Blog Session 9 Sample Post

Cinema: moving pictures or the industry of making films

Today I’m going to write about cinema. I’m interested in this topic because watching films can help us understand a great deal about life and human relationships. Every time we watch a film, we learn about other worlds and lifestyles and at the same time, we travel about two hours to other realities. Cinema is important because as a teacher, I can use films, short films, documentaries, trailers or clips to present topics or issues so students can discuss or debate.

I will be talking about where cinema came from, secondly who invented it and finally, I’m going to mention the most important periods of the history of cinema around the world. Let’s begin with the origins of cinema; moving images have always been popular. In China, for example, 5,000 years ago, they used firelight to project images of puppets onto screens and this was called “shadow plays”.

Cinema became possible by the invention of two French brothers, Louis and Auguste Lumiere, in 1895. The Lumiere Cinematograph” allowed large audiences to watch “moving pictures”. They showed several short films and they were all documentaries. Let’s continue with the periods of the history of cinema. There are seven important periods; the history begins in the Far East, with shadow plays. The, The Lumiere brothers in 1895, The Silent Era (1912), The Talkies (1928), The Golden Age (1932), The TV Revolution (1950) after the Second World War and currently, the Modern Film Industry.

I’m going to conclude by quoting Auguste Lumiere, who said: “Cinema can be exploited for a certain time but apart from that, it has no commercial value at all”. I’d love to hear what Auguste Lumiere would say about making films in this century, after all the commercial value given to the Modern Film Industry.

Blog Session 9

Dear Class,

To finish with posts and blogs you can write about whever you want.
Choose a topic and in 190 words explain, argument, express your feelings or opinion, etc. about something connected with the uni, your lives, families, the country, it's up to you.
And please remember the 3 comments to your classmates' posts.

Best,

Belén

Sample Post 8 My favourite subject

History of Chile

I can’t say History was my favourite subject when I was in school or now but because of my job in tourism, we've learnt a lot about the History of Chile. What I can say though is that teachers can make the difference no matter the subject they teach... History, in general, can be very interesting if you’re curious and wonder how civilizations or social processes started. Therefore, I think Universal History and Ancient History are quite fascinating especially when historical events are presented in a way I can connect with my own world.

I also think the more History we learn the more we understand and analyse what happens around the world, in different cultures and also, at so geographically different towns, cities and countries.

In terms of the History of Chile, I started studying it since elementary school and in secondary school we used to read “Chile y su Historia” by Sergio Villalobos. Valid or not, in this book I’ve seen images of the old Santiago and Chile and I remember them vividly. I’ve always enjoyed reading and now I’m trying to read more about the native people in Chile because there so much I didn’t learn at school.

I must say I really enjoy studying the History of Chile. As some people say, “... those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” and I think it’s essential to learn from what has happened, maybe this way human beings are going to kill each other a bit less. I’ve learnt by listening to and asking questions to my Grandmother as well as other elderly in my family and life and it is amazing how one single event can be seen and understood in very different ways. 

We can find examples everywhere; we can talk with people in Chile about what their opinion of the long dictatorship is, or of the problem with the Educational System in Chile is. Likewise, if we talk to people who survived the Second World War in London, maybe our understanding of that event could change, maybe partially or completely.

Blog Session 8 Instructions

Dear Class,

This time please write about a subject you've enjoyed studying this semester.
Write about your favourite subject this semester. Among other, include:

a) Name
b) Describe what you do in classes
c) Mention the main contents you have studied
d) Explain why you like this subject.

Word count: 180 and don't forget to make comments on 3 of your classmates' posts minimum.

Good luck,

Belén

Blog Session 7 An expert in your field

Dear Class,


Today, you will write about a) an expert in your field or b) about career-related website. To do so, consider the following:


An expert in your field


a) Mention two contributions to your area of studies.
b) Explain his/her importance nowadays.
c) Say how you found out about him/her.
Also, provide a picture if possible.


A career-related website

a) Say how did you discover it.
b) Why you use it for.
c) Two reasons why you would recommend it.
Also, provide the link to your career-related website.



Write 170 words mminimum.

Remember to leave a comment on 3 of your classmates' posts every time you write in your blogs.



Good luck!

Blog Session 6 Instructions

Dear Class,

Today, it's the second time you can choose what to write about.
In 160 words you can write about how busy your week has been, how busy you're in general, about the problem with people in Chiloé and in the X Region in general or about anything else that interests you.

Remember to make three comments minimum.

Best,


Belén

Blog Session 5 Instructions

Dear Class,

This time you have to choose a picture you like to write about it.

Say:
a) who took it
b) what it shows
c) when it was taken
d) why you like it
e) Upload it too

Add any other information you'd like to mention in 150 words minimum. Don't forget to make comments on at least three of your classmates blogs.

Good luck,


Belén

Sample Post 5 A photograph

A photograph

To choose one photograph I like it’s not possible because I love colours but I also enjoy black and white. There are so many choices; photographers round the world have always been “making” photos. I definitely prefer black and white and I miss going to the dark room and developing my own film and pictures.

One of the photos I will always remember was taken by Luis Poirot, a well-known Chilean photographer. In this photo you can see Chilean song-writer, actor, singer and activist Víctor Jara, killed in 1973 by Chilean military officers. That day Víctor and Luis were near Cerro Blanco, in Recoleta. They were trying to obtain a photo for Víctor’s new album cover. Here we can see part of the complete photograph. I found this darkish copy on the internet but it’s not the photo I have on my wall at home -or the postcard version of the photo I was given.

In the portrait I have, apart from Víctor Jara holding his guitar, and the old lady behind him, there’s a boy to the left, next to Víctor, and the boy is looking at the camera. You can also see the entire guitar Víctor is holding. One more difference between this picture and mine is that Víctor is not looking at the camera.

This photo was taken in 1969. According to Luis, the photographer, this photo wasn’t authorized by the Communist party, so Víctor’s new album cover for “Pongo en tus manos abiertas” was the one – you might have seen- with two open palms.

Last but not least, I really like this photo because Víctor Jara is in it and of the various photos where Víctor appears, this one is my favourite portrait of him. I admire and respect everything he was and did.

Blog Session 4 Instructions

Dear Class,

This is the first time you can choose the topic. If you ask me, I would choose something about your careers so you can start preparing for your presentations on May12th.

This post should have 140 words minimum plus your 3 comments about your classmates' blogs.

Remeber it's always a good idea to answer the following questions when organising your writing:
what? why? how? and what for?

Hope you can find inspiration to choose the topic.

Best,


Belén

Blog Session 3 Instructions

Dear Class.

Today you have to write about technology. Think about your favourite piece of technology and say:

a) what it is
b) when you got it
c) how you use it
d) how often you use it
e) why you like it
f) what life would be without it

Write this post in 130 words minimum and remember to make at least three comments' on your classmates' posts.

Best,


Belén

Blog Session 2 Instructions

Dear Class,


Today and just as we did in the class, think about your careers...


Write this post in 125 words minimum and include the following to answer why did you choose this career?


a) Your dream jobs when you were a child.


b) Other career options that you had at the moment of applying to university.


c) What made you decide in the end.


d) Your experience at university until now.


e) The kind of job you would like to have.


Don't forget to make comments on at least three of your classmates' posts not only because it's part of the evaluation but because the interaction between you is important.

Good luck,


Belén

Blog Session 1 Expressing your opinions

Dear Class,

This time, please choose one of the following topics so you can write what you think about it:

1. Adoption
2. Gender equality
3. Gay marriage
4. Censorship
5. Legal abortion
6. Immigration
7. Death penalty
8. Media in wartime

First, you can find information about the topic, in English of course so you can decide where to start.
For example, you can write about what's the situation in Chile about Adoption, then you can include the most common ways to adopt babies and/or children (Foster's home, SENAME, etc.) and finally, you can write your conclusion including your opinion.

Please write this post in 200 words minimum and don't forget to make comments on your classmates' posts, at least three.


Good luck!


Belén

First post Instructions

Dear Class,

Before you begin, read the sample post to have an idea of how to write your post. You can use the sample post as a model.
Today, in your first post, please write about you. Include the following:

a) Birth info
b) Studies (Elementary, High School, University)
c) Family info
d) Hobbies
e) Others

Write this in 100 words minimum and don't forget to make comments on 3 of your classsmates' posts.


Good luck,


Belén

Sample Post: About me

My full name is María Belén Farías Gutiérrez but nobody calls me María Belén. I’m Belén, a single Chilean woman, I’m 36 years-old, I have a baby boy and I live in Santiago with my partner and my son. I’m from Chile and I was born in the capital city, on a rainy day, on May 22nd 1979. We’re a five-member family, my parents plus my brother, sister and I; and I'm the youngest because my sister Male and brother Felipe both are older than me. I also have a younger step-brother, Mauricio, who’s 18 and a younger half-sister, Mariajosé, who’s 6. My parents got divorced in 2004 and in the same year I left home and went travelling to Europe for a couple of months so I could visit some of my friends there.

I studied in the same school for twelve years and I’m still in contact with most of my classmates. After that, when I was 17, I worked sporadically and studied English for a year because I didn’t know what to study as a career but I finally decided I wanted to be a translator. I graduated as a translator in 2001 and then studied Pedagogía en Inglés so I became an English teacher in 2005. Also, I've been teaching Spanish to foreigners for 9 years. In 2010 I started working as a tour guide and with my boyfriend we now have our own tour business called Puelmapu Turismo Sustentable.

I really like music and sports. I play capoeira, practice yoga, trekking and rock climbing but I can’t go climbing as often as I’d like to. I love dancing too and I don’t mind trying to learn new rhythms. I enjoy singing and I try to learn new songs in different languages. Also, I’ve tried to learn how to play some instruments but regularly I just play the tambourine.

Welcome back to English!

Dear Class,


I hope you enjoy writing posts and using blogs. Every week you'll have to write a post in your blog, so let's get ready...

Remember you have to try your best instead of using Google translator. All kinds of translators are forbiden.

Let's begin with the first post about you...


Best,


Belén