was excited because many people wanted to talk to him. Also a kid hugged him.
    At the end, Mr.Mendez saw Will with people and he felt happy too.

    ResponderEliminar
    Respuestas
    1. I think the main problem that homeless people have are drugs addiction, but that problem could appear for other situations like low self-esteem, personal and family difficulties, etc. I believe that one solution could be increase the money for foundations and places like Centro Dia 1, to improve their programs. The most important solution is to change our thought about these people, because they need opportunities and we could help them, so we need to see them with different eyes to give them confidence for deal with a new life.

      Eliminar
  4. Jesús David Romero Benitez
    b) In the river
    Everybody decided go to the river for take a bath and enjoy while practiced theirs shows. Will wanted share and enjoy with his friends, for this, he needed to croos the river. He felt very sad because he does not swim and he was ignored for his friend when ask fork help.
    He tried to croos the river, but he failured, until he got trust and looked for the way of achieve the objective.
    Then, Will got a litles foot and arms and he could swim and shared with his friends.

    ResponderEliminar
  5. Mariana Henao Grajales.

    B. In the river.

    Will feels that he needs help for everything. When he wants cross the river, he asks for help somebody but nobody listen him.
    Mr. Mendez walked beside him but he doesn't help him because knew that Will can do it for himself.
    When Will tried to cross the river he fell and had to swim to survive, in that moment he knew that he can do anything.

    ResponderEliminar
  6. Everybody in the river was to bathing and practice your acting for the circus, William are in the shore, up in the rock, him looking and screaming for help a his friends for crossing in the river. He was falling and tried come back up, will fallen of second opportunity but this occasion in the water, ooh surprise i can swim and has new acting in the butterfly circus.

    ResponderEliminar
  7. Juan Jose Alvarez Villada

    All the members of the circus was in the river, and Will was looking for help to cross the river, but anyone help him, so he tried to get over his limitations and began to cross the river alone. All was going well but he fell down the river. When all get awake that Will fell down, began to looked for him, but surprisingly ... Will could swim !!!!

    ResponderEliminar
  8. Jorge Castillo

    c) at the first sideshow that will saw of the butterfly circus, because is like when the worm became in a caterpillar. when will saw thr show of every one of the group, he felt inspired and when the kid spoke whith the strongest man, i thing that wil wanted be like him, an inspiration to the world.
    that is why i chose that part.

    ResponderEliminar
  9. In the river. I think that in those moment the history takes a important course for the life of Will and for the circus.
    He was alone in a place and he wanted to cross the river for arrived with his friends but he falldown to the river and en those moment he learned to swim.
    Daniel Cardona Giraldo

    ResponderEliminar
  10. At the circus... He was at the top of a stairs, from a great altitude, looking to all people and seen by all people. The scene was full of suspense; everybody had seen the pool on the floor but they didn´t know what would happen; everybody thinking about whether or not he would fall into the pool. Finally, he jumped and he fell into the pool but elapse a few seconds to he came out like a victorious man surrounded by clapping and ovations.

    ResponderEliminar
  11. Daniel Hernandez Gomez
    b)in the river
    all members of the circus were practicing their shows in the river and having a good time, will also wanted to do the same and asked for help to someone to cross the river, but anyone heard him and he wanted to cross, Will thought that disability was in his mind and he decided to try it,will fell down to water but quickly swam to the surface and went to clebrated with the others.

    ResponderEliminar
  12. Susana Cardona Gallego

    At the circus, Will was the center of attention and was recognized by everyone.
    He acept the challenge of jumping into a pool with 50 feet high and can to swim,this was amazing to everybody because they thought that he was the bravest man in the world.Mr Mendez felt so proud

    ResponderEliminar
  13. Franklin Stiven Morales Gomez

    Goog evening Teacher and classmates

    B. in the river, were all members of the Circus will bathing and decided to cross the river on their own , he was doing well but a moment another fell into the water . Everyone was surprised not to see will nowhere and started looking . From time to time will he emerged from the water and began to swim. Everyone saw the talent he has will and joy was immense.

    ResponderEliminar
  14. Vanesa Bedoya Chaverra

    In the river, will was with Mr. Mendez and all the other people that`s in his circus, everyone of them was playing into the river, but Will because of his condition, believed he couldn`t cross the river to be with his friends, at that point, he falls trying to cross and Mr. Mendez walks next to him but doesn't help him, he thinks Mr. Mendez is a bad person because of that, but then he realizes what Mr. Mendez did was to help him doing it by himself. He saw he could do that and many other things by himself, as swim.

    ResponderEliminar
  15. MARIANA HENAO GRAJALES

    Description QS
    •A man when he goes to home only watch TV, drinks beer, he eats and sleeps. When he watches a romantic movie, he falls asleep. A man doesn't have problem with travel around the world. When a man is on diet, he doesn't eat the food of other people. He is very quick to organize when he has a date. A man is very practical when he buys something and when he goes to travel. He doesn't need other guy for go to the bath
    •A woman when she goes to home she cooks, cleaning house, wash clothes, drying clothes. When she watches a romantic movie, she cries a lot. A woman cannot travel around the world because she misses her home. When a woman is on diet, she eats her food and the food of other people. She has to do many things to organize when she has a date. A woman walks whole the store when she buys something and when she goes to travel she carries many bags. She needs other girls for go to the bath

    Narration Qs
    •When a man went shopping, he knows exactly what he needs and goes for that
    •When a woman went shopping, first, she walks the whole store before of go for that
    •Almost always when I go shopping or looking for something special, I walk whole the place after or before to buy the thing, but is normal that I see everything first

    Opinion Qs
    •I think in this moment some parents are educating their babies in a equal way, but other adults have yet the idea that girls and boys have different rights and duties and for me it isn't correct
    •Some behaviors that are deemed as appropriate for men is to be drunk and be with many woman, for some people that behavior It's a sample of masculinity, but if a woman does it, she is consider like "uncomplicated"
    •Of course, I think a women and a man have the same opportunities, skills and intelligence to do anything if each of them propose

    ResponderEliminar
  16. Activity 11/03/2016

    DESCRIPTION Qs:

    1. a man when he comes home eat foods from the fridge , drink liquor, watches TV and sleeps a lot . When watching a romantic movie is sleeping immediately. The man travels the world. Man eats a lot, not dieting. A man is very practical when he buys something and when he goes to travel. a man carries the necessary in your suitcase.

    2.a woman when he gets home washing , cooking, ironing and makes the offices of the house. when she looks a romantic movie cries a lot . the woman does not travel, she stays at home. a woman when she has a date with someone takes a long time organizing themselves. a woman keeps many things in the bag that are useless at times.

    NARRATION Qs:

    1.a man when he goes shopping knows that you need and quickly looks for him.

    2. a woman when she goes shopping gives many turns inside the store before buying what she needs.

    3.my mother always does the same. whenever she goes to a store with me , she wants to buy the whole store.

    Opinion Qs:

    1.I believe that parents in our country to try to the girls and boys in a different way. but for me there is the correct way of educating. for my both have equal rights and duties.

    2. for example leaving late night home for some parents the girls them is bad this behavior, in contrast to the men say that not.

    3. for me, both women as men are capable of doing anything. both are human beings with extraordinary talents and great skills.



    ResponderEliminar
  17. Mariana

    The main problem is the adiction of drugs, those persons need somebody that help to leave the drugs and have the opportunity to beginning a new life. They need support and a continous accompaniment, also is essential that they want to leave their present life and thus the change could be less difficult.

    ResponderEliminar
  18. For me, it is the drug that takes people to the street. They start stealing in their homes, on the streets , or prostitute themselves . They begin to acquire these habits that eventually makes them go to the streets.

    Drugs and alcohol numbs the senses and make it more difficult for the person to concentrate on the job or task you are doing. Every effort will not be put into their work . You can say that "not really there " or " is distracted " . Without their full attention, it will take longer to do the job and may not do so until the necessary or required level.

    We all win if we eliminate the drug addiction of society with the assistance of rehabilitation centers. Not only those who now are reintegrated into society with a clear mind and a fresh start , but also the rest of society can sleep peacefully at night.

    ResponderEliminar
  19. Juan Jose Alvarez Villada

    Description Qs:
    - A man is more simple at the moment of everything, we are less complicated at shoping, to travel, to choose something etc.
    - A woman is more complicated, they ever takes more time for be ready, they carry a lot of things in their bags, they look for in all the shop when they go to buys something, and is more sentimental

    Narration Qs:
    - He only look for the thing that he was going to buy
    - She look all the things that she saw, and when she choose the thing, continue looking for something better.
    - The only thing that we can do, is wait paciently until she finish of look for that thing

    Opinion Qs:

    - In our country the children are being educated from a traditional form, but there are many families that are changing it
    - I think that those kind of tinkings are very
    extinct, because are very male chauvinist
    - For me yes, each one have different skills that makes them totaly different but very important for the humanity

    ResponderEliminar
  20. Description Qs:
    - A man when arrive to home, watch tv, eat, drink beer ando go sleep.
    -A woman when arrive to home, make the dinner, wash the clothes, clean the house.


    Narration Qs:
    •When a man go shopping, he knows what the thing that he needs and goes only for that thing.
    •When a woman go shopping, first, she walks the whole store before of go for the thing that she needs.

    Opinion Qs:

    - Yes,because Colombia is a country with a ideology that the man is better and are more strong thtat woman and this is not true.
    - Every behaviors are allowed for the men but the women cant do the things that want, because existe many taboo and a classic thingks with the conduct to have a women.
    -men and women have the same qualities and capacities, are not difference.

    ResponderEliminar
  21. i think that the main problem is the way of think of the homeless people in Medellin, because they are no conscious with the damage that the drug make in their bodies, and the big opportunity that give they the many fundations that have the city, simply i think that its people that perjudicate the city and the convivence.

    ResponderEliminar
  22. One of the problems that the homeless peoble have is that they are alone, because we can see them on the street consuming drugs and there are many places how houses when homeless people can buy crack "bazuco" and other drugs.
    In Medellon there are one type house that can help them how the "Centro Dia 1" and "Centro dia 2" when homeless people can eat, sleep, go to the bathroom and other things that they can need.
    But I think that those places are not the final solution, the solution is that the violence ends but that is not easy.
    Daniel Cardona Giraldo

    ResponderEliminar
  23. Luis sanchez
    In the river everyone was enjoying the day. But Will had to cross the river to be with their friends, with the bad luck of falls on the river,with the danger of dying;after everyone alarmed and seek Will appears even swimming with their physical conditions.

    ResponderEliminar