Dear all,
Listen to the following music, what do you know about Celtic music? What images does it bring to you?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/music/celticconnections/prog1/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/player/?item=44534298

Now, let´s discuss the article about natives and immigrants...
Hope you enjoyed the music.
Claudia

Dear all,
Please read my previous post about the article that you have to read for the session after the oral presentations. Also, you are expected to write a comment to one of your classmates about his/her presentation. The idea of this comment is that you provide your feedback. Think of the following:

1. How was the presentation organized? Was it easy to follow?
2. Did the presenter know the subject well? Was he or she able to answer questions?
3. Was the choice of images, slides, etc. helpful to understand the presentation?
4. What aspects of the presentation do you think need improvement? Don´t need improvement?
5. More feedback...?

Claudia

Dear all,
The oral presentations will take one more session. So far, the people who have presented in both groups have done a great job. Congratulations!!.

After the presentations have finished, both section one and section two students should get a photocopy (from the photocopying centre in Agustinas) of chapter 1 of the book The story of England by Christopher Hibbert. We will discuss it in class, so read it beforehand. Section one students should read it for Friday 12, section two students will have to read for Monday 15.
See you in class,
Claudia

Dear all,
Next session we will discuss the critical thinking articles (the two uploaded so far). Also, you will have to decide on the topic of your presentations and let me know. Presentations will take place on Friday 5 for section one students, and on Monday 8 for section two students.

You can choose to make a presentation on any of the following articles:

1. John Berger (Ways of Seeing chapter 1)
2. Claire Kramsch (The relationship of language and culture)
3. Culture and civilization (links to websites on this blog)
4. Critical thinking (links to websites on this blog)

The presentations will last 5 minutes, allowing for about 5 more minutes for questions and short discussions.

The main idea of these presentations is that you give your account and viewpoint of the articles. You are not expected to tell us what the articles say in detail. It is assumed that everybody has read them already. What is expected from you, is a presentation of your understanding of the article/s and how you relate it/them to your future as an English teacher.

The marking criteria is to be found in the following link

http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html

I´m really looking forward to your presentations!!
Claudia

Dear students,
Today´s class is going to be devoted to "critical thinking".

As it was explained in the previous class, you are expected to have read the article whose link was provided in the latest post. Also, we are going to discuss the following article

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v7n1/JTEV7N1.pdf#page=23

together with another article that will be given to you in class.

We will work on definitions of critical thinking and how those can be applied to cultural studies.
See you,
Claudia

Dear all,
In the following link you will find an article about critical thinking. Section 1 students are expected to read if for Friday 29. Section 2 students will have to read it for Monday, September 1st.

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/critthnk.html

Think of the following:
How can critical thinking be fostered among English language learners at school and university level?
How would you, as a future English teacher, foster critical thinking among your students?
How do you think culture and critical thinking are linked?
Claudia

Dear all,
I´m happy to see that many of you have managed to create their blogs. Those of you who haven´t done so yet will have to create one the latest during next class as you will be asked to write a summary of your understanding of civilization and culture.

Section one students are expected to write their summaries the latest before tomorrow´s class, i.e. 12.00. Also, you will find the photocopy of the article about culture at the photocopying centre in Agustinas. Section two students will first discuss the article by Berger. After that, a discussion of the definitions of civilization and culture will follow.

Questions to have in mind:
What definitions of civilization have you found?
What´s the relationship between culture and language?.
What´s the relationship between language and social identity? and culture?
Claudia