Final Reflection

My english progress

1.1 Compare your first written document and your last composition on your blog.

It is noted I have increased significantly my vocabulary. Before it was too basic and I used to repeat the same words or to use too many wildcard words. I have also improved over the connectors, because before I did not used them (even I forget to use connectors now). It has to take into account that my writing ability has matured over the years; not write the same level a person of 15 years of 18.

1.2 Compare your first oral presentation and your final oral presentation.

People definitely improves with age. Although my oral expression in English is a bit decadent compared to 2 years ago has improved enough. I feel more confident now when i talk express, although there are always times when nerves play a dirty trick on you. My body language is more correct and speak a little more fluid now.

Regarding the structure in my oral presentations, this was quite correct.

I think the content is adapted to the requirements. The grammar was a little limited and still remains, because it has always difficult for me, arguably the hardest thing to me. I have always tried to use the correct vocabulary for each oral presentation and this is right on the issue.

My english competence

My best oral evidence was the oral presentation about Hunger in Africa, because I felt very confident and I found the topic very interesting, so that makes me to prepare more properly the oral presentation and do it with enthusiasm. It is my best oral evidence because my english is pretty fluid in the video and it was prepared correctly. The vocabulary is correct regarding to the issue that we were talking about and the content were adecuated.

My best written evidence was the story about Sakena Yacoobi. Talk about news and do compositions bores me; but Sakena managed to capture my attention with an incredible story. I did not care then to work in this post because it really motivated me what I was doing; for this I can say is my best post because I did with enthusiasm. The vocabulary I used was taken from the video where Sakena spoke, then the fact of hear her and then write about it make the words engraved in my mind. The grammar was quite simple but correct (Or at least I hope so).

Formal Letter

12 Snt. Pere Pescador

Castelló d'Empúries 17486

28th April, 2016

President of Spain

Congreso de los Diputados

Madrid

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the public education in Spain. I study in a public school and, regarding to the quality of education, this is too basic.

The main problem begin when children have to prepare an exam and the way they choose to do it between all the alternatives of the educative tecnic. In those cases, the students do not find help on the  teaching team because they are not ready to answer. Teachers are prepared only for teaching and it is not their job to help students with heir lacks.

I trust that you will reconsider about what I am annoyed with. I hope you will consider the popular interest in education and you will improve the help that experts can offer to those students who have problems with the actual system of education.

Yours faithfully,

Ariadna Gómez

Letter to Obama

Dear Mr Obama,

We are writing in order to explain you the Syria's situation for you to take measures. This war is going too far and it is time to finish with the violation human rights.

Many people are still feeling form their homes searching places where they could be safe. Unfortunately, developed countries turn back against the when they pray for help in their most desesperate situation. That includes you, Mr. President. We do not only have to fight human rights in our developed countries, but also in developing ones too.

We all know that you have enough resources to save this situation from the massacre. Let's start to worry about our human conditions and less from burocratical problems.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely


9724759302
siria@gmail.com

My say

This summer... 

This summer will be the first to work, so my free time will end . I face to it with some fear because I don't know if I know make the cut in my work and if I'm able to adapt to a strict schedule, to a boss requiring me all the time, to not to miss a single day to work...

Besides that, it's my last summer before the age of 18. This means that it will be the last being minor and, therefore, the last beeing free of responsibilities. But as my friends are older, I can enjoy the best of every age: the autonomy provided to having a drivers license.

I have a feeling that this summer will be one of the best for me because it will be the last before starting a new and exciting stage. I really want to start the summer to see what summer offer to me and share it with my family and my friends.

My say

Pets in Syria

Everyone knows Minimally what is happening in Syria. We care about the children, mothers, grandmothers, fathers... But why no one has thought of dogs? Families abandon them because they can't take them with them. 

So these are totally helpless in the midst of war, without food and drink and no one to protect them and loving them. In Syria the situation is so difficult that people who still resides there eat stray dogs to survive.

Currently there is a web opened which is responsible for raising money to help these animals, which live totally oblivious to what happens around them. You can donate any amount of money to this asociation that is completely a nonprofit organization.

NEWS

Survey Finds Bribery Runs Highest Among Courts in Mideast

A new report announced that nearly a third of the eastern population has had to pay a bribe to access public health. They also announced that the sector receives more bribes is justice.

The watchdog Interviewed Nearly 11,000 people and found That bribery was rampant in Yemen Especially. In the Arabian Peninsula country, 77 percent of Respondents Said They Had to pay a bribe to access public services.

Public anger over government corruption Among Officials, social inequality and the lack of justice and transparency Were catalysts of the 2011 Arab Spring movements That ousted longtime leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya.

Almost any country is free from corruption in the public sector.

Personal Opinion

Everyone must have the right to health and no one has to take advantage of this most basic need and make it a business. But if there is corruption it's because there are many people who helps to make this possible.

Vocabulary

• Bribe
• Watchdog

NEWS

Violence in Syria's Aleppo Kills More Than a Dozen People

A maternity hospital was hit by rockets leaving 20 dead in northern Syria, Aleppo. The envoy Staffan de Mistura moved to Moscow to ensure the cessation of the fire.

A part of this attack there have been other attacks on hospitals, including one where 4 people died and another where 50 people came to die. Only in 12 days 280 civilians have died according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Horror seizes people leaving empty streets and abandoned homes and businesses.

"To all Those Who Consider Themselves in behalf of human rights, I say That there are no more rights, and no more humans" the Rev. Ibrahim Nseir Told The Associated Press by telephone from the government-held part of Aleppo. Information Minister threatened that if he turns to attack civilians have harsh reprisals against the rebels. It has formed a coalition working to end the force and actions of the rebels.

Personal Opinion

Syrian war is getting out of control and meanwhile world powers turn their backs to the problem. If neither the same Syrian government can not control the situation in his country, it wouldn't hurt foreing aid.

Vocabulary

• Ensure 
• Seizes
• Harsh 

NEWS

Anti-Abortion Activist Goes to Trial Over Letter to Doctor

An anti-abortion activist sent a letter suggesting that someone put a bomb in the car of a doctor, and the doctor filed a complaint. Activist lawyers said that what he did was an observation to prevent this professionally prepare to practice abortion. The doctor is in favor of free abortion.

They are still discussing if the card represents a real threat or is it just one more fact. At the moment the activist has a restraining order on the doctor. The complaint was laid by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division provided to protect freedom of abortion.

Since the murder of doctor and abortion activist free-George Tiller was murdered by his ideals, in Wichita has not been practiced free abortion. Finally an FBI agent considered that the letter posed no threat to anyone. Activist lawyers say their client doesn't collect the violence is a moral philosophy.

Personal Opinion

I feel horrible that someone comes to such extremes just to defend their ideals, because violence is never the solution. Regarding abortion, I agree with freedom of abortion but always with control and without exedirse.

Vocabulary

• Complaint
• Restraining order

My say

The change from child to adult

There is nothing left to finish high school and start a new stage. A new stage full of changes, new experiences and new challenges. This will supose a big change for me because I will not be under the protection of my mother, but I'll have to wake myself up and get out of all the problems that I find without any help.

On the other hand, I'm not used to living without my mother and neither to live alone. I do not like loneliness at all and I always need someone beside me. At this time I will have to ripen all at once.

But that will be the best time of my life. I really want to meet new people, change of scenery and find myself and know who I am. Still I could define myself because although I have never been out of my comfort zone, but I hope that I like what I will find, and that can improve all the bad aspects of my life. The university is a very beautiful era and I feel fortunate to live it and I thank my parents for making this effort for my future.

My say

Fast Food

Currently, the Spanish food is entering into decline. The gastronomy of our country is characterized by being a very healthy diet, with foods of land and tasty. But lately the Mediterranean diet is being affected by the influence of fast food, especially in the younger generations. Large fast food multinational sell their food as healthy food and used as a hook the trate of a brand with young spirit to attract especially the younger.

But the fault is not all the multinationals, but society is evolving and increasingly pay less attention to more important things.By this I mean, we prefer to eat poorly and base the time in work or other activities. The social system requires us to do this just to optimize the time and make the best economic performance to our activity.

We have to become aware that there is nothing more important than our well-being, and that the work doesn't have to destroy the living standards by which my antecesors worked very hard. 

Podcast

Podcast about one of the thirty human rights: Freedom of slavery

The freedom of slavery is the most important right from my point of view. I consider it important because no one can own the life of another human, and we all have the right to freedom.

Slavery for me not only includes the most archaic way, but also slaves of the XXI century, the prostitutes. Prostitution is the most "modern" form of slavery and also one of the most demeaning. The most striking thing is that Western people participate in these activities claiming women services with full awareness that these are being exploited.

Although slavery seem to be already eradicated, there are still 70 million people enslaved. Human rights must not only be brought to the western countries (where these are not respected at all usually), but also to the poorest countries, because the level of development of a country should not adversely affect its habitants.

A human should be able to have power in their own live and to fulfill himself. Must be free and feel valued and listened the same time he/she must be a social man/woman. No one should be ignored and mistreated because a human being is a social being and breaking this condition would make she or he completely annulled.

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TASK: HUMAN RIGHTS

• WRITE A POST ON YOUR SPACE called HUMAN RIGHTS (3rd term, task)and answer the questions.

1. What are human rights?

Human riths are the rights you have simply because you are human, no matter your religion or your role in life.

2. When and why were they created?

At 539 BC, a man named Cyrus The Great, after winning a battle, decided to free all the slaves and declared the diversity of religions. But human rights were officially created after the Second World War.

3. How many human rights are there?

There are 30 human rights joined in this LIST.

4. Which human right are you going to dig deeper?

I am going to comment the Freedom from slevery in another post of my blog.

TASK

FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

The freedom of slavery is the most important right from my point of view. I consider it important because no one can own the life of another human, and we all have the right to freedom.

Slavery for me not only includes the most archaic way, but also slaves of the XXI century, the prostitutes. Prostitution is the most "modern" form of slavery and also one of the most demeaning. The most striking thing is that Western people participate in these activities claiming women services with full awareness that these are being exploited.

A human should be able to have power in their own live and to fulfill himself. Must be free and feel valued and listened the same time he/she must be a social man/woman. No one should be ignored and mistreated because a human being is a social being and breaking this condition he/she would be completely annulled.


Watch the VIDEO of the human right you choose.  Make a list of new words you hear, if any. Think of an example where this human right is respected and where it is violated.

Vocabulary

• Crowned: be on top of.

Although slavery seem to be already eradicated, there are still 70 million people enslaved. Human rights must not only be brought to the western countries (where these are not respected at all usually), but also to the poorest countries, because the level of development of a country should not adversely affect its inhabitants. In Ivory Coast, people are brutally enslaved by the mafia to get the famous "blood diamonds".

TASK

Why I Hate School But Love Education-Suli Breaks

"Because as long as you follow the rules and pass exams your cool. But are you aware that examiners have a checklist' And if your answer is something outside the box, the automatic response is a cross, and then they claim that school expands your horizons and your visions".

The school was created to educate and cultivate the population. But it was not created to teach students to properly answer questions and to follow a the standards In the tests the personal views are not contemplated. These only contemplate what comes in the syllabus regulated by the government. 

Besides, both the correction system and exams are done for a class of robotic students, programmed to respond to the teacher what she/he seems to be a good answer and never use their own criteria.

If education were more focused on strengthening the individual criteria of students and to promote personal criticism, and this is taken into account, the system would work more effectively.

TRIP TO LONDON

Camden market

Our third day was spent in Camden. We took the bus at the beginning of a long road. As we progressed, the environment was becoming more urban. We arrived at our stop and when I came down, I hallucinated. I found an environment completely original, with a huge variety of styles and picturesque.

The three hours that teachers left us to see the place didn't be enough. I spent three hours going around and around and discovering new things about the neighbourhood. I bought two super nice things in two super original shops.

At lunchtime, we went to an outdoor enclosure filled with market stalls of different food and different nationalities. I love to eat and this was the perfect place for me: we ate a lovely Turkish crepe. At the end of the journey, I was sad to leave because I knew it would take long to return to that place; but on the other hand I was happy because we were going to see the play of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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NEWS

Why navigation apps have a gender issue

The company Waze uses a marketing strategy which sell different famous voices like Morgan Freeman one to their users. The variety of voices to choose is large but it is surprising that there is no woman's voice. 

“The most important characteristic is a unique voice and brand, regardless of gender,” says Waze’s head of brand and global marketing, Julie Mossler, when pressed about the lack of female celebrity voice upgrades. In contrast, he specified that the decision to buy only male voices rests with the client. 

“A female's voice is more calming,” says Jessi Combs, professional race-car driver and television personality. She may be right. At first, all navigation systems tend to have a female voice, including Waze. Another example is Apple's Siri narrated by Susan Bennett. According to Bennett, the female voices tend to be softer and therefore more pleasant to listen to. 

The data shows that both men and women with lower pitched voices are perceived as stronger and more dominant, as leaders, someone who should be listened to. Moreover, this kind of voices inspire confidence and not only authority. In countries like France or UK, maybe because the culture and the sexism, Siri's debut voice was male by default.

Vocabulary

• Pitched

Personal Opinion

Firstly, the problem is not in that between the male voice or female voice, but there should be no distinction between them. By this I mean that, for example, if we are driving and GPS voice is male, we should not ask ourselves "Why is a male and not a female?" and vice versa. We must eliminate these automatic thoughts and so there will be gender equality.

NEWS

Why does Britain have such bizarre place names?

    The village of Pity Me outside Durham. 



All those names of Britain towns have a history hidden. Celtic tribes that arrived during the Iron Age, which started around 800BC, were the first to give a clear linguistic contribution that has lasted to modern times. They came in groups from the continent; some spoke Goidelic (the source of Gaelic), while the others spoke Brittonic.
Nowadays, many of the rivers and hills that which are in Britain are original of the Celts like Avon, Derwent, Severn, Tees, Trent, Tyne... It is also possible that some of these names could may originate before the Celts. The River Tame, comes from the Celtic for ‘dark one’ or ‘river’ as does the River Thames.

Thanks to the Anglo-Saxons, Celtic influence did not arrived to the south and east as much as arrived to north and west. For example, Much Wenlock: it gets its Much is from Anglo-Saxon mycel, meaning ‘great’ or ‘much’. Wenlock comes from Celtic wininicas, ‘white area’, and the Anglo-Saxon loca, ‘place’.

The Romans invaded Britain too, even before the Anglo-Saxons. But they failed to influence the culture. A different part of Roman buildings, the most outstanding  comes from the Latin castra (‘fort’). Taken into Anglo-Saxon, it became ceaster (‘town, city’, pronounced rather like ‘che-aster’) – which has mutated to chester (Chester, Manchester), caster (Lancaster, Doncaster) and cester (Leicester, Cirencester). As these there are many more examples.

Vocabulary

• Hills

NEWS

Is fermented food a recipe for good gut health?

This article talks about the positive points of fermented food. Fermentation is used to a method to preserve food since thousands of years, and the bacteria in it are beneficial to our health. Kimichi (a korean dish) is made by fermentation: cabbage is soaked in salt water to kill off any. Then the Lactobacillus convert sugars and carbohydrate into lactic acid and that gives a tangy flavour to the dish. This TYPE of bacteria is advantageous to our health because it takes out harmfull bacteria, it contributes positively to our digestion, restore the balance of our immune system and help the body to work at its best. These good bacteria are called probiotics.

The main question is, are there enough of them in fermented food to make a difference? Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London and author of The Diet Myth, says that this is a difficult point to answer. Probiotics are in fermented food which has not dairy. Not all fermented food is beneficial to health, since wine or beer is fermented and are not equally beneficial than others. 

On the other hand, probiotics are not completely tested and are still under investigation: it has been suggested there could be benefits for those with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory diseases of the intestines. They may also improve allergies in babies and the health of people with weak immune systems. The key is to eat varied and never in excess.

Vocabulary

• Cabbage
• Soak
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Personal Opinion

Fermented food has a lot of beneficial items that can be used in benefit to different intestinal diseases or problems. One thing I've noticed is that many common things in our diet are fermented, but we take it for granted and do not pay attention to this fact.

NEWS

Syrian refugees have become a worldwide problem. The images shown daily on the television news show a very harsh reality on the Greek border. This issue causes me much grief and for this reason I wanted to choose a story about this.

The children who just want to go home

The war in Syria has claimed not only fatalities but victims alive with physical and psychological effects. Most of these are children. The writer talks about her meeting with Ibrahim, a Syrian child aged 12 who lives in an abandoned building in Jordania.

The children his leg in an aerial bombardment. He was the one who was luckier: his mother, two sisters and three brothers, also his uncle and three cousins died. He explained to the writer that he and his father were witting to go to Canada for asylum, but what he wanted was to return home and be a war reporter, because the outside world does not know what was happening in his country. 

Syrian adults fleeing from the war of their country but kids always want to go home. Rouaa, a five-year-old child, said that she will go home the following day if she could. Rouaa's little brother was briefly in hospital. Their home now is a refugee’s camp on Mount Lebanon. Her parents and five children lives one small tent. 

The writer also met a young boy who lost both legs, an eye and one of his hands in a landmine explosion. The following day he had prosthetic legs fitted and he did not stop to walk during the day.

Another victim of war was Mustafa, who also had to learn to walk again after a barrel bomb hit his family house on the outskirts of Aleppo. Both of his parents were killed and he spent a year in hospital. He had the hip damaged and he needs a replacement of it. But, unfortunately, Medecins Sans Frontieres have not the necessary resources to do that. When he arrived at the hospital, he couldn't stand, he was malnourished and so traumatised he couldn't eat. He'd scream whenever he saw anyone in a white coat. He left on his own two feet, a different boy. After a year, he was recovered but not entirely of his broken hip and he demonstrated his courage i strength with only 5 years old.

Vocabulary

• Fleeing
• Hip
• Fatalities

Personal Opinion

I find it shameful that the EU can remedy this major problem and stay out just because these people are not part of Europe. If Human Rights exist to preserve the dignity and welfare of any human, then if they ignore the Syrians is because the EU does not consider them as such. It is disgusting the selfish behaviour that shows both EU and other powers by failing to cooperate in this major global problem.

NEWS

Mars mission targets Monday launch

This new written by Jonathan Amos explains the launch of Europe's mission to Mars.

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is set to launch a Proton rocket on Monday 14th. The purpose of the satellite is to control the atmosphere and detect anomalies. They have also been proposed Investigate and know the methane, which could contain microbial life. "All the preparation milestones have been achieved as per the nominal schedule," Walter Cugno from the lead European contractor, Thales Alenia Space, told BBC News.

In addition, it will take 10 hours to get to the end point. The time of stay on Mars is 3 months. Then, three days out from arrival, it will land on Mars. Its aim is to test some instruments and Engineers see as the ship lands. They will use the Schiaparelli method to land. "This technology development is very important," said Esa's director of science, Prof Alvaro Gimenez. This method has all kinds of technology. 

After landing, the TGO will spend traveling around the planet 400 km radius for one year. With this it will get a detailed report of air gas on Mars such as methane, water vapour, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide... But methane is the main focus. Most of the methane in Earth's atmosphere comes from living organisms, and it is not a ludicrous suggestion that microbes might also be driving emissions on Mars.

Vocabulary

• Schedule

Personal Opinion

It is beneficial technology will be used to important issues like this one. Looking for life out of Earth is important to our culture and it enriches our humanity because technology has to be used to make a better world.

Task

Research paper abstract

Key words: forensic medicine, forensic Medicine, legal proceedings, Narcís Bardalet, Anna Hospital.

My project is focused on how forensic and odontology medicine can work together on a great disaster such as Thailand tsunami or Germanwings crash. Anna Hospital and Narcís Bardalet have contributed to this project with their testimony from the interviews I've done them firsthand. In my research I have investigated in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry, but I get into the legal world that surrounds cases of violent death. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

My Say

Primark
When I went to Primark,  what impressed me was the low price of the clothes and that there was so much of it. Besides the store I was in Oxford Street. So I thought , what is Primark trading strategy to get enough profit to have a huge store on Oxford street and sell clothes so cheap?

When I arrived to Spain I did a little research about Primark and I found out that Primark occupationally exploited illegal immigrants taking advantage of their situation of despair. Why nobody has end this secret? If I know it just searching in Google for 5 minutes, I can not imagine what will know the biggest diligent of the world.

Looking for information, I found a picture of a dress from Primark , whose label carried a hidden message. In it was written a message from a worker or, rather, a slave of Primark.

   "Forced to work exausting hours"

This woman bought a dress in Primark and she realised that the label carried a message hand sewn denouncing labor exploitation. This is a fact that has to help to 

This is a fact that should help to make consumers to know where the chlothes they buy are from  and at the expense of who takes advantage Primark; at the expense of thousands of people in dramatic situations.

Podcast

Podcast about love questions


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