WE HAVE A NEW INSTRUCTOR!

Hello guys!


I'm here to bring some good news. We have a new instructor in the team: Artur!
Artur is a very nice guy! Count on him to help you with your studies.


Welcome Artur!

GUESS THE WINNERS!

Hello guys!

For those who don't know yet, there is a quiz going on at the school about the OSCAR!

Participate. Guess the winners and get a DVD!

If you wanna get more information about the nominations, take a look at the OSCAR website:

http://oscar.go.com/

Good luck!

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEARNER?

Once, I read or heard somewhere that ‘the main aim of good teachers should be to make themselves unimportant for their students”, and that is true.

From my point of view, the same is to say that the aim of a teacher is to make their students competent speakers of the language. However, making someone competent is not an easy task, on the contrary, it is a very hard one. Trying to argue why requires responding the question: who is responsible for the learning process? The institution? Students? Teachers? All of them?

I share Jeremy Harmer’s idea in How to Teach English in which he says that “Teachers are not, ultimately responsible for their students’ motivation. They can only encourage by word and deed. Real motivation comes from within each individual”; also, of an old saying that states that “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” The students have a very important role in this relationship school-teacher-student, the most important one I’d put. In other words, your success depends mostly on you.

So, looking for a new motto? What about this one: "Being a good learner will guarantee an effective productivity during my stay at the school."? It sounds good, doesn't it? =)

Take a look at the list and see how much you fit the description.

Good learners…

a. do their homework.

b. do not get late for classes.

c. do not miss classes.

d. are highly motivated to learn.

e. integrates into the culture of its speakers.

f. have a positive attitude toward their study.

g. take risks during the classes.

h. take responsibility for their own learning.

i. do not wait to be taught.

j. are curious about the language.

l. study by themselves.

m. are willing to listen.

n. are willing to ask questions.

o. are willing to accept correction.

p. participate.

q. study before classes.

r. do the mnemônica study at home.

s. do not forget their material.

t. takes notes during the class.

u. watch films and listen to songs in the language.

v. have a good relationship with the school and teachers.

x. spend their time and money on studying the language.

z. get emotionally involved.

See you,
Instructor Rafa.

Let's sing along (Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet)

Haven't Met You Yet


I'm not surprised, not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times, I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in, I talk myself out
I get all worked up, then I let myself down

I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I thought of every possibility

And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

I might have to wait, I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life

And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right and we'll be united

And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility

And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get

Oh, you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah, I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet
Oh, promise you, kid
To give so much more than I get

I said love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, love
(I just haven't met you yet)
Love, love, love, love
Love, love
I just haven't met you yet

How To Improve your English (Part 1)

Hey guys! How have you been? I hope you've been good.

So, today I'm here to (partially) answer the most common question the students ask me, that is: "what should I do to improve my English skills?"

The first answer to this question is another question: "Which skill are you refering to?". Depending on the skill (speaking, listening, writing or reading), I'd recommend a set of specific tasks and ways to brush it up. But it's true that READING texts in English is one thing that you can do that would apply to all four skills in a row.

Being in contact with the language via texts, just to cite one advantage, provides a huge improvement in your vocabulary, which is almost 60% to become (really) fluent.

That being said, here are my tips for you to start work on that (I read them myself): GO! ENGLISH and SPEAK UP magazines!  You can buy it at any newsstand!

What motivates Bianca? (Uptime)

Some students were willing to give their contributions to the topic of MOTIVATION.
Watch and listen to what they say.

If you want to do the same, talk to your instructor. Be our guest!

See you,
Rafael

What motivates Victor?

What motivates Ruan? (Uptime)

What motivates you?

Coming back to the topic of MOTIVATION, I found a very interesting video to keep on this discussion here on the blog.


Check the blog for students' answers.

SAMBA CITY: SNEAK PEAK!

Hello guys!

These are some of the pictures that we took on Saturday, at the Samba City (I sincerely hope things get better there). We had a great time together!

I'd like to thank all the students who showed up and Rodrigo, our special tour guide. I am certain that was very profitable for all of us!

Be our guest to the next events. Follow the blog for news.