Dear friends,
How are you? I am not sure whether anybody is still reading the blog.
Anyway, I've decided to share a few thoughts with you. I've printed the whole blog out, it's more than 100 pages (can you believe it) and have been reading and re-reading our posts and comments.
I can't explain how many memories and smiles they brought back to me. I really hope that we will return to this space again.
Perhaps we can discuss some guidelines on how to manage the space better, some basic rules, all the rest is open to a dialogue and negotiation.
So, what are you doing?
Warm regards,
ralitza
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
to free pharaoh
Hi Ashraf,
Sadly, I realised today that you have deleted all your posts. Why did you do that? I really don't inderstand?
Your posts made our blog different. Please,can't you resend them, or are they forever lost?
You know I am writing my dissertation, which is based on my experience of the class blog. Do you mind if I interview you or I can post the questions on the blog for you to answer them?
I can't make sense why so many emotional decisions were taken regarding the blog.
Can I ask the students who are still reading the blog to write and tell me how they feel about the blog now, a month after the end of the course.
Warm regards,
ralitza
Sadly, I realised today that you have deleted all your posts. Why did you do that? I really don't inderstand?
Your posts made our blog different. Please,can't you resend them, or are they forever lost?
You know I am writing my dissertation, which is based on my experience of the class blog. Do you mind if I interview you or I can post the questions on the blog for you to answer them?
I can't make sense why so many emotional decisions were taken regarding the blog.
Can I ask the students who are still reading the blog to write and tell me how they feel about the blog now, a month after the end of the course.
Warm regards,
ralitza
Friday, June 13, 2008
something left from the week
Hi,
These are some of the questions we asked on Wednesday. Can I ask the students who haven't posted their answers to do so? It will help me plan my next blog with students better.
In the meantine, we'll keep this blog as long as we want to keep it and find it useful. We might have to agree, though, on how to go about it in the future. By answering those questions, I hope we'll be able to evaluate the experience and decide on the way ahead.
Evaluation of the experience
1. How would you describe your first blogging experience now after 8 weeks of blogging?
2. Did you find it useful? Why/Why not?
3. List some of the benefits of blogging for you.
4. What might be a reason for the lack of participation on the part of some students?
5. Did the blog manage to address your specific student`s needs?
6. Do you think blogging should be intergrated in the language classroom? Why/Why not?
7. How do you see the role of the blogging teacher. How can she/he encourage students to write?
8. What suggestions for the future use of students' blogs would you like to make?
Regards,
ralitza
These are some of the questions we asked on Wednesday. Can I ask the students who haven't posted their answers to do so? It will help me plan my next blog with students better.
In the meantine, we'll keep this blog as long as we want to keep it and find it useful. We might have to agree, though, on how to go about it in the future. By answering those questions, I hope we'll be able to evaluate the experience and decide on the way ahead.
Evaluation of the experience
1. How would you describe your first blogging experience now after 8 weeks of blogging?
2. Did you find it useful? Why/Why not?
3. List some of the benefits of blogging for you.
4. What might be a reason for the lack of participation on the part of some students?
5. Did the blog manage to address your specific student`s needs?
6. Do you think blogging should be intergrated in the language classroom? Why/Why not?
7. How do you see the role of the blogging teacher. How can she/he encourage students to write?
8. What suggestions for the future use of students' blogs would you like to make?
Regards,
ralitza
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
a message on the BC intranet
Hi everyone,
Thank you for going along with me and showing involvement and commitment to our blog.
It was an extremely enriching experience for me as well. I hope it has showed us the way ahead.
And ....
This is a message that I just read encouraging teachers at the British Council to invite students to check out the podcasts on the British council website.
The message reads:
Are your students having a break from English classes this summer? Suggest that they practise their English in a fun way with LearnEnglish Podcasts - they can listen on their computer, or download them to their mp3 players. They're free, and there's something for everyone - from kids to adults and from elementary to advanced level learners. New materials will be published each week.
You and your learners can find LearnEnglish podcasts at:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts.htm
The following podcasts are available:
LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts are magazine-style programmes for learners at Elementary level. Each programme has got many activities that your learners can do on their computer while they listen, or print out and do when they want. Each programme is accompanied by many hours of support materials that can be printed off or done online.
LearnEnglish Stories and Poems Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level and contain stories by our resident writer, Chris Rose. All stories are accompanied by support materials that can be printed off or done online.
LearnEnglish Themes Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level. There is a recorded article which is accompanied by support materials that can be printed off or done online. There are also links to many other activities on the same theme.
LearnEnglish Professionals Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level and cover a wide range of topics of interest to the business person or professional. Our weekly podcasts are accompanied by an audioscript which includes a comprehension activity and often tie in with the magazine articles on our site.
Enjoy the podcasts and enjoy your summer!
Warm regards,
Ralitza
Thank you for going along with me and showing involvement and commitment to our blog.
It was an extremely enriching experience for me as well. I hope it has showed us the way ahead.
And ....
This is a message that I just read encouraging teachers at the British Council to invite students to check out the podcasts on the British council website.
The message reads:
Are your students having a break from English classes this summer? Suggest that they practise their English in a fun way with LearnEnglish Podcasts - they can listen on their computer, or download them to their mp3 players. They're free, and there's something for everyone - from kids to adults and from elementary to advanced level learners. New materials will be published each week.
You and your learners can find LearnEnglish podcasts at:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts.htm
The following podcasts are available:
LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts are magazine-style programmes for learners at Elementary level. Each programme has got many activities that your learners can do on their computer while they listen, or print out and do when they want. Each programme is accompanied by many hours of support materials that can be printed off or done online.
LearnEnglish Stories and Poems Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level and contain stories by our resident writer, Chris Rose. All stories are accompanied by support materials that can be printed off or done online.
LearnEnglish Themes Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level. There is a recorded article which is accompanied by support materials that can be printed off or done online. There are also links to many other activities on the same theme.
LearnEnglish Professionals Podcasts are for learners at Intermediate to Advanced level and cover a wide range of topics of interest to the business person or professional. Our weekly podcasts are accompanied by an audioscript which includes a comprehension activity and often tie in with the magazine articles on our site.
Enjoy the podcasts and enjoy your summer!
Warm regards,
Ralitza
evaluation
Hi everyone,
This is our final week. I’d like to invite you to reflect on the whole experience of blogging and decide on whether you'd like to continue with the blog or not. There are three tasks for you to do this lesson:
1. Do the surveys. The questions are: Do you want to continue with the blog? Do you want us to open the blog to a wider audience?
2. Do the evaluation questionnaire.
3. Read how the other students have answered the same questions and comment on their answers.
Here is the EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE.
A) Reflection on your posts and participation on the blog.
Look back at your posts and write a short paragraph evaluating the quality and regularity of your writing. Consider the following ideas:
original idea (no copy paste from internet resources)
target reader (how easy to read and of interest your post might be for your reader)
organisation and paragraphs
range of vocabulary and grammar
spelling, puntuation
use of enhancement: pictures, videos
regular posts of average length
What do you need to work more on?
You can use the scale from 1 to 10 ( 1- very poor, 10- excellent)
B) Evaluation of the experience
1. How would you describe your first blogging experience now after 8 weeks of blogging?
2. Did you find it useful? Why/Why not?
3. List some of the benefits of blogging for you.
4. What might be a reason for the lack of participation on the part of some students?
5. Did the blog manage to address your specific student`s needs?
6. Do you think blogging should be intergrated in the language classroom? Why/Why not?
7. How do you see the role of the blogging teacher. How can she/he encourage students to write?
8. What suggestions for the future use of students' blogs would you like to make?
Thank you.
Regards,
ralitza
This is our final week. I’d like to invite you to reflect on the whole experience of blogging and decide on whether you'd like to continue with the blog or not. There are three tasks for you to do this lesson:
1. Do the surveys. The questions are: Do you want to continue with the blog? Do you want us to open the blog to a wider audience?
2. Do the evaluation questionnaire.
3. Read how the other students have answered the same questions and comment on their answers.
Here is the EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE.
A) Reflection on your posts and participation on the blog.
Look back at your posts and write a short paragraph evaluating the quality and regularity of your writing. Consider the following ideas:
original idea (no copy paste from internet resources)
target reader (how easy to read and of interest your post might be for your reader)
organisation and paragraphs
range of vocabulary and grammar
spelling, puntuation
use of enhancement: pictures, videos
regular posts of average length
What do you need to work more on?
You can use the scale from 1 to 10 ( 1- very poor, 10- excellent)
B) Evaluation of the experience
1. How would you describe your first blogging experience now after 8 weeks of blogging?
2. Did you find it useful? Why/Why not?
3. List some of the benefits of blogging for you.
4. What might be a reason for the lack of participation on the part of some students?
5. Did the blog manage to address your specific student`s needs?
6. Do you think blogging should be intergrated in the language classroom? Why/Why not?
7. How do you see the role of the blogging teacher. How can she/he encourage students to write?
8. What suggestions for the future use of students' blogs would you like to make?
Thank you.
Regards,
ralitza
oO Japanese Culture Oo
Each country has diffrent culture and taditinion from one to a nother, so because I like Japanese language I would like to Know more and more a bout "Japan"..
JAPANESE LANGUAGE…
Japanese Language: Japanese (nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else. The Japanese language is distinct from Chinese and Korean, although the written form uses Chinese (kanji) characters, and is not known to be related to any other language.
JAPANESE FASHION…
The modern and traditional styles of Japanese fashion including Japanese street fashion, (Tokyo), Kogal and traditional Japanese fashion (kimono).
Japanese Food…
The Japanese cuisine offers a great variety of dishes and regional specialties. Some of the most popular Japanese and Japanized dishes are :
•Rice Dishes
•Seafood Dishes
•Noodle Dishes
•Soya Bean Dishes
•Nabe Dishes
•Yoshoku Dishes
JAPANESE LANGUAGE…
Japanese Language: Japanese (nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else. The Japanese language is distinct from Chinese and Korean, although the written form uses Chinese (kanji) characters, and is not known to be related to any other language.
JAPANESE FASHION…
The modern and traditional styles of Japanese fashion including Japanese street fashion, (Tokyo), Kogal and traditional Japanese fashion (kimono).
Japanese Food…
The Japanese cuisine offers a great variety of dishes and regional specialties. Some of the most popular Japanese and Japanized dishes are :
•Rice Dishes
•Seafood Dishes
•Noodle Dishes
•Soya Bean Dishes
•Nabe Dishes
•Yoshoku Dishes
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Fruits and flowers... Waterfalls... Gardens hanging from the palace terraces... Exotic animals... This is the picture of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in most people's minds. It may be surprising to know that they might have never existed except in Greek poets and historians imagination!
Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq
History
The Babylonian kingdom flourished under the rule of the famous King, Hammurabi (1792-1750
BC). It was not until the reign of Naboplashar (625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty that
the Mesopotamian civilization reached its ultimate glory. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562
BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. It is said that the Gardens were
built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and
had a passion for mountain surroundings".
While the most descriptive accounts of the Gardens come from Greek historians such as
Berossus and Diodorus Siculus, Babylonian records stay silent on the matter. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar do not have a single reference to the Hanging Gardens, although
descriptions of his palace, the city of Babylon, and the walls are found. Even the historians who give detailed descriptions of the Hanging Gardens never saw them. Modern historians argue
that when Alexander's soldiers reached the fertile land of Mesopotamia and saw Babylon, they were impressed. When they later returned to their rugged homeland, they had stories to tell
about the amazing gardens and palm trees at Mesopotamia.. About the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.. About the Tower of Babel and the ziggurats. And it was the imagination of poets and ancient historians that blended all these elements together to produce one of the World Wonders.
It wasn't until the twentieth century that some of the mysteries surrounding the Hanging Gardens were revealed. Archaeologists are still struggling to gather enough evidence before reaching the final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system, and their true appearance.
Description
Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources, including the writings of Strabo and Philo of Byzantium. Here are some excerpts from their accounts:
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The ascent of the uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns... Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal luxury and its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
More recent archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq uncovered the foundation of the palace. Other findings include the Vaulted Building with thick walls and an irrigation well near the southern palace. A group of archaeologists surveyed the area of the southern palace and reconstructed the Vaulted Building as the Hanging Gardens. However, the Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were situated by the River Euphrates. So others argue that the site is too far from the Euphrates to support the theory since the Vaulted Building is several hundreds of meters away. They reconstructed the site of the palace and located the Gardens in the area stretching from the River to the Palace. On the river banks, recently discovered massive walls 25 m thick may have been stepped to form terraces... the ones described in Greek references.
Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq
History
The Babylonian kingdom flourished under the rule of the famous King, Hammurabi (1792-1750
BC). It was not until the reign of Naboplashar (625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty that
the Mesopotamian civilization reached its ultimate glory. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562
BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. It is said that the Gardens were
built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and
had a passion for mountain surroundings".
While the most descriptive accounts of the Gardens come from Greek historians such as
Berossus and Diodorus Siculus, Babylonian records stay silent on the matter. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar do not have a single reference to the Hanging Gardens, although
descriptions of his palace, the city of Babylon, and the walls are found. Even the historians who give detailed descriptions of the Hanging Gardens never saw them. Modern historians argue
that when Alexander's soldiers reached the fertile land of Mesopotamia and saw Babylon, they were impressed. When they later returned to their rugged homeland, they had stories to tell
about the amazing gardens and palm trees at Mesopotamia.. About the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.. About the Tower of Babel and the ziggurats. And it was the imagination of poets and ancient historians that blended all these elements together to produce one of the World Wonders.
It wasn't until the twentieth century that some of the mysteries surrounding the Hanging Gardens were revealed. Archaeologists are still struggling to gather enough evidence before reaching the final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system, and their true appearance.
Description
Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources, including the writings of Strabo and Philo of Byzantium. Here are some excerpts from their accounts:
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The ascent of the uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns... Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal luxury and its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
More recent archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq uncovered the foundation of the palace. Other findings include the Vaulted Building with thick walls and an irrigation well near the southern palace. A group of archaeologists surveyed the area of the southern palace and reconstructed the Vaulted Building as the Hanging Gardens. However, the Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were situated by the River Euphrates. So others argue that the site is too far from the Euphrates to support the theory since the Vaulted Building is several hundreds of meters away. They reconstructed the site of the palace and located the Gardens in the area stretching from the River to the Palace. On the river banks, recently discovered massive walls 25 m thick may have been stepped to form terraces... the ones described in Greek references.
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