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Board: ELT e-reading group |
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'Welcome' - JulietWM@BC (3 posts) August 14th, 2007, 11:05 AM (120 replies)
Introduce yourselves here and choose which books you are going to talk about.
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 14th, 2007, 09:50 PM
Hello everyone
Welcome to the ELT e-reading group!
This group is an initiative of a collective of English language teachers from all over the world who are also passionate about literature and would like to share this passion with other fellow teachers.
Please, tell everyone a little bit about yourself here - where you come from, your teaching background, your lit preferences and what you hope to get out of this reading/discussing experience.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chris
Forum moderator
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Hornbyboy (2 posts) August 15th, 2007, 10:30 PM
Hi, everyone!
My name is Sergio Mobilia, I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I did my undergrad in English (TESOL).
Welcome on board this new initiative!
Serg (aka "Hornbyboy")
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Hornbyboy (2 posts) August 15th, 2007, 10:37 PM
Hi, everyone!
It is Sergio again. I am now a Fulbright scholar studying for an MA in International Affairs at the University of Connecticut. My area of concentration is Intercultural Human Resources Management and Communication.
I am former editor of the Herald Education News (www.buenosairesherald.com) as well as former SIG Liaison Officer for APIBA (Association of English Teachers of Buenos Aires). I am also a member of both the Critical Literacy Schools and the ICRP (Intercultural Resource Pack) teams.
I`m sure this new inititive will be a highly enriching experience for all of us!
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 16th, 2007, 01:01 AM
Hello Everyone,
My name is José Antônio, I am an EFL teacher living in Brasilia, Brazil. I am very glad to be part of this group. First because I like reading and have not done that much lately. One of the reasons, I think, is the fact of not having anyone to share my ideas about this reading with. The second reason is that this project puts together two things I am just crazy about: reading and being connected to people through the web.
As I said, I am a teacher and I love using ICT to learn and to teach my students. Besides that, it has proven to be a nice way of meeting people from all over the world.
I am really looking forward to hearing/reading from all the members of this group and get straight with our first reading assingment.
Abraços from Brazil
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Soher (6 posts) August 16th, 2007, 06:43 AM
Hi all ,
Congratulations on having this forum which tackles literature in teaching specifically and reading in general. My name is Soher Ahmed . I'm Egyptian . I'm a teacher of English in the high schools in Egypt . I'm also a trainer of using ICT in teaching :a project done here by the BC. I'm interested so much in writing opinions in the field of literature and exchanging ideas as well . I believe in using literature in teaching English . I taste poetry , novels and plays. I hope the group chose interesting masterpieces to discuss in order to get the utmost benefit of joining the group . I hope it will flourish and gain fruitful results. Cheers.
Soher
Egypt
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Sanghita (44 posts) August 16th, 2007, 05:25 PM
Nomoskar (= greetings in Bangla, my first language) from India! I'm Sanghita a teacher of English turned teacher educator and academic administrator in India. I have taught English (specifically English-English) literature and language for 7 years at the Undergraduate ( B.A. Honours) level in a college under North Bengal University in West Bengal, a state in India. In 2004 I was posted by the Government of West Bengal as the director of an ESL teacher training Institute in Kolkata (used to be known as Calcutta) and started playing the role of a teacher educator. I joined this profession with a passion for teaching and faith in the power of education in bringing about qualitative change in human life.
I am very happy to be a part of this virtual community and I know that this collaboration is going to be a beginning of many new ventures and international collaborations of our future.
Thanks to Chris for thinking about such a platform and thanks to everyone for shouldering the responsibility of getting it go.
Looking forward to a great illuminating discussion.
Regards
Sanghita
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JulietWM@BC (3 posts) August 17th, 2007, 02:22 PM
I have been contacted by the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, an international literary award organized and funded by the Commonwealth Foundation. The Prize, established in 1987, aims to reward the upsurge of new Commonwealth fiction and ensure that works of merit reach a wider audience outside their country of origin. The 2007 Prize, for which the Overall winners were announced in May was the Prize’s 21st anniversary, and the Foundation took the opportunity to further develop the Prize, including producing new education and outreach initiatives.
As part of these initiatives they developed reading guides and notes based on the 2007 winning titles. They are now looking for reading groups who may be interested in using these new resources and giving them their feedback on the winning books for the CWP website.
The Foundation will provide the books to each member of the discussion group as well as the guides which include; book synopses, information on the winning writer, thematic discussion questions, and other related material. The groups will have a chance to read the winning titles and then get together to share their ideas and experiences. Groups might also be given the chance to talk to the author of the discussed title through a closed e-discussion group.
If your reading group would be interested in taking part in this scheme or if there is any further information your require on the Prize, please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Sobol by telephone on +44 20 7747 6262 or by e-mail at j.sobol@commonwealth.int.
Please have a look at their website at http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/culturediversity/writersprize/
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Mostafa (24 posts) August 18th, 2007, 11:46 PM
hi everyone,
It's indeed a splendid idea ,dear Chris, You have had to get us around this lovely lit table!
first of all, I am Mostafa Mouhibe, from Morocco. My native lgge is Tamazight-standing for freedom- which most Moroccans speak.My literary background is somehow versatile, for I read Arabic, French and Anglosaxon literature.The Novel is my most preferable genre, namly the fictions of James Joyce, Henry James, w. Faulkner, Virginia Woolf to name only some.
I also read Baudelaire, Jean Jacqus Rousseau, ,Voltaire from whom I was first milked the taste of fiction.
I hope to enrich my reading experience and my critical mecanisms from this promising project.
Sorry I have forgotten to mention that I am an EFL teacher for 11 years so far in a high school.
Cheers
motafa
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Cho Ko Thein Myint (1 post) August 19th, 2007, 04:53 PM
Dear All,
I am SWE SET from Burma. I am doing my MA (EFL). My area of focus does not contain literature though I think it is very important to me. For now I have not decided yet which book I am going to read. Rather I would like to see other's discussions first.
Please, any of you, could suggest me where I can start my reading. It would be very grateful.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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jia (37 posts) August 20th, 2007, 12:15 PM
Hello Everyone,
This is Jia alias for Suparna Sengupta. Iam in Bangalore, India. I have been a student of literature or specifically English lit. since my degree level. I also completed my masters in the same and subsequently taught in colleges at the degree level. I was teaching even till 6 months back when an illness forced me to leave my job. I really do miss teaching, but wish to come back some time in future.
This is a great opportunity for lovers of lit.--my area of interest happens to be European lit.
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door (9 posts) August 20th, 2007, 02:30 PM
Hi Soher I am an Algerian teacher of tefl. I am always aiming for better teaching. I teach at the middle school. I have a project I call it 'educate you pupils and let him learn'. I have found this web as a gate opened apart for teachers to share their views and thanks to the British Council which makes our meeting closer.
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Soher (6 posts) August 20th, 2007, 08:56 PM
Hi door,
It's a pleasure that you joined our community and I'm sure it will be of great benefit to all of our development as teachers . I'm happy to know about your project but I'll be happier if you give more details about it . Please let me know your real name Is it door ? Thanks a lot and let's know about your literary interests . Cheers
Soher
Egypt
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 20th, 2007, 10:03 PM
Hello everyone
Thanks a lot for joining the group at this very early stage and thanks for your enthusiasm.
I'll be posting the link to our first text soon in a new thread. Please, post your comments there and keep coming here for your introductions and welcome messages.
Cheers - Chris
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GraemeH (12 posts) August 20th, 2007, 11:25 PM
Dear Chris, Sérgio, José Antonio and all our dear colleagues from around the globe...
On behalf of the British Council Brazil I welcome you all and look forward to exchanging ideas on the texts. When I first suggested to Chris that the Critical Literacy Group focus its attention on e-books it was precisely with a view to facilitating the reading of common texts.
As this is supposed to be an introduction, suffice it to say that I graduated in English Language and Literature from Lancaster University in UK and completed my M.A. in Applied Linguistics here in Brazil, where I am now English Language Director for the British Council here.
I go almost nowhere without a book... and now the cyberspace is to be no exception! My main interest is in literature which highlights cultural diversity, especially from a profoundly personal point of view.
Congrats once again, Chris, for making this happen.
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Lucienne (5 posts) August 21st, 2007, 12:50 PM
Hi everyone,
I became instantly interested in this discussion group when I received the e-mail through Eltecs.
I studied linguistics and education, I´m a certified ELT teacher and I´m currently studying a masters in New Technologies Applied to Education.
I´m also a Spanish B examiner for the IBO.
I´m peruvian but I´m currently living in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
I´m looking forward to reading and having enriching discussions with all of you.
Best,
Lucienne
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walber (1 post) August 21st, 2007, 01:28 PM
Hello everyone. I am Walber Silva from Maceió Brazil. I am very pleased to take part on such an enlightening and motivating experience. Literature has been a great challenge for, not only students, but also for us FL teachers. I am certain that this e-reading group will be the point of departure for our improvement on this field. Thanks to Chris's initiative.
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SaraW (9 posts) August 21st, 2007, 02:28 PM
Hallo Chris, Sergio and Reading group friends
Nice to see you all here- congratulations Chris on geting us going (again!)
I've lived in Brazil for almost 40 years- I teach diplomats at the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and I teach literature for fun- my fun- the students take it rather seriously. I'm a dilettante, not a real literature person.
I happen to be workiong on King Lear and Othello (2 different groups) and will be working on Julian barned- Flaubert's Parrot- which means I'm re-reading Madame Bovary (prouldy in French). My favoutire novel, for the last few years, has been Arundhati Roy- The God of Small Things. Ir ecently enjoyed THe Inheritance of Loss -Kiran Desai's novel that won the last Booker prize.
I would be interested to hear from Indian and other members of this group what they think about these two novels...
Bye for now
SaraW
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 21st, 2007, 03:33 PM
Hi Sara!! I'm so glad to have you onboard - welcome to the group!!! - Chris
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door (9 posts) August 21st, 2007, 09:31 PM
Hi Soher. I am delighted with your reply .I am an Algerian tefl teacher . My name is Laid(eid)didi. I have been teaching for 28 years. My project is aiming at changing attitudes from passive ones to those who cooporate to respect others' views , to listen to others, don't interupt and to interact. It's a practical way of teaching.
There are two sides, one is learning, the other is educating where the students feel responsible - we called the pupils (autono) it's fruitful.
My literary interest: I am a bookworm. I read a lot in English I am interested in English literature as well as American. The author whom I love a lot is Richard Right, the famous American novelist. My e.mail is litaoudafouteen_laid@yahoo.com
Wishing to hear from u.
laid
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door (9 posts) August 21st, 2007, 09:35 PM
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door (9 posts) August 21st, 2007, 09:50 PM
iam very delighted to answer. aiam analgerian teacher of tefl.my name is laid didi.about my project
iam aiming at changin my pupils attitudes from passive learners to active ones who cooporate to learn. this will have great impact intheir futur life . id likre to see new generation who interac and be interacted.to listen tobe inquisiti. to respct other views in othe words to build apossitive generation with self esteem
about my litrary interest iam book worm i read alot do u have an idea about richard right he is one of the famous americans novelists. by the way th e time im massagin u there a book in front of me its called How to develop sefl confidence and influence people nby public speaking written by DALE CARNEGIE
my e.mail. litaoudafouteen_laid@yahoo.com
laid
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door (9 posts) August 21st, 2007, 10:13 PM
Hi Lucienne
I am also a certified elt teacher . I am a book reader specialised in reading English novels, its nothing like a very good book
My name i is Laid. I am an Algerian teacher of tefl for kids.
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GraemeH (12 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 12:03 AM
As we're on the topic of Indian literature, one book I thoroughly enjoyed this year was Anita Nair's "Ladies' Coupe", which I confess I read in its Spanish translation (El vagón de las mujeres). This is about a 40-something Indian woman, Akhila, who shares stories and secrets with 5 female travelling companions as their train makes its way across India. Any other fans of Anita Nair out there?
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Soher (6 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 11:36 AM
Hi all and Laid,
How nice to write again about the type of literature I like to read . I adore novels and these days I'm reading Animal Farm by George Orwell a book which I think it's worth reading and contemplating . I'm interested in Dicken's writing though I know his novels are world wide and no one who studies The English literature should be aware of his masterpieces . yet, I think that in this group we should vary our reading and analysis of literary work in order to get the best benefit . I mean why don't we have a look at work of unknown people who might write good literary masterpieces but people don't know about them . Laid , I liked your expression that you are a book worm. I'm a book worm as well .Thank you for your hi and let me say hi to you as well . Cheers
Soher
Egypt
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thejoshuatree (4 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 02:22 PM
Hello Chris,
My name is Jorge Anchiraico. I am a teacher from Peru. And I love share academic experience with teachers from all over the world.
Firstly, Iam glad to take part in this significant forum. Currently I am a teacher in charge of a computer lab and It has passed two years since last time I was in front of my pupils in class, but I do not forget the importance of teaching English through the use of literature. Reading is so important when acquiring a new language.
Nowadays, whithin my whole task in the lab I am also personal responsible in getting the most of free readings from the web and nobody can deny that the Interne is a vast resource to get them.
Looking forward from your comments,
Hugs,
Jorge Anchiraico
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thejoshuatree (4 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 02:58 PM
Hi Lucienne,
Congratulations for your master career, New Technologies Applied to Education is going to be the cornersone of education in future.
I have a question please, Would you like to tell me what is IBO?, sorry I don't know it.
With the hope of keeping in touch in advanced
Greetings,
Jorge Anchiraico
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Pasi Nova (15 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 03:02 PM
Dear Friends,
I don't know how to express my emotion. I am really happy to send you this message, for some, it is the response to what they've sent to me. I can say that globalization is really amazing.Can you imagine what great it is sending your message everywhere in the world? It is Fantastic, learning other's culture... So now you can discover who is Pasi.
I am Pasi Mafuta Nova. Nova means (New), it is my husband's surname and my friends here call me by Mrs New. I am married with Nova. Our first daughter's name is MILENIA, she is 7. Junior is 3 and we are waiting for the 3rd one ( her name is Mafuta Elizabeth Numbi Nova). I am 35, I was born in Kinshasa (RDC). I hope you all know the history of Angola. My parents went in Kinshasa escaping the war, there they got married and had children. We all came back after the independence.
I live and work in Luanda the Capital of Angola. I teach English Language at the Institut of Telecommunications. I have concluded the 4th year of English Linguistic at the faculty of Education. My thesis is ready and I am waiting for the date to defend it. I would like to continue my studies.
I speak Portuguese, French, Lingala (from Kinshasa), chiluba( spoken between RD of Congo and Angola in the border) and Kikongo is my mother tongue.
I like reading, writing and travelling.
I think to stop here, we have more time to exchange experience.
All the Best
Pasi Nova.
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Sanghita (44 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 03:26 PM
Hi Jia,
Welcome aboard. I'm sure the discussion will give you a feel of being in the trade. I'm too from India, based in Kolkata and current studying in the UK.
Regards
Sanghita (Sen)
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Sanghita (44 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 03:31 PM
Hi Door
the last part of your name, i.e. 'didi' means 'elder sister' in many indian languages, including Bangla, my mother tongue. It's so wonderful to know so many people from so many different geographical locations.
I feel this group is ideal for an enriched discussion on literature that nurture multiculturalism, multienthnicity and multivocality.
looking forward to a rewarding experience
Regards
Sanghita
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Lucienne (5 posts) August 22nd, 2007, 10:10 PM
Hi Jorge,
The IBO is the International Baccaulaureate Organization. It is an educational organization based in Switzerland but the examination is in Cardiff.
You can see www.ibo.org
Regards,
Lucienne
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Alan P (1 post) August 23rd, 2007, 02:05 AM
Hi, everyone -
My name is Alan Pulverness. I'm a teacher trainer and materials writer, working for much of the year with NILE - the Norwich Institute for Language Education - in the east of England, running courses for teachers from all over the world.
My special interests are intercultural awareness and the use of literature in ELT. From 2001 to 2005, together with Claudia Ferradas from Buenos Aires, I co-chaired the British Council's Oxford Conference on the Teaching of Literature . For the last three years Claudia and I have also been working with teachers from Portugal on the BritLit project (see www.teachingenglish.org.uk/download/britlit/britlit.
shtml) and we have been joined this year by tecahers from Spain and Italy. In April, we also worked together at the University of Alcala de Henares near Madrid, teaching an Masters module on the short story.
I have acted as editorial advisor on three Italian literature textbooks and I have also edited schools' editions of two Shakespeare plays (Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet) for a German publisher. For the last 18 months or so, I have been working with teachers and librarians in Siberia on reader development in general and the establishment of reading groups in particular. So my interest in this group is partly as a keen reader and partly as a researcher into the life of reading groups.
I'm looking forward to reading the etxts and joining the discussions.
Best wishes
Alan P
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thejoshuatree (4 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 02:45 AM
Hi Pasi Nova,
Read your letter is really amazing. I still remember the name 'Kinshasa' a short reading at the end of book 1 of Intercom when learning English the first time in 1981. Can you imagine it? I was 15 or 16 then. It was about Sekila Manzikala from Kinshasa. Nice beginning! Wasn't it?
It is beautiful to read dozens of messages from all of you, language professionals.
I live in Lima, Peru. It is a middle country in South America, perhaps you've heard abouth the last earthquake in the world last week. It was in my country, a devastating natural accident.
Well, with the hope to talk in advanced,
Jorge Anchiraico
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Pasi Nova (15 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 09:51 AM
Hi jorge,
It amazing, reading about Kinshasa in English Language books, it is an english city, maybe the story was intersting. I hope you liked the text.
Please, tell me. Is everyone in your family ok, after this earthquake? May God keep all of you well.
we are together in this elt e-reading group and surely we will have time to talk and sharing experiences.
Pasi Nova
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Pasi Nova (15 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 09:53 AM
Jorge,
it is just to correct a mistake. I think, I have written: Kinshasa is an english city instead of French city.
Best wishes
Pasi Nova
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Pasi Nova (15 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 09:59 AM
Hi Alan,
Welcome to this wonderful elt e-reading group. I hope to learn more about literature with you.
How is your institute, it is really nice to meet and know more about you. I would like to visit it one day to improve teaching English language.
All the best
Pasi Nova
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door (9 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 12:51 PM
Hi all of u and Soher
How are u - as its said that patience is the sine qua non of it all. We are going to share many and good expressions. By reading we develop a mechanism for speaking and writing in a foreign language. Your ideas are of great impact .Yet there are many good writers who are known .They didn't find their ways from bottle neck because of their living standards or the way their regime tackle with culture.
laid
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door (9 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 01:22 PM
hi
Reading remains always a key for developing individual skills in every field. Without it nothing goes.
The history of mankind begins with reading, when one reads he learns a lot of things the zest of it is self esteem. I am an Algerian teacher of tefl for kids. I am a bookworm. in my hand there is a bok called "how to develop self confidence and influence people" by Dale Carnegie
thanks to come on board.
laid
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Cota (12 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 04:41 PM
Hellooooooo everyone, I am Viviana Álvarez, from Chile, first of all I want to tell the people from Peru that chileans are so sorry for what you've beeb going through, WE KNOW what that means, we are praying for you.
Well I am a High school English teacher, but I love teaching little kids, so, so far I have taught from Pre-K till Senior, I love teaching, I think it 's the best thing I can do.
I am married , I have two boys ( 18 ) and ( 16), my husband is an engineer and we live in Rancagua, about an hour to the South from Santiago, the capital of the Country.
I feel so good being part of this group, I agree with Pasi....globalization is more than fantastic!!!!
I joined this group just for a personal challenge, I want to improve my English and I am sure through Literature you can get it.
Well, I did my assignment, I read ULLSWATER, I liked it, but while you read you can see the lack of communication that existed between the two brothers.
Which is nothing new if we compare to nowadays, that's what we have to fight for, Family is first, and the communication does it all.
Hugs to every one, I am waiting for the next text, love, Viviana.
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Rehmat (2 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 07:18 PM
Hi Chris
Sorry for this late introduction of myself. I'm Rehmat Ebrahim from Pakistan. I'm a teacher, a trainer and a teacher educator. I love reading and I hope I will have a chance to read a lot of good stuff here. Over the years I have developed a taste for non-native writers of English and have read a little bit by some of them. However, I would also be interested in reading the native English writers.
Rehmat
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Rehmat (2 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 07:21 PM
Hey Joshuatree... I taught the Intercom series... all of them here in Pakistan. I loved the series and was sorry when we changed to another one. I remember sekila manzikala well and also Toshio Ito
Rehmat
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GraemeH (12 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 07:33 PM
Hi Walber!
Great to see a fellow "nordestino" here... I consider myself an honorary Northeasterner, having lived in Sergipe and Ceará on and off since 1989!!
Looking forward to reading your impressions of this months' text.
G.
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GraemeH (12 posts) August 23rd, 2007, 07:36 PM
Hola Jorge!
Have you paid a visit to Brazil's ELT Online Community, where you can exchange ideas with other teachers involved in CALL and even find a free online web-based language development course for teachers! www.britishcouncil.org.br/elt
Bye for now,
G.
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 24th, 2007, 04:48 AM
Hello everyone
I'd like to thank you all once again for this amazing response and for your posts here.
Perhaps it's time now to introduce myself and give you all a bit of background information on our reading group itself.
My name is Chris and I've been an English Language teacher for over 13 years. I'm based in Porto Alegre, in the south of Brazil, and what initially attracted me to ELT was my love for English Lit.
This project sort of started more than a year ago when Julian Wing and I were brainstorming ways of bringing together ELT and Literature. Then after moderating the Literature, Media and Cultural Studies SIG forum on the BC/IATEFL Aberdeen Online in April this year the whole picture became clear to me. There I had the opportunity to meet teachers from all over the world who are also passionate about literature and believe there is a place for it in ELT. I contacted them and got their support for this idea - thanks a lot Soher, Sanghita, Mostafa and Viviana for believing in it from the beginning. Thanks also for all the others who joined us after Aberdeen.
My heartful thanks to Juliet Wragge-Morley from the BC Arts department who also gave me tremendous support offering to host the initiative here in the enCompass website.
Thanks to Penny Trigg, who is promoting the group throught the ELTeCS lists, and to Fitch O'Connell, from the BC Portugal, who is also helping us to bring some really good news to all of you soon...
My Lit preferences? Very eccletic indeed, I'm a keen Shakespearean, I absolutely love Austen and now I'm just looking forward to getting to my copy of New Writing 15 :)
Cheers
Chris
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thejoshuatree (4 posts) August 24th, 2007, 02:39 PM
Hi Pasi Nova and all participants,
At first, my family is ok after the earthquake, thank you for your words Pasi.
On the other hand, talking about literaure is so important in learning a language because through lit learners expand new vocabulary, see the various facts of grammar points and identifies with someone into it or feel what the author tried to transmit.
Literature is a valuable tool in ELT I think.
I expect your comments over it,
Kinds regards
Jorge Anchiraico
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cocó (1 post) August 24th, 2007, 03:32 PM
HELLO!
I'm a 28 year old English teacher in Peru. I love reading and my favorite writers are just the ones you've mentioned in your email: George ORwell and DIckens. I'm really interested in reading some of the new literature. Any suggestion?
Cheers
COCÓ
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door (9 posts) August 24th, 2007, 09:51 PM
Hi cota
welcome to the dicussion group. Iam an Algerian teacher of English .I taught in high schools but now I an teaching kids of 14. It's is amazing and nice to tearch kids . They teach you how you should teach them. They are quick learners, active .if you give them space where they can channel their energy you'll discover another world of work they are bees
every one wants to help , to know ; to participate etc...
laid
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Tran Lan (1 post) August 24th, 2007, 10:16 PM
Hello Chris and everyone in the group,
I have finally sorted out the bugs in my registration....or maybe the bugs in myself.... to be able to introduce myself. My name is Lynda Deckard Ramos. I have a long and convoluted history and am originally from Kenya but now live in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. I teach at a maritime university here and have also previously been a teacher trainer. I am a voracious reader....let's face it, I read anything and everything. Because it is difficult to get books in English were I live, I snap up copies of anything in English and read it like other people eat popcorn.
Have we decided yet what will be the first e-book we are going to read and discuss?
I look forward to getting to know everyone and to sharing a good read.
Lynda
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 24th, 2007, 11:53 PM
Hi Rehmat,
Welcome to the group. It is so nice to have people from so many different countries together. My name is José Antônio and I am a Brazilia EFL teacher.
Cheers
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Soher (6 posts) August 25th, 2007, 05:55 AM
Hi Chris and all,
let me greet you on having such a window to let some light of literature illuminate our life . Thanks a lot for mentioning me among the names who encouraged you to begin this initiative but I really couldn't do a lot . Your favourit reading love are the same like me as I adore shakespeare and Austen . Not only do I like shakespeare's plays but his poetry as well . But I couldn't get what you mean by New writing 15 ? Really I want to know about that . all the best.
Soher
Egypt
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 25th, 2007, 12:39 PM
Hi Soher & everyone -
'New Writing' is the British Council's annual anthology of the finest contemporary writing in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It's now in its 15th edition and you can take a look at it, download some texts, teacher's notes and reader's notes at
http://newwriting.britishcouncil.org
Enjoy
Chris
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Cota (12 posts) August 25th, 2007, 04:42 PM
Hi laid?...is that your name?.....I absolutely agree with you.....I love being a clown in the classroom....I am a little hiper...so the kids and me make a bomb!!!! hahahhaha......I am full of energy and my students are my batteries....I just love teaching!!!!
See you around.
Cota.
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Cota (12 posts) August 25th, 2007, 04:46 PM
My dear Chris...Like Soher I do feel so pleased that you mentioned my name on the list...I am supporting you, but I need to learn about you all, thanks a lot.
Viviana (cota)
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Cota (12 posts) August 25th, 2007, 06:10 PM
Hello Cocó....first to tell you how sorry is our country for what you've passed through, we really know what this natural desaster means......I hope from the very bottom of my heart that all your people are doing well, love, Viviana, Chile
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 26th, 2007, 01:34 AM
Hello Cocó,
Welcome to the group. I have a very nice friend in Cajamarca Peru. Her name is Nella. She is really nice. I am Brazilian and just love having our Latin brothers and sisters joining our group. I am sure we are going to have a lot of fun.
Abraços from Brazil
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 26th, 2007, 01:37 AM
Hello Lynda,
Welcome to the group. From kenia to Mexico is really an interesting story. About the bugs, I also got my share of them and the bug was me. For some time I was unable to post because I did not know where exactly I should go. now everything is fine.
All the Best
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MEL (6 posts) August 26th, 2007, 02:20 PM
Hi, My name is Maria Esther Linares. I have been a Peruvian Teacher of English for the last 27 years. Sorry I haven`t post a message before but there iis still too much to do in my country after the earthquake. Thanks God my closed family is fine and not the same with the extended one but life has to go on.
Thanks Chris for inviting me to be a part of the team, to hear from old friends I met at Sorocaba and definitely to meet new people and try to share experiences.
Welcome on board!!
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MEL (6 posts) August 26th, 2007, 02:22 PM
Hi Lucienne,
I hope not to be mistaken but are you Lucienne Martinez?
Regards
MEL
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MEL (6 posts) August 26th, 2007, 02:24 PM
Hi Cocò,
I am also a Peruvian teacher of English and as jose Antonio mentioned we have a friend in Cajamarca called Nella and we also met Leticia Zavaleta from Universidad de Cajamarca. Hope to hear from you soon.
Regard
MEL
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 26th, 2007, 07:51 PM
Hi Mel,
It is good to have you here. I miss the good times we spent in Sorocaba. Welcome. It is good to have one more Peruvian here
Hugs
José Antônio
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germanvd (1 post) August 26th, 2007, 11:53 PM
Hello, My name's German Vargas and I´m from Lima, Peru. I work as an English teacher. One of my favorite hobbies is reading. I started reading books more often when I first watched the movie "Discoverying Forrester" with Sean Connery. This movie inspired me a lot. Well, I am going going to talk about Gabriel Garcia Marquez's books and some others books I like.
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ChrisL (210 posts) August 27th, 2007, 03:14 PM
Hello German, Mel and all the Peruvians
I'm really glad to see such a response coming from Peru, which is a country where I have many good friends like Mel & Nella.
I'm also glad to know that you are recovering from such a terrible disaster and going ahead with your lives. Welcome to the group and we are all looking forward to reading your comments on *Ullswater*.
Cheers- Chris
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Lucienne (5 posts) August 27th, 2007, 03:30 PM
Hi MEL,
Yes! I am Lucienne Martínez, my dear, I´m so glad to hear from you again.
So, we will continue to exchange experiences.
Hugs,
Lucienne
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Lucienne (5 posts) August 27th, 2007, 03:52 PM
In general I enjoy short stories so I was enthusiastic to start with one as "Ullswater".
The author is able to describe the charater very well. He chose to give us an example of how intolerance can bring two brothers apart.
The dialogue between uncle and nephew is like a late analysis of what happened in that familiy , but we are only presented to one point of view. We could also say that this happened "too late". But sometimes within familiy realtionships there are "missing links" to understand some situations and through this dialogue the author is giving the missing link to the nephew.
This could be analyze within the circle of a family to work with students how we can improve our relationships within the basis of our society but we could also extrapolate it to what happens in the world.
From what we can see in real life, communication is broken when people are not brought up with cultural awareness and respect for other people´s point of view.
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Jose Antonio (15 posts) August 27th, 2007, 10:31 PM
Hi Luciene,
I like what you said about the author making a later analysis of what happened in the family. I t sure is only one point of view, however the character telling the story implies that his is not the only one. It certainly is an emotional about getting old and dying.
Best wishes
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Alexandra (2 posts) August 29th, 2007, 08:19 PM
Helo everyone,
I'm Silvia Salinas from Argentina. I teach English at secondary school. I like teaching but sometimes I feel that something is missing, so when I received the news about this reading group I joined it. I believe this is an unique opportunity to learn more and improve myself, besides I love reading.
Silvia
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superpup (2 posts) September 2nd, 2007, 11:15 PM
Hello everyone!
My name is Faith Fishley. I am originally from Canada. I teach English at a lifelong learning center in South Korea. Part of my work is to develop reading programs for the center.
I look forward to taking part in this on-line discussion.
Best,
Faith
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Cota (12 posts) September 2nd, 2007, 11:15 PM
Welcome Alexandra, this is Viviana from Chile, I love Argentina, and everytime I have the chance I go, I've only been in Mendoza, I love shopping!!!!, I haven't been to Buenos Aires yet....I will someday.
A big hug, Viviana.
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Alexandra (2 posts) September 4th, 2007, 07:26 PM
Hi Cota!
I'm from the north of Argentina actually. I live in Jujuy a small province that limits with Chile. I'm glad you like my country. Unfortunately I've never had the opportunity to visit yours but I hope I will go some day.
Hugs
Alexandra
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adolatkal (44 posts) October 16th, 2007, 02:12 PM
BANA literary celebrities can inspire fabulous ESP learners' writings.
Uzbek NNESs’ communities practice generating students’ diverse ideas for developing learning portfolios, which become later effective teaching aids.
I would share my research findings, implemented within recent Online project and demonstrate how reading inputs of best samples of American Literature can inspire learners in creating rubrics. We have begun with I. Azimov's fiction"The fun they had'.
This poster presentation about online project is elaborated due conceptual framework of 50-word published abstract in content and format and will bear its entire resemblance. The disposal will be so planned and designed, that distributed handouts will promote the presenters’ ideas. Handouts’ labels as triggers will assist attendees to interact. Learners’ rubrics will serve as visual aids for questioning and other conventional activities.
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adolatkal (44 posts) October 16th, 2007, 02:40 PM
Dear organizers and promoters of the Reading Group!
This is my profile:
Ozimova Halima, an Emeritus and Visiting MBA Professor, member of 3
International educational NGOs:”Strategy-civilization, gender,stability”, Uztea and
VDLUs. Being accountable to the ESP learners I am interesting in all types of English readings related to these issues.
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anaumoska (3 posts) November 16th, 2007, 04:14 PM
Hi everybody!
My name is Aneta Naumoska, and I am from Macedonia. I live in the capital city, Skopje, and have been working as an ELT teacher at the University for 3 years already.
I would like to get in touch with teachers of English Literature, and try to unleash my thoughts and feelings about works of literature.
So I would be happy to get to know you all!
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ChrisL (210 posts) November 16th, 2007, 05:08 PM
WELCOME Aneta - it's great to have you joining us and we are looking forward to reading about your views on the texts we are discussing.
Cheers - Chris
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pilar (40 posts) November 16th, 2007, 05:34 PM
Hi from Argentina! Incredible how our love for literature can get us all together!
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pilar (40 posts) November 16th, 2007, 05:46 PM
Hi!!! i´m from argentina and i read your name and of course your article!!! in the 20006 iatefl newsletter. i wrote the article on What u ge is what u see? Great to know we keep on searching on believing: "Literature is the question minus the answer"
Kind regards
Pilar
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ChrisL (210 posts) November 16th, 2007, 06:06 PM
WELCOME Pilar - I'm really glad you have decided to join us and I hope being in the group can become a wonderful literary experience for you as it has been to me. Cheers - Chris
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pilar (40 posts) November 20th, 2007, 03:10 AM
Hi! I´m Pilar from Argentina, I´m a teacher trainer and a literature lover, this story by D Lessing has that something that makes you think about gaps betweeen people, about how impossible communication is between generations, about silences full of unsaid words, about INVISIBILITY in spite of the fact that people are SEEING :"She stood just in front of him. And still she did not look at him. Young things do not see elderly or middle-aged or older people. She might be staring straight at him, but she didn’t see him."
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Tanguene (215 posts) November 20th, 2007, 02:45 PM
Hi,
It's really a great pleasure to know a bit more about people joining this wonderful group!
My name's Francisco D. Langa, I'm a facilitotor of the Book Club reading group at the British Council in Maputo, Mozambique. My passion is basically reading, and i read Portuguese, Changana (local language) and English. I'm studying statistics at UEM (public university) and this is still my first year. I have leadership qualifications through InterAction Leadership Programme conducted by the British Council and have been joining different reading groups...I would talk about "Walalapi" by Ungulani Ba Ka Khosa, a mozambican writer which I'm not sure it's been translated to English. if we can only comment on books written in English I would go for either "Every birth, it's blood" or "Desgrace"
Thanks
Thanks
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Yuliya (1 post) December 12th, 2007, 09:03 PM
Hello,
My name's Yuliya, I'm a student from the University of Ivan Franko,Lviv. now i'm at the 4th cours.i'm in the reading group at the British Council in Ukraine, city Lviv. My passion is basically writing poems, and i write in Russian,Ukrainian (local language) and English. I'm studying english literature and languages. i'm mad of the Spanish language and my next step is to learn it properly so i can try to write a poem.
Thanks for a chance to join ur Club.
p.s. yuliya zhuravska
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ffereshteh (1 post) December 13th, 2007, 09:33 AM
Hi Yuliya
My name is Fereshteh. Sevral years ago i had been worked as a English teacher but now i'm working as a journalist and i wana to countinue my study. I love reading and writiing and i think Reading and Writing are the most enjoyable things in the world.
I'm a professional writter in my language and i hope be a professional in English.
Good Luck
Fereshteh
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MIUDI (1 post) December 19th, 2007, 08:26 AM
Good morning everyone!
My name is Maria and I am from Galicia, Spain.
I have a degree in English Language and Literature and I passed the exam for the CPE a couple of years ago. I am currently teaching English to adults.
I love reading and I try to read as I can. I am very interested in cinema adaptations of English literature.
I'm very happy to take part in this forum and I hope to learn a lot from all of you.
Best regards
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ChrisL (210 posts) December 19th, 2007, 12:57 PM
Hello Yulyia, Ffereshteh and Muidi
Glad to have you here with us. we hope to read your comments and ideas on texts too. WELCOME to the group!!
Cheers -Chris
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Nilambar (1 post) January 9th, 2008, 07:39 AM
NAMASTE (HELLO) Everyone
I'm an English teacher at high school level, currently I have no classes.
I'm life member of the Nepal English language teachers association NELTA.
I enjoy teaching, reading and traveling.
I sometimes write articles on education. Three of the articles have already been published in one of the national daily, years ago. I used to write a column in Nepali language for the children between 8 to 12 years in a national monthly, last year.
I've just joined the group. I want to get involved in the discussions. Please let me know the topic.
Help me out.
Nilambar Badal
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Aty (2 posts) July 19th, 2008, 11:59 AM
Hello all (and Chris)
Really sorry for being the laggard. I am ashamed of myself for being so late.
I have multiple roles to play in my profession. I am a teacher at the postgrad level with ELT students. I also ply the role of a teacher-trainer, syllabus designer and education administrator. Phew!!!
But my passion has always been reading and read any and everything that I can lay my hands on. I like Latin American literature (in translation), Indian Writing in English, South Asian Writing and also Anglo-saxon literature.
I think it is a brilliant idea to bring up this discussion group since sharing, I guess, increases the charm of lit.
Promise to be more regular from now on.
Cheers
Atanu (Aty)
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janakili (1 post) July 21st, 2008, 06:51 AM
Hi everybody
My name is Jane and I´m from Slovakia. Ever since I discovered this discussion I was really re-born! I have always loved reading but since I´m an English teacher I have a loads of things to do. So now I´m catching up with all the books you´re talking about. However, my favourite author these days is David Lodge. Does anybody like him?
I look forward to hearing from somebody.
Thanks. Jane
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Tanguene (215 posts) July 21st, 2008, 08:18 AM
Dear All,
Just to share what a pleasure is reading "Alice's Bones" the Short Story Contest winner of firstwriter 2008 by Paul McGuire.
It's like he (the narrator) lives in a woman's soul who knows that all that her husband knows is wrong, and she with all her fears, excitements and hesitations enjoys her secrets behind a relantionship as awkward as her marriage with Michael.
She talks to herself like talking to "the fragile, out of place, but surviving flower standing beetwen the garage and the fence".
Paul McGuire sounds like a male's man, and the story is told through a woman's perperctive/experience, and if I'm right like I suspect, the author of this is a lunatic and talented being who reveals what can lie behind a simple relantionship like a marriage.
Tanguene
Get the story at: http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/poetry_competition/previous_winners/4thstory.shtml
If
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catanzaro (1 post) July 25th, 2008, 09:47 PM
Dear All:
I am Gianfranco Catanzaro from Peru. i am a certified ELT Teacher. I am currently working as the Head of English at Southern Peru schools, as Cambridge ESOL Local Secretary and as English B HL examiner for the IBO.
I joined this group because I believe that reading is a fun way of teaching a language. I am interested in Novels, specially fiction.
Hope to get to know you all
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chandella (8 posts) April 27th, 2009, 06:22 PM
hello chris
i am delighted to be a part of your group
let me introduce myself to every one
i am a masters in english literature
while teaching young minds i realized language teaching is an exciting and challenging assignment
this has lead me to embark on reearch in TESOL
I simply love books , though the computer screen is valued by me there is always a book at my side when i sleep!
i am a die hard fan of shakespeare, the romantics, and emily dickenson
i express myself in verse and if my suggestions of books show a tilt towards drama and poetry please excuse my bias
again my sincere thanks to chris for inviting me to an enlightened company
cheers
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vanesa (4 posts) June 2nd, 2009, 03:42 AM
Hello everybody! I´m Vanesa and I´m a student from Argentina. I thank all of you for give me this posibility to know another people from different countries, and at the same time change opinions about literature. I love stories with surprising endings and I love knowing about different costumes and cultures. I think this is going to help me to improve my English and learn about other things that people do all over the world.
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Nuno (1 post) June 2nd, 2009, 10:58 AM
Hello! everybody.
I am Avelino, I am from Angola, I am married with Caroline she is Angolan too, we live in kuanza sul province.
I am teacher at secondary school, I did not finish my high school, I was a philosopher students, I finished third years, unfortunately I did not continue because there was not opportunite to make it .
Now I am teaching at secondary school, also I am studying at Open University of Lisbon(Portugal) for distance. Administration course.
I have some difficult in english language so when I find this site about literature and culture I think that however with mistake, it will be a opportunite to share some point of view about matter which I know and learn with other people from different countries.
It is a moment that I will improve my english.
All the best!
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ChrisL (210 posts) June 3rd, 2009, 04:20 PM
Hi Avelino
Great to have you with us. Welcome to the group!
I hope you enjoy reading the stories here and that we can exchange ideas about them and learn together :)
Cheers - Chris
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DeeDee (3 posts) June 3rd, 2009, 09:10 PM
HI!, i don`t know where i have to write my comment about the stories i`ve read... Carapace and the story of an hour...
hope to find it...
i`m from Argentina, i`m not a teacher yet. I like to read a lot so i think it`s a good oportunity to chan ge thoughts with people interested in the same as me.
Hope to do it right.
See ya!
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adolatkal (44 posts) June 4th, 2009, 02:25 PM
Dear READERs!
I am an UzTEA member. The acronym UzTEA stands for Uzbekistan’s Association of English Teachers. There are so many Uzbeks, who are teaching/speaking/learning English!
We have here the UzTEA Annual FORUM 2009 Conference upon the slogan:» Social-Cultural aspects of teaching English», which will take place on the 12-13th of June, 2 009.
The subtitles of the main topic/slogan are:
1. Gender aspects of teaching English in the classroom.
2. Speech acts.
3. Geographical, Social and individual dialects.
4. Cultural difference.
Dear Readers!
English Teaching “FORUM” ,2008 was the year of the American city. That year each issue of “FORUM” focused on a city from a different region of the USA. How can we, Uzbek English teachers, benefit from those “Forum” publications? Especially in 2009, announced as the 2200 Anniversary Year of the capital of Uzbekistan Tashkent?
Dear READERs! Besides, I would like to report about our online reading club! We read /interacted about the short story of Doris Lessing “In the National Gallery”. Many of us contributed with so interesting opinions! I hope that I can be named among them too! I wonder how can that my experience be useful for promoting this great event in the life of the whole Uzbek nation?!
Dear Readers!
PlS, visit/read/contribute at the Uzbek Couch Surfing Group Page: "The Adventures at the Great Silk Route". There are following interesting threads as:
"WELCOME to the TASHKENT 2200 CELEBRATION!"
"The Uzbekistan united"
"Tu felix Austria!
"ESP issues"
I’ll open new threads: "
"ESL for people with Turkish background worldwide."
"I am kazakh!" pridely says the adopted kazakh 7 years old Маx, living in Honolulu, USA.
Dear Readers!
We are friendly and publish in many languages!
The related link is:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/group_read.html?gid=11123
Our deep respect, best wishes and love from Tashkent to ALL!
Halima, moderator/editor.
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MON AMI (44 posts) June 4th, 2009, 03:35 PM
Halima, I really like the initiative of the Forum.
Im just finishing my master in TESOL this month and
Iam interested in the first point: gender aspects in English language teaching in the classroom.
Unfortunately, i cannot participate in the Forum, but i hope you can give us some lines about what you will discuss about this point.
Another thing, if you have a list of some bibliographies about this topic, could we please share!?
About the point 3, I think if you can also see Schumann's (1978) and from here you can find more (you can find issues like Pidginization-hybridization-Creolization-Decreolization) and maybe it can be useful.
about the point 4, i think there are many sources. I dont know if you can find these two: BYRAM, M., & GRUNDY, P. (2002). Introduction: Context and Culture in Language Teaching and Learning. Language, Culture and Curriculum. Vol. 15/3, pp. 193-195. and
CORTAZZI, M. & JIN. Cultural mirrors: materials and methods in the EFL classroom. In Hinkel, E. (1999). Culture in Second Language teaching and learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 196-219.
If you want to share more bibliographies, maybe we can use our emails, i just dont know if we are allowed to leave our emails here in the discussion! are we allowed??
Marcos
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MON AMI (44 posts) June 4th, 2009, 03:42 PM
Tanguene, it is good to share the readings from the Reader's Corner in our country, Mozambique!
Do you see the Halima's idea of the Forum? I think we ned to think of something like this as soon as possible, and Halima will give us some input of how to go on with the idea. I think there are many things around the English teaching, but only in a Forum we can discuss many issues!
Thanks for sharing, Tanguene and Halima.
MON AMI
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ChrisL (210 posts) June 4th, 2009, 03:49 PM
Dear Halima
Congratulations on the work you have been doing in Uzbekistan! Please, would you let us know about the most interesting presentations happening in the event in June?
Sounds really interesting and we would be grateful if you shared your news with us.
Cheers - Chris
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ChrisL (210 posts) June 4th, 2009, 03:52 PM
HI DeeDee
Welcome! Carapace is being discussed in the Trainee Teachers Reading Group.
Your local coordinator (Pilar or Ruben) can help you to find your way to the forum. Otherwise, please send me an email at chrislima90@yahoo.co.uk and I'll guide you there.
Cheers - Chris
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ChrisL (210 posts) June 4th, 2009, 03:56 PM
Hi Mon Ami
Your suggestions to Halima gave an idea... what if we shared here the books and articles about using Literature in ELT ?
We may all benefit if we could compile a good bibilography on the topic and perhaps we could also help each other to get access to these material.
What do you think??
Cheers - Chris
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vanesa (4 posts) June 4th, 2009, 08:51 PM
Hi deedee! I had read Carapace and The story of an hour too. I have the same problem as you. Maybe we´re in the same class. What do you think abour Carapece? It´s got a strange ending, hasn´t it?
Vanesa, from Argentina.
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adolatkal (44 posts) June 5th, 2009, 08:05 AM
Dear Chris, Marcos, Tanguene!
Dear READERs!
This is my proposal to the mentioned UzTEA Annual “FORUM” 2009 Conference upon the slogan: Social-Cultural aspects of teaching English , which will take place on the 12-13th of June,
2009.
“Forum” publications promoting the 2200 Tashkent anniversary.”
Based on the articles of Thomas W. Santos “New York, New York’, of Bradley Horn ”Exploring New York City””(“Forum”, Volume 46, #1, 2008) ,the presenters demonstrate an implementation of some innovative teaching techniques for promoting the greatest event of the whole Uzbek nation-the 2200 Tashkent anniversary.
Tashkent is a focal point for all UzTEA members, all Uzbek English learners, therefore I hope that once English learners explore about this fascinating city via:
-an interesting feature article,
-some related links,
- Photos,
-a fact sheet Tashkent,
-some replies in the virtual Uzbek CS’s Group Page “The Adventures at the Great Silk Route”,
-and careful sorrowful elaborated lesson plan, they will want to talk about 2200 Tashkent celebration in their own English classes.
The presenter hopes that all those activities would enrich the traditional “Places bounded topic ” methodical approach.
Dear Chris, Marcos, Tanguene!
Dear READERs!
My proposal was accepted/programmed, also, I am invited..
Dear Readers!
I asked my Readers to be online right on these days, also being contacted to our Uzbek CS Group Page “The Adventures at the Great Silk Route. I try to make my report in real On-line style! Someone would ask, he/she can answer, or vice versa!
Dear Readers!
I am waiting for your clever recommendations/remarks/advices about the feature article about Tashkent. I would appreciate receiving some related links to the topic “Tashkent” also ”The City”!! What are your ideas about other interesting ESP activities in our virtual classroom?
Halima
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 5th, 2009, 08:50 AM
Dear All,
Thanks Halima, Mon Ami, Chris and all you for this interesting and proactive discussion.
We all will surely benefit from sharing these different paths in learning/teaching English. I agree with you, Mon Ami, when you say we can learn a lot from Halima's experience and we have similar conditions in Mozambique where many people are learning English for many reasons from employability, school modules, pleasure, and if you look at our geographical location you will see that the Southern Africa region are basically English speaking countries except Mozambique where the official language is Portuguese. Globalization is also one challenge for youth (social and cultural) development and a employability for you access a wider range of support material if you can understand English.
And Halima's point 3 and 4 are relevant for us to look at if we consider the regional integration of SADC and globalization as serious processes which daily have huge impact on us. And plus another pressuring reality for improving and broadening methods of teaching English in our country: English is taught from grade 6 (age 10-12) of our National Education System and to children in kindergartens (I wondered my 2 years son monthly fee was increased by 4usd for they have started English lessons there) so the need for best and update methods which include cultural and social aspects are welcome. If Halima give us a link and keep us update on the events there we'll clearly benefit.
And do ask Chris and all that we move on with the idea of sharing the books and articles about using Literature in ELT we can soon see "true fruits" from this. It can equip us with more additional and efficient tools as I’ve seen before the following quote: “Literature is life” – so let us live now!
Thanks
Tanguene
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Maria do Céu Costa (136 posts) June 5th, 2009, 02:14 PM
Dear Readers
I just saw this discussion board under the title "Welcome" a couple of days ago. But, as we usually say, "Better late than never" ...
I am very glad to revisit some very familiar names/ colleagues (Chris, Tanguene, Sanghita, Mostafa, Halima, Pilar) I've been talking to on other interesting discussion boards.
For those colleagues who have just come across with me, I'd like to address some welcoming words: pleasure to join you and all the best for everyone!
My name's Maria do Céu. I've been in the ELT profession for 37 years (in Portugal) and retired ten months ago. Fortunately, I've experienced much happiness all those years long, much hardwork at school, surrounded by friendly students and colleagues, all sharing their practices in a cooperative mood and understanding.
Today I keep being active on this "global world" where I've met so many knowledgeable, wise, friendly teachers from around the world.
One of my favourite interests precisely is intercultural awareness along with a great passion for literature and poetry, in particular.
Dear Halima, congratulations for your dynamic organization celebrating 2200 Tashkent Anniversary! I'll be browsing, with pleasure, "The Adventures at the Great Silk Route".
Wishing you All a successful event.
Thank you very much indeed.
Maria
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DeeDee (3 posts) June 5th, 2009, 09:29 PM
Thanks Vanesa for writing to me! at least i´m not the only one, :) i think the end was what it had to be because society teach us to think that money is the best for our future and after all, what else could she has done if everybody was pushing her to that ending?, it´s dificult, sometimes, to do something that is going to "hurt" your mother, in this case. Society plays with feelings to make us do what it´s suposed to be the best, i think it is about socialization, it´s too long to explain what i think...:)
Maybe if Vijay had told her to stay... but he let her choose and that´s dificult, to choose between what people say is right and what you feel that is right.
well, hope you understand what i´m trying to say because i´m realising it´s not easy to explain my thoughts in a short text.:)
I´m really happy you wrote to me, tell me please what you think about the end too.
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vanesa (4 posts) June 6th, 2009, 01:58 AM
Thanks DEEDEE! I think you are my partner,but I´m not sure. Well, I agree with you in the part you say the society teach us to think money is the most important thing, but when you say something about "hurt your mother" I think that nowadays the capitalism is so hard that make us less sensitive. Amma, her mother didn´t think about her daughter´s feelings. She dind´t think if she hurt her doughter or not. So? How can a mother with a simple commentary change the future of her daughter? It´s incredible. I felt really angry when I read the end of the story beacause of the sweet love she used to feel when she was with Vijay.
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pilar (40 posts) June 6th, 2009, 02:51 PM
Hi Vanesa and Dee,
Are you from Pergamino or la Plata? I would like to know so as to tell my students about you and in this way open lines of discussion with them.
Best.
Pilar
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vanesa (4 posts) June 8th, 2009, 04:34 PM
Hello Pilar! Thank you very much for your writing! I´m a student from La Plata and I´d like to be connected to people to discuss about Carapace or The story of an hour. As you see I´m a little lost in the discussion board. I´d like to discuss with your students about these two stories and make some new friends too.
Thanks, Vanesa
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 9th, 2009, 07:39 AM
Dear Maria and All
Your experience is enriching and show how long the journey is, it can be teaching or life as whole (drawing meaning of journey from Charles Dickens's Child's story we share online). My congratulations and I really hope telling your story will help us, or better, the young teachers and professionals look ahead with more confidence! and we are gifted and proud to feel so and have you active and sharing with us your enrichng experience.
Tanguene
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 9th, 2009, 07:40 AM
Dear Halima,
Please send the link to access the UzTEA annual Forum I would be following close. It seems it's only missing three days up to there. Good luck and wish this be a successful event.
Tanguene
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adolatkal (44 posts) June 9th, 2009, 09:09 AM
Dear Online English READERs!
I would like to begin with this famous citation of Johann von Goethe:
"Treat people as if they were what they should be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming."
Dear colleagues!
Oh, I see that I am, unfortunately, promoting only this “FORUM” magazine!
But it was not my intention! I only would like to share opinions, how the participation in our Online English Reading club can help to solve our Uzbek national issues in International Tourism! I believe that ,especially those experiences of interacting about the Doris Lessing’s “In the National Gallery” and debates about ” The Verger” of W. Somerset Maugham. Bcs, the Olympic 2012 London is round the corner! Not all visitors of London would like to get only sightseeing, many are dreaming to walk through the London museums, churches, in/through spacious Victorian buildings!
Our online interaction’s prepared all our colleagues to be ready to open the door of the National Gallery and meet/watch/enjoy those described in that short story pictures F&F, participate in/at the sermons at the St .Peter’s, Neville Square ! I am absolutely sure, that these prepared visitors would again and again reread those stories of Doris Lessing and W. Somerset Maugham!
Dear colleagues!
I invite ALL of you to help me and interact at the Uzbek Couch Surfing Group Page: "The Adventures at the Great Silk Route». At the threads:
"WELCOME to the TASHKENT 2200 CELEBRATION!"
"ESP for promoting celebrations like Tashkent 2200 Anniversary”!!!
The related link is: http://www.couchsurfing.com/group_read.html?gid=11123
Dear Chris, Marcos, Tanguene, ALL, ALL!
I ask you about the permission to post your opinions at our threads!
Our deep respect, best wishes and love from Tashkent to ALL in our online English Reading club!
Halima,moderator/editor.
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MON AMI (44 posts) June 9th, 2009, 02:11 PM
Hi Chris!
It is true that we can share bibliography (book and articles) about "Using Literature in ELT" and it really a good idea. As you said, we can help each other to get get the material as well.
Ok, maybe each one who has got a book or an article or who has the references can share here, and if s/he has the possibility of providing the material it would be good if s/he can tell us how we can have that material.
Lets try to find the material, now that this is our homework...
Mon Ami
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 10th, 2009, 08:25 AM
Dear Halima and All,
I haven't visited the Couch Surfing group to see the interaction there; I'm always keen to know of things I don't know now yet. I'll visit the site sooner. But, I also had a sense you would enjoy to mention the online reading group interaction in promoting the event. So, I thought perhaps we can lend a hand if I draw an example on the issue of Culture VS English teaching and learning we mentioned earlier. And how we can use the strength of people's culture for creating interaction and allow the learning process to happen.
I've chosen a practical example and I trust in every country/culture similar examples can be found. Following is a poem (the original is in Portuguese) as illustrated:
“Let me be a drum
body and soul just a drum
just a drum in the hot night
worn with its cry in the full moon
of my land…
I want to be a drum
and not a river
a flower…
nor even poetry.
Let me be a drum
Just a drum!”
José Craveirinha (A mozambican poet)
http://ir.uz.ac.zw:8080/dspace/bitstream/123456789/605/1/ARMANDO+GUEBUZA+AMONG+THE+POETS.pdf
Cultural aspects: The playing of the drum in the hot night and full moon is a traditional and typically African ritual, ceremony or celebration in which the writer is integrated ("of my land...") And the more you beat a drum it loudly "cries" and the people in this cultural environment know this as a fact. And the poet intentionally chooses to place himself in a place where he will be beaten while he had other options - to be a river (which flows) a flower (which flourish) and poetry (which we can assume he loved, for poetry is something highly appreciated), but there’s a point: he doesn’t want to be culturally displaced, the reason he still choose to be a DRUM. He chooses to be himself for the freedom of speech, and uses the example of a DRUM and he is sure in his cultural environment a drum is known to "speak” and it sometimes “cries" depending on how you play it. He knows the people in his cultural envirnment know that being a drum is also being a messenger for Africans could call for community meetings a cry of a “DRUM”. And if you can select examples of this to explore you could also be entertaining your guests. They will not only love it, but they will find it different. We can make difference!
I have only understood we have been using culture for learning english now the discussion started.
Thanks,
Tanguene
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ChrisL (210 posts) June 10th, 2009, 11:28 AM
Hi Mon Ami & All
Just a couple of titles:
Bassnett, S and Grundy, P. (1993) Language through Literature. Harlow: Longman.
Brumfit, C. (1985) Language and Literature Teaching: from Practice to Principle. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Hall, G. (2005) Literature in Language Education. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
McRae, J. (1991) Literature with a small ‘l’. London: Macmillan.
Cheers - Chris
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adolatkal (44 posts) June 10th, 2009, 02:26 PM
Salom, dear READERs!
The feature article, we have chosen for "Forum" Conference, where I and Vasilya are making a report about 2200 Tashkent Anniversary, was written by Neville McBain, British Council, Director, Tashkent and published in "Discovery Uzbekistan", #2/2005, Supplement.
Tashkent: a city to discover!
Multi-ethnic, multifaceted, over 2000 years old yet modern, often underestimated yet charming, Tashkent has a lot to offer.
To many travellers to Uzbekistan, Tashkent is simply a necessary stopover en route to Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. However, this historic city holds many treasures and rewards deeper exploration with some unexpected surprises.
First impressions are of a Soviet style city (it was rebuilt by the Soviets after the devastating earthquake of 1966). Wide avenues and tree-lined streets, imposing buildings and large squares dominate the 'new' town while the old town retains its higgledy-piggledy charm. Low adobe houses turn inwards on to their shady courtyards, winding streets, and ancient mosques and medressas.
A good place to begin any tour is the imposing statue of Amir Timur in the centre of town (built on the spot where previously statues of Kaufman, Lenin, Stalin, and Marx have stood). Uzbekistan's Russian past lingers on in many different ways but the city's oriental roots can never be in any doubt.
Visit any bazaar - we recommend Chorsu - and you will find the hustle and bustle of Central Asian life. Local dress and the Uzbek language prevail and trade is brisk in these colourful, lively places where anything that can be bought or sold is being traded. From spring to autumn the heaps of fruits and vegetables have to be seen to be believed and the taste is enough to convert anyone to organic food. There is a sense that not much has changed in these places over the years and for the passing visitor they give the most vivid snapshot of Uzbek life.
The street known as Broadway leads off from Amir Timur's statue and is a fun place especially at weekends to wander and drink in the atmosphere, and to browse among the antiques and souvenir stalls. Karaoke stands do good business and portrait artists, trinket sellers, antique sellers and cafes all ply their trade.
One thing not to miss is the Tellya Sheikh Mosque in the old city which houses a beautiful Islamic library with painted ceilings and ancient manuscripts on display. The main attraction is the huge Osman Koran thought to be the world's oldest Koran and said to be stained with the blood of Osman himself in 655.
For culture take your pick from the eleven theatres in Tashkent. The handsome Navoi (built by Japanese prisoners of war) is the largest and puts on a rotating programme of Russian ballet and opera and Uzbek folk productions. For modern punchy drama try the Ilkhom theatre off Navoi Street.
Museums are also plentiful. The Museum of Contemporary Art features the country's cultural highlights in its special exhibitions. The Museum of the History of the Peoples of Uzbekistan, once dedicated solely to the life of Lenin, now houses archaeological treasures including a 2nd century complete Buddha figure. The Applied Arts Museum is popular not only for its beautiful exhibits but also for its setting. Built by a Russian diplomat who developed a love for Uzbek architecture and design, its painted ceilings, verandas, cool stone courtyard and woodcarving create a peaceful haven in the middle of the city and the antique shops on the museum's premises offer excellent shopping.
Dear colleagues!
Let’s begin with the Glossary! Our English-English Vocabulary helps us to explore Tashkent in detail!
Multifaceted –
Underestimated-
a necessary stopover en route-
Devastating-
Higgledy-piggledy-
Low adobe houses-
Hustle and bustle-
Brisk-
To convert anyone to organic food-
The most vivid snapshot-
To browse among the antiques and souvenir stalls-
To be stained-
A rotating programme-
solely-
a haven-
on the premises-
Dear CS READERs!
I can, of course, as conventionally, use the Search-Find-Copy-Paste technique! For eliciting the meanings of those words and phrases in our Glossary!
But it would be so interesting to hear your voices! What are your personal associations, your cultural awareness about Uzbekistan, its capital Tashkent? What is hidden there behind those words and phrases?
Halima
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Maria do Céu Costa (136 posts) June 11th, 2009, 06:59 PM
Dear Halima,
Thank you very much for the excellent information regarding Tashkent , the capital of your home country ,Uzbekistan.
I've enjoyed reading this interesting article by Neville McBain, The British Council Director in Tashkent, containing precious historical and cultural references, which have enhanced an immediate reading about the country, its capital and people.
In a quick response to the vocabulary/ phrases you have extracted from the article I'd like to create my personal atmosphere of that capital:
- a modern city of "large avenues and tree-lined streets, imposing buildings and large squares" in the "New Town", cohabiting with its "higgledy-piggledy charm" of the "Old Town" surrounded by ancient mosques and medressas;
- a nice place for intercultural and religious dialogue;
- a place where East still meets West "Uzbekistan's Russian past lingers on in many different ways but the city's oriental roots can never be in any doubt";
- a very busy, attractive city providing typical oriental venues like "bazaars" offering intense business opportunities, "the hustle and bustle of Central Asian life";
- "antiques and souvenir stalls" certainly inviting visitors and local passers-by;
- a city breathing History and Culture in its different fields (theatre, arts, "special exhibitions", "archaeological treasures";
I'd also add Tashkent is surely a must visit city for that fruitful encounter of East and West!
Dear Halima, if you allow me, I'd appreciate very much your information on this aspect I find curious: as I have read / seen on a map that your country is
bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikkistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, I've thought of this suffix "-stan". Does it mean anything particular?
Thank you so much for being patient and attentive to my simple question.
Looking forward to receiving your link to that special
Event.
Best wishes,
Maria
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Maria do Céu Costa (136 posts) June 11th, 2009, 08:14 PM
Hi Tanguene,
You always know how to address nice words to everyone, including myself. Thank you so much. Moreover, you are very attentive to all Readers and kindly react to them.
I just hope to contribute to the discussions on our teaching/learning main interests, and exchange ideas on cultural themes or others accasionally raised by this community of devoted Readers.
We look forward to accessing the UZTEA annual Conference in Tashkent. Let's see what surprises might come out from another special event that will certainly enrich young and less young :-) professionals.
Best wishes,
Maria
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 16th, 2009, 01:11 PM
Dear Halima,
Thanks for the article. By reading it I sensed one can "be" in a place that had never been before. I was impressed by the way the bazaars look like: With a lot of people and buses moving this or that way - We've crowded market places in my country where even from long distance you can hear the sound of mixed voices and cars horns while everyone is trying to sell or buy something briskiy. The heaps of fruits and vegetables makes the place familiar, we sometimes have a certain kind of seasonal fruits which gets rotten for people cannot buy all of it. the image of these heaps of fruits and vegetables that can really "convert anyone to organic food" we should always mind what kind of food we eat.
Thank you
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Tanguene (215 posts) June 16th, 2009, 01:17 PM
Dear Maria,
Thanks you so much. we share the same world and my "kind" words reflect the kind words I've received from you all.
Thanks
Tanguene
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MON AMI (44 posts) June 21st, 2009, 08:50 AM
Dear all!
There are some books I have identified which can be useful for English Teaching through Literature. I found these books in a library, at The University of Newcastle, here in Australia, but I'm sure they can be found anywhere.
Thornborrow, J. & Wareing, S. (1997). Patterns in Language: an introduction to language and literary style. London: Routledge. (this one can be found online, through)
Kruise, Carol Sue (1990). Learning through literature: activities to enhance reading, writing, and thinking skills. Englewood, Colo.: Teacher Ideas Press.
Kennedy, Peter & Falvey, Peter (1998). Learning language through literature in primary schools: resource book for teachers of English. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
Kathy, East & Thomas, Rebecca L. (2007). Across cultures: a guide to multicultural literature for children. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.
Cooter, Robert B. (1996). Teaching reading in the content areas: developing content literacy for all students. New York, N.Y.: Wiley.
Let's share more.
Mon Ami
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adolatkal (44 posts) October 18th, 2009, 04:25 PM
Dear Friends !
I’ll be very glad to demonstrate our new educational product as a lasting result of the very important CS project “The 2200 Young Tashkent!”,the related link is:
http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=22748
Dear Friends !
I hope you'd enjoy the virtual sightseeing in the
2200 Young Tashkent!
Halima
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