Dear all,

Before saying goodbye, there are several things we need to. So, let´s wait until the end of the term and use the little energy we have left to do a good job, shall we?

Reminders....

1. Group 2 students have to upload the entry about the Victorian age (see previous post for instructions) the latest on Monday 10 by midnight.

2. Both group one and group two students will have to write their film review of "Modern Times" by Thursday 13th at 9 am as I will have to correct them during the day to have the marks ready for Friday 14 (same instructions as previous film review whose mark will be sent to you via webmail shortly).

3. All students will write a 700-word essay IN CLASS based on any of the topics we have discussed during the course. Group two students will write it on Monday 10 and group one on Wednesday 12. It would be wise to bring an outline of your ideas and any articles that might help you write your essay.

Possible topics:

• Relationship between civilisation, culture and language


• Crtitical thinking, British culture and EFL


• Medieval England, culture and language


• The shaping of an empire, from Elizabeth I to Modernity


• Etc.

Remember to relate your topic to teaching. You will find the marking criteria and instructions on how to write an essay in the following links

http://www.siue.edu/~deder/grrub.html

http://www.siue.edu/~deder/grstand.html

http://www.nd.edu.au/downloads/colleges/arts/res_essayguide.pdf

See you next week,

Claudia

Dear all,

This is a reminder of what you have to do for Friday (group 2 students only). Paty has got an article which you need to photocopy "The Victorian Age. Industrialism: Progress or Decline?". Read it and compare it with the article by Hibbert: "The Age of Reform". Post an entry on your blog. Deadline, Friday 9 am.

What are the main criticisms made in the first article? What is your opinion?

What big changes took place during the industrial revolution?

What were the working conditions of women and children like then?

Refer to the immigration of workers from towns to industrial towns, what were the consequences?

Visit the following webpage and read the poem "The Cry of the Children" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/ebbrowning/bl-ebbrown-cry.htm

How does the poem relate to the article, and the picture?

On Friday group 1 will have the recuperation session at 11.30 in K-53, and the following session in E-53. Group 2 will have both sessions in classroom E-53.

See you then,
Claudia

Dear all,

A few reminders....before we finish the term
1. I will upload the recuperation scheme to the virtual campus so that you know when, what and where we´re meeting.

2. Another article will be left in Agustinas this afternoon for you to photocopy. It covers the period of pre-Victorian to Victorian England.

3. So far, we have discussed until Restoration, which is the period between 1660 and 1780. Group one students have to post a 150-long-post on their blogs about the sub-periods they will present next session.

Here are some of the questions we´ve based our discussion of the pre-Restoration period on (see article by Hibbert)

1. What major scientific and literary events took place at the beginning of the 17th century?

2. What was the Mayflower?

3. Who were the Pilgrim Fathers? Where did they settle down?

4. Why does the text refer to James I way of speaking as "full of dialect of his country?

5. When was the King James Bible translated? Why is this important?

6. Why did James I dissolve Parliament, when did he restore it?

7. How was Charles I described?

8. What was Charles´s relationship with Parliament like?

9. What were his religious beliefs?

10. Why is the period after Charles I called the Commonwealth? How was it different from the monarchy?

11. Why is this period so important in terms of Parliamentary power?

Claudia

Dear all,

Here is some information on how to write your reviews about the film "Elizabeth". Follow the steps suggested in the following webpage, they are very clear. Your review should be about 300 words long. The deadline to post your reviews is Monday 20, at 09.00 am.

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/englishresource/filmreview.html

...and you will find the marking criteria I will use in the following link

http://www.siue.edu/~deder/grrub.html

http://www.siue.edu/~deder/grstand.html

Here is a film review of a very good film (2007) called "The Counterfeiters" as an example. I hope you enjoy it. The film is really good!!

http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=163113&section=review

I have also left another photocopy in Agustinas for the period after Elizabeth I. Remember that to write your film reviews you need to read the previous photocopy that covers the period between the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I (article by C. Hibbert on Tudor England left in Agustinas some weeks ago!!!). Remember that this is a review about a film based on historical facts. Therefore, if you refer to history, quote the corresponding sources/authors.

Issues you may focus on:

Opposition between Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart

Why was Elizabeth I called the "Virgin Queen"?

What were the political and religious implications of Elizabeth´s decision to fight Phillip II of Spain?

Good luck!!

Claudia

Hi everybody,

Today´s class will be devoted to answering some questions about the historical and linguistic development of England/English from the Anglo-saxons to the Middle Ages (15th century).

You will work in groups and will try to answer the following questions based on the article by David Crystal:

The Anglo-Saxon Period 449 AD:

1. According to David Crystal, who are the barbarian invaders that reach the borders of England?

2. Which are three invaders that settled in Britain after the Roman Empire?

3. What happens to the Celtic language during the Anglo-Saxon period?

4. What was Latin used for, who introduced it again in 597 AD? What´s the relationship between Latin and literacy during that time?

5. Was there any standard spelling system?

6. What dialects emerge in England during the Anglo-Saxon period?


The Vikings 787 AD

1. How long do the Vikings raid Britain?

2. Where do they mostly rule during the 100 years until the Anglo-Saxons strike back in 878 AD?

3. What´s the Danelaw?

4. When does Canute rule England?

5. What was the influence of the Danish language on Old English? What words, names, etc, has the English language adopted from that time?


The Norman Conquest 1066

1. What changes does William of Normandy introduce when he invades England?

2. What language is established then?

3. Why does Crystal claim that England was then a trilingual country?

4. What developments does English suffer during the Norman Conquest?


The Resurgence of English 1200-1400

1. What languages, other than English, start being of interest in the 12th century? Why is this important?

2. What universities are established then?

3. What happens to French in this period? Who speaks it?

4. When does English become the language of power? What role does French and Latin have then?

5. How many French words entered the English language during the 14th century? Can you find examples?

In the next session, we will start analysing Tudor England (1485-1603). I will leave a photocopy in Agustinas.

See you later,
Claudia

Dear all,

I have uploaded an article to the virtual campus for you to read. It´s about the historical development of the English language. As we are working on building the historical and linguistic timeline of England/English, this will be very helpful to understand both processes. Pages 1 to 7 discuss the evolution of language until about 1500. I hope this helps to clarify some of the issues we are now discussing.

See you tomorrow,
Claudia

Dear students,

Tomorrow we will have a recuperation class at 15.00 in E-26 (section 1 students only). Also, both section 1 and section 2 students please post a comment on the Stonehenge video and the article to be found in the following links:


http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/09/22/uk_experts_say_stonehenge_was_place_of_healing/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7625625.stm


What do experts believe Stonehenge was? What evidence makes them believe so? What did people believe Stonehenge was according to the artible by C. Hibbert? What do you think?

Section 2 students, here is the link to the webpage about the ages of English, based on the book "The stories of English" by David Crystal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/lang_gallery_01.shtml

On Friday, we will discuss the main events from the Anglo-Saxon period until about the 15th century. We will will also reflect on how those events influenced the evolution of the English language.

Daniela and Juan, you will get your marks tomorrow. Sorry about the delay.
See you tomorrow,
Claudia