Stand up Speak up.

Foreign languages, identity and intercultural competence

2006-04-07T09:19:00.000-03:00

Hello, my name is Alexander. I'm a 17-year-old boy who was born in Italy and has been living in Brazil since 1992. I'm French because both my parents were born in France.

The bilingual school I study offers me Portuguese, French, English and Spanish classes. We live in Brazil, because my father thought moving from Italy to Brazil was more profitable for my future than returning to Paris.
I've been in contact with foreign languages and cultures all my life just like my parents. My grandparents were from Genoa in Italy and from Corsiga, in the south of France .At home I have always spoken French even though my parents tried sometimes to talk to me and to my sister in other languages in order to make us learn them faster.

I think, in my case, it is difficult for me to define which culture represents me best! I think all complete me! I’m a mixture between two and half cultures: (French, Portuguese and Italian). The only language I’m averse to is German. I think this feeling comes from my grandparents because they were occupied by Germans during the Second World War. So, this does not mean I am against it! I just think it is not as beautiful a language as French. I am aware that stereotypes may influence this idea but this is how I feel for the time being.
I definitely think that foreign languages should be fostered. It’s always a new experience: new words, new expressions help you feel more comfortable when exposed to a new culture. It also helps you to develop your ideas. The language is the key word for culture. It may also be required for a job application. Speaking foreign languages definitely gives people a better status! Our society needs “open-minded” people So being able to understand other cultures is essential . I admit French people tend to think their language is more “qualified” as it was used by great authors and are too proud of themselves. Maybe because of this lack of humility,they don’t feel comfortable learning languages

I believe that there are some languages that are more privileged than others: like English and Spanish, because they are “business” languages. In a future not so far from now, Chinese will be the most important language. I think the main challenges, when you’re trying to adapt to a new language and culture are, for example, the values that society asks you to respect. The vocabulary and grammar are also a tricky part when learning a new language.

I feel my studies definitely prepared me to face other cultures. Recently, I went to Vancouver in Canada and had no problems in adapting. I was happy because I learnt many things about the Canadian history and their life style and my English improved as well because reading and speaking English all day . My grades were so good I couldn’t believe it! So, yes! My studies helped me. I see traveling as a way to learn and improve your intercultural competence! You have to feel what’s like to be alone or in a family ten thousand miles from yours. You’ve got to be in “full immersion”.

The word identity is so flexible for me. I think I could change identities just like my socks! It’s something you can adapt in any situations: I could be myself in English anytime. This easy way to change and adapt myself comes from my passion for traveling and new cultures. The more you know them, the more you will be able to develop and improve your “Intercultural” identity. You need to have this “base” first, so than you can create a new you!

Brazilian referundum.

2005-10-19T11:25:00.000-02:00

There are 5 articles: the first one comes from the Washington post .com
The second one comes from the BBC news here in Sao Paulo.
The third and the fourth one belong to the IANSA web site.
And finally the last one was written by Geoffrey Paul Carpenter.
I’ve made a list of words that are related to the subject.
- Gun, traffic, war, violence, policy, government, deaths, decision, courage, armed, unarmed, control, possession, power, illegal, trade, ammunition.
Well the first 3 ones are against the armament! They would like Brazilians to vote Yes in brazil next Sunday. And I agree with them because guns do not bring peace or something else. It just brings more blood. But there are also complex arguments! (That I prefer not mention in here). Those 3 articles show us the “bad” side of the actual armament! And they try to shock people giving us testimonies!
The 2 last ones are more against the disarmament! They use examples and they compare Brazil to USA. And that is not correct because each country have his own rules and Brazilian people may think differently from the Americans! One country can not influence the other in situation like this! It wouldn’t be right. They are asking the Brazilian people to vote and not the American!
There are a lot of ways to influence people to vote for something, but in this case, it will be better if each one of us vote for what is best for Brazil!
I will be posting more information about this referendum!
Thank you
Bye
alex

The English experience.

2005-10-05T10:51:00.000-03:00

The English class was very interesting this year, because we learn all the boring stuff like grammar but we also learn how to communicate! During the last 8 months we learn how to use a blog and a flicker. We started by posting little texts about our vacations and then about the work in class and finally we posted about very specific themes! Like rebels and pictures that we studied in class. Then we created a flicker account. And that is the most exciting part, because we are using this “picture blog” now in our school time and we are going to keep it as far as we want to! It is a hobby for some people! We can find very dedicated people in their hobby!
My first impression about this kind of work was: that it recommended a lot of responsibilities and concentration, but also a not fragmented work. (continuous work).
After we got used to this progressive work, we did feel relieved and grateful. This experience was very enriching: I learn new vocabulary and new expressions. This 2 “blogs” obliged us to write every week. That means we needed persistence! This helps us in our fluency in English! So finally, we prepared our BAC, we practice English and we improved our culture!
Bye bye
See you later
alex

"The way we work."

2005-08-22T18:49:00.000-03:00

http://www.cbc.ca/news/work/lookingforwork/224.html

I choose this article from Ron Murray, because he talks about his first unemployment. I find this subject very interesting because he is an electronic engineer and … well he was working to several enterprises and suddenly he got fired. So I was wondering what’s the first feeling that we’ve got when we are fired?! It must be horrible… really, can you imagine, after all this time working and getting used to your co-workers and the way they work! Ron is right. At first you can not describe your feelings about the situation but after a certain time you may get used to it! I dough because even if it’s like little vacations the pain is too deep inside of you and you will try to change the situation! The reason I’m writing about this article is that one day this situation is going to happen with us! And it’s difficult to accept it! So I think that’s better to talk about what we are feeling with other people because they can help us! Sometimes when you feel lonely the better way of forgetting what happen is take break and enjoy life, then you can come back and take a new place in the society! That’s what happened with Ron Murray, he came back of his trip and start studying about his passion! So you can’t abandon every thing without fighting, right...? So he got back to the city and started a new job, witch means a new life!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/work/workvslife/242.html

I choose this one, because a bunch of young people, after their university, choose to do freelance! That means no responsibilities and no boss! Feels good Hein?!! Well in my opinion it could be fun but just for a while! I mean, after graduation it’s OK, but to continue like that…! It’s not possible. Young people like to have fun after work and that’s normal but reaching the 30’s and still work on freelance that’s too much! Just because every body will need a boss and more responsibilities and of course better salaries if they want to have a family!
So I agree that’s fun! But one day every body will enter a more serious enterprise. Not just for the money but also for the respect!
Bye and thank you for reading me.
alex

I didn't learn new words reading those articles! And the words that are related to work are the same I choosed.

Comment on the three comments by teh , giovanna and kro

2005-08-22T15:16:00.000-03:00

Well, thank you I 'm glad that you answered my Brainstorming post! First of all, work mean stress because you have a lot of responsibilities and you need to brainstorm every time you want something! So yes in a certain way work is stress , now it can depends on the kind of work your are doing but I dough that one day you will found a non stress work!! Kisses I agree with you that work = passion! You need to like and enjoy what you are doing. Otherwise it will get boring!
I choose the word feelings because work can be material but also imaginative and "touchable". So you need to be creative and different from the others right?!! So take profit. In work you are capable to feel other sensations and give your opinions to the others, using for that your work!!
Byes see you later
alex

Brainstorming

2005-08-15T15:28:00.000-03:00

Work = relations - job – responsibilities – effort – occupation – sociability – concurrence – stress – way of expressing feelings and opinions – past-time - hobby – novelty – salary – determination – personal – colleague – imagination – passion - construction

Paraty

2005-08-02T18:13:00.000-03:00

Paraty
Originally uploaded by livestrong.

Well this picture was taken last sunday in Paraty. Has you can see, the ocean seems very calm and the lightness is so beautiful in winter!
A lot of people think that beach, in general, is only for summer, well I can tel you that they are wrong, cause every winter since 2000 I'm going to the sea side and I always got a very nice weather. So this is a such fact against any stereotype regarding seasons.

Morro de São Paulo

2005-08-01T18:07:00.000-03:00

morro de sao paulo
Originally uploaded by livestrong.

Hi, last post was about Club Med and all my friends next to Bahia but now I'm going to talk about this little island next to Valencia(neer Salvador).
So, this picture represents the 4th beach in "Morro de São Paulo". Well it's a long story. There are 4 beachs in this island. The only acces to this little paradise is by speed boat. And the only way to visit it is by walking cause cars are forbiden. So as I was saying there are 4 long beachs and each one is more beautiful than the other! We walked more than 15 kilometers in 2 days! uff. But it was gorgeous! Thanks for reading my post.
Bye
alex

Club Med Itaparica

2005-08-01T15:51:00.000-03:00

Club med itaparica
Originally uploaded by livestrong.

Hi everybody! Well I hope your holidays were just terrific as mine. So, this picture was taken the last night, that means friday night. It represent the Juniors club. Friday morning was just unique, because it started with a handsome breakfast on the beach!! hahaha.It was beautiful! Then we had fun playing volley ball on the beach, and after we went to the gym stadium.
On the afternoon we enjoyed ourselves eating ice cream and making a beach fire. The sun was going down slowly, and we went to the "Cabana", a special friday restaurant. Than as all nights the show was about to begin. Finally, Jonas, one of the leaders, decide to make a human chaine! We can see the yellow bracelets and the white stripes holding us one next to the other! It was unforgatable!! hahaha. We can see all my best friends and two leaders: Renato (at the center) and Juliana (red skirt). Well I think I didn't forgot anything. Thanks for reading this post.
Bye
alex

My Holidays.

2005-07-27T10:31:00.000-03:00

The first week was calm. I just went 2 times to the mole and the rest of the time I helped my parents with all the furniture from the moving!
Then, the second week was the opposite, because I went to the Club Med Itaparica in Bahia. From our arriving, until our departure the GO team didn’t stop screaming and joking! Of course the first day was quite strange because there were people from around the world, so example: I started to talk with Brazilians but 2 days after I realised that there were Spanish kids and we started to introduce ourselves. Otherwise, what I’m trying to say here is that we were able to use different languages during our holidays. And that is a positive point cause; we enjoyed ourselves during this week doing a lot of sport (tennis golf squash water polo) but also training our culture in other languages!
All the kids between 14 and 17 years old were in the “Junior’s club”. I’m 16 so I amused myself with this group! That means we were together almost all the time! (sports, dinner, and others activities). Every night at 9h45 a different show was played.
[Ex: the first night it was a comic show, then the second night a dramatic show. Etc…]
After the show we were invited to the night club!! (the best part of the day).
I have to admit: the breakfast was breathtaking!! There were different cooks from around the world so we had all the typical food from each country!! Last day, well, was the worst one because everybody was crying. And of course when one of them cries the others repeat the action!
Well after this beautiful week we went to Valencia, a small city next to Salvador, because our fast boat excursion was waiting for us. It took us to Morro de Sao Paulo, a little island next to Cairu one of the first built cities in Brazil. I don’t like to repeat myself but it was again so beautiful…! (pictures in my flickr).We spent tree days there, it rained one time only. Well finally, my family went to Itacaré and Ilheous. We stayed in an ecologique hotel resort but unfortunately our room seems like Tarzan’s house!!! It was very different from the other rooms but nice. It rained the first two days.
At last , I went to Paraty like every final month week-end. It was funny I trained wakeboarding and we toasted.
I think my vacations were the best ever. First because I met this girl, Paula, a 101% Brazilian girl and she is fantastic but also because I’ve improved my maturity by being alone at the club med.
Bye , Alex

The Punks

2005-06-18T10:39:00.000-03:00

Punk first emerged in the mid 1970s in London as an anarchic and aggressive movement. About 200 young people defined themselves as an anti-fashion urban youth street culture. They were using un-fashioned cloths , body piercing and tattoos all over their body. They were kind of rebelling for something and to make shear that everyone will be able to see them, they used all those accessories! They liked to be different from each other because each one of them tried to invent new cloths or hair cut and even a new kind of music! The punk rock ; was a musical movement that arrives in the mid to late 1970s and reached its top of popularity in the nearly 1980s. The most important band of this kind of song was The Sex pistols! What shocked British people the most , was , in my opinion , the punk style of life. I mean , that they had very different ideas from the others and they didn’t care much about money or jobs but in the other hand they care on having a party or drink and even drug themselves. The punks used to reject the capitalism, the government and the social rules. Punk lyrics introduced a confrontational frankness of expression in matters both political and sexual meanings! That shocked even more the British people! It is obvious that the punks were rebelling against the British style of life and also about their government!
They were many others punk rock groups that also shocked the British but the most famous was in fact The Sex pistols! I think that today people show their anger more violently! People today aren’t more reasonable than 30 years ago!! They just don’t now how to express themselves in a better way!
One of the issues to rebel today is the rap! Because the lyrics of this musical movement talks about the capitalism also but maybe in a more gentle way! I think today people are more reserved for themselves , I just want to say that maybe the are afraid of what could happen if they rebel against the system. And those who aren’t afraid , well they fight for their goal!

Source : beeonline2.blogspot.com
alex

Rebels.

2005-06-06T18:42:00.000-03:00

Rebels are people who do not respect social rules . They usually are against the “system”!
They are in groups and each one of them is fighting for a cause , a purpose ! They make their own ideas about the world and how the man kind is suppose to be. However I think that their pretty smart. A rebel seems like an less intelligent men just because we do not agree with his ideas but they are always thinking and they now when to complain or appears. They are different from the others that ‘s why they seems “attractive”. I respect them because they have their reasons to be rebels. A rebellion is like an mini revolution. It is when all the rebels go to the street to fight for their causes for their believes! For example , I feel like rebelling when teachers do not won’t to listen to what we have to say and when they always say that their are right ! They don’t now how to loose , they don’t believe us! That makes me crazy!
I think a hero is the opposite from a rebel. Because heroes are always respecting the social rules they are like a perfect image from man kind. And rebels , well , they are kind of lost in the actual society. The verbs that are usually used to describe a rebel actions are : to complain , to fight , to be against , to criticise and to argue! I don’t think that rebels could become heroes because they are basically the opposite so unless the rebel is very ambitious and morally strong!
alex

Work on dekita.org : subject : the best type of job.

2005-05-30T18:54:00.000-03:00

I choose this comment , because he talks about our future. This taiwan girl wants to be an internetional magazines editor. She gives us reasons and examples of her choice , that I think is pretty cool! First of all she wants to be an editor because it will provid her a lot of friends and contacts and this is very importante in this kind of job. Then beeing a international magazines editor she will maybe find and work with her favorites stars! And that is the funiest part of the job. After , she tels us her skills , abilitys with languages! What is important to this job because she will be able to talk with a lot of people around the world but also write articles in other languages. She also tells us what attract her in the magazines : the cover (the first page) and if this one is good she buys it. So , finaly I liked this comment because this girl knows already what she want to do and every thing that will be necessary to accomplish her goal , that is : be an international magazines editor. I would like to expose my ideas about my future job.
I think I do not now , yet , what I realy want to do , because I like many different things.
For example : marketing , law , and of course automobilisme but this one seems to be a little beet more dificult.
bye
alex

The visit to the pinacoteca.

2005-05-21T15:15:00.000-03:00

So , we went at the Pinacoteca to see Henry Moore's work. First of all I would like to thank our English teacher and the school for organizing this visit! I enjoyed his work because we need to think about his sculptures , to figure out what it means! I also liked his drawing because they were dark and full of diferent kinds of senses.(meanings) The best part of the visit was the picture time because we all seems to be happy and we had one of the best sculptures of Henry Moore behind us! So all the people that are going to see this picture on the teacher blog , are going to admire this beautiful sculpture!
alex

Henry Moore

2005-05-14T18:52:00.000-03:00

Henry Moore was born in 1898 in Castleford. He went to the Grammar school and became a teacher there! Unfortunately he went to France to fight for the first world war. Then he wanted to try new things , so he decided to study at the Royal College of Art , in London!
His early sculptures of the 1920s, shows us the influences of Central American pre-Columbian art, and the figures of the Italian Renaissance. ( he liked Michaelangelo's work)
By the 1930s his works had become abstract! He liked simplified art pieces carved from wood, with holes and metal wires. His main themes include mothers and children groups. And even warriors or human figures.
In 1948 he was awarded to the International Prize for Sculpture and his reputation around the world grew up faster than people used to believe ! Then during 15 years he continued working on his techniques and pieces of art!
In 1986 he died.
Henry Moore was the most celebrated sculptor of his time. He shows us the life through his sculptures and paintings. On one hand his sculptures were quite realistic , they were made with geometric forms and seems to be unfinished! And on the other hand , he was capable to do animals sculptures or even the human kind.
I appreciate his work because he tried to be different from the others. He designed sculptures unfinished , what proves that he liked to do different things. And that is very clever from his part , because when we will see his sculptures , we are not going to figure out what it is!! Finally I think that Henry Moore was a great man , not just for his work with wood , metal and painting , but also that Modernist sculptures were, adaptable to official needs. (And that is the most important!)
alex

Heroes

2005-05-08T18:51:00.000-03:00

I like super Heroes because they make me happy ! They are an travel way , far away from the reality , and I like that! They use tyrannical power . A super hero is , for example : batman , superman and spider man . There are the mythical heroes : they are strong , and they fight for a cause , with their greatness of spirit ! example : Hercules. And finally the modern heroes.
Example : the police man and the fire man , they are courageous , determinate and persevering. They use their life to save ours!
The romantic hero is sweet. He believes in destiny and he is always in an other world that’s why I say he is lost!
I do not believe in real heroes! I mean , that there is no hero on earth. A hero for me is someone with great powers and invincible who always fight to save the world !
Then , the modern hero is kind of a role model for me! Because , my grand father was a fire man who saved a lot of life and unfortunately died of a cancer! A role model for me is someone we admires because he accomplish objectives that are the same that we would like to accomplish to! I can’t choose one role model because each one of us like and admires different kind of role models! I like Alonso , F1 pilot , because I love cars! I admire a friend of my father who is an example for me . He inspires me on my future job ! He gives me advises to the business world.I think everyone should have a hero and a role model ! Because the hero would take us to his imaginary world and the role model will keep us alert , to “maintain the line” of our life!
bye , see you later!
alex

The history of Molly Pitcher

2005-04-16T19:30:00.000-03:00

This document is a painting by Dennis Malone Carter called ''Molly Pitcher at the battle of Monmouth'' in 1854. This battle was for the independence of the USA! The Americans fought against the English which took place in New Jersey in June, 1778 . In the foreground there is Molly Pitcher , a man with the canon and a dead man on the grownd
On the middle ground we can see American soldiers on their horses , and a man holding the American flag. Here , on the right , there is a man who looks terrified ! Who is painted in grey and black colour , but we don’t now why!
And in the back ground there are soldiers fighting for the independence ! And we can see a grey smoke cloud which shows the violence of the conflict! The most interesting subject in this painting is : why was the heroine called Molly PITCHER?
The reason is very simple! She carried a pitcher full of water to soldiers ! In this image , her dress is red and a part of it is white : those are the colours of the American flag! This red colour suggests the passion , the courage and the determination , to fight against the English !! The man right next to her is also wearing the white and blue colour of the American flag !
Finally this document shows us the difficulty of this war and that in this kind of situation there are always people to motivate the soldiers!
Alex

St George legend parte 2

2005-04-09T16:47:00.000-03:00

On page 26 , there is a picture named : George and the Dragon , by Sir Edward Burne-Jones in 1868. In the fore ground we can see the dragon trespassed by George's spear , wich has broken his scales. Although it looks powerful because of its muscles!
George is holding is shield in his right hand and with his sword , ASCALON , in the left hand , killing the dragon and saving the princess from this horrible creature! In the middle ground there is the princess , tied to a pole wearing her wedding gown. She looks terrified!
And finally in the back ground , we can see the village and the mountans. This village seems to be empty , and the reason is : the dragon has scared the people away!

Edward Burne-Jones used his colours symbolically.
First of all the dragon is painted in black , because this colour represents the darkness of hell and evil! The red cape of St George is above his shoulders is the colour of love and passion. And this white wedding gown could represent peace and purity. The village and the mountains are darker than the middle ground because it’s empty.
It is important to watch George because he looks calm , courageous , determinate and self-assured. But all those qualities are attribute of heroes! St George is a hero! His objective here , is to save the princess and the village!
By killing this dragon , George will restore the peace in the village and to have the princess.
Finally this picture is very interesting even for different points of view! I like it a lot because all this hero atmosphere makes me dream ! And personally I don’t now many people who don’t like dreaming!

Alex

St George legend

2005-04-09T15:48:00.000-03:00

There are many legends about St George ! One of the legends takes place in Silene , in Libya. There was a lake near the village. And in this lake there was a dragon. Unfortunately the village people needed to feed it with sheep every day , otherwise it would attack the village. Then , one day there were no more sheep left to feed the dragon , so a princess named Sabra was sent to the lake to be fed to the dragon. Fortunately St George heard the story and went to the lake to fight against the dragon to save the princess. He killed the dragon by trespassing the scales and finished him off with is powerful sword , Ascalon!
alex

heroes

2005-04-02T12:32:00.000-03:00

Last class we brainstormed on hero concept! In my opinion , everybody needs a hero because we are always in danger , so our angel is considered a hero. The teacher gave us a paper with the diferent qualities of a hero! And this paper is quite interesting because some people can recognise those qualities in themselfs: like me for example I'm persistant (perseverance). When I want something I will do all is needed to have it!!We saw the diferances between heroes , celebrities and a role model!Heroes may have super powers , celebrities have money and a role model is for each one of us!to be continued bye
ps: waiting for the next english class to learn more about this new chapter : Heroes!
alex

this week-end

2005-03-30T21:46:00.000-03:00

this week-end I'm not going any where so I will take my free time to write a wonderful post about our new chapter : heroes!
bye see you on saturday
alex

last monday

2005-03-29T21:10:00.000-03:00

this monday we started a new chapter. And it talks about heroes!!
And th teacher give us a paper shoing the different kinds of an hero qualities! it was quite interesting.
so we are now preparing an oral work on heroes for the next week!!
wich me luck!
bye

last class

2005-03-29T21:06:00.000-03:00

last class we talked about "as" :
we said the 3 different possibilitie to be using this word!
1 preposition introducing an complement
2 conjonction of subordination introducing an reference point
3 cause conjonction

to be continued.......

about the superlative and the comparatives

2005-03-29T20:54:00.000-03:00

So I 'm just re-doing something the erased himself from the computer!!
I'm joking!!
Last class we did 2 worksheets :

superlative:

countables uncountables

the most bracelets the most honey
the fewest bracelets the least honey

comparatives

+ bigger than more expansive than

= as big as as expansive as

- less big than less expansive than
smaller than

today

2005-03-14T18:53:00.000-03:00

Today we read a text . And it was about : a long time ago. Really I just came back from my dentist and I don't now where I really am! So I remenber to be doing two worksheets :
The first one was about : Quantity
countables uncountables
= as many bracelets as as much honey as

+ more bracelets than more honey than

- fewer bracelets than less honey than

And the second one was about : superlative
countables uncountables
the most bracelets the most honey

the fewest bracelets the least honey
so that's it !
bye bye
alex

Stereotypes.

2005-03-08T08:13:00.000-03:00

Stereotypes can be positive and negative , they are images simplified by a group of people based on religion , in custons , age , well everything!
With stereotypes we are able to indentifie a group of people. Stereotypes are like jokes because its always unfair! People say that the French can't queu , that's not true! They also say that Swiss people are not romantic , this is a fake information because everybody has a love side! That's the reason I liked the texte page 15 on the book , because the writer makes jokes and exageration about stereotypes! In my opinion , the stereotypes weren't made to hurt the people feelings ! They were made to transform all the classic images that we had about certain people ! With stereotypes we see images so it's easeyer to recognize people.
We need to eliminate certain stereotypes , because they don't let us apreciate our individual differences : we are all the same in front of the stereotypes. So I think stereotypes are not a such serious problem because we can ignore them and get on with our lifes!
bye
alex